The stock of pre-installed apps on Android makes life a lot easier as long as you have the necessary software for the main tasks, but there’s life beyond Google too, and in some cases, it’s better. Although I’m moderately happy with Google Chrome and have tried other very interesting alternative browsers, I always end up going back to the default browser. Until I installed this fast and clean free browser on my Android device and I don’t want to go back to Google Chrome anymore.

Why did the Soul Scanner convince me?

This application, called Soul Browser, has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on the Google Play Store and is available for free. Once you install and open the application on your mobile phone, you can start using it without encountering much mystery, because apparently A very minimalist and intuitive browser.

So, in the top area there are the clearest icons of the classic search box, favorites star, refresh, go forward and back, go to the Home page, open windows… so you always have in mind what to do. before pressing them. But this feeling of lightness is not only in its appearance, but also navigation because it moves fluidly between websites. It goes like a shot.

I mentioned the main icons above, leaving one for later because this is its great value: long list of available functions. When you tap the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner, a surprise appears in the form of a huge utility drawer.

In fact, the first thing you’ll find when you open that drop-down menu is a red shield with a number on it: these Ads you blocked. It is enabled by default, but you can disable it if you see fit, and also customize it with various ad filters, allow or disallow images, configure whitelist and exceptions. The truth is, you can tell with just the basics. But if you are a person who is jealous of your privacy, it has advanced security functions to prevent tracking or stealth mode.

Other things you can do right away include translating the website with the tap of a button and without resorting to external apps, switching from text to audio to listen to the podcast style of the webpage, sharing to play with Chromecast, recording or translating the page. Export to PDF, view and download images only, go full screen, switch to one-handed operation mode, switch between mobile or desktop mode.

The previous ones are interesting, but my favorites are the video player with subtitle support (ideal for tablet), direct downloading of videos and edit images directly from the browser. And that’s without getting into the settings options, where you can find a cleaning mode or different designs to choose from that suits you. In fact, the fact that it is so complete and customizable points to a drawback: to get the most out of it, it is necessary to study it thoroughly and comprehensively.

It’s surprising how many offers it offers without any limitations or premium blocks because, as I mentioned above, the app is free but there is also a B-side: from time to time you can find another adSo if you want to get rid of them completely, you will have to pay 1.59 euros as a single payment. I haven’t done that and the experience so far has been more than good.

Soul Scanner

A powerful alternative browser to Google Chrome

Download for free

Cover | Have

Xataka on Android | Best web browsers for Android, detailed comparison