Hermit — Lite Apps Browser by Chimbori redefines privacy-focused browsing with lightweight per-app sandboxes and deep customization. Each Lite App runs in its own permanent window with separate settings, themes, icons, and blockers, while user scripts empower power users. With 1,000,000+ total downloads (12K in the last 30 days) and a solid 4.63/5 rating from 21,511 ratings, Hermit stands out in Productivity.
Pros & Cons
Privacy-first design with on-device content blocker and no ads
Per-Lite App windows with separate settings for each app
Sandboxed containers for multiple accounts and profiles
Extensive customization: icons, themes, and user agents
Lightweight footprint suitable for low-storage devices
geared toward power users; casual users may face a steeper learning curve
Paid premium model for the no-ads/privacy proposition; some features require purchase
Does not emphasize video-focused or social features typical of some competitors
About Hermit — Lite Apps Browser
Hermit — Lite Apps Browser is a productivity app developed by Chimbori.
How many times has Hermit — Lite Apps Browser been downloaded?
Hermit — Lite Apps Browser has been downloaded 2.5 million times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 12 thousand times.
What is the rating of Hermit — Lite Apps Browser?
Hermit — Lite Apps Browser is rated 4.63 out of 5 stars, based on 22 thousand ratings.
Is Hermit — Lite Apps Browser free?
Hermit — Lite Apps Browser is free to download. The last update was on October 15, 2025.
What are the requirements for Hermit — Lite Apps Browser?
Hermit — Lite Apps Browser requires Android 9.0+ or higher. The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play April 2015.
Description
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.
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Contact us through the app, and we’ll make sure you are happy!
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Comments on Hermit — Lite Apps Browser for Android
★★★★☆Devil Don't play· Jun 12, 2026
An EXCELLENT app to run many smaller, lighter on your system, "mini web apps" that are also IDEAL because they don't require EXTRA PERMISSIONS or advanced setup and/or they won't have hidden permissions/hidden trackers, advertising, etc. Mini apps can also be BACKED UP. It even has the option of using "bookmarklets" (ex. tamper monkey or violent monkey scripts...) for JavaScript modification of various websites, and there are even a few pre-installed. Ad blocking BUILT-IN. MiniApp Sandboxing too.
★★★★★A-Cat Crow· Aug 29, 2026
I love hermit. I've used it for a long time and don't think I'll ever go back. For as long as hermit exists, I feel pretty confident in my consistent usage.
★★★★★Chris Arnold· Jul 10, 2026
Why fill your phone with bloated apps you hardly ever use when you can have one that replaces many? All those apps that are just fronts for websites can be added here. Additionally, you can add desktop versions of your Router app, your NAS app, TREND Building Management Systems, websites that don't have apps. If it's got a URL, you can probably add it. It is, after all, a browser that bookmarks pages in a way that behave like apps. I've got hundreds, and they take up virtually no space.
★☆☆☆☆Elix· Jun 10, 2026
Terrible naming, it's not a web browser. The "lite apps" just loads web view applications without any native functionality, they're as good as offline webpages.
★☆☆☆☆Reese· Jul 19, 2026
Beware of upgrading to premium. You might be asked to pay again when switching devices, even with the same Google account. The changelog is also about a year old, so it's hard to verify what recent updates include or whether they're even safe. The developer's reply did not fully address either concern. I uninstalled this app and regret paying for it.
★★☆☆☆Sorin· Apr 3, 2026
For my purposes I like weblog better. More modern ui and simpler interface and settings. And a lot cheaper (I didn't get my money's worth from hermit). The UI feels slow and unintuitive sometimes. Little hiccups like black screen when going back from a web app or no space for status bar in full screen or links not opening properly inside web apps. Maybe it's an enthusiast's heaven, but I don't have time to figure out all the little gimmicks of hermit or read pages of tutorials on the internet
Google Play Rankings for Hermit — Lite Apps Browser
This app is not ranked
Technologies used by Hermit — Lite Apps Browser
40 libraries
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Trust & Safety: Hermit emphasizes privacy: no ads, no personal data collection, and no behavior tracking. Content blockers operate on-device to limit exposure to trackers, and there are no sensitive permissions listed in the provided data.
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