When it comes to Linux web browsers few are as fast or as powerful as Chromium, the open-source project that underpins Google Chrome.
A standalone browser in its own right, installing Chromium on Ubuntu is easy.
There are only minor differences between Chromium and Chrome. These relate to branding, license-encumbered media codecs, and Google-powered features, like sync and crash reporting. What matters to most of us is the core web-browsing experience, and that is the same.
In some ways, you can think of Chromium as a de-Googled version Chrome. You get a fast and secure web browsing experience, powerful features, customisation options, and the ability to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store, but without the “ick”.
Chromium is so good that a number of other well-known web browsers are built on top of it, including Vivaldi, Opera, Amazon Silk, and Microsoft Edge.
Install Chromium on Ubuntu
Installing Chromium using Ubuntu Software
Chromium can be installed on all supported Ubuntu releases using the Ubuntu Software app (called App Center in Ubuntu 23.10 and above):
- Open Ubuntu Software
- Search for ‘Chromium Browser’
- Select the matching result
- Click on the “Install” button
- Enter your password to authorise the installation
Once installed you can launch Chromium by clicking on its blue-coloured icon in the application launcher.
Installing Chromium on Ubuntu from the terminal
If you don’t want to use the Ubuntu Software/App Center, use the terminal app to install the chromium-browser package, like so:
sudo snap install chromium-browser
You can run the same command using apt instead of snap but this still installs the Chromium snap package. This is because the Deb package in the Ubuntu archives is a ‘transition package’.
Once complete, launch from the application picker, or run chromium-browser from the terminal.
Whether you choose to install Chromium on Ubuntu using a GUI or the CLI you will get the same version, which will be latest stable release at the time of install.
Chromium gets updated often. These updates improve the performance, compatibility, and security of the browser to ensure your web browsing is as good as it can be. Helpfully, Ubuntu’s Chromium Snap updates automatically, in the background, as you use your computer.
Install Chromium Deb Not Snap
Snap apps are handy, but not everyone wants to use them.
For an alternative route you may prefer to install Chromium from Flathub (as a Flatpak app).
If you use Linux Mint you can run sudo apt install chromium-browser to install Chromium as a traditional Deb package that is maintained by Linux Mint developers.
Finishing Up
With its clean, configurable interface, fast performance, and extensive extension support, Chromium is a popular choice with Ubuntu users, and its easy to see why.
And by following the steps in this guide, you can also install Chromium on your Ubuntu install to experience its benefits for yourself.