Hermit — Lite Apps Browser

Advanced Web Browser for Power Users, optimized for Lite Apps & Privacy

Hermit — Lite Apps Browser

App stats

By: Chimbori
Version: 27.2.0 (Last updated: 2024-10-30)
Creation date: 2015-04-29
Permissions
Location: approximate location (network-based), precise location (GPS and network-based)
Photos/Media/Files: read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Storage: read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Camera: take pictures and videos
Microphone: record audio
Other:
  • view network connections
  • full network access
  • close other apps
  • change your audio settings
  • run at startup
  • prevent device from sleeping
  • install shortcuts
  • uninstall shortcuts

Other platforms

Not available on Chrome
Not available on Firefox
Not available on Edge
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App summary

BETTER THAN NATIVE APPS

• Lite Apps take up almost no space, best for low storage devices
• They don’t run in the background, which saves battery
User Scripts: Run your own custom extension scripts!
Content Blocker: Block ads, malware, misinformation, & targeted propaganda. Built-in & customizable: You can pick what to block.

BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL BROWSERS

COMPARE HERMIT WITH TRADITIONAL BROWSERS
https://hermit.chimbori.com/features/compare

• Each Lite App opens in its own permanent window, not a new browser tab each time
• Links clicked in other apps can be opened directly in Hermit Lite Apps
• Settings, permissions, themes & icons are saved separately for each Lite App
• Share links from other Android apps to your Lite Apps

SANDBOXES: MULTIPLE PROFILES / CONTAINERS

Hermit is the only Android browser with Sandboxes: Isolated Containers with Multiple Profiles.

• Sandboxes keep your Web browsing isolated in separate containers
• Use multiple accounts, all active at the same time, in the same browser
• Keep work accounts and personal accounts separate
• Ideal for privacy-invasive social sites
• Use permanent Incognito Mode for sites that offer free content to new users

ADVANCED BROWSER FOR POWER USERS

It takes a bit of learning & understanding to use Hermit effectively — We’re here to help!

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
https://hermit.chimbori.com/help/getting-started

HELP ARTICLES & FAQ
https://hermit.chimbori.com/help

PRIVACY + NO ADS = PAID PREMIUM

Thanks for supporting the active development of a privacy-friendly app designed for power users like you!

• To continue investing in new features for many years, we charge money for our apps.
• Unlike other browser makers, we are not in the business of selling ads or your personal information.
• No advertisements, no personal data collection, no behavior tracking, no shady SDKs in any of our apps.
• Most features can be used for free!

ADVANCED BROWSER FEATURES

USER SCRIPTS: Run your own custom extension scripts!
READER MODE: Article extraction is done on-device to protect your privacy
DARK MODE: Great for late night reading!
FAST & PRIVATE: Browse fast by blocking advertisements and other harmful content that slows down your phone.
MULTI WINDOW: Use two Lite Apps at once on supported devices
DOUBLE BACK: Ever got stuck because the back button takes you to the same page? Try Hermit’s Double Back feature!
BACKUP YOUR LITE APPS: Custom backup solution when moving between devices
CUSTOM USER AGENT: Mobile, Desktop, or any other custom user agent
ATOM/RSS FEED NOTIFICATIONS: Get immediately notified when a web site publishes new content.
WEB MONITORS: Feeds not supported? Hermit can monitor any specific part of any web page & notify you when it changes.

UNLIMITED CUSTOMIZATION

No other browser lets you customize so many settings!

CUSTOM ICONS: Pick any icon for your Lite Apps, or create a custom monogram!
CUSTOM THEMES: Create your own themes for any site
TEXT ZOOM CONTROLS: Change and save text zoom settings individually for each Lite App
DESKTOP MODE: Load desktop sites instead of mobile sites
FULL SCREEN MODE: Focus on your content, no distractions
CUSTOMIZABLE CONTENT BLOCKER can block ads, malware, & misinformation. You pick what to block.

NEED HELP? SEEING AN ISSUE? CONTACT US FIRST.

We are here to help you! But we cannot help you through reviews, because they don’t include enough technical details.

Contact us through the app, and we’ll make sure you are happy!

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Google Play Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Saves space on the device
  • Offers a unique experience by creating standalone web apps
  • Stable performance and regular updates from developers
  • Good privacy features compared to traditional apps
  • Easy to use for niche applications
Cons
  • Issues with exporting apps and backing up configurations
  • Crashes or freezes on certain devices
  • Complicated feedback and support process
  • Annoying update prompts that hinder usability on older devices
  • Limited functionality in terms of multi-tab support within lite apps
Most mentioned
  • Stability and functionality over time
  • Ability to replace bloated traditional apps
  • Problems with notifications and browser performance
  • Desire for additional customization options
  • Frequent issues with restoring or transferring purchases
User reviews
It's honestly not very good, and not worth the money. First off, the RSS notifications? That just doesn't work, period. I put in the feed, tested it, made sure notifications were on, and still nothing ever appeared, even on a feed with a predictable schedule. Second, the browser. It says it just uses the system webview, yet somehow it behaves much worse. Third, page monitor. Not useful because it doesn't run js and only works on the default sandbox. There's more but I'm out of space.
by Brett Rodgers, 2024-11-25

*Fantastic tool and works wonderfully on my niche use cases. * I would love to see better support with third-party icon packs, but that's only a minor annoyance and easily resolvable. Another minor annoyance is the in-ability to quickly export apps into launcher app drawers, yes there are work-arounds, but it would be nice to export as an .apk and install it as a native app.
by Nich Crusie, 2024-10-11

I love this app but my purchase is not unlocking on my new phone despite having paid full on my old phone. It's $8 and all the features are locked despite being unlocked and available on my old phone. EDIT: Bumping the score back to 5. Devs replied very quickly and pointed me in the right direction to fixing the issue. Clearing the cache and the data for Google play store fixed the issue and unlocked everything!
by Enrique Godinez, 2024-08-19
View all user reviews

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