alternative web browser to safari

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Why choosing an alternative web browser, 7 best alternative web browsers, conclusion: the best web browser for you, related articles, 7 best alternative web browsers [to chrome, safari & firefox].

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Updated on: February 23, 2024

When people talk about “ alternative internet browsers ” they commonly refer to any web browser that isn’t one of the “Major Browsers”, like Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

There are plenty of other web browsers available that offer functionalities and features that may appeal to you. Things such as enhanced privacy, multi-layer protection, greater customization, and browsing tools.

If you’re one of the majority of internet users relying only on Google Chrome, you may miss out on several valuable features. For instance, Chrome has no reading mode, which is available in many of the best alternative open-source web browsers to Chrome we’ve mentioned here.

So, if you’re unhappy with your current browser or just want to explore the options, here is a list of the best alternative web browsers for you.

Alternative web browsers can provide you with more robust privacy protection, emphasize performance for your particular usage, or just provide you with the features that adjust better to your daily usage.

Numerous modified versions of the mainstream browsers are deployed as alternative browsers for Ubuntu, Windows, and Mac.

Are you using Ubuntu? Then you should be reading about the best web browsers for Ubuntu .

Several of these alternatives can be behind in terms of modifications and the implementation of web standards as they are often fully accessible projects or passion projects.

While switching from a popular browser may not sound alluring, alternative browsers offer their own perks.

1. Opera Web Browser

Price : Free OS : Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, macOS Best For : Eliminating unwanted ads and protecting your online privacy

The Opera web browser is one of the oldest and best alternative internet web browsers that perform efficiently on Linux, Windows, and macOS operating systems.

It also works well on Android and iOS. This evergreen browser has a good reputation for being fast and reliable and has many features.

Thanks to its 100% free VPN, you will enjoy reduced tracking and enhanced privacy while browsing the internet. Also, the built-in messengers enable you to stay connected with your family, friends, and coworkers right from the browser.

Opera can be a great alternative to Chrome as it’s quite similar in many ways too, such as Tabbed browsing, private tabs, password management, sync between devices, and many more.

Basic Features :

• Built-in Ad Blocker to reduce/eliminate unwanted ads
• Built-in 100% Free VPN for enhanced privacy
• Built-in Turbo feature for fast internet speed
• Opera has light hardware and is quick and easy to operate.
• Thanks to its browser tools, this web browser keeps your personal info safe and secure.
• Enjoy effective and optimal data synchronization potentials with this web browser platform.
• Locating the extensions in Opera is a bit challenging.
• Compatibility with older websites may not always be possible.

2. Brave – One of The Best Alternative Web Browsers

Price : Free OS : Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, macOS Best For : Enhanced protection and privacy

When it comes to alternative web browsers to Google Chrome (and others), Brave stands out as one of the most prominent candidates. This browser claims itself to be three times faster than Chrome, which is true to some extent.

Furthermore, it offers enhanced energy efficiency and better privacy and protection. You can download it on your iOS and Android mobiles or simply use it on a device with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

• Refines Page Function to get rid of irrelevant information.
• Free video calls, independent search, offline playlists, and more
• “Private Tabs with Tor” for enhanced private browsing experience
• Brave is one of the most reliable alternative web browsers that protects users from malicious content, trackers, and online ads.
• It is the one-stop destination for incognito windows, ad-blocking, private independent search, and VPNs.
• This web browser is well-optimized to consume less power, hence saving your battery life and ensuring faster-loading speed.
• Although Brave is one of the fastest web browsers, it doesn’t feature some plug-ins, extensions, and add-ons.
• Brave tends to take up a lot of storage space on your device, which can result in slowing down the device altogether.

3. Microsoft Edge

Price : Free OS : Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, macOS Best For : Windows users who need a faster and safer browsing experience

Microsoft Edge is one of the most competitive alternative web browsers for Windows and other operating systems.

This web browser is integrated with enhanced protection and high-end security functions.

Like Chrome browser, Edge is also based on the same open-source Chromium project.

Discover what are the best Chromium-based web browsers .

Although it is Windows 10’s default system browser, it is not available in most older versions of Windows OS. This fast web browser showcases only a few obligatory components on its interface.

• Seamlessly import data from Safari, Firefox, and Chrome
• Enhanced control over the privacy
• Immersive Reader to only see the text content
• Like Chrome, edge also offers sleek minimalism and faster speed while ensuring a future full of apps, add-ons, and plugins.
• Thanks to its low memory consumption, you can enjoy quicker page loading, faster surfing, and a seamless user experience.
• It features a “distraction-free reading mode” to let you cut or eliminate irrelevant content, download pages, and read them at your convenience.
• Like Chrome, Microsoft Edge also needs relatively better system resources as it has minimal published hardware requirements.
• Unlike Chrome, Edge has a shortfall of many plug-ins and extensions. It is disappointing to those who think of using it as their daily driver.

4. Tor Project

Price : Free OS : Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Best For : Anonymity on the interwebs

Tor is abbreviated for The Onion Router and is one of the best open-source alternative web browsers. It holds a strong reputation for allowing users to browse the internet anonymously. Also, it’s well-known for being the only web browser that allows access to the dark web.

If you use a Mac, check out the best web browsers for Mac and, if you care about performance, discover what are the fastest web browsers for Mac .

No matter if you lack interest in the dark web, this network still ensures great anonymity with its multiple layers of encryption.

This anonymity offered by the browser is ideal for people who want safety while using an alternative browser to surf the internet.

• Cross-platform availability
• Advanced and top-notch data encryption
• The anonymity of websites and servers
• This browser hides your IP address and other private data while browsing the internet.
• This network lets you open websites that are all encrypted and secured.
• You are free to post anything while hiding your identity and enjoy doing democratic activities efficiently.
• This network lets you access blocked and deep web websites.
• It involves redirecting via at least three nodes, making the web browsing slower than usual.
• The startup time is much higher than other web browsers like Firefox or Chrome.
• This network doesn’t allow you to upload or download large files.

5. Avast – Web Browser

Price : Free OS : Windows, iOS, and Android Best For : Home users seeking enhanced cybersecurity

Avast is a prevalent web browser when it comes to cybersecurity.

This network features anti-malware and anti-virus solutions to protect your device from any malicious activity. Plus, the availability of the Avast secure browser on Windows and other OS makes it more popular than ever.

This web browser, that can be great alternative to Chrome , provides its users a private, safe, and secure browsing experience to afford privacy with ease. The browser can enhance your browsing experience by completely eliminating or reducing spammy, creepy ads.

• Automatic blocking of malicious downloads.
• Download manager for downloading high-quality YouTube videos
• The Avast browser has a password manager that ensures generating strong passwords and saves you from having to type a password every time you log in to some password-protected tab or profile.
• You can access geo-blocked websites while hiding your ID address with its integrated VPN technology.
• Due to its dedicated modes, it is beneficial for easy access to banking and shopping portals.
• This web browser is not available on the Mac app store.
• You may have to subscribe to a premium membership to access some of its security features.

If you want to save some storage space, here are some of the best browsers that uses the least RAM .

6. Polarity Browser

Price : Free OS : Windows, Android Best For : blocking ads and getting tracking protection.

Polarity is an amazing alternative dual-engine web browser powered by Trident and Chromium. It ensures low CPU and low RAM usage to focus on system efficiency. It is designed to be optimized for Windows and Android operating systems devices.

It lets you explore the web with a simple, intuitive UI, which is highly customizable with apps, themes, and extensions from the UserStyles, OpenUserJS, GreasyFork, and Polarity Store. Also, it features built-in privacy and adblocker tools like header masking and VPN support.

• Strong web filter that alerts and protects users
• Built-in ad blocker to filter out 90% of ads
• Built-in theming system for customization
• Compared to Chrome, Polarity takes 10x less memory to ensure fast and lightweight performance.
• You can browse the internet with multiple profiles and separate cookies, cache, and history thanks to parallel sessions.
• The customizable UI of the browser lets you customize window color, text color, tab color, and more.
• Although the browser is incredibly fast and lightweight, it crashes sometimes.
• One impractical thing about Polarity is you’ll need to use the built-in deinstallation tool to uninstall this browser.

Did you know you can collaborate while browsing the web? Check out all about shared browsing and co-browsing

7. Mozilla Firefox

Price : Free OS : Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS Best For : Power users and privacy protection

Mozilla Firefox is an open-source, free web browser launched six years before Google Chrome. This web browser is being translated into over 90 languages, and it works effectively with Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Recently, Firefox has added plenty of other features to make its network more secure and protected for its users. For instance, Firefox now automatically blocks and prevents third-party cookies and tracking to safeguard your data from social trackers.

• Less RAM consumption and lightweight design
• Intuitive navigation for easy access
• Alleviates autoplay on embedded videos
• Retrieves web pages with embedded memory
• This web browser ensures enhanced protection for all your Internet browsing activities.
• Thanks to its tracking protection, websites won’t follow you around the internet.
• It provides enhanced network security, multiple add-ons for personalized browsing, and a more straightforward user interface.
• This browser comes with a slow startup time, which can be annoying.
• Unlike Chrome, its add-ons aren’t easy to access and navigate.

No matter why you want to switch from Chrome to a better alternative web browser, you can rest assured that there are plenty of better alternatives out there for free.

When considering an alternative web browser for your needs, contemplate all the features offered by each one of them.

The fact that these browsers are free to download and use makes it ideal and smart to test each one before committing to any particular.

Different browsers ensure different user experiences, so know what’s best for your needs and choose accordingly.

• Top Web3 Browsers 2023
• 22 Top Web Browsers for Linux
• 5+ Best Web Browsers for Windows 11
• Top 5 Chromebook Web Browsers 2022

Alvaro Trigo

I’m Alvaro, a full-stack web developer and a full-time entrepreneur. Creator of fullpage.js . You can follow me at Twitter .

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The Best Web Browsers of 2024

We tested the most popular web browsers to see which is the fastest and best.

• Works natively with Google services
• Syncs across multiple devices
• Outperforms the competition in speed

• Blocks cryptominers
• Prevents fingerprinting
• Stores passwords locally

• Provides high customization
• Protects against phishing
• Syncs data between devices

Our pick: Which web browser is best?

Google Chrome is our pick for the most well-rounded web browser you can get. It’s fast and synchronizes across every device you use. You can perform a search within the address bar, group your browser tabs, and more. Want to go dark? Chrome supports themes, too.

We spent many hours comparing the best web browsers in terms of speed using a handful of tests on Windows and Mac. We provide the results in our Methodology section to show which is the fastest web browser on your favorite desktop platform.

Do you have the slow internet blues?

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Jump to : Best overall | What to look for | Best browser features | Which browsers are the fastest? | Our verdict | Methodology |  FAQ

• Best overall
• What to look for
• Best browser features
• Which browsers are the fastest?

Our verdict

Methodology, the 6 best web browsers.

• Best overall: Google Chrome
• Best for security: Mozilla Firefox
• Best for customization: Vivaldi
• Best for social media: Opera
• Best for Mac: Apple Safari
• Best for Windows: Microsoft Edge

Compare web browser features

What should you look for in a web browser.

The best web browser should be fast and clean to give you the best browsing experience. You don’t want excessive bloat that can bog down your device and cause web pages to load at a dial-up pace.

And while speed is great, security should also be a high priority. Internet browsers should protect users from trackers, hackers, and pesky internet eavesdroppers.

Ultimately, a browser should be your interactive window looking out into the World Wide Web—a picture frame that should never distract you from the view at hand.

Get the best router to complement your fast browser

We tested and reviewed more routers than we can count to determine the best of the best you can get. Go with the TP-Link Archer AX11000 if you want a lot of bang for your buck, or choose the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 if you want lots of features at a higher price. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 is the fastest router we’ve tested to date, but it ain’t cheap.

* Amazon.com Prices (as of 12/19/23 9:35 MST). Read full disclaimer .

Best overall—Google Chrome

• Supports Google services
• Includes tab group management
• Outperforms other browsers in tests

Availability

• Desktop: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS
• Mobile: iPhone , iPad , Android

Data this browser collects from you

And more (see App Privacy )

Chrome is the fastest and best web browser on Microsoft Windows and an excellent alternative to Safari on a Mac in terms of speed. However, you agree to Google’s excessive data collection in exchange for speed and convenience.

More about Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the fastest web browser available for Windows machines. It surpasses the competition in three out of four tests and outranks  Microsoft Edge in all but one test.

On Apple Mac, Chrome is a heavy hitter in performance, outranking Safari in two out of four tests . It’s a good alternative to Safari, but Chrome’s data collection issues are a little disconcerting. If you’re worried about how Google uses your data, Safari or Microsoft Edge may be your better alternative.

Still, despite privacy concerns, Chrome is a great browser overall if you use Google’s services. It’s probably the ideal default browser if you shift between Windows, Android, and Apple devices.

• Supports a huge extensions library
• Syncs across devices
• Collects lots of data
• Uses lots of memory

Best for security—Mozilla Firefox

• Ranks the lowest for speed in tests
• Desktop: Windows, Mac, Linux
• Contact info

If you want the best internet browser that prioritizes security over data collection, Firefox is your best bet. However, it’s not the fastest browser available.

More about Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla’s Firefox browser isn’t known for speed. It falls into last place in most of our tests for Windows and Mac, and that’s okay. Firefox is more about security features than speed, which is ideal if you’re more concerned about blocking malware than loading pages in a flash.

Firefox received a facelift in 2021. Mozilla redesigned the tabs, prompts, menus, and overall look, giving Firefox a new modern interface. Under the hood, Firefox strives to keep you safe online with tools like DNS-over-HTTPS , which encrypts browser requests versus sending the information in plaintext.

Want to improve your home network’s security?

Be sure to check out our list of the best routers for security . We also offer a guide on how to keep your router secure if you don’t need a new one.

• Protects against spyware
• Blocks almost all pop-ups
• Consumes high memory
• Falls behind other browsers in speed

Best for customization—Vivaldi

• Mobile: Android

Vivaldi is great for customizing your browsing experience, but it doesn’t match the speed of Chrome or Safari.

More about Vivaldi

Vivaldi breathes new life into the tired, repetitive web browser design. Here, you can customize the start page, create and use a custom theme, customize and move the menu, customize the toolbar, and so on. You can also assign browser commands to keyboard shortcuts, map commands to gestures, and assign quick commands to the Function keys.

In terms of speed, the Vivaldi browser isn’t the fastest on the planet—at least, not yet. It’s the youngest in the batch, so there’s room for improvement. It ranks fourth in all four tests we run on Windows, while its performance jumps between third and last in the same tests on Mac.

That said, Vivaldi is an excellent middle-ground browser in terms of performance.

• Offers plenty of customization
• Syncs data across devices
• Lacks iPhone, iPad versions

Best for social media—Opera

• Includes a built-in VPN client
• Includes social tools
• Verifies all websites
• Diagnostics

Opera is a good web browser if you want a built-in VPN client and social tools. It provides middle-ground performance in terms of speed.

More about Opera

The Opera browser is great if you want built-in social network tools. The sidebar includes shortcuts to Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and three others you can pin to the browser window. 

Opera also supports two VPN services: Free VPN and VPN Pro . The “pro” version costs $7.99 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our FAQ explains the differences between the two services.

As for performance, Opera is the third-fastest browser in our tests for Windows , falling behind Chrome and Microsoft Edge. It has a similar performance level on our MacBook, falling behind Safari, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge in our four tests. Opera has a “battery saver” mode that reduces background activity and pauses animations, but we verified it was disabled before running our tests.

• Includes built-in social tools
• Loads some websites incorrectly
• Updates less frequently than Chrome

Best for Mac—Apple Safari

• Provides a clean privacy report
• Supports extensions
• Displays tab previews
• Competes with Chrome  in speed on Mac
• Desktop: Mac
• Mobile: iPhone, iPad
• Nitro, WebKit

Safari is the best browser for Macs, hands down. Stick with Safari if you also have an iPhone or iPad. However, if you use other platforms like Windows and Android, Chrome is the better multiplatform solution—if you can ignore Chrome’s data collection woes.

More about Apple Safari

Safari is an excellent example of how Apple optimizes its software for Macs. It’s fast, simply designed, and somewhat customizable. It supports Chrome extensions, tab previews for power users, and easy translations using the menu bar. And while we will always recommend Firefox as the best browser for security , Safari’s privacy report panel lists every website that tracks you across the internet.

The drawback with Safari is that you can’t get it on anything but Apple devices. That means we could measure its performance only on our MacBook, so there are no numbers for Windows-based PCs. That said, Safari and Chrome duke it out for the fastest browser, both taking the top spots in two out of four tests. If you want speed, either browser will do.

• Runs superfast on Macs
• Uses low memory
• Isn’t available outside Apple’s ecosystem
• Has a limited extensions library

Best for Windows—Microsoft Edge

• Stacks tabs vertically
• Groups websites into Collections
• Supports Dolby Audio and 4K
• Competes with Chrome in speed on Windows
• Desktop: Windows, Mac
• Browsing history

Bottom line

Microsoft Edge is a great native browser for Microsoft Windows and a good alternative to Safari on a Mac if you need a browser that runs outside Apple’s ecosystem.

