# Reynard Browser for iOS: Gecko, Extensions, and Sideloading > Reynard Browser is an experimental Gecko-based browser for iOS 13 and later. It gives users an engine alternative to WebKit, Firefox add-on support, Enhanced Tracking Protection, and DNS over HTTPS, but installation depends on device-specific sideloading methods. **minh-ton/reynard-browser** — An experimental Gecko-based web browser for iOS 13+. - Repository: https://github.com/minh-ton/reynard-browser - Stars: 1,838 · Forks: 146 - Language: Swift - License: GPL-3.0 - Published: 2026-10-16 · Updated: 2026-10-16 · Language: en - Canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/minh-ton-reynard-browser ## Why Reynard Exists on iOS Reynard addresses a platform constraint that is difficult to avoid with ordinary iOS browsers. Safari and third-party browsers are forced to use Apple's WebKit engine. Reynard instead uses Gecko, the engine used by Firefox on desktop and Android. That difference gives iOS users an alternative rendering path and makes it possible to support Firefox add-ons, including extensions described by the project as more capable ad-blocking tools. It also adds privacy controls including Enhanced Tracking Protection and DNS over HTTPS. The intended audience is not limited to developers. Older iOS devices are part of the project's motivation. Because WebKit is bundled with iOS, a device that no longer receives OS updates is also tied to an older browser engine. The README says this can cause modern websites to break or render incorrectly. Reynard's Gecko build is therefore useful for users who need a current browser engine outside the normal App Store browser category. The project remains experimental, so this is an alternative for users willing to handle alpha software and a nonstandard installation path. ## Gecko Architecture and Repository Boundaries The repository layout separates the iOS application from the browser engine. The top-level entries include `browser/`, `engine/`, `patches/`, `support/`, and `tools/`, along with Firefox-related license files. Based on that layout, Reynard is not presented as a small Safari-style wrapper around WebKit. Its main Swift application lives under `browser/`, while the Gecko-related work is represented by `engine/`. The `patches/` directory is consistent with maintaining a browser engine integration, although the README does not document each patch or describe the complete build process. The visible product boundary is still a browser application. It supports normal web navigation, Firefox add-ons, Enhanced Tracking Protection, and DNS over HTTPS. The README does not provide a technical architecture diagram, process model, networking configuration file, or explanation of how iOS services are mapped into Gecko. It also does not claim that Reynard runs Firefox for iOS unchanged. The practical conclusion is narrower: Reynard integrates Gecko into an iOS browser application and offers a smaller feature set than a complete desktop Firefox distribution, while the repository contains dedicated application, engine, patching, support, and tooling directories. ## Installing the Correct Reynard Build The installation method depends on the iOS version. The README links the latest builds through GitHub Releases and identifies five supported combinations. For iOS 17.4 or later, AltStore and SideStore use the standard package. For TrollStore, the README lists iOS 14 through 16.6.1 and iOS 17.0, as well as jailbroken iOS 14. TrollStore Lite is listed for jailbroken iOS 16.7 through 16.7.16 and iOS 17.0.1 or later. A jailbroken iOS 13 installation uses Filza File Manager with AppSync Unified. Start by opening the project's Releases page and choosing the row that matches both the device's iOS version and installation method. For AltStore or SideStore, the linked package is `Reynard.ipa`. During installation, select Keep App Extensions. The README states that Reynard will not work without its extensions. The project also provides an AltSource link for adding the release feed to AltStore or SideStore. Do not use LiveContainer, because the README explicitly says it is unsupported. Distribution-certificate sideloading is also unsupported, and other sideloading methods may be incompatible. ## First Use and Extension Setup After installation, the first practical use is opening a website in the browser and checking the installation path that depends on your build. The README does not document a first-run wizard, default homepage, settings-menu layout, or a step-by-step procedure for adding an extension. It does confirm that the browser supports Firefox add-ons and privacy features, but it does not identify a particular add-on installation screen. That omission matters because an engine swap does not guarantee that every Firefox extension interface is available on iOS. For AltStore and SideStore users, the extension requirement applies during installation. For TrollStore, the README says the build provides automatic JIT enablement, better performance, and automatic app updates. The latter requires URL Scheme Enabled to be turned on in TrollStore. The jailbroken build also provides automatic JIT enablement and better performance, but the README warns that