I may sound like a broken record, but it is the next best thing, to
Icecat with one exception where it excels: the updates come much more
often.

it is also superior to firefox for the following reasons:

  * Disabled Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) (*which sometimes is
    enabled by default as of 2016 but can be disabled easily everything
    else is the same though as before)
  * Disabled Web Runtime (deprecated as of 2015)
  * Removed Pocket (garbage spyware removed it in about:config if you
    use firefox)
  * Removed Telemetry (the same as the above)
  * Removed data collection (same as the above)
  * Removed startup profiling
  * Allow running of all 64-Bit NPAPI plugins
  * Allow running of unsigned extensions
  * Removal of Sponsored Tiles on New Tab Page
  * Addition of Duplicate Tab option
  * Locale selector in about:preferences > General

read the bottom though before you decide on it though

because as good as it is for most users, until an esr appears, it cannot
be used for jessie users. alas...  but if you use anything later, go
ahead! seriously...

OR, you could disable all the bad stuff in about:config. your call! :)