More about Microsft Edge

The original Edge browser was a clunky mess despite Microsoft’s good intentions. It used the company’s in-house EdgeHTML engine and really couldn’t compete with Chrome. Microsoft scrapped its proprietary engine in early 2020 and chose Chromium instead, the browser foundation used in Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, and more.

Now, Microsoft Edge is highly competitive in terms of speed. On Windows, it gives Chrome a run for its money, falling just a hair behind Google’s browser in three of four of our tests . On our MacBook, Chrome and Microsoft Edge are nearly identical in performance, both falling behind Safari.

• Synchronizes across devices
• Includes a PDF viewer
• Lacks a version for Linux
• Collects your browser history

Are you troubleshooting speed issues?

If you have connection problems and slow speeds, your web browser may not be the issue. We provide several guides to help you get back up to speed.

• 7 Reasons Why Your Internet is Slow (And How To Fix It)
• Improve Your Wi-Fi in 10 Simple Steps
• Are Ethernet Cables Slowing Your Connection?
• How to Check Your Internet Speed

Which web browsers are the fastest?

To determine the fastest browser on our list, we ran four different tests three times per browser, determined the average, and compared the results.

On Windows, Chrome tested as the fastest browser, followed by Microsoft Edge .

On Mac, Safari and Chrome shared the top spot as the fastest browser, followed by Microsoft Edge .

In all tests, Firefox was the slowest browser on our list.

See the complete test results in the Methodology section .

Browser specs and features

A web browser is software that downloads data from a remote server and pieces it all together on your screen. It’s your interactive window to the World Wide Web, a view that exists only when you open a tab and enter an address. All browsers provide this basic function, but there are five elements you should keep in mind while considering your browser options.

You want a browser that loads pages quickly and can run in-browser apps without slowing you down. A browser should have a relatively small footprint in your system memory, so it doesn’t affect the performance of your other programs and apps while you surf the internet.

Security and privacy

A browser should make secure connections to websites. They should also provide means to block malicious advertisements, cross-site trackers, cryptominers, and fingerprinters. Users should have tools to block and delete cookies, secure their passwords, and use the browser without worrying about how it collects their data.

Learn more about the best internet browsers for security .

Customization

While you don’t want your window to the internet framed with a clunky interface, it’s a nice bonus to add a personal touch. Most of the browsers on our list provide means for customization.

For example, you can apply a theme in Chrome obtained from the Chrome Web Store . You can create themes in Vivaldi, reposition the menu, or create your own menu.

Compatibility

The best browser should be compatible with the latest internet standards, like HTML5 and WebGL . A good way to benchmark a browser’s compatibility is to use the HTML5 Test website or AnTuTu’s HTML5 Test online utility. Plus, you don’t want to install a browser that can’t access all the modern functions of a website, like web apps.

Easy navigation

While customization is great, you want a browser that’s easy to use. Most browsers we list here are just that, with the address bar headlining your window to the internet. Menus should be tucked away and easily accessible. Settings should be just a click away, and bookmarks should be easy to save and load.

Our verdict: Google Chrome is the best web browser

Google Chrome is fast and available on nearly every platform. It’s our top pick in speed, as it goes head-to-head with Safari on our MacBook and Microsoft Edge on Windows. It’s also a firm alternative if you don’t want to use those native browsers.

But Microsoft Edge is an excellent third-place browser that’s accessible on nearly all platforms. It’s almost as fast as Chrome and Safari and includes a few standout features you can’t get with most browsers, like 4K Netflix streaming.

However, if you want the most secure browser on the planet, Firefox is the way to go, although it’s the slowest browser on our list.

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• How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream Music?
• Ethernet vs. Wi-Fi: Is It Really Better to Go Wireless?
• What Is a Good Download and Upload Speed?

To determine a browser’s speed, we did the following:

• Installed a clean, current copy without any plugins or extensions
• Closed all open programs and unnecessary processes
• Ran four different tests three times
• Calculated the average

To test Microsoft Edge and Safari on their native platforms, we ran browser benchmarks on a Windows laptop and a MacBook . We plugged both in for maximum power performance.

Microsoft Windows

We use a Lenovo ThinkPad with Intel’s Core i7-10850H 6-core processor, 16GB of system memory, and a 500GB SSD for these tests.

Chrome is our biggest performer, taking the top spot in three out of four tests. Microsoft Edge always comes in at a close second, save for one test where it switches seats with Chrome. Firefox is our lowest performer of the browser batch.

JetStream 2

This test measures how fast a browser loads data and how quickly it executes code—higher numbers are better.

Speedometer

This test measures the responsiveness of web applications by simulating user input.

Basemark Web 3.0

This tool performs 20 tests—map scaling, drawing, and so on—in one sitting. It’s also popular for testing a laptop’s battery life, as it loops through all tests until the battery dies.

MotionMark 1.2

This test benchmarks the browser’s capability to render and animate complex scenes within a set frame rate.

Apple macOS

We use a 2018 MacBook Air (A1392) with Intel’s Core i5-8210Y 2-core CPU, 8GB of system memory, and a 128GB SSD for these tests. There’s a huge processor difference between this machine and the Lenovo notebook, so we rerun the benchmarks to compare Safari against the competition on the same Core i5 CPU.

Overall, Safari and Chrome go head to head for the fastest browser. Safari grabs the top spot in two tests, while Chrome dominates in the other two. Microsoft Edge is the best alternative to Safari and Chrome, while Firefox has the lowest performance of the six.

This tool performs 20 tests—map scaling, drawing, and so on—in one sitting.

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FAQ about the best web browsers

Internet browser vs. web browser: what's the difference.

Although we tend to use the term, there’s no such thing as an “internet browser.” The internet is a global network of cables, servers, and switches—it’s the hardware needed to deliver information to your eyeballs. A browser is software that accesses software—the World Wide Web in this case.

In other words, we connect to the internet and use the web. But since “internet” is easier to read and write than “World Wide Web,” we typically stick with the former term.

What is a virtual private network (VPN)?

A virtual private network creates a secure, private connection between your device and the destination. It requires software installed on your device that encrypts your data and establishes a direct, encrypted connection to a remote VPN server. The server then decrypts your data and sends it as plaintext to the destination.

Overall, a VPN prevents the destination from seeing your geological location, IP address, and operating system.

Want to see how a VPN affects your speed?

Run our internet speed test with a VPN enabled. After that, rerun the test with the VPN disabled and then compare the results.

Run a Speed Test

What is a Device ID?

A Device Identifier (ID) is a unique string of numbers derived from other hardware-identifying numbers stored on your device. Browsers use this information to identify your device.

What is a User ID?

A User Identifier (User ID) is a unique profile created by the browser and stored locally as a cookie. This profile includes information such as your processor, storage, screen resolution, and operating system.

What is Chromium?

Chromium is Google’s free, open-source code provided to all internet browser developers. These developers can compile Google’s code with proprietary components and unique designs (Microsoft Edge) or compile the code “as is” (Chromium).

What is HTML5?

HTML5 is the fifth generation of HyperText Markup Language (HTML), the programming language that creates websites you see in your browser. There are three components in HTML5: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) that dictate how web page elements are displayed, JavaScript that executes interactive components, and HTML code that brings it all together.

HTML5 eliminates the need for browser plugins, like Adobe Flash, Silverlight, and Java.

What is WebGL?

Web Graphics Library (or WebGL ) is an application programming interface (API) that allows a browser to render 2D and 3D graphics. These elements are written in JavaScript and OpenGL ES for the web and are executed on your device’s graphics cores, not your processor. WebGL eliminates the need for a browser plugin, eliminating security risks and providing better animation.

To see WebGL in action, visit the Get WebGL website to view a cube rotating in your browser without any additional software.

What is HTTPS?

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (or HTTPS) is a secure version of the application layer protocol used to deliver HTML files, video, and more across the internet. 

In a nutshell, the browser (client) sends a request to the server hosting a website. In turn, the server sends the appropriate files to your device that are pieced together within your browser. These files reside on your device as cache.

Browsers and servers that support HTTPS communicate using the Transport Layer Security cryptographic protocol to encrypt the connection between the website and the browser, not the actual data. This encrypted connection prevents eavesdroppers from obtaining your data but only while it’s en route.

What is DNS-over-HTTPS?

DNS-over-HTTPS is a means of sending a browser query over a secure connection.

Short for Domain Name System, DNS essentially translates alphabetic URLs into proper numeric ones. For instance, when you type “google.com” into your address bar, a DNS service consults its address book and sees that the numerical address is 172.217.2.110. It then sends your browser request accordingly.

Typically this request speeds along the internet highways as plaintext. A secure connection doesn’t happen until the website responds to your browser—a handshake, if you will. With DNS-over-HTTPS, a compatible browser sends your query to a compatible DNS server using an encrypted connection. This connection prevents eavesdroppers from viewing your browsing habits.

Free VPN vs. VPN Pro: What’s the difference?

Opera Software launched VPN Pro in May 2022. In a nutshell, with VPN Pro , you get full device-wide coverage on six devices, a network with 3,000+ servers, 30+ unique locations, two-factor authentication, and live chat support. Here’s a chart showing what you get with both services:

Does Incognito Mode hide you from Google and other services?

No, Chrome’s Incognito Mode feature doesn’t completely protect you. It’s only meant to hide your activities from other people using the same device and browser. Google even confirmed in a court filing in March 2021 that users are not “invisible” when they open an Incognito Mode window. The company said user activity might be visible to websites and third-party analytics and ads.

What happened to Safari for Windows?

Safari 5.1.7 was the last version released on Windows. While you can find links to download the browser, Apple discontinued Windows support in 2012. We do not recommend this browser for Windows users due to the lack of updates and customer support.

What happened to Internet Explorer?

Microsoft retired Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, but it still lives on in Microsoft Edge as IE Mode. To enable it for legacy websites, click the Settings and more button in the top right corner of Microsoft Edge, followed by Settings > Default browser > Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode . Select Allow on the drop-down menu to enable IE Mode.

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Author - Kevin Parrish

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.

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8 Great Safari Browser Alternatives for Mac Users

Not a fan of Safari on Mac? Here are best alternative web browsers to use on your iMac, MacBook, or other Mac device.

With every Mac since 2003, users have gotten a copy of Safari. It's basically Apple's vision of the ideal web browser, targeted at general users. But there are many Safari alternatives for Mac users—some common, some more obscure.

It's worth checking them out, because although Safari isn't a bad browser, other Mac browsers can often offer something different.

So with that in mind, here are some of the best Mac web browsers you'll find right now.

1. Google Chrome

There isn't much to say about Chrome. In a relatively short time, it's grown far beyond every other browser. It's one of the most extensible browsers you can use. You can get everything from password safes to full-on text editors that all live right in your browser.

Even with all the additions, Chrome is a strong contender for the fastest browser.

But this power all comes at a cost. If you're on a laptop, Chrome can chew up a ton of battery life with only a few browser tabs. If you're looking to extend your battery life, this is not the best choice. It is great for web apps, though, especially Google's.

One of the most unsung aspects of Chrome is its built-in web developer tools. If you're messing around with JavaScript, you have a full-on console to experiment in.

Download: Chrome (Free)

Firefox is the original alternative browser and one that many called "doomed" when Chrome came on the scene. Firefox is not dead, but it was touch and go for a few years as there was a persistent idea that it was slow.

Firefox has a renewed sense of relevance driven by quick updates. Performance can also be improved by clearing out old extensions that might hurt performance.

Related: Reasons to Switch From Google Chrome to Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is not the same as Chrome. You won't find an array of apps that turn your browser into an OS. But you will find an excellent array of extensions that make your browser more powerful.

If you're wary of the resources Chrome consumes on your system, Firefox is worth a new look.

Download: Firefox (Free)

Opera is the vinyl record of web browsers. Its fans are deep and devoted, but a little outside of the mainstream. Opera was never the dominant browser on the web. Yet it was usually first to market with features that are now standards in other web browsers.

After a decade of putting Opera on everything with a CPU, the browser has a renewed focus on the desktop. It certainly has some interesting features.

The first is that there is an Opera-branded free VPN you can add as an extension. There's also support for embedding social chat apps into the sidebar. Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger are standard, but you can add others as extensions. There's a built-in RSS reader included as well.

There's even a battery-saving feature included for laptops, which works by tweaking options on the page as it loads.

Opera is a great, lightweight Mac browser if you like features. Beyond its built-in ecosystem, there's an extension that allows you to Chrome Extensions. It's a solid browser, fixing many of the issues that plague Chrome.

Download: Opera (Free)

Vivaldi is meant to be a reboot of Opera, stripping everything down to a bare-bones browser. That bare-bones approach to the browser is not to say that Vivaldi is generic.

Vivaldi has a good balance of features without getting in the way. You can move the tab bar to any side of the window. There are many color themes you can use, which can change based on the time of day. You can even adjust the browser theme based on your Hue light bulb settings.

Vivaldi also has built-in compatibility with Chrome plugins. Web history has in-depth analysis, allowing you to do a deep dive into your browsing habits. The Vivaldi Sync feature lets you access your data elsewhere . There's a notebook included, and you can take notes that include screenshots and attachments.

There are just a few of the reasons to consider Vivaldi as your new web browser for Mac. Considering it only launched officially in 2016, it's come a long way in a short few years.

Download: Vivaldi (Free)

Having been the dominant player in the browser market for so long, it's kind of weird to see Microsoft so far behind now. Sure, it's the second-most used web browser in the world, but its userbase is nowhere near Chrome's.

The good news is it's a great web browser for Mac users. Having replaced Internet Explorer, Edge is fast and easy to use. But like many modern browsers, it owes a huge debt to Google, because it's based on the open-source Chromium browser.

Edge offers plenty of extensibility through the Microsoft Edge add-ons store, but it also supports Chrome extensions. Plus it has features like PDF support, themes, and online tracker blocking.

All things considered, it's an impressive alternative to Safari.

Download: Edge (Free)

6. Tor Browser

The Tor network is a unique way of disguising traffic by routing it through several nodes. For a long time, it was tricky to set up, but the project now offers a browser bundle as a standalone install.

The app is essentially Firefox but with the strictest privacy settings. Your history erases between sessions. Also included are the No Script and HTTPS Everywhere plugins. These add-ons increase security even further. It's not bulletproof, but it should provide some sense of security.

The Tor bundle is an excellent ancillary browser. Using it ensures that your sensitive traffic is not tracked during normal browsing. If you worry about privacy, the Tor browser bundle is for you.

Download: Tor Browser (Free)

Created with the mission of making web browsing safer and faster, Brave's team includes the inventor of JavaScript and the co-founder of Mozilla.

It promises to load pages three to six times quicker than Chrome and Firefox. But that's not the big selling point here, privacy is.

Brave doesn't see or store your browsing data, and it will never be sold to a third party. Brave also includes ad-blocking and private browsing via Tor.

If you need add-ons with your Mac browser, then you'll be pleased to know Brave can use most Chrome extensions. You also sync across different devices, as you would with browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

Download: Brave (Free)

If you remember the late 90s or early 00s, browser suites were all the rage. Even Opera took the form of a suite for a while there. Maxthon combines a notebook app, mail program, a screenshot app, a password manager, and a browser. It is one of the only alternative browsers on the Mac App Store.

Beyond the range of apps built in, there isn't anything that makes Maxthon stand out. The newest version for Mac doesn't even support extensions.

Yet, if you live in your web browser, having everything in one window might be helpful. You have a notebook that you can keep everything in, even your bookmarks. Rather than a sidebar app like Vivaldi, this is a full tab in the browser. Everything is passable here; it's just not distinctive beyond all being in one place.

Download: Maxthon (Free)

One of Your Most Important Apps

Browsers are probably the most-used apps on any modern Mac. Each of these options offers something unique to each user. Give each of them a spin and find out which works best for you. You'll likely find that one of these browsers fits your workflow better than others.

You might find that Safari does fine most of the time—it is designed with Mac users in mind, after all. In that case, you might use one of these Safari alternatives only for supplemental browsing. Plus it never hurts to have a few options installed and ready to go, especially if you experience any problems with Safari.

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Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari: Which Browser Is Best for 2024?

Don't take your browser for granted we help you narrow your options by comparing the best web browsers on speed, privacy, and other important features..

Most people browse the web using Google Chrome without really thinking about their options. Gmail or YouTube or some other site once suggested they use Chrome, and perhaps they never questioned it. The truth is you do have options when it comes to your web browser, and you may find another that serves your needs better. Browsers offer varying levels of privacy, security , performance, and power efficiency. They differ even more when it comes to unique and helpful features beyond merely displaying websites.

Here we examine the top five browsers in the US, in order of popularity. That criterion rules out  Brave  and  Vivaldi , with usage rates hovering near or below 1%, even though they are both first-class browsers. If you're interested in those two, check out our article on the  best alternative web browsers . Or, if your utmost concern is security, see what makes the best private browsers different.

Below are short reviews of the top five browsers. After that, keep reading for more information about the browser landscape, additional details about our testing, and advice on what you should take into consideration when choosing a web browser.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome Web Browser

Most people need no introduction to the search behemoth's browser, Google Chrome. It’s attractively designed and quick at loading pages. Most website codes now target Chrome, so compatibility is seldom an issue. Chrome is available for all major platforms, and the mobile version offers syncing of bookmarks, passwords, and settings.