system tweaks can affect behavior. If a jailbroken device is used, disable tweak injection for Reynard and its extensions with a tool such as Choicy. The project does not document a separate command-line installer or a required environment variable. ## Where Gecko Helps, and Where It Does Not Gecko is the main technical reason to consider Reynard. On an older iOS release, a WebKit browser inherits the engine shipped with that operating system. Reynard's README uses screenshots on iOS 14 and iOS 15 to compare sites that can break or render incorrectly in Safari, and it also includes a preview for iOS 26. These screenshots illustrate the project's intended use case, but they are not a performance benchmark and do not establish compatibility with every site. The experimental status is the principal limitation. The README explicitly says to expect bugs and missing features. The project also excludes LiveContainer and distribution-certificate sideloading. Jailbroken installations create another risk: tweaks and system modifications may affect performance, stability, or functionality, and support for resulting problems may be limited. Users who need a predictable daily browser, a documented App Store installation, or a stable first-run workflow have a better fit with a conventional WebKit browser. Reynard is more appropriate when Gecko compatibility or Firefox add-on support outweighs the installation and debugging cost. ## Maintenance, Releases, and GPL-3.0 Reynard is not archived, and the repository's last push was on 2026-10-16. Recent releases include 0.17.1 alpha on 2026-10-12, 0.17.0 alpha on 2026-10-11, and 0.16.0 alpha on 2026-10-04. Those dates show recent project activity, but the version labels remain alpha and the README continues to describe the browser as experimental. The release cadence also does not remove the cost of testing alpha software on each supported iOS and installation combination. The project is licensed under GPL-3.0, and the repository also contains `LICENSE.firefox`. The presence of those files is relevant to source redistribution and modification, but this review does not interpret legal obligations. The README does not describe a release-signing process, automated upgrade compatibility policy, migration procedure, or rollback process. Before adopting it for regular use, check the current release notes and verify whether your device's installation method remains listed for that release. ## Reynard Compared with a WebKit Browser The clearest alternative is Safari or another standard iOS browser using WebKit. WebKit is the platform default, so it avoids Reynard's Gecko integration and sideloading requirements. Reynard's advantage is its different engine, which the README associates with compatibility on older iOS versions, Firefox add-ons, Enhanced Tracking Protection, and DNS over HTTPS. A WebKit browser is the simpler choice for users who want the normal iOS installation path and do not need those features. Reynard is not a direct Firefox for iOS replacement based on the documentation. The README identifies Gecko and Firefox add-on support, but it does not claim desktop Firefox parity or document the full mobile extension catalog. Its installation methods also differ from App Store distribution. The comparison therefore comes down to platform dependency and feature priorities: choose a WebKit browser for conventional iOS integration, and choose Reynard when Gecko-specific behavior or Firefox extensions are worth alpha software and device-specific installation work. ## Conclusion Adopt Reynard when you need Gecko on iOS, Firefox extensions, or a browser engine that can remain independent from Apple's OS updates. Do not choose it for a jailbroken device unless you can disable tweak injection and accept limited support. Verify first that your iOS version matches the required installation method, that Keep App Extensions is selected for AltStore or SideStore, and that the current alpha build contains the features you need. ## FAQ ### How do I install Reynard Browser on iOS 17.4 or later? Use AltStore or SideStore with the standard `Reynard.ipa` build. The README says to select Keep App Extensions during installation because Reynard will not work without them. ### Does Reynard Browser support Firefox add-ons? Yes. The README says Reynard supports Firefox add-ons, including ad-blocking extensions. It does not provide a complete extension compatibility list. ### Can I install Reynard Browser with LiveContainer? No. The README explicitly states that LiveContainer is not supported because of its own limitations. It also says distribution-certificate sideloading is unsupported. ## Sources - [Issues](https://github.com/minh-ton/reynard-browser/issues) - [License: GPL-3.0](https://github.com/minh-ton/reynard-browser/blob/main/LICENSE) - [minh-ton/reynard-browser on GitHub](https://github.com/minh-ton/reynard-browser) - [README](https://github.com/minh-ton/reynard-browser/blob/main/README.md) - [Releases](https://github.com/minh-ton/reynard-browser/releases) --- Hysen Labs editorial analysis, written from the project's own repository and release notes. Cite the canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/minh-ton-reynard-browser