Chrome doesn't have many unique browsing features, however, and it's the only browser included here that you won't find in the desktop app stores for macOS and Windows. There’s no built-in VPN, no cryptocurrency locker, no note feature, and no screenshot tool. Google has announced a feeble gesture towards adding a reading mode; feeble because it will only be in a sidebar, with the full, noisy distracting page still displaying in the main central browser window. The lack of a true reading mode makes sense for a company that earns its keep through web ads since reading modes hide them. All the other browsers here have full-page reading modes.

Chrome allows multiple user profiles, meaning different users of the same computer can have their own browser settings, history, and favorites. The browser also finally caught up with others by adding a Share icon to the address bar that eases sending sites via social media or email.

A few years ago, Google controversially announced it would be removing the API function that allowed ad-blocker software to fully block ads. As of now, it seems ad blockers may be limited starting at some point in 2024. Some Chrome development, though, has centered around security and privacy, notably among them a plan to kill off tracking cookies in favor of Google's tracking mechanisms. The company's Privacy Sandbox initiative (in development) tries to cater to both  ad targeting and user privacy . Some worry both of these developments will only result in more consolidation of the company's grip on web advertising and user profiling.

Apple Safari

Apple Safari 5

The default Mac and iOS browser is a strong choice, though its interface has some nonstandard elements. Safari was a forerunner in several areas of browser features. For example, it was the first with a Reading mode, which cleared unnecessary clutter like ads and videos from web articles you want to read. That feature debuted in 2010 and has made its way into all other browsers except for Chrome.

Apple has brought up the topic of fingerprinting protection—preventing web trackers from identifying you by your system specs. Unfortunately, the EFF's Cover Your Tracks test site only shows partial protection from trackers in Safari, while several competitors get a result of Strong protection. Other benefits include Apple Pay support and a "Sign in with Apple" feature to replace Facebook and Google as web account authorizers.

In macOS Monterey, the browser gained a compact tab bar with floating tabs like Firefox's and Tab Groups that live in a convenient sidebar, and with Ventura , they become shareable and pinnable. Safari also supports Apple's proprietary Shared with You feature in its proprietary iMessage system. For iCloud+ subscribers, a Private Relay obscures your IP address, similar to a VPN.

If you use an iPhone and a Mac, Safari integration makes a lot of sense, since Apple’s Handoff feature lets you continue your browsing session between devices. Safari trails other browsers on support for emerging HTML features, but we haven’t run into or heard of any major site incompatibilities with it.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge Web Browser

The latest version of Microsoft Edge uses Chrome’s webpage-rendering code, Chromium, guaranteeing site compatibility and freeing up its developers to add unique features. You won’t run into the site incompatibilities users of the previous incarnation of Edge occasionally encountered, and the browser performs snappily. Edge now runs on Apple macOS and Windows 11 and earlier. Mobile versions for Android and iPhone let you sync history, favorites, and passwords.

Edge is a leader in performance, thrifty memory management, and disk usage. Startup Boost technology reduces the time it takes to open the browser, and sleeping tabs save memory on tabs you're not viewing. Edge's Efficiency mode can extend laptop battery life. The initial focuses for the browser were privacy, the customizable start page, and the intriguing Collections feature for web research. For enterprise customers who still rely on Internet Explorer to run legacy programs, Edge offers an IE Mode .

The Collections feature uses a sidebar onto which you can drag webpages and images, write notes, and then share the whole assemblage to Excel, OneNote, or Word. It's a great organization and planning tool . Edge's Immersive Reader mode not only offers distraction-free web reading, stripping out ads and nonessential eye candy, but it can also read webpage text aloud using lifelike Neural Voices. It's worth trying because it reads with sentence intonation, rather than simply word by word, as we’ve come to expect text-to-speech audio.

Other notable Edge options include built-in web sharing, tabs down the side rather than across the top, a built-in screenshot tool, automatic coupons for shopping sites, and timely themes to dress up your browser. Recent additions include a side panel that integrates the new Bing AI chat search , game controller haptic feedback, and a multitasking side toolbar that lets you access first- and third-party services for social networking, search, messaging, search, and productivity.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox Web Browser

Firefox, an open-source project from the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, has long been a PCMag favorite. The browser has pioneered many web capabilities and the organization that develops it has been a strong advocate for online privacy. It’s also notable for its wealth of available extensions. The unique Multi-Account Containers extension lets you sequester multiple logins to the same site on different tabs. Without it, you'd have to open a private browsing window or another browser to sign out of all your web accounts and start a fresh session.

Mozilla’s browser is in the vanguard of supporting new HTML and CSS capabilities, and the company is working on open-source AR and speech synthesis standards. The organization now offers a full password management service called Lockwise, which can generate complex passwords, sync them between devices, and secure everything under a strong master password. That and the organization's VPN offering are paid extras.

The mobile Firefox apps offer excellent interfaces, and you can send a webpage tab from any device to any others that are logged into your syncing account. That’s right: You can be reading a webpage on your desktop PC, and have it instantly open on your iPhone or vice versa. It's a slick and useful feature.

If that’s not enough, Firefox has a Pocket button in the address bar, letting you save a page for later viewing anywhere with one click. The Reader View button declutters a webpage loaded with ads, promos, and videos, so you can peruse it with no distractions. PiP video supports closed captions and HDR and AV1 video formats. The browser is ultra customizable, letting you select and arrange buttons on the toolbar to taste, as well as select from a large number of Theme add-ons that change window border patterns and colors.

Recent additions include PDF editing and the Firefox View feature, basically a pinned tab of recent sites that syncs between the desktop and mobile versions of the browser.

Opera Web Browser

Perennially hovering around the 2% usage level, the Opera browser has long been a pioneer in the segment, inventing basic browser innovations like tabs, CSS, and the built-in search box. Opera can make a bigger privacy claim than the other browsers here—if you’re a believer in VPNs. It includes a built-in VPN (actually an encrypted proxy server) that protects and reroutes traffic from Opera to cloak your IP address. Opera uses the Chromium page-rendering engine, so you'll rarely run into site incompatibilities, and performance is fast. It's available for all major platforms, and the Opera Touch mobile browser is a beautifully designed app that connects (via quick QR scan) to your desktop.

Beyond the VPN, another unique feature in Opera is its built-in ad blocker, which also blocks crypto-mining scripts and trackers. Ad blocking also means less data consumed, especially of interest to those using metered connections or mobile plans with data caps.

More unique features in Opera include its Speed Dial start and New Tab page, as well as its quick-access sidebar of frequently needed services like WhatsApp or Spotify. My Flow lets you send webpages and notes between devices easily. The browser also includes a video pop-out window, a Pinboard feature similar to Edge's Collections, and a Workspaces feature that lets you create function-based tab views. Opera uniquely offers a cryptocurrency wallet as an option, which supports most popular tokens.

Opera offers a gaming version called Opera GX , and the company recently bought a gaming engine , moving into that specialty even further. The company also offers a futuristic secure Crypto Browser for navigating Web3 . And like Edge, Opera is adding AI ChatGPT capabilities to the browser , starting with a summarizer tool for text you highlight or even full sites.

More Inside PCMag.com

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About Michael Muchmore

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine , the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

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The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2024

Get peace of mind and ease of use with our list of the safest, fastest, and most-secure web browsers for PC, Mac, and mobile users

• Western Sydney University

While most devices come with an internet browser, a variety of free browsers offer a more secure user experience, better function, and increased privacy than standard issue browsers.

Here's our ultimate web browser list featuring 10 of the best internet browsers for all platforms, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, and Linux computers to Android devices and iPhones.

Best All-Around Web Browser: Firefox

Massive library of extensions.

Available on all major operating systems.

Full support for Windows Hello authentication.

Frustrating update process.

Scrolling not smooth.

Limited direct support.

Mozilla's Firefox is one of the most popular alternatives to Chrome , Edge, and Safari browsers in part because it's been around since 2002, but mostly because of its frequent updates.

The Firefox internet browser updates regularly with bug fixes, speed improvements, security enhancements, and new features. However, these updates can be frustrating when they automatically start installing when you open the app. Then you have to wait several minutes for the new version to download and install.

Firefox is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android and lets you sync your data between each version through the use of a free Firefox account. The Android, Linux, Mac, and Windows versions of the Firefox browser support a vast library of extensions. The Windows version also supports Windows Hello authentication for enhanced security on compatible websites.

Best Private Browser: DuckDuckGo

Strong security and privacy.

Quickly erase all app data.

Simple settings screen.

Limited cloud sync features.

Lack of history can be inconvenient.

DuckDuckGo is a private internet browser with both mobile and desktop apps. By default, it blocks all forms of online tracking and doesn't upload your search history to anyone's servers. If you're still concerned about your privacy, you can clear all your tabs and data by tapping the flame icon in the main menu.

One particular feature that privacy-conscious folks will appreciate is the security rating that appears next to the current website's address at the top of the screen. Sites are rated from D to A on their encryption levels and the number of trackers detected. Tapping on this rating opens a full-screen report card, which features an impressive amount of information on how they reached the score.

The browser has light and dark themes and a lock setting that requires Touch ID , Face ID, or passcode to use the app.

Best Browser for Windows 10 or 11: Microsoft Edge

Built-in Cortana integration.

Bookmarks and browsing history sync between devices.

Windows Timeline support.

Browser can freeze on ad-heavy pages.

Slow to load embedded videos.

Needs a powerful computer to open many tabs.

Microsoft Edge is the successor to the classic Internet Explorer browser and comes pre-installed on all new on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. This browser is heavily integrated into the operating system and is the default app for opening not only web pages but ebooks and PDF files as well.

This web browser also features built-in inking tools for taking screenshots of pages and Cortana for looking up words and phrases. You can also use its voice dictation to have Edge read articles and other web content to you.

Microsoft Edge also saves your bookmarks and browsing history to the cloud. This data can sync to the iOS and Android app versions for consistent user experience and is compatible with Windows Timeline.

Best Internet Browser for Apple Users: Safari

Built-in support for ApplePay and Touch ID.

Available on all Macs and iOS devices.

Syncs bookmarks and browsing history.

Unavailable for modern Windows computers.

No app on Android smartphones and tablets.

Limited customization.

Safari is Apple's first-party web browser for all of its hardware, from Mac computers and laptops to its iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and Apple Watches . The browser comes pre-installed on all of Apple's devices and is the default app for opening web pages.

Much like Edge on Windows 10 devices, Safari works well on Apple devices because the same company makes it, and it's designed from the ground up to run on a specific set of hardware. Safari supports all major Apple features, such as Apple Pay and AirDrop , and can also perform Touch ID and Face ID tasks on compatible Apple devices.

By using iCloud, Apple's Safari browser can sync browsing history, bookmarks, and passwords between devices. This feature is only useful if you have a lot of Apple devices, though, as there's no Safari browser for Windows or Android devices.

Most-Functional Browser: Google Chrome

Loads Google services quickly.

Massive library of browser extensions.

Available on a variety of devices.

Incognito mode doesn't completely hide your activity.

Browser updates have a history of raising privacy concerns.

Some extensions collect data.

Google Chrome launched on Windows in 2008 but has since expanded to Mac and Linux computers as well as iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

One of Chrome's strongest points is its availability on a multitude of platforms because you can sync your browsing history and other data across different devices. All you have to do is log into your Google account.

This internet browser is also extremely fast, especially when it comes to loading websites owned by Google such as Gmail and YouTube . While other browsers may take a while to load a YouTube video, Chrome usually starts playing the video almost immediately when on a good internet connection.

Most Secure Web Browser: Brave

Robust privacy and security features.

Alternative way to support online creators.

Beginner-friendly introduction to cryptocurrencies.

Affects websites' revenue models.

Inconvenient update methods.

Limited extensions.

Brave is a web browser with a strong focus on privacy and security. By default, this internet browser blocks advertising, cookies, phishing, and malware and provides you with advanced options for enabling HTTPS Everywhere and preventing browser fingerprinting.

All of these security options should help give you peace of mind if you're the type of person to worry about online privacy. These security measures also make web pages load much faster than on other browsers.

What sets Brave apart from other web browsers is its cryptocurrency , the Basic Attention Token (BAT). The Brave browser has an integrated software wallet for storing BAT tokens. You can use these tokens to financially support website owners or online creators when you view their content in the browser. Users can also earn BAT by enabling Brave-run ads during a browsing session.

Brave is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers in addition to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Best VPN Web Browser for Mobile: Aloha

Optional integrated VPN functionality.

Built-in support for VR videos.

Uses less traffic than other browsers.

In-browser ads.

VPN isn't automatically on.

Lacks iOS password integration.

Aloha is a free web browser designed for iOS and Android tablets and smartphones. It has a built-in VPN service in addition to its own Incognito Mode , both of which provide enhanced security and privacy protection. This VPN service also compresses traffic, which means your smart device uses less data while surfing the web.

This mobile internet browser features a fresh visual design with clear, easy-to-understand icons and settings with the option to customize the app's appearance with a variety of free themes. Aloha also has built-in ad-blocking that stops banner ads and popups from loading on websites.

A couple of VPN settings, such as the ability to use the feature in other apps as well, are hidden behind a paid upgrade, which costs $24.99 annually. The app has ads for the Aloha Premium service; you can remove them by signing up. The ads don't detract too much from the user experience, though.

Best Internet Browser for Multitasking: Vivaldi

Add any website to the toolbar.

Numerous customization options.

Supports Google Chrome Extensions.

Not available for iOS.

Not always user-friendly.

Inconsistent window sizes when selecting links.

Vivaldi is a free web browser that was created in 2016 by some of the minds behind the Opera browser. The program is built on the same Chromium-based technology that powers Google Chrome, which allows you to install almost any extension from the Chrome web store.

The main appeal of Vivaldi is its comprehensive options that let you customize its look and functionality to a degree not seen in rival browsers. First, you can change the browser's UI colors anytime you want. You can also move the toolbar can to the top, bottom, or sides, and pin web pages to the side for simultaneous browsing. The latter feature is particularly useful if you like to watch YouTube videos or check a social media site while browsing the web.

Vivaldi is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

Best Browser for Saving YouTube Videos on iPhone: Documents by Readdle

Allows files usually blocked on iOS.

Manages local and cloud files.

Supports PDF and ZIP files.

UI can be confusing.

Some functionality requires upgrade.

Can run slow on older iPhone and iPad models.

Documents by Readdle is a powerhouse of an iOS app designed for both iPhone and iPad users. In addition to featuring web browser functionality, Documents by Readdle also works as a PDF reader, a ZIP file unzipper, a file manager, a media player, an ebook reader, and a one-stop-shop for all of your various cloud storage accounts.

What makes Documents by Readdle a must-download for any iOS user is its ability to download files from the web that other iOS browser apps would block. Documents by Readdle is the perfect app for downloading video files and other media. You can even use it to save YouTube videos to your Camera Roll .

Something advanced users may appreciate is the option to select the browser agent when using the web browser. This setting lets you tell websites which version of a web browser you're using. Then, if you ever need to test a website in one of those browsers, you don't have to switch between apps manually.

Most Diverse Web Browser: Opera

Opera USB is a unique idea.

Extensive library of add-ons.

Custom wallpapers.

Can load slowly.

Many extra features feel redundant.

The Opera web browser launched on Windows in 1996 and is now available on Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even Java phones.

The desktop versions of Opera support a wide range of add-ons that bring extra functionality to the browser beyond browsing the web. Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp can run within a pinned taskbar on the left side of the screen, and the browser features built-in screen capture functionality as well. How much you use these functions depends on your operating system and preferred apps. If you usually check Facebook Messenger using its app or on your phone, for example, you likely won't find this feature in Opera very useful.

Of particular note is Opera USB, a fully functional version of the web browser that can be run off of a USB drive on any Windows computer running Windows 7 and up. This rather ingenious creation is perfect if you have access to a computer at work or while traveling that doesn't allow for the installation of extra programs.

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Safari alternatives: 11 smart iOS browser options

While all ios browsers use the same core rendering engine as safari, many of them offer additional functions useful in business. here are a handful of safari alternatives to test drive..

Chances are your corporate IT policy dictates which browser you use on your laptop or desktop. On your iPhone, though, you may be free to choose a more exotic browser. We’ve rounded up a dozen Safari alternatives for iOS that may suit you better.

Ever since the release of iOS 14 in 2020, Apple has allowed users to select a default browser (the one that opens when you tap on a link in an email or an app) other than Safari. Many alternate browsers will even ask if you want to set them as your default the first time you launch them, though you might want to test drive them for a bit before committing to one.

It’s worth noting, however, that Apple requires developers to use the same WebKit rendering engine as Safari to display web pages on screen, so iOS web browsers are really all just WebKit in a different wrapper. That said, some alternative browsers offer quite different interfaces and/or more expansive feature sets. For instance, one entrant on this list includes a VPN that can be used to secure connections and port your requests through a different location or country.

Check out these options to see if one or more might have a place in your business browsing. Unless otherwise noted, these browsers are free.

Aloha Browser

Aloha is a feature-laden mobile browser that packs a whole lot of Polynesian personality. Beyond the Hawaiian-themed start screen, Aloha offers privacy features including ad blocking; private tabs; a crypto wallet; an internal file manager for downloads, media, and documents; syncing across devices; and a VPN. A premium subscription ($6 per month or $50 per year) enables advanced VPN capabilities like automatic startup/reconnect and encrypting all traffic from your iPhone, instead of just the Aloha browser itself.

The Aloha browser pairs a laid-back Hawaiian look with serious privacy controls.

Google Chrome might be the most popular mobile browser overall, but that’s mostly due to Android’s dominance in the global smartphone market. On iPhones, it comes in as a distant second to Apple’s own Safari.

If you use the Chrome desktop browser, you can sync bookmarks and recently visited sites via your Google account, replicating Safari’s Handoff feature. There’s also one-touch access to Google Translate, voice search using Google Assistant rather than Siri, and a handy QR-code scanner above the virtual keyboard. Chrome’s Incognito mode doesn’t send cookies or store browser history.

Like many alternative iOS browsers, Chrome invites you to make it your default browser.

Dolphin Mobile Browser

The Dolphin browser has one of the longest feature lists of any of the mobile browsers. You can tell Dolphin where you want to go by tapping on one of its speed-dial buttons; selecting a destination from the bookmarks, history, or open tabs it has synchronized with your PC; or typing its address. You can also use touch gestures to select favorite destinations — perhaps tracing a C for Computerworld.com — and you can even control the browser by shaking your phone or speaking to it. On top of all that, you also get ad and tracking blocking and a useful drawer (tap the Dolphin icon) that makes it easy to access the bevy of features Dolphin Browser has to offer. 

The Dolphin browser offers a plethora of features.

DuckDuckGo Private Browser

It’s not just a search engine. In addition to giving the world a way to search the web free from tracking, monitoring, and monetizing your searches, DuckDuckGo offers its own browser . As you might guess, the big focus is on privacy, and it allows you surf the web without being tracked or leaving a trail from your phone.

A Fire button is prominently displayed in the toolbar below web pages; tapping it closes all tabs and clears all browsing data (and does it with your choice of four different animations). You can also “fireproof” sites, marking them as able to set cookies for things like logins, shopping carts, and so forth — but third-party trackers will still be blocked.

DuckDuckGo offers both privacy-focused search and privacy-focused browsing.

Microsoft Edge will sync favorites and passwords between all your devices logged into Microsoft’s cloud servers. Using its “Send to devices” command, you can send a tab from your phone to your other connected devices, and the Collections feature lets you gather and organize web content for later reference. Edge also offers voice search, tracking prevention, an ad blocker, InPrivate tabs that won’t store browsing data, and the ability use both personal and business Microsoft accounts.

If you sign into your Microsoft account, the Edge browser syncs favorites, passwords, Collections, and more between your devices.

Using Mozilla Firefox on the iPhone is a smart choice if you’re already using Firefox on other devices, since it will sync bookmarks, passwords and other information between them all to keep you up to speed. Its customizable home page includes shortcuts, recently visited sites, and more. Firefox on iOS also features the same anti-ad tracking technology found on the desktop and sports large visual tabs for fast retrieval.

Firefox offers a customizable home page and a rich set of features.

Firefox Focus

In addition to the mainstream Firefox web browser, Mozilla also offers a streamlined, distraction-free option called Firefox Focus . If you’re easily distracted, have ADHD, or just want a little help staying on task, it’s worth checking out as an alternative or addition to Apple’s Focus modes that are built into iOS. Firefox Focus blocks ads and trackers by default, and you can erase your browsing history, passwords, and cookies with a single tap on its ever-present trashcan icon.

The minimalist interface of Firefox Focus reduces distractions.

Onion Browser

Tor is a distributed system for anonymizing internet traffic. Developed by the Tor Project, the original (desktop) Tor Browser uses the Tor network to keep your identity and online activity secret — important protection for journalists, activists, whistleblowers, and people who live under repressive regimes that limit internet freedom. If you’re very serious about privacy, using a Tor browser provides far more protection than other options. Note, however, that routing traffic through Tor slows down your browsing, and many websites won’t work properly. For most users, a Tor browser isn’t necessary.

Several third-party developers have ported Tor to iOS. None are directly affiliated with the Tor Project, and the project notes that the WebKit engine underlying all iOS browsers prevents them from having privacy protections as extensive as its own Tor Browser. That said, the project recommends the Onion Browser , which uses Tor routing to ensure that your ISP can’t see what you’re browsing and websites can’t see your IP address.

If you’re an experienced Tor user, you’ll be able to configure the browser’s advanced settings. Otherwise, the Onion Browser makes configuration simple with three security-level presets (Gold, Silver, and Bronze).

The Onion Browser has an array of advanced security settings but also offers simple presets for varying levels of protection.

Orion Browser

At first glance, Orion seems like a very basic browser with the typical feature set. Look at the browser’s settings, however, and there’s a bit more to discover, including different modes to help you focus, streamline your data use, and even conserve battery life.

Orion also blocks ads and trackers. In addition to syncing content between multiple devices, you can protect private browsing tabs or the entire browser using Face/Touch ID or your phone’s passcode.

The Orion browser offers focus, data-saving, and low-power modes.

The name says it all. Search All is designed to search for almost anything, almost anywhere, all at once. You can select from more than 50 different sites to search across several categories including search engines, online stores, video sites, image repositories, wiki-based knowledge sites, some social networks, and even comics libraries and get results from each of them in separate tabs.

While it may not be a go-to browser for everyday use for most people, the ability to instantly search for anything across so many services is incredibly useful when you’re researching a fact, trying to find a specific video clip, comparing prices, or need a specific picture for a project.

Tap into the power of searching multiple sites simultaneously with Search All.

SPIN Safe Browser

The primary focus of the SPIN Safe Browser is safe browsing (hence the name). In addition to privacy controls, it includes content filtering that can hide questionable images and content as you browse. This makes it a good choice if you have kids or want to avoid looking at certain things on a device that you use for work.

What makes SPIN unique on this list is that the developer is focused on the education and enterprise market. It offers a $20 version of the browser that you can customize via an AppConfig-compatible mobile device management (MDM) platform, such as Jamf or Hexnode. This means that IT departments can deploy the browser and have a full set of controls for managing it throughout a school or company.

The SPIN Safe Browser offers standard features but also blocks NSFW content and can be managed via MDM software.

This article was originally published in October 2017 and most recently updated in May 2023.

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Best Mac browser: pick the best Safari alternative for you

We pitch Apple's browser against the popular alternatives

The chances are as a Mac user you do most of your browsing in Safari . It is, after all, a great browser, and the one that comes integrated into OS X, ready and waiting in the Dock to be fired up with every new Mac. It was first developed as a stripped-down alternative to the slow and bloated browsers of a decade ago.

Believe it or not, Apple used to bundle internet Explorer with OS X as far as Mac OS X 10.2 but then gradually phased it out, and Safari became the system default browser with Mac OS X 10.3.

There are some good reasons for using Safari: it's lightweight, quick and has hooks deep into the operating system . It's pretty great at supporting new technologies like HTML5 and can take advantage of Apple's increasingly ambitious iCloud syncing features like iCloud tabs and soon, passwords too.

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It has been developed over the years to support extensions and notifications and of course mobile Safari on iOS enjoys an impressively high global share of web traffic. So if all this is true, why would you consider an alternative?

Part of Safari's appeal is that it is simple and uncluttered, but this also means that it lacks some of the features that other browsers can offer. Power users in particular like to customise and supercharge their browsing experience, going far beyond simple browsing to get more features and work more quickly. Developers need to check that the sites they are building will work across a range of browsers and platforms, and sometimes, despite Apple's assurances to the contrary, certain sites just work better in a browser other than Safari.

Browsing for more choice

The good news is that in recent years most competing browsers have upped their game considerably, and relative newcomers such as Chrome and the more venerable Firefox offer real alternatives to Safari.

There are a huge number of extensions available for these browsers so you can install add-ons to do things like use proxies to view content that is otherwise unavailable in your country, or blog or tweet straight from whatever window you happen to have open. They can be heavily customised, give you advanced bookmark management, download management and RSS feeds.

Many non-Apple browsers now also let you sync data between your various devices using their own systems rather than iCloud. Third-party developers such as Mozilla and Google (which makes Chrome), don't have to stick to Apple's release schedules or strategy, so they are free to add features and change things that Apple might be more reluctant to do with Safari.

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Extensions are particularly useful but there's other stuff that each one does differently, plus some people just like the way a particular browser looks or feels. There's nothing to stop you using several browsers: perhaps you like to use one for work and one for leisure. Browsing using Safari on iOS is substantially more limited than it is on OS X but here still you can power things up by installing a third-party browser, some of which have really useful features not found in Safari, such as ad blocking, download and file management, data compression, Flash support, plugins and the ability to report as different browsers, which is handy for controlling the way sites are presented to you.

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15 Impressive Alternative Browsers

• 17 min read
• Design , Browsers , Technology
• Share on Twitter ,  LinkedIn

About The Author

Victor Clarke is a tech writer and enthusiast blogger. He’s a fan of exploring and discovering new software, mobile and web-apps that make online life … More about Victor ↬

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It’s 2015 and your choice of browser has proven to be as important as your choice of operating system. Dedicated apps may be competing against browsers on mobile devices, but that is hardly the case in the desktop environment. On the contrary, each year more desktop browsers appear, and some of them can change the way you browse the Internet for the better.

Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera dominate the world’s desktop browser market. Whichever statistics you check ( NetMarketshare , StatCounter’s GlobalStats or W3Counter ), you’ll notice that they often contradict each other in declaring which browser is leading the race. However, no matter which method is used to determine usage share, all sources agree that those five browsers do not own 100% of the world’s desktop browser usage. They may be the most popular, but they are not the only options available for accessing the Internet. So, what about the remaining share?

Meet the alternative browsers — an unofficial term for all browsers other than the Big Five. These browsers, in most cases, follow the lead of Opera, which is based on the open-source Chromium project (as is Google Chrome). Anyone can take the Chromium code and build their own browser from it, adding and removing whatever functionality they wish. A similar case is Firefox, which is also an open-source project.

Keep in mind how often the Chromium engine is updated. Chromium, like any other software, has bugs. The developers behind it strive to eliminate those bugs, introduce performance fixes and minimize security threats. This is why Google Chrome has a six-week update cycle. It’s also why other Chromium-based browsers should follow suit. Most browsers try to keep up with Chromium releases, but some fall behind by six or seven versions, which is damaging to the user’s online security and browser stability.

So, since alternative browsers are basically tweaked copies of bigger browsers, does that mean they are bad tools for productive web browsing? Absolutely not! Alternative browsers aim to deliver improved performance and extra features to enhance the user’s online experience. They are a quick way to get a tool with all of the functionality a user needs right after installation.

Below are 15 desktop browsers that are worth considering if you’re tired of the browser war champions. This list isn’t comprehensive — several hundred browsers are available online — but these are the ones that regularly receive updates and provide a new web surfing experience.

We won’t delve into the development aspects behind each browser. Instead, you’ll find a quick overview of the most interesting features and of functionality that isn’t available in the popular browsers by default or even with add-ons. We’ll also mention the rendering engine used in each browser to give you an idea of how you will experience the web in them: Blink (on which Chrome is based), Trident (Internet Explorer), Gecko (Firefox) and WebKit (Safari). Let’s start with those that have the most features and move towards more single-purpose browsers.

The Browsers

• Operating system(s): Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Symbian, Java
• Rendering engine(s): Blink
• Key feature(s): most cross-platform, distinctive UI

UC Browser is one of the most cross-platform browsers — you can even make it work on an old Symbian device. This isn’t the only reason to check it out. The well-rounded design and smooth animation of all elements make UC Browser feel fresh and modern. An up-to-date Chromium engine contributes to browser’s security. To begin, you choose how a new tab will look: a bubble-like speed-dial UI or a more traditional layout. UC Browser offers a cloud account for all of your settings, bookmarks and extensions from the Chrome Web Store, a decent alternative to the whole Google ecosystem.

Downloading files is another notable aspect of UC Browser. The downloads manager isn’t advanced (you can’t download torrents or online video), but it’s rather unique. It is the only browser that sorts downloads by category , helping you navigate gigabytes of files. The browser can even download files to the dedicated UC Cloud Storage. Although its capacity is small, 2 GB, this is a useful feature for mobile devices because you don’t have to wait for downloads to finish.

UC Browser doesn’t focus only on security, file downloads and social networks. This browser aims to appeal to a wide audience, without dictating how it is to be used. Most Chromium browsers can be considered an improved version of Chrome somewhat, whereas UC Browser is more of a new Chrome.

• Operating system(s): Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone
• Rendering engine(s): Trident, Blink
• Key feature(s): cross-platform, own ecosystem

Maxthon is a popular Chinese browser available for desktop and mobile platforms. It incorporates two rendering engines and packs an abundance of features , including split-screen view, a built-in proxy manager, ad-blocking and moderate acceleration of downloads. By logging in with Maxthon Passport (analogous to a Google Account), all of your settings, tabs, extensions and passwords are synced across multiple devices.

Maxthon’s UI is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it’s a fresh interface for managing tabs, extensions and all of the added functionality. However, most of the extra features are available via yet another sidebar, which might be an annoyance for some users. The RSS reader, downloads manager, note-taking app and games are not the most necessary extensions, but they can be uninstalled. Maxthon has its own extensions service, but you’re not likely to find a lot of your favorite Chrome or Firefox plugins.

Despite all of the rough edges, Maxthon is a powerful yet resource-light browser. You can monitor resource consumption in a customizable toolbar at the bottom of the window, which is a nice touch. For cross-platform use, Maxthon is certainly a great option. It’s smooth and fast, but filled with features and extensions that not everyone might want. This leads us to an interesting alternative.

• Operating system(s): Windows
• Key feature(s): minimalist, fast

MxNitro is a different take on Maxthon. With speed the focus , this browser is like a stripped-down version of Maxthon, with almost nothing except basic functionality. MxNitro is minimalist, lightweight and speedy. It’s fast to install and ready for browsing immediately — no need to tinker with the settings because none are available.

There are no extensions, no cloud syncing and no downloads manager . The sole purpose of MxNitro is to enable you to browse the web with no clutter, distraction or resource drain. It’s not perfect yet. The developers are improving the browser, promising to make it available on other platforms and to integrate ad-blocking. The biggest problem with MxNitro is the absence of a convenient bookmarks manager or speed dial. There is a quick launch menu with some predefined websites, but users can’t customize it. MxNitro might be the perfect solution for people on old PCs or with low demands.

• Key feature: multimedia-oriented

Torch aims to be a powerful media-consumption center, rather than a straightforward browser. It is Chromium-based, heavily restyled, with some added functionality. The new tab page boasts a customizable, minimalist yet stylish design, while the toolbar sports shortcuts to all media features available in the browser. The Torch Music app is a shortcut to the web app of the same name, a music-streaming service with many popular artists and albums. However, all of the music comes from YouTube; hence, the rather low sound quality. Torch Games is a Flash games collection that helps you kill time at work. The Facelift tool (a Facebook theme changer) and the share button make it a convenient tool for social-networking fans.

Torch’s downloads manager delivers files somewhat faster than Chrome, but it often has bugs and crashes. Torch can also download torrents and magnet links, which are handled not in the downloads manager but in a separate tab. The feature to play videos in the browser while they are being downloaded, while not yet completed, is an interesting alternative to watching videos online. Videos can be downloaded from streaming services such as YouTube, Vimeo, Daily Motion, etc.

Torch has several mild annoyances, though. It tends to display popups to explain features, and it asks you to spread the word about it in social networks. If you don’t need some of the features, there’s no easy way to remove them, and the developers don’t seem to hurry to update the Chromium engine, which can result in security vulnerabilities. Despite all this, Torch is a great experience for movie, music and social-network lovers.

• Operating system(s): Windows, Mac
• Key feature(s): fast downloads, timely updates

At the time of writing, Citrio does the best job of making timely Chromium updates , helping with security, bug fixes and implementation of new features. The browser is a lot like Chrome, but it looks simpler and performs better. Citrio is a simple yet powerful browser for file downloads and media consumption.

The downloads manager is used for normal downloads, torrents and magnet links alike, without particularly differentiating between them, and it is comfortable to use. The speed boost and the ability to resume downloads in case of a failed connection make Citrio a great tool for downloading large files.

In addition to its useful downloads manager, Citrio comes with a bunch of extensions. While the YouTube downloader and the video player for downloads in progress will be well received by some users, the news reader and social sharer are very basic. There are better alternatives in the Chrome Web Store. And if you don’t like a particular extension, it can be easily removed. Overall, Citrio is a nice downloads-oriented Chrome alternative that won’t confuse new users.

Baidu Browser

• Operating system(s): Windows, Android, Windows Phone
• Key feature(s): video downloader, social media integration

Baidu browser is a Chinese offering oriented around social media and downloads. It supports Chrome extensions, and Facebook and WhatsApp extensions are preinstalled (but can be deleted). Baidu is based on Chromium but has separate URL and search boxes, reminiscent of Firefox. Browser skins can be swapped, and the speed-dial panel with preinstalled bookmarks can be customized.

Baidu has an integrated BitTorrent client, with an option to limit the downloads thread so that it doesn’t interfere with other downloads or the buffering of online videos. There is also a capture tool and an online video downloader, which is the most convenient function of Baidu. This is a rare example of a browser that lets you choose the quality of video to download and has a separate button for downloading MP3 audio. Online video can also be given a separate window, allowing users watch it without having to keep a tab open for YouTube.

Unlike UC Browser, Baidu isn’t much different from Chrome , although it tries to be. Its fast startup time, advanced YouTube functionality and downloading tricks make it useful for media consumption.

• Operating system(s): Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, Windows Phone
• Key feature(s): pleasant fonts, tab grouping

Sleipnir is a Japanese web browser based on the Blink engine; hence, Chrome users will find it familiar. The browser strongly resembles Safari, bringing not only the Mac OS X design, but also standard Mac fonts. Sleipnir renders fonts similarly to the Mac, appearing rounder and thicker. The merit of the effect is highly subjective, but reading text in Sleipnir is a pleasant experience that is difficult to ignore.

However, fonts aren’t all Sleipnir has to offer. Instead of providing favicons and tab names, Sleipnir displays thumbnails of opened pages , making navigation somewhat easier. The thumbnails are a nice touch when five or six tabs are opened, but more can get cumbersome. This is where Sleipnir’s groups kick in: Tabs can be sorted by topic for easier navigation; for example, keeping personal websites separate from work-related ones.

Because Sleipnir is available on multiple platforms, you can use Fenrir Pass (analogous to a Google Account) to sync tabs, groups and passwords and to send pages to your smartphone. The browser supports mouse and touchpad gestures, as well as Chrome extensions. Performance and speed are good, but Sleipnir has a steep learning curve because of its unusual design and workflow. If you’re willing to try it out, the experience may be very rewarding.

• Operating system(s): Windows, Mac OS X
• Key feature: security and privacy

Epic is the only privacy-oriented browser on this list. That’s mainly due to the more regular updates of the Chromium engine compared to other popular browsers in this field (for example, WhiteHat Aviator and Comodo Dragon ). It’s usually several versions behind Chrome, but that’s better than the alternatives. Epic is designed for a secure browsing experience out of the box. You could argue that users can add a bunch of extensions to Chrome and get the same effect, but not every user knows how to do that or knows what exactly needs to be blocked.

Epic is basically Chrome with no strings attached to Google : No data gets sent or collected, trackers are blocked, AdBlock comes preinstalled, and a convenient one-click proxy switcher will hide your IP address. Users also have a measure of control over what to block. When you click the umbrella icon, Epic visualizes what services are tracking you and shows toggles for add-ons, data encryption, ad-blocking and notifications.

• Operating system(s): Windows, Android, iOS
• Rendering engine(s): Trident, Gecko, WebKit
• Key feature: multiple rendering engines

Lunascape is a simple cross-platform web browser that takes advantage of its three rendering engines . This feature is backed up by a cascading view of web pages. With it, you can display one or several websites in the browser without having to open a separate window.

The highlighted search lets you search a selected term from multiple sources. Lunascape also has a ticker that displays new headlines from selected sources in the toolbar. This functionality can be expanded with a number of Internet Explorer and Firefox add-ons, as well as by some Lunascape exclusives.

While the browser doesn’t look modern, performance and resource consumption are good. Lunascape’s trump card — the ability to open a website with any rendering engine — will be useful for compatibility .

GreenBrowser

• Rendering engine(s): Trident
• Key feature: enhanced Internet Explorer experience

GreenBrowser is based on Internet Explorer. There’s nothing fancy about it: The experience is pretty basic, the design reminiscent of Internet Explorer 8, and there is almost no advance functionality or plugins to compete with Chrome’s. However, GreenBrowser still gets updates, performance is good, pages load quickly, and the user has everything they need for simple web browsing .

Nevertheless, GreenBrowser integrates many useful features : ad-blocking, speed-dial, drag-and-drop options, mouse gestures and a “boss” button to quickly hide the browser. A nice touch is the clock in the browser’s bottom taskbar, which makes full-screen mode a little more convenient. This is how Internet Explorer should have looked and functioned years ago. If MxNitro is a little raw for you, try GreenBrowser.

SlimBrowser

• Key feature(s): lightweight, fast

SlimBrowser is an improved version of Internet Explorer . The lightweight installer delivers a full-featured and fast browser with a customizable taskbar. Built in is a YouTube downloader, a weather forecast widget, ad-blocking, Facebook support, a form filler, a popup blocker and a lot of other nice details.

SlimBrowser has a downloads manager, although not as powerful as the ones in Chromium-based alternatives. It might be not much, but for the fans of Internet Explorer, SlimBrowser probably works better than it. And, as advertised, it launches and loads pages much faster .

PirateBrowser

• Rendering engine(s): Gecko
• Key feature: integrated Tor client

PirateBrowser is a project developed by the Pirate Bay team and whose main purpose is to overcome governmental restrictions on certain websites . It basically consists of Firefox, Portable Edition + Vidalia + the FoxyProxy add-on. Vidalia is a user-friendly GUI for the Tor anonymity network , which reroutes your Internet traffic. Once you launch PirateBrowser (which doesn’t require installation), Vidalia automatically connects you to the Tor network, launching Firefox thereafter.

FoxyProxy switches the user’s Internet connection across multiple URL proxy servers. PirateBrowser won’t give you absolute anonymity on the Internet, but it’s a great starter kit for circumventing online censorship.

• Rendering engine(s): Blink, Trident
• Key feature: built-in file manager

At a first glance, Tungsten seems like nothing special. It’s a minimalist Blink and Trident browser with typical performance. It supports Chrome extensions, and its design is similar to Internet Explorer 10’s. The interesting part is that Tungsten is not only for the web, but also a browser for your local files and apps .

Software such as Clover creates a tabbed browsing experience for Windows Explorer. Tungsten turns this idea upside down. The browser opens Windows Explorer inside a tab , so you can navigate your folders, open files and launch programs. While not revolutionary, it’s nice to find a feature that comes close to the ChromeOS concept of doing everything in the browser .

In Development

• Operating system(s): Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Key feature(s): highly customizable, tab stacking

Developed by a team of ex-Opera developers, Vivaldi is being created to repeat the initial success of Opera and satisfy fans of the original browser. So far, we’ve gotten four technical previews of the browser but not a full release. It’s too early to judge, but Vivaldi already shows some interesting features.

The design is flat and minimalist and stands out from the crowd. The color palette changes according to the current website’s predominant colors. Speed-dial is most certainly present, so there’s no need for that add-on. Page action is new: You can control a page’s colors and fonts, apply filters and distort it as much as you like. It’s more of a gimmick, but the feature could find useful applications.

Just like in Opera, you can stack tabs into groups . Because of this, tab previews make a lot more sense than in other browsers. Notes can be left on any page , and future versions promise a Vivaldi mail service. Once Vivaldi leaves beta (or the technical preview stage), we can expect a powerful competitor in the browsers war.

Project Maelstrom

• Key feature: P2P web browsing

Project Maelstrom is “the world’s first torrent-based browser.” Maelstrom receives web content from peer networks instead of the servers that host the website. This is done for the purpose of distributing web content and making it independent of the hosting servers. In case a server goes down (whether because of malfunction or government restriction), the content will still be available because many people have it and are willing to share.

Maelstrom is Chromium-based and is Chrome in every other respect — functionality, navigation, extensions, etc. You’re not limited to P2P-distributed websites; you also get access via HTTP and HTTPS. The problem with Maelstrom is that few websites support this technology . When you first access a P2P website (a list is available on the browser’s home page), you’ll download its pages using a magnet link. Hence, the process takes more time than usual. Maelstrom is an interesting idea and, because it’s still in beta, needs more time to get polished and popularized.

The combination of new features and familiar workflow makes alternative browsers a convenient way to transform your web-surfing experience. Most people will be well off choosing an alternative browser based on their current favorite. That way, they’ll be able to get the most out of new features without having to adapt to a new environment.

The best part is that you don’t need to make a full switch . You can select a browser that boosts performance or introduces functionality that your main browser lacks and use it for that purpose only. Eventually, you might even forget that you’re not using Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer. Also, not everyone needs the full power of Chrome or the customization of Firefox. Less is more, and sometimes all you need is a fast and reliable way to access a search engine.

This is what alternative browsers give users who are willing to try something new: the possibility to bend the Internet to their needs and preferences.

Further Reading

• Dear Web User: Please Upgrade Your Browser
• What’s The Deal With The Samsung Internet Browser?
• Review Of Cross-Browser Testing Tools
• Testing Mobile: Emulators, Simulators And Remote Debugging

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8 iPhone browser apps you should use instead of Safari

By default, the Safari web browser is available on every iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, several other web-browsing options can be found on the App Store, each with at least one unique feature that distinguishes it from the others. While some web browser apps like Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo, and Microsoft Edge might already be familiar to you, others such as Aloha and Arc Search may not be.

Google Chrome

Microsoft edge, aloha browser, brave browser, opera browser, duckduckgo private browser, firefox focus, which safari alternative should you choose.

If you’re looking for a Safari alternative, here are our favorite iPhone browser apps you should consider using instead.

Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world. It stands out as offering one of the best user interfaces for newcomers. Its rapid browsing speed, integration with Google Search, and robust security measures against malware and phishing attempts contribute to its popularity.

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An essential feature of Chrome is the ability to sign in with your Google Account, which allows you to synchronize bookmarks and browsing history across devices where Chrome is active. Chrome also includes a password manager that stores website login details, simplifying the login process without the need to recall numerous credentials. Users can also leverage Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos to ensure password accessibility across these platforms for convenience.

In short, Google Chrome emerges as the choice for individuals seeking a browsing experience across their range of devices within the Google ecosystem. If you’re a big Google user, this is the way to go.

Download Google Chrome

Arc Search is the latest addition to the selection of mobile web browsers, and it evolved from its desktop version, which was initially launched in 2023. Arc is unique from other web browsers because it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to perform searches on your behalf. Although it may take some time to get used to, the result is an exciting spin on search .

By utilizing the app’s “Browse for Me” functionality, you can view a typical search page with the AI to gather information from six different sources. This will provide a personalized webpage showcasing all the essential details required to answer your search query.

If you do a traditional search, Arc makes it simple to choose your search engine among a list of choices, starting with your iPhone’s default web browser.

Spaces is an exciting feature of Arc Search that lets you organize tabs and themes for a personalized look. Perhaps best of all, Arc Search prioritizes security and privacy and doesn’t track browser activity or search history. It’s one of the more unique Safari alternatives, but if you want a wholly new web-browsing experience, it’s well worth checking out.

Download Arc Search

If you’re already using Microsoft Edge on your Mac or PC, you might find the Microsoft Edge browser helpful. It offers password monitoring, ad tracker blocking, and other features many browsers lack. You can use the InPrivate browsing feature to browse the web without saving your browsing history, cookies, or other data. Microsoft Edge also includes AI capabilities through its Copilot tool, which makes searching easier.

With Microsoft Edge, you can sync your favorites, passwords, and browsing data between your mobile device and other devices. You can also earn rewards points through the Microsoft Rewards program, which you can redeem for various benefits like Starbucks gift cards, a free month of Xbox Game Pass, and more.

Microsoft Edge, even with its AI tools, is best considered a traditional browsing tool for mobile and desktop. That alone means it’s not for everyone. Nonetheless, it’s reliable and stable and gets the job done.

Download Microsoft Edge

Aloha is a web browser that also acts as a private VPN . It comes with an Adblock Plus plug-in to block annoying ads. While it is free, it’s recommended that you purchase one of the premium options after the one-week free trial.

Aloha’s free version includes a VPN that encrypts your internet traffic, making it less likely for you to experience a data breach while browsing anonymously. The built-in ad blocker blocks ads and trackers, improving your browser speed and protecting your privacy. The incognito mode creates a private browsing session that doesn’t save cookies. In addition to its primary function as a VPN service and web browser, Aloha also offers a media player, profile manager, and a Web3 cryptocurrency wallet.

By upgrading to Aloha Premium , you can modify your VPN country selection and configure the VPN to start automatically with the browser. The premium package also extends VPN protection to all devices and includes other premium features. It also removes the occasional ad you’ll see with the free version.

If you want to use Aloha, keep in mind that it currently lacks a desktop version. This means you won’t be able to synchronize your passwords or browsing history across all your devices. If that’s not an issue for you, definitely give this one a look.

Download Aloha

AI technology has now been integrated into the Brave browser — making it one of the better Safari alternatives out there. Brave, also available for desktops, offers features similar to other options on this list — such as Adblock, a rewards system, and a crypto wallet. It also includes a built-in VPN service as a feature, with new users eligible for a free week’s trial of the VPN .

Having used Brave for quite some time, I am consistently impressed by its user interface, which stands out for its creativity. I also find that the built-in news feature enhances the overall mobile web-browsing experience.

On a less positive note, while the Brave VPN functions as expected, it is worth noting that it is priced higher than other options on the market. This aspect should be considered before deciding on an in-app purchase. Even so, Brave still stands out as a fantastic Safari replacement.

Download Brave

Opera has been around for a while and has stayed relevant by incorporating new technology as it arrives. A recent enhancement to Opera is an AI feature called Aria, which aims to assist users in navigating the internet effectively by understanding their queries and responding in natural language.

Aria is currently kept separate from the rest of the browser. This setup isn’t necessarily a drawback; it’s simply Opera’s chosen design. In addition to the AI component, Opera includes web browser functions like bookmarks, privacy mode, synchronization, and more. Opera also boasts an Opera Fast Action Button (FAB), a multi-functional tool that makes navigating and switching between recently opened tabs easier. Finally, Opera provides a VPN service that comes with privacy tools at no cost. Combine all of that with a clean and simple interface, and there’s a lot to like with this one.

Download Opera

DuckDuckGo is an exceptional web browser with a reputation for being the ultimate guardian of user privacy. With its advanced capabilities, DuckDuckGo is designed to keep your online identity under wraps and protect you from the prying eyes of third-party advertisers and data collectors. It does this by automatically blocking trackers hidden in the websites you visit, providing you with a safe and stress-free browsing experience.

DuckDuckGo’s user interface is also user-friendly and allows you to personalize your settings according to your preferences. You can turn off images, use the Fire Button to quickly clear your tabs and browsing data, and customize other settings to make your browsing experience seamless.

One of DuckDuckGo’s most remarkable features is its search engine, which doesn’t track your search history. This means you can search for anything you want without worrying about your searches being stored or used for targeted advertisements. If privacy is a top concern for you, DuckDuckGo should be at the top of your list when searching for a Safari replacement.

Download DuckDuckGo

Firefox Focus is another browser that prioritizes privacy. The browser blocks trackers and ads by default, ensuring that companies do not gather browsing data and habits. This aspect proves beneficial for users who value their privacy.

The browser accelerates page loading times by disabling trackers and data collection, resulting in a better browsing journey. Using Firefox Focus can also reduce mobile data consumption, which is advantageous for users with data plans.

Download Firefox Focus

If you’re not satisfied with the default browser on your iPhone and are looking for an alternative, it’s worth exploring some of the options available.

To make an informed decision, download a few of these browsers and test them to see which works best for you. Consider factors such as speed, ease of use, privacy features, and level of customization. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll be better equipped to choose the browser that best suits your needs.

Happy browsing!

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Power banks are a necessary evil, and even if you don’t consider yourself a “power user” who's likely to drain a phone’s battery in less than a day, there will be times when one comes in handy. And when I am forced to carry one, I want it to be as helpful and versatile as possible.

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Over the past few months, Apple has released a steady stream of research papers detailing its work with generative AI. So far, Apple has been tight-lipped about what exactly is cooking in its research labs, while rumors circulate that Apple is in talks with Google to license its Gemini AI for iPhones.

But there have been a couple of teasers of what we can expect. In February, an Apple research paper detailed an open-source model called MLLM-Guided Image Editing (MGIE) that is capable of media editing using natural language instructions from users. Now, another research paper on Ferret UI has sent the AI community into a frenzy.

33 Cool Alternative Web Browsers You Didn’t Know | 2024 Edition

We use web browsers to find information, update our social media, and stay updated on global events. If you have a Windows or Mac computer, you’re probably using Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox. These four browsers dominate over 90% of the market share worldwide.

However, there are many alternative browsers out there that you probably haven’t heard of. They offer various unique and easy-to-use features.

If you’re someone who loves trying out new software and tools and you’re always multitasking, you’ll find this list of alternative web browsers really helpful and interesting. It covers cool browsers for all the latest devices like tablets, smartphones, and computers.

Did you know?

WorldWideWeb (later renamed Nexus) was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1990. It was not only the first web browser but also the first web editor.  

Table of Contents

33. Iridium Browser

New builds of version 2024.01.120 have just been made available for openSUSE Tumbleweed and Leap 15.5. These releases are based on Chromium 120.0.6099.224. learn more https://t.co/Q0SaW6F2YR #foss #opensource — Iridium Browser (@IridiumBrowser) January 29, 2024

Platform : Windows, Mac, and Linux

Iridium is an open-source browser based on the Chromium project. It focuses on privacy and security, aiming to provide users with a more private and secure experience compared to popular browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. 

It includes built-in measures to prevent website fingerprinting, block tracking cookies, and combat various forms of online tracking techniques. 

• Minimizes user tracking and data collection
• Offers fast and responsive browsing experience 
• Options to adjust privacy settings and install extensions
• Regular security updates and patches
• Not available for iOS and Android 
• May consume significant system resources

In short, Iridium is a compelling choice if you are seeking a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream browsers. However, you should consider its limitations and compatibility factors when evaluating it for your daily browsing needs. 

32. Cốc Cốc

Platform : Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

Cốc Cốc Browser is designed specifically for users in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries.

It offers a range of features tailored to the needs and preferences of users in the region, including built-in tools to improve productivity and convenience while browsing the web. This includes an ad blocker, video downloader, a download manager, and built-in antivirus protection.

The browser also allows you to set your search engine, favorite websites, and news sources to appear on the homepage for quick access. 

• Provides a localized browsing experience
• Has its own search engine, called Cốc Cốc Search 
• Option to disable tracking cookies
• Not widely available or supported in Western countries

Unlike other browsers, Cốc Cốc has its own search engine. It is optimized for Vietnamese language queries and provides localized search results. It offers instant search suggestions, image search, and voice search. 

As per their official website, Cốc Cốc has more than 30 million users. 

Platform : Windows and Linux

Falkon is known for its lightweight nature and fast performance. It is built on the QtWebEngine rendering engine, which is based on the Chromium project. 

The browser has many customization options, including options to customize the toolbar, theme, and font settings. Plus, it has a built-in ad blocker to reduce distractions and speed up page loading times. 

• Perfect for older or less powerful hardware
• Plenty of customization options
• Robust tab management
• Built-in ad blocker
• Has a smaller user base and a less developed ecosystem 

Falkon also prioritizes user privacy and security. It offers features like Do Not Track (DNT) support, private browsing mode, and cookie management to help users protect their online privacy and minimize tracking. 

30. Otter Browser

Otter aims to provide a modern and customizable browsing experience while preserving the best aspects of classic web browsers, particularly the Opera 12.x series. 

It comes with a customizable toolbar and sidebar for quick access to bookmarks, history, and downloads. Plus, there is a speed dial feature that allows you to quickly access your favorite sites and web applications from a customizable grid of thumbnails. 

• Classic interface 
• Tab stacking
• Bookmarks and history management
• Limited extension support

You have the option to organize and navigate related tabs by grouping them together. This enhances your browsing experience, particularly when you have numerous tabs open simultaneously.

Although Otter may lack the extensive ecosystem and extension support found in mainstream browsers, it presents an excellent alternative for those seeking customizable features and efficient tab management.

Platform : GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, Mac OS X

Dillo is a free, minimalistic web browser written in C and C++. It is based on Fast Light Toolkit, which is known for its speed and small footprint.  

One of its features is a bug meter that helps web developers catch bugs while parsing web content, helping them stick to web standards.

• Small footprints
• Friendly to both users and developers
• Looks outdated

The browser features tabbed browsing, bookmarks, support for jpeg, png, and gif images, and XHTML with CSS rendering. The home page, fonts, download folder, and background color can be customized via configuration files.

Platform : Windows, macOS X, Linux

QtWeb is an open-source web browser based on Nokia’s Qt framework and Apple’s Webkit rendering engine. It is a lightweight, secure, and fast web browser developed by LogicWare & LSoft Technologies.

• Lightweight and fast
• Customizable user interface
• Easy access to most privacy functions
• No plug-ins or add-ons management

It includes an ad filtering function, pop-up blocking, privacy mode, mouse gesture, web inspector for debugging webpages, customizable keyboard shortcuts & search engine.

27. GreenBrowser

Platform : Windows

GreenBrowser is a speedy and highly customizable web browser built on the core of Internet Explorer. It’s compact and doesn’t hog system resources.

It comes packed with handy features like ad filtering, the ability to save pages as a group, a boss key for privacy, mouse gestures for easy navigation, a page manager, a status bar, a video player, and customizable page background colors.

• Comes with a powerful ad filter
• Page Manager
• Autosave pages
• UI looks outdated

Moreover, it supports various useful plugins that can be added to the external toolbar for even more functionality.

26. Browzer

Browzer is a free privacy-oriented web browser that doesn’t save cookies, history, temp files cache, and passwords. This is great for banking and cloud applications. It automatically clears all data when you close the browser.

• Easy to use
• Total browsing privacy
• Popup management
• Doesn’t get regular updates

Moreover, it supports auto-complete blocking, crash protection & recovery, homepage customization, secure file deletion, pop-up management, and Index.dat cleanup.

25. Coowon Browser

You must install it if you are a gamer.  Coowon is a Google Chrome-based Browser built with some unique features that are perfect for web gamers. It helps you perform game botting, play & record mouse clicks, control game speed, and has Gamepad support.

• Gamepad support
• Login to different accounts simultaneously in special tabs
• Record your mouse clicks and keystrokes
• Not ideal for regular users

It also includes features like mouse gestures for convenient navigation, drag-to-go functionality, support for multiple login tabs, buttons to quickly reopen closed tabs, and translucent, floating windows for a modern look. Currently, it’s accessible for both Windows and Mac OS users.

24. Pale Moon

Platform : Windows, Linux

Pale Moon is a tweaked version of Firefox, but it comes with a few extras like WebRTC, a PDF viewer, support for 64-bit computing, hardware acceleration, and some customization options such as the status bar and scrolling. It also supports Windows parental controls and can use many Firefox extensions and themes.

• Optimized for modern processors
• Fully customizable interface with plenty of gradients and fonts
• Supports lightweight themes
• Lacks privacy-protecting features

This open-source tool aims to provide close adherence to a balanced set of web standards and specifications in its implementation. It purposefully excludes some functions to strike a balance between technical advancements, performance, and general use of the Web.

23. SlimBrowser

SlimBrowser is a lightning-fast browser that uses the Microsoft Trident layout engine. This is a great alternative web browser for Windows in terms of time-saving.

• Instant photo upload and photo framing
• Built-in download manager
• Save the screenshot of a whole page
• No bandwidth-saving option

It features an auto form filter, one-click Facebook integration, fast download manager, YouTube video downloading, Web page translation, popup blocker, blacklist/whitelist filtering, and integration with an online virus scanner.

Platform : Mac

iCab is an alternative web browser for Mac, offering many handy features like ad filtering, customizable rendering adjustments, and settings for JavaScript and cookies on specific web pages.

• Blocks undesirable content like pop-ups
• Downloads webpages for offline access
• Open source code of a page in a text editor
• Form filling doesn’t work every time

It comes with features such as organized history by title, user agent spoofing, full-screen viewing, the ability to reload a single image without refreshing the entire page, and support for multiple languages.

21. Superbird

Superbird is a free alternative to Google Chrome. The difference is that Chrome tracks all your information, whereas Superbird doesn’t send any data to Google or other third parties.

• No data is sent to third-party apps
• Low memory consumption
• A lot of Plugins are available
• Doesn’t get updated regularly

It mainly focuses on speed, stability, and data security. Moreover, it uses low memory as compared to Chrome and supports lots of plugins.

20. Avant Browser

Avant is a free web browser that’s completely free of ads, malware, and spyware. It uses the Trident layout engine, which is known for its reliability and speed.

With low memory usage and a user-friendly interface, Avant provides a smooth and efficient browsing experience. It’s regularly updated, ensuring stability and security.

• User-friendly interface
• Blocks annoying pop-ups
• Infinitely customizable
• Does not come with anti-spyware, antivirus, or anti-phishing tools

Avant comes with a range of features including a multi-threaded downloader, low CPU usage, no memory leaks, online bookmarks, a multi-document interface, mouse gestures, a flash animation filter, and built-in popup and ad blocking capabilities.

19. Lunascape

Platform : Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Lunascape contains three rendering engines: Webkit, Trident, and Gecko. The web browser allows the user to switch between layout engines seamlessly.

• Flick Gesture and tabbed browsing with sliding finger
• RSS Reader and eBook Reader
• Can be fully customized for your technical needs
• Difficult to change settings

It is packed with tons of features like a versatile tab menu, customize mouse action, switch user agent, block unwanted URLs, tickers to display headlines from major news sources, bookmark synchronization, automatic backups, and much more.

18. Konqueror Browser

Platform : Linux

Konqueror Browser is based on HTML and Webkit engine. It consists of ad-block, pop-up blocker, password manager, bookmark manager, webpage translation, spell checker, tabbed, and split browsing. It works well with panels that can be rearranged or added.

• In-built spell checker
• File management on FTP and SFTP servers
• Embedded tools to preview files
• Fewer customization options

The browser efficiently manages tasks within clean, flexible containers, requiring fewer system resources. Even with multiple tabs open for webpages, embedded document viewing, and file management, it uses less than 300 MB of RAM.

17. Sleipnir

Platform : Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Sleipnir is a free web browser that lets you quickly locate a specific tab even when you have over 100 tabs open. It works on the Blink engine and supports Chrome function extensibility (for Windows OS).

• Sleek design
• Lots of gestures
• Thumbnail tab that shows the contents as it is
• Some learning curve

It is packed with a web inspector, a tool for reading & making text beautiful, search fields from various sites, and retina display support.

16. Comodo IceDragon

Comodo IceDragon is an open-source web browser based on Firefox. It is intended to be faster, easy to use, and more secure than Firefox.

• Scan web pages for malware
• Features several tweaks to enhance both security and performance
• Full compatibility with Firefox plug-ins
• Sometimes, it crashes for no reason

The browser includes a page inspector for scanning malware, a secure DNS service, and seamless social media integration enabling instant sharing of any webpage. It is fully compatible with all Firefox plugins and extensions.

Platform : Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Epic is based on chromium source code developed by Hidden Reflex. It is dedicated to protecting your privacy by blocking tracking scripts and ads. It includes a built-in protection system against tracking cookies, third-party widgets, and other tracking agents.

• One-click anonymizing proxy
• Protects users’ privacy at every level
• Built-in encrypted proxy lets users access blocked websites
• Some websites work strangely or don’t work at all

When closed, Epic automatically deletes all browsing data, including database, history, session, cache, cookies, login data, and preferences. Moreover, it is dubbed as the first browser from India with free VPN servers in eight countries.

14. Maxthon

Platform : PC, iOS, Android

Maxthon is a powerful engine based on blockchain technology. It encapsulates the blockchain technology through the Vbox and NBdomain interface, allowing developers to power powerful applications.

• Fast and easy-to-use
• Support NBdomain protocol to access blockchain content
• Compatible with Chrome data
• Cloud Service provides cross-device data sync
• Lacks supplementary features like voice interaction commands

It has many features that make internet browsing less annoying and more convenient. Maxthon automatically blocks phishing attempts and malicious websites. Also, it supports private browsing session that doesn’t trace your history.

13. Dolphin

Dolphin has a beautiful user interface and is filled with features like Voice search, one-tap sharing, bookmark synchronization, web app store, add-ons, search suggestions, ad-block, video downloader, and flash support.

• Private browsing and personalized search
• Customize the browser with various backgrounds
• Dozens of add-ons are available
• Maybe a little slow on startup

You can browse the internet more efficiently by creating personalized gestures for websites and common features. For instance, you can draw the letter “B” to navigate to Bing or “D” to access DuckDuckGo.

Platform : Windows, macOS

Citrio is a fast, lightweight, and free web browser with an intelligent download manager. Citrio is designed with in-build malware and phishing detector, video downloader, proxy, and torrent manager.

• The built-in proxy widget makes switching between proxies very simple
• Powerful Download Manager and video downloader
• Rich extension library
• Not updated regularly

It is a safe and secure browser that doesn’t collect any of your personal information. The quick startup time, responsive add-ons, and rich extension libraries deliver a smooth and comfortable web surfing experience.

Platform : Windows, macOS, Linux, Android

Midori is a lightweight, fast, and free web browser based on the Webkit rendering engine. It has a beautiful interface and supports all the latest technologies like CSS3, HTML5, etc.

• Guarantees your privacy and anonymity on the network
• Useful plugins are built-in
• Does not offer universal cookie blocking for all sites

It features script disabling, 3rd party cookie blocking, automatic history clearing after a certain time, ad blocker, smart cookie manager, RSS, and spelling checker.

Torch is a media web browser based on the Chromium source code. It allows you to share webpages, download documents, audio & video files within a single click, directly from the browser.

• Touch bar support for Mac users
• VPN onboard
• Compatible with Chrome extensions
• Unwanted extras
• Owned by a Chinese consortium

It also includes a download accelerator for super-fast download and facelift through which you can design your Facebook profile by selecting various inbuilt themes. And to entertain you, it has mini-clip games (no download required), HD video, and an audio player.

9. Waterfox

Platform : Windows, macOS, Linux

Waterfox is a high-performance web browser based on the Mozilla platform. It is built with Intel’s C++ compiler, which enables you to browse seamlessly. It supports a wide range of plugins, including Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Silverlight, and Oracle Java.

• Offers excellent privacy
• Customize the browser with an array of backgrounds
• Works with major streaming services

Overall, the browser delivers a balance of usability and privacy for power users such as server admins and developers.

Platform : Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux

Yandex is a free web browser utilizing the Blink layout engine, built upon the Chromium source code. It incorporates Yandex security and Kaspersky anti-virus systems to ensure safe web page browsing and file downloading. Its minimalist design helps users focus on essential tasks.

• In-built antivirus and security system
• Hide unrelated interface elements
• Surf the web in private
• No proper dark mode

Yandex is also packed with a bunch of useful features, including a language translator, document viewer, Smartbox search, device synchronization, keyboard layout switcher, and more.

7. Tor Browser

For users who are affected by Snowflake and some other anticensorship service outages like connection assist, we’ve developed a quick workaround: https://t.co/3iCyIVO5Q9 . — The Tor Project (@torproject) March 4, 2024

Platform : Windows, Mac, Linux, Android

Tor Browser prevents the trackers from learning your physical location, page views, and other private information. It isolates each URL you visit so third-party trackers can’t follow you. All your browsing history and cookies automatically clear when you are done browsing.

• Block trackers
• Multi-layer encryption
• Simple interface for complex security tools
• Takes time to start and load the homepage

The browser comes equipped with essential tools like TorButton, NoScript, TorLauncher, HTTPS Everywhere, Firefox extension, and the Tor proxy. It also helps you access websites that are blocked.

6. UC Browser

Platform : Android and iOS 

UC Browser is a mobile web browser developed by UCWeb, a subsidiary of the Chinese multinational company Alibaba Group.

One of the standout features of this browser is its data compression technique. It compresses web pages, images, and other content before transmitting them over the network. This is particularly beneficial for users with limited data plans or in regions with slow internet connections. 

• Has its own data compression technology and efficient rendering engine
• Built-in ad blocking and download manager 
• Customizable themes, colors, and background images
• Supports gesture controls
• Faced criticism over privacy concerns

Since it’s a mobile browser, it allows you to navigate the web with intuitive gestures like swiping, tapping, and pinching, providing a more natural and fluid way to interact with content. 

Platform : iOS, Android

Aloha is a full-featured web browser that gives you an option to unblock any site using its built-in VPN service, which is completely free can be activated with a single tap. All VPN traffic is encrypted and compressed to use less bandwidth.

It comes with a powerful download manager that allows you to download videos and music right from the browser. There is also a lightweight version of the browser named ‘Aloha Browser Lite.’ It is specifically developed for smartphones with weak specifications.

• VPN utility
• Built-in media player and QR code reader
• Highly secure and encrypted
• Overpriced premium subscription

With a premium subscription, which costs $2.99 per month, you get some extra features such as VPN country selection, the ability to use VPN in other apps, and auto-start VPN with the browser.

4. Avast Secure Browser

Platform : Windows, Mac, iOS, Android 

Built on the Chromium platform, Avast Secure Browser prioritizes internet security and privacy. It blocks ads and trackers to enhance webpage loading speed and prevents websites from identifying you based on your browser profile.

The browser ensures encryption on websites and defends against threats with built-in anti-phishing technology. It enhances productivity with a tab clustering system, allowing you to organize numerous open tabs neatly.

• Automatically forces sites to use encryption
• Masks your digital identity
• Private video downloader
• Fast VPN protection
• While it doesn’t log browsing details, it does keep VPN connection logs

All privacy and security tools are ready to go from the moment you download the browser, and they can be easily configured through the settings page. Avast Browser works seamlessly with Chrome-based add-ons, so you can further fine-tune your browsing experience to your liking via the Chrome Web Store.

Platform : Windows, Mac, Linux

Blisk is a developer-oriented browser that offers a great workplace to develop and test modern web applications faster. It is integrated with over 50 test devices. You can place these devices next to each other and compare the UI on desktop and mobile simultaneously.

• Develop and test for web apps quickly
• Preview devices in real size or smart-scaled size
• Simulate medium or slow Internet connection
• Not free; it costs $10 per month
• Intended solely for development purposes

Like Google Chrome, Blisk features a minimalistic UI. For example, it combines the search bar and address bar into the omnibox. Also, both browsing mode and developer mode can be used concurrently across different tabs.

2. Chromium

Platform : Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android

Chromium is an open-source browser project that aims to develop a faster, secure, and stable way for all internet users to experience the web. It features a sleek interface that is easy to understand and navigate.

At first glance, you will find it difficult to differentiate between Chrome and Chromium as both browsers look identical on the surface. Each has benefits, so it is not easy to simply pick the best.

• Open-source
• More frequent updates
• Does not track my browsing history
• No pre-designed support for media codecs
• Updates must be installed manually

For regular users, Google Chrome is probably the better choice because it is relatively stable and doesn’t need to be manually updated. For advanced users and those who place a high value on coding and privacy, Chromium is the way to go.

Brave Leo is rolling out on Android! Now you can use Brave’s AI assistant anytime, anywhere to get the help you need. Go to Settings -> Leo now to give it a shot. pic.twitter.com/eq1mxsfnIu — Brave Software (@brave) February 28, 2024

Brave shields your privacy by blocking data-grabbing ads and trackers. It blocks malicious code and websites, particularly those attempting to utilize your smartphone or desktop resources for cryptocurrency mining.

Unlike other browsers that hide your history in the ‘private mode,’ Brave not only hides your history but also masks your location from the websites you visit by routing your browsing through multiple servers before it reaches your destination. Brave encrypts these connections to increase anonymity.

• Better privacy and less tracking
• Websites load quickly
• Comes with a firewall and VPN
• Settings on a per-site or browser-wide basis
• Brokes few websites
• Lack of extensions and add-ons

The browser is integrated with InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), a peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol designed to make the Web faster. IPFS is crucial for blockchain and for self-described data integrity. It allows users to access previously viewed web pages offline as well as content that has been censored by corporations and nation-states.

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Varun Kumar

I am a professional technology and business research analyst with more than a decade of experience in the field. My main areas of expertise include software technologies, business strategies, competitive analysis, and staying up-to-date with market trends.

I hold a Master's degree in computer science from GGSIPU University. If you'd like to learn more about my latest projects and insights, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email at [email protected] .

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Leave a reply cancel reply, 27 comments.

I’m surprised that there’s no mention of the Citrio browser.

Hello Tony, Apologies for not including the same! BTW thanks for your great suggestion. We’ve updated the list.

https://ghostbrowser.com http://www.slimjet.com/

I run a linux distro with a KDE desktop, which is where Konqueror is designed to work best. Even in that environment it’s too buggy to use. I’ve never tried it on Windows, but I can’t imagine the experience would be any better.

too bad the brave browser is not included it pays you for the adds you see

Use to use brave browser cause it’s supposed to be private with Nothing saved as they say. NOW your getting ads. Although brave says it’s their ads and everything still the same. How it the same? Their collecting your info now!

tell me about what im missing out on?

oday, also I have apple pads and phones but my lap pad Is android. will it work on those?

Wow! This article is an eye opener. Been searching for a private search engines and new web browser and stumbled across this article. Every where I look on internet (use DDGo) everyone only suggest the same engines and browser as others suggest. Guess they just copy and reword each other without actually checking it out. But thanks for the info here, definitely looking into these suggestions. Also anything for web browser for Android, other than the same ones every one else suggest?

Crucial info would be BY WHO! I want independent. I don’t want police State.

Yep, I’ve been searching these suggestions to see who owns and runs them, If they’re just an extension of the MSM or big tech under another name, they will do the usual.

not an up to date review, some browsers didn’t exist anymore, this is not a good job, pull the wool

Would someone please offer a critique of Dissenter .. .. thank you

Apparently Avant no longer supports on-line storage, like all my bookmarks, used Avant as my primary since 2003. no response from tech support, very disappointing is still my number 1 choice

I truly don’t understand why MORE people don’t use Browsers with Ad-Blocking & mainly Tracking Disabled… this was a GREAT list… using Brave w/DuckDuckGo returns what seems like TRUE results, vs Google, were it seems my results are already packages up for me.

Why about Dissenter browser? It’s the same as Brave (no tracking or ads) but the best part is that you can comment on all webpages.

You can do so with Edge too.

I was surprised to see Brave listed as #1 – it feels like a fairly well-known browser. I’m sure that’s just me and most people aren’t familiar with it. On that note, if Brave makes the list, why not Vivaldi?

Vivaldi is my backup browser on Linux (after Firefox); my main browser on Android.

That’s what I was thinking as well. Vivaldi should be on the list as it is, by far, the best web browser currently in existence.

This is kinda dumb and sloppy and misleading. Maybe it’s the language barrier but definitely some confusion happening with this writer. If he reviewed a car it would probably be like “The 2022 Honda Accord is excellent, but it only carries 5 people and performs poorly in mud.”

I feel you must have heard about DuckDuckGo.com(MOST PRIVATE SEARCH ENGINE AND THE MOST PRIVATE BROWSER) described on Wikipedia! Who Developed It and why the name,” DUCKDUCKGO “ You have done a very good job of listing Many New Browsers, their pros and Cons! I learnt a lot, Varun.

Has anyone else tried Paper Moon, which is built on an older version of Firefox?

Hi there Your article says really good web browsers…unknown ones Dolphin…really?!? Now i tell you one of the best you didnt hear Soul browser Yes thats right Download manager vpn movable icons pages sweep sdd blocker and on and on and on… See for yourself… Cheers

Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.

Definitely Midori as it is the default Browser out of the box when installing Manjaro.

Recommending a browser just because it is the default browser installed on Manjaro isn’t a good reason, even if one does know what Manjaro is.

There is a browser that won’t let another app run it. And it can be set as default in Win10.

Exploring alternative web browsers: beyond Safari on iPhone

A pple Inc.’s standard browser for the iPhone is Safari. However, the App Store provides a plethora of other web application options. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge offer unique features. Chrome is celebrated for its synchronization capabilities, while Firefox boasts powerful privacy tools. Microsoft Edge, offers additional features like vertical tabs and an immersive reader mode – catering to a variety of user preferences. Cross-platform use is also standard with most of these browsers.

Probably the best-known alternative is Google Chrome

One notable alternative is Google Chrome — the world’s most popular internet browser. Known for its user-friendly interface, lightning-fast browsing speeds, and robust security measures, this browser tops many user preferences. Its ability to seamlessly sync bookmarks and search histories via a Google Account, host a built-in password manager, and support a vast array of custom extensions that cater to individual needs makes it particularly noteworthy. Chrome’s translation feature and regular updates ensure it remains an evolving and dynamic platform.

A newer player in the arena, Arc Search, brings artificial intelligence (AI) to the fore with its ‘Browse for Me’ feature. It emphasizes security and privacy, with no storage of browser activity or search history. The AI processes information from six different online sources to generate a personalized webpage based on user queries, thereby revolutionizing online browsing with depth and privacy.

Microsoft Edge is another competitor.

Microsoft Edge is another competitor popular among Mac and PC users who prefer its unique features like password surveillance and ad tracker blocking. It provides a private browsing option, InPrivate, which ensures no browsing history, cookies, or associated data retention. The innovative Copilot tool uses AI technology to streamline searches and promises a seamless user experience by syncing data across devices.

Another alternative is the Aloha Browser, which doubles as a web browser and a security tool. Users can enjoy an ad-free browsing environment with its integrated Adblock Plus plugin. While the browser provides a no-cost, basic version, users can unlock its complete functionality through the premium version, thus offering a versatile and high-performing tool for online navigation.

The post Exploring alternative web browsers: beyond Safari on iPhone appeared first on Under30CEO .

11 Best Google Chrome Alternatives | Most Private Web Browsers In 2021

Google Chrome dominates the browser market worldwide with a massive 63% share, leaving the rest to other web browsers . To be honest, Chrome provides an excellent web browsing experience with seamless functioning across multiple devices. However, such a smooth experience comes at a cost, that is, our personal data.

We know that Google tracks us relentlessly, and the onslaught of personalized ads gets really annoying at some point. Even if we keep it aside, there are serious problems like heavy RAM usage that makes your device sluggish. So whatever may be your reason to leave Chrome and seek other options, here is a list of the best Google Chrome alternatives in 2021 for you.

• Google Alternatives: Best Search Engines
• Best Free YouTube Alternatives
• Best Privacy-Focused WhatsApp Alternatives

Top 10 Google Chrome Alternatives For Browsing Privately (2021)

1. brave – best open source browser, 2. vivaldi – most customizable browser, 3. firefox – best non-chromium browser, 4. safari – best browser for mac, 5. opera – similar browser like chrome, 6. tor browser – best private browser with vpn, 7. avast secure browser – best malware protection, 8. torch browser – best browser for entertainment, 9. maxthon cloud browser – feature packed browser, 10. microsoft edge – windows 10 solution, 11. epic – best feature packed privacy-focused browser.

If you are looking for the best alternatives to Chrome in 2021, Brave is the best open-source web browser to go for. Made by the co-founders of the Mozilla project, it blocks ads and trackers that slow you down and invade your privacy. But here is the best part — the browser has a feature called Brave Rewards.

It allows you to earn blockchain tokens and reward the sites that you visit frequently. You regularly get tokens from the browser which you can donate to a publisher to compensate for the ads that get blocked while browsing.

Even though other browsers claim to have a “private mode,” that only hides your history from others using your browser. Brave lets you use Tor right in a tab that not only hides your history but also masks your location.

Other features include Tab Previews that give quick glances at what you’re browsing, whereas Tab Pages lets you decide how many tabs per page to view. You can also pin tabs whenever you need them. For managing multiple social accounts, you can use the Session Tabs.

Available for:  Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS

Why use Brave?

• Loads pages faster
• Blocks ads and user tracking
• Password management
• Compatible with Chrome extensions

If you need a browser with a customizable UI, Vivaldi is a perfect option for you. This Chrome alternative lets you play with its unique themes that include different shades and, of course, a dark one too.

The best part is these themes can be changed throughout the day if you create a schedule. Vivaldi also offers an editable sidebar that can be placed anywhere as you deem fit. You can add your favorite chat apps, social feeds, or news sites, or any other website to this bar for quick access.

What I really like is about Vivaldi is its adaptive interface. The browser picks up the primary color of the website you are viewing to use it as an accent color. Another useful feature is the ability to stack tabs and save them as sessions that can be viewed later. As far as security is concerned, Vivaldi does not collect user data and encrypts your personal information while syncing across devices. Moreover, you can also have a look at sites like tumblr here!

With Vivaldi, you will not miss Google Chrome because it uses the same Chromium base code. It’s easy to import your settings, histories, and bookmarked pages from your Chrome account. In fact, it offers more security than Chrome. Plus Google Drive is still accessible from the browser, and almost all Chrome extensions work with Vivaldi which makes it one of the best Chrome alternatives in 2021.

Available for:  Windows, macOS, Linux, Android

Why use Vivaldi?

• Customizable UI which includes changing themes, effects, and sidebar
• Mouse gestures, Notes feature within the browser
• Superior tab-management than Chrome with built-in Tab Tiling feature

Mozilla’s Firefox is the best alternative to Chrome in terms of speed and privacy in 2021. It allows far more control over privacy and lets you control the data you share on the web. There is a dedicated “Tracking Protection” feature that prevents websites from tracking you. Mozilla released the “ Firefox Monitor ” feature, which alerts you immediately in case your email ID or password is involved in a data breach.

The best part is that Firefox comes with several Chrome-like features which makes it the best Chrome alternative. It bookmarks pages, stacks tabs, and resumes the last pages you opened the last time you opened the browser. Firefox also offers a large collection of add-ons and extensions that you could use. So if you switch browsers, you won’t be missing Google anytime soon. Also, check out our blog on the best alternatives to tab suspenders in chrome here!

Firefox can handle a large number of open tabs without getting lousy because it doesn’t hog your RAM like Chrome. It is also the best browser for both stopping malicious downloads and blocking dangerous websites with just its default security settings enabled. By tweaking these settings, you can ensure more privacy and security.

Available for:  Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Why use Firefox?

• Fast, secure, and easily customizable
• Features like Tracking Protection, Firefox Monitor, etc.
• Pleasing UI

In addition, you can read our article on the best apps like houseparty that are good enough to compete with Facetime and WhatsApp.

If you are an iOS or macOS user, you already have Safari installed on your device. It is undoubtedly one of the best alternatives to Chrome as it is fast and secure. Apple has worked hard on user privacy features of Safari. It automatically blocks ad trackers from following your footprints on the internet and even offers a Privacy Report on how it protects you.

This browser also prevents videos from auto-playing on websites and for those who would like to read content on the web without any distractions; it provides a clean user interface in its ‘reading mode.’

You can save articles for offline reading, and it comes in handy, especially on the iPhone. As far as speed is concerned, Safari performs well, and it syncs really well across all the Apple devices you use. Also, check out our article on the list of the best browser for iPhone here!

Available for:  iOS, macOS

Why use Safari?

• One of the best Chrome alternatives for Apple users
• Offers speed, privacy, clean UI, and syncing capabilities
• Good password management

Opera browser has been around for a very long time now and stands as one of the best Chrome alternatives to surf the web in 2021. It introduced cool features like speed dial and tabbed browsing to us. This Chromium-based browser feels similar to Chrome in terms of usage, and it packs some great features like the built-in ad-blocker that lets you surf the internet minus the ads.

Another useful feature is the Opera Turbo Mode that compresses data to open web pages more quickly. But my personal favorite is the built-in unlimited free VPN tool that comes in really handy while unlocking geo-restricted content and protecting your privacy. Besides these, there is a bunch of other useful features like battery saver mode, and you should try Opera yourself to find how good this Chrome alternative is.

Available for:  Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Why use Opera?

• Bunch of useful built-in features like VPN tool, Ad-Blocker, Turbo Mode, Battery Saver, etc
• Good UI that comes in a dark theme as well

In the meantime, you can check out our article on alternatives to Google Play Store here!

Tor is quite a popular choice among those who regularly use privacy-focused browsers. In fact, Tor has become a synonym for the anti-surveillance movement as it is built on a network of ‘hidden’ relay servers. This browser can obscure your public IP address by bouncing your connection through a number of distributed nodes.

Tor Browser also blocks trackers by isolating each website you visit so third-party trackers can’t follow you. Any cookies or browsing history created while browsing is automatically cleared once you’re done.

This means it not only protects your browsing history but also hides your physical location to let you access region-specific content on the internet. For those who seek access to Deep Web or Dark Web, can also do achieve it through Tor. However, it should be done at one’s own risk.

Talking about downsides, the Tor browser works slower than Google or Firefox. But if privacy is all that you care about, there is no better Chrome alternative than this one in 2021.

Why use Tor?

• Best privacy-focused browser
• Guarantees anonymity via VPN, Multi-layer encryption, blocking trackers

This browser comes from the software security solution firm Avast. It is the best Google Chrome alternative that offers both privacy and speed. Avast Secure Browser can automatically block/hide online ads to drastically improve website load time. Its advanced built-in security lets you browse, shop, and bank safely on any website.

Other benefits include the prevention of user fingerprinting and notification alerts in case of leaked passwords. Apart from security, the browser is feature-packed in terms of usability too. It is fast, fast, automatically transfers your bookmarks, history, and settings from Chrome.

Available for:  Windows, macOS, Android

Why use Avast Secure Browser?

• Built-in adblocker, Avast internet security extension
• Automatically force websites to use encryption
• Block malicious websites and downloads

Torch browser is another alternative to Google that comes loaded with multimedia-based features. This browser has a built-in Media Grabber that lets you download audio or video from any site in a single click. So you don’t have to download extra software, converters, or extensions.

In fact, you can play videos in the Torch Player even before they have finished downloading. For easy and quick downloading, it has a built-in torrent client, so you can manage torrents straight from the browser.

The browser comes with a music extension called “Torch Music” that lets you play music for free. For further entertainment, it has a gaming extension named “Torch Games,” where you can play tons of free games right on the browser.

Overall, I’d say Torch is the best Google Chrome alternative in 2021 if you are someone who likes to download lots of media from the internet.

Available for: Windows only

Why use the Torch Browser?

• Multimedia-focused features like built-in media downloader, torrent, audio/video player
• Great for entertainment
• Inbuilt extensions for Gaming, Music, Social Media

The next Chrome alternative on our list takes a different approach than most of the browsers in 2021. While other browsers strip down their features to provide a speedy and minimalistic experience, Maxthon does the opposite by adding as many helpful features as possible.

Some of these extra and useful features are media downloader, screen-capture tool, Reader mode , etc. Apart from these, you get the usual features to synchronize bookmarks, tabs, options, the address bar, new-tab links, notes sync, and password sync.

However, Maxthon lags behind Chrome and Firefox in important aspects of UI and performance. Also, if privacy is a bigger concern for you than features, I would suggest that you skip this browser. Also check out our detailed guide on best Twitter alternatives that you can use in 2022.

Available for:  Windows, iOS, Android

Why use the Maxthon?

• Built-in blockchain identity manager-VBox
• Ad-blocker, media downloader, reading mode

Microsoft has replaced its legacy Edge with a Chromium-based Edge browser that is also a good option from a privacy perspective. If you still haven’t tried Microsoft Edge because the image of Internet Explorer is stuck in your mind, I will urge you to think twice. The new Microsoft Edge looks nothing like its predecessor and offers a faster browsing experience than IE.

In fact, this browser comes with unique features that aren’t present on Chrome. You can even choose to draw, write, and highlight parts of a web page without installing any extensions or plugins. It also lets you read both PDF files and eBooks natively and comes with a built-in Cortana integration.

For Windows 10 users, their desktop comes with access to Microsoft Edge. Edge has a clean look and is easy to navigate. It taps into Windows Defender to help ensure your computer doesn’t become infected, plus it loads webpages quickly. Overall, it deserves to be called one of the best Chrome alternatives in 2021.

Available for:  Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Why use Microsoft Edge?

• Only Windows browser to support Netflix in 4K
• Reading list for articles
• Annotations for web pages and PDFs

The next alternative to Chrome also focuses on user privacy. Even though Epic browser does not use a specialized onion network like Tor, it can protect your privacy from the common tracking methods. It has built-in protection against tracking, crypto-mining, ultrasound signaling, fingerprinting, and malware.

Another significant feature is its one-click encryption tool that can hide your IP address on activation and encrypt your traffic. It hides your footprints on the web and avoids surveillance.

Epic Browser doesn’t save your history, and there is no DNS pre-fetching, third-party cookies, or autofill feature. On closing a browsing session, the browser automatically deletes any database, preference, cookies associated with your account.

Why use Epic?

• Always-On Private Browsing mode, Ultrasound Signaling, Free VPN & Proxy
• Blocks ads, trackers, cryptocurrency mining scripts, and malware.
• One-click encryption tool, built-in video downloader

Available for:  Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Browse safely and anonymously with these Chrome alternatives

This brings us to the end of this list. All the browsers mentioned here are the best alternatives to Chrome in 2021. Be it the terms of speed, privacy, security, or ease of use. I’d recommend users to pick any of the above based on their requirements.

So feel free to try these options, and in case there is some other good browser like Google that deserves a place in this list of best Google Chrome alternatives, feel free to drop suggestions in the comment box below!

Best Chrome Alternatives FAQ

Brave browser is the best alternative to Google Chrome in 2021. Other considerable options for browsers other than Google Chrome are Firefox, Safari, Vivaldi, etc.

The biggest reasons to not use Google Chrome are privacy concerns and RAM hogging nature. Google tracks all your online activity via Chrome browser and bombards you with ads wherever you go on the internet. Plus it consumes more RAM than other browsers which makes your device sluggish.

Brave is definitely better than Chrome if privacy is your biggest concern.

The difference between Google and Google Chrome is that Google is a search engine that helps you find stuff on the internet. Whereas Google Chrome is a web browser which is basically an application where the results of your queries or a web page can be displayed.

An Editor and a Tech Journalist with a software development background. I am a big fan of technology and memes. At Fossbytes, I cover all aspects of tech but my specific area of interest is Programming and Development.

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Iphone web browser choice gets one thing right, two things wrong, say developers.

Being prompted to make an iPhone web browser choice in Europe has seen an uptick in the use of third-party apps , but not everyone is happy about it.

The EU itself is investigating whether Apple’s implementation of the antitrust requirement goes far enough, and developers of third-party browsers say the process gets one thing right, and two things wrong …

iPhone web browser choice

While iPhone owners have been theoretically able to choose their preferred web browser since iOS 14, it wasn’t much of a choice, for a couple of reasons.

First, most people didn’t even know they could choose an alternative browser. The default is Safari, and you’d have to proactively install a third-party one and then manually set it as your default.

Second, Apple insisted that all browsers had to use its own WebKit API. That ensured that competing browsers couldn’t do anything to impact security of privacy, but it also meant that they couldn’t offer faster speeds, or features not available in Safari.

The EU required Apple to drop the WebKit requirement, and also to proactively present users with a choice of browser when they first use their device. These changes were introduced in iOS 17.4 , and only apply within EU countries.

Apple gets one thing right

Developers of third-party web browsers have seen an increase in usage following the implementation of the changes, and they say Apple did play fair in one important respect: browsers are listed in random order, and Safari doesn’t get any special position or prominence in the list.

But two things remain unfair, they say

Wired spoke to a number of developers of alternative iPhone web browsers, and found that they had two criticisms.

First, iPhone owners are not asked to make their choice during the initial iPhone setup process. Instead, they are only presented with the choice when they first open the Safari app. This means that Safari has already presented itself as the default.

“It starts from you clicking Safari,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO and cofounder of Vivaldi. “Which, I think all of us agree, that’s the wrong spot.” Tetzchner said he prefers Google’s implementation of its new browser choice screen that guides Android users to select a default while setting up their phone.

Second, users are given zero information about each browser – just a list of names, many of which will be unfamiliar to non-techy users. That reinforces the idea that they should select Safari unless they already know a reason to make a different choice.

“Giving people information about the choice, and also information about what they’re choosing is really, really important,” says Kush Amlani, a global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser.

A fairer option would be to give each developer a few words to pitch their browser. DuckDuckGo, for example, might have something like “Uses our privacy-first search engine, which doesn’t track you or filter your results.”

We’ll need to wait for the EU’s conclusion to determine what changes might be needed to comply with the law.

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Mac browser Arc hits Windows and sends Edge to the bin

The Arc web browser, which has been peeling Mac users away from Safari and Chrome, is finally arriving on Windows platforms.

The innovative browser features a collapsible sidebar for a full screen experience minus distractions, rather than the omnipresent tabbed interface at the top of the window. It enables users to keep fast access to their favourites within the same sidebar.

Users can group sets of tabs for work, study and hobbies, while it’s also possible to place a pair of browser tabs in split screen as you work within them side-by-side. Arc also has a handy picture-in-picture mode to let you watch a video in a pop-out.

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Naturally there’s an AI influence called Arc Max that’ll bring up 5 second previews of web pages when you hold shift and hover over a link. It will auto rename tabs so you know what’s what, and offers fast access to ChatGPT. There’s also a built-in Ask On Page AI feature.

Advocates have praised the browser for bringing “order to the chaos of the online life” and cited it as “intuitive, playful and pretty.”

The Browser Company behind the platform pledges a privacy focus built-in from the ground up, as Arc doesn’t track which websites users visit, cannot see browser keystrokes, and won’t sell data to third parties.

It’s proven a popular alternative for Mac and iOS users and now there’s the opportunity for Windows users to get in on the action. Significantly, it’s also built on Apple’s Swift programming language, so it’s a landmark of sorts to have this app running on Windows in the first place.

The announcement video today even pokes a little fun at the Microsoft’s expense by ending with the Edge browser icon being moved to the Recycle Bin. You can download Arc here .

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Reece Rogers

Why Apple’s iPhone Browser-Choice Option Sucks

You just bought a new iPhone in Europe and finished setting it up. You’re excited to start planning a much-needed vacation, so you tap on the Safari browser to search for upcoming flights. Oh, you suddenly see a pop-up asking you to choose a default browser. You quickly scan the list of options, only recognizing one or two, then decide to keep Safari and move on with your hunt for travel deals.

With the iOS 17.4 update , Apple now includes a default browser selection pop-up screen for European iPhone users. It’s part of the company’s response to the Digital Markets Act , which EU lawmakers enacted earlier this year to encourage competition on the internet. (The browser choice screen is not currently rolling out to iPhones in the United States.) While browser choice screens are, in theory, meant to level the playing field in markets dominated by a handful of gatekeepers , their effectiveness is determined by the quality of the user experience.

Many of the competitors appearing on Apple’s browser choice screen are dissatisfied with how it’s been implemented in European markets. Brendan Eich, CEO and cofounder of Brave , compared powerful companies that control the defaults on smartphones to street magicians who fan out cards to pick from but hustle you by forcing a specific card to the top of the deck.

An Apple spokesperson requested to speak off the record about browser choice screens. When WIRED declined and asked for an on-the-record comment, all further requests for an interview went unanswered.

Whenever someone updates their software to iOS 17.4 in Europe, they may see the browser choice pop-up the first time they tap on the Safari browser. After a short introductory screen about the default browser choice, a list of 12 browser options are displayed in a random order. The browsers that appear on the list vary slightly by country. Safari is automatically included, and the 11 other picks are browsers with the most iPhone downloads in a particular country that also adhere to Apple’s configuration requirements for defaults.

“It starts from you clicking Safari,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO and cofounder of Vivaldi . “Which, I think all of us agree, that’s the wrong spot.” Tetzchner said he prefers Google’s implementation of its new browser choice screen that guides Android users to select a default while setting up their phone.

Google actually has some experience implementing a choice screen to appease European regulators. When it was forced to add a search engine default selector to Android in 2019, many of the developers behind alternative options initially criticized the design and denounced Google’s practice of selling slots on the screen through auctions. The company responded by rolling out an updated pop-up without slot auctions in 2021. Google did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story.

The slow speed of enforcement from European regulation means any changes mandated by lawmakers only arrive after a drawn-out process. “Google had implicit permission to implement a bad version of it and run out the clock. In the process, it makes the entire remedy of a choice screen look bad,” says Kamyl Bazbaz, a vice president of public affairs for DuckDuckGo . “If you can only judge the effectiveness of a thing based on a bad version of it, you're gonna think it sucks.”

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A few representatives from smaller browser companies also expressed that they wanted more information included with Apple’s choice process, like definitions of what a browser is for less tech-savvy users and descriptions of the different browsers’ specialties. “Giving people information about the choice, and also information about what they're choosing is really, really important,” says Kush Amlani, a global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozilla , which makes the Firefox browser.

Sophie Dembinski, a head of public policy and climate action at Ecosia , mentioned how Apple’s pop-up appears for all iPhone users even if they’ve already gone into their phone’s settings and set an alternative browser as their default. In comparison, Google’s browser choice screen for Android users won’t show up if you’ve already gone through the steps of setting a preference for a third-party option.

While many developers are unhappy with Apple’s implementation, not every company with a browser on the choice screen expressed frustration. “We believe that Apple's approach to presenting the browser choice screen is fair and acceptable,” says Andrew Moroz Frost, the Aloha Browser founder. He pointed out the randomized order of the browsers shown on the pop-up as one example of Apple designing it in a fair manner.

Richard Socher, the founder and CEO of You.com , seemed more encouraged by there being a browser choice screen that includes the search-focused startup rather than frustrated by Apple’s implementation. “I think it’s great that there’s not the default already preselected,” he says. Socher highlighted the randomized order as a positive sign as well.

Is this choice screen a true turning point for alternative browsers to grow their user base? “We’re expecting to have a clear picture on user uplift within months, not weeks,” says Dembinski. While some browsers reported initial upticks in downloads , it still seems too soon to make sweeping generalizations about the long-term efficacy of Apple’s choice screen.

“We would like to encourage platform providers to also level out the playing field for app developers around the world, not just in the EU,” says Jan Standal, a vice president of product marketing at Opera . Some of the companies WIRED spoke with remain hopeful that the precedent of browser choice screens set by the DMA will inspire international software changes.

Shortly after Apple’s choice screen launched, the European Commision announced that the screen would be part of its wider investigation into how Apple, Google, and Meta might be breaking these updated regulations: “The Commission is concerned that Apple's measures, including the design of the web browser choice screen, may be preventing users from truly exercising their choice of services within the Apple ecosystem, in contravention of Article 6(3) of the DMA.” In keeping with its slow-moving tradition, this investigation may take up to a year to complete.

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Apple to unveil AI-enabled Safari browser alongside new operating systems

Safari getting new AI tools in iOS 18

The software — expected to debut as Safari 18 later in 2024 — is currently undergoing evaluation alongside internal builds of Apple's next-generation operating system updates, namely iOS 18 and macOS 15, according to people familiar with the matter. Should all of the new features make it to the release candidate stage, users will be treated to a new user interface (UI) for customizing popular page controls, a "Web eraser" feature, and AI-driven content summarization tools.

Intelligent Search - AI-enhanced browsing and text summarization

Engineers evaluating the latest builds of Safari 18 can find a toggle for the new page controls menu within the browser's address bar. The menu consolidates — and provides quick access to — old and new page control tools, among them being the browser's new "Intelligent Search" feature.

This feature is not automatically enabled in test builds of Safari 18 and instead requires manual activation from the page controls menu. Once enabled, it's believed the tool leverages Apple's on-device AI technology — specifically the Ajax language-learning model — to identify topics and key phrases within a webpage for which to base the summarization.

In selecting key phrases, Apple's LLM software identifies sentences that provide explanations or describe the structure of objects, depending on the text in question. Words repeated within a text and key sentences are recognized as text topics.

These early indications suggest Apple is striving to deliver text summarization alongside Safari 18 later this year, though the exact implementation of this feature remains fuzzy.

Apple's text summarization features could be a response to rival generative AI tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. But Apple's on-device models and technologies like Private Relay could make the experience much more secure for users. Intelligent Search is also likely to be the same AI browser assistant that one X user hinted at a couple of weeks back.

Web Eraser for better content-blocking

Also accessible from the new page controls menu is a feature Apple is testing called "Web Eraser." As its name would imply, it's designed to allow users to remove, or erase, specific portions of web pages, according to people familiar with the feature.

The feature is expected to build upon existing privacy features within Safari and will allow users to erase unwanted content from any webpage of their choosing. Users will have the option to erase banner ads, images, text or even entire page sections, all with relative ease.

The erasure is said to be persistent, rather than limited to a browsing session. This means that Safari will remember the changes even after the original tab or window has been closed.

When visiting a web page with previously erased content, Safari will inform the user that the page has been modified to reflect their desired changes. The browser will also give the user the option to revert changes and restore the webpage to its initial, unaltered state.

As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear.

Updated UI will move key tools into one easy location

The new page controls menu referenced throughout this article will attempt to offer Safari 18 users quick and easy access to several options previously located across different menus and the Share Sheet. Running on pre-release versions of macOS 15, for instance, the menu also pulls in the "Aa" menu common on existing iPadOS versions of the browser. These include zoom options, webpage settings for privacy controls, content blocking options, extension shortcuts, and access to the new AI and erasure tools.

These various options existed previously on macOS, but were found by navigating through the Safari settings menu. Having all of these controls in one central location in the Address Bar will make these options more discoverable for end users. Other options like on-page text search and reader mode are also in this menu.

This all suggests Apple intends to unite the iPadOS and macOS Safari UI paradigms when it unveils its new OS releases during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

AI-enhanced Visual Lookup feature could be available in 2025

Simultaneously, Apple is also working on a much more powerful visual search feature scheduled for integration sometime in 2025 that will allow users to obtain information on consumer products when browsing through images. People familiar with the tool say it's similar to the Visual Lookup feature, through which Siri can identify plants, pets and landmarks from photos.

Visual Search could be implemented as a system-wide feature. So, instead of surfacing search results in the Photos app, the user may be able to use Visual Search directly in Safari by selecting an image.

Given development of this tool is in the earlier stages, it remains unclear how Apple will ultimately go about implementing it. It also remains to be seen whether or not the feature will make it through internal testing.

The iPhone maker has expressed significant interest in artificial intelligence and more recently published research related to on-device language learning models. This goes hand in hand with widespread rumors about several other AI-powered software features, many of which are expected to make their debut later this year with iOS 18.

Another big year for Safari

From its inception, Safari was always meant to rival existing web browsers.

Safari was originally added to macOS as a means of replacing Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Mac, which was the default browser. Over the years, the app made its way to the iPhone , and has since received various upgrades over the years.

More recent versions of Safari provide users with personalized web suggestions, and allow for greater privacy protection with features such as iCloud Private Relay.

This latest set of enhancements only serves to better position Safari against the competition, in an ever-increasing landscape of generative AI tools and third-party ad-blockers.

While Apple tests many such features during different development stages, it is important to remember that not all of them make it to release. Apple has been known to delay features or cancel them entirely, so there's always a chance we may not see these new Safari features after all.

Along with Safari 18 and its associated improvements, we should also see a revamped Calculator with Math Notes make its way to iPadOS 18. Freeform Scenes and Adaptive Voice Shortcuts are new OS features, which are also expected to debut later this year.

• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Genshin Impact
• Honkai Star Rail
• Lego Fortnite
• Stardew Valley
• NYT Strands
• NYT Connections
• Apple Watch
• Crunchyroll
• Prime Video
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• Demon Slayer
• Chainsaw Man
• Solo Leveling
• Beebom Gadgets

Leaked Safari AI Features Show Apple’s Big Plans to Supercharge Its Browser

• 'Safari 18' will be the revamped version of the Safari browser, expected to be unveiled at WWDC on June 10, 2024.
• The revamped Safari will bring changes to the UI, coupled with a trove of AI features.
• This could prove to be a game changer for Safari which is lagging behind in the AI race.

Safari 18 – Intelligent Search Feature

This would translate to a more secure search experience for users. An X user Nicolas Alvarez mentioned a similar feature in the upcoming Safari a few days back.

Coming in iOS 18: – "Safari browsing assistant" – "Encrypted visual search" Both features seem to use the Private Relay infrastructure to send data to Apple (so that they don't know your IP?).— Nicolás Álvarez (@nicolas09F9) April 10, 2024

Safari 18 UI Changes

AI-Powered Visual Lookup (Coming in 2025)

Later in 2025, Apple will likely integrate an AI-powered Visual Lookup feature in Safari, which would work similarly to how Siri identifies Pets and People in the Photos app. Moreover, it will be a system-wide feature, meaning users will be able to see visual search results in Safari by selecting a photo. This feature is still in the testing phase and there’s no confirmation whether it will see the light of day.

Will Safari Finally Compete with Other Browsers?

Death knell for intel mac users.

Anmol Sachdeva

With 6 years of experience as a writer and editor in the tech media industry, Anmol is an enigmatic savant in all kinds of tech. He loves to scour internet for new information. When not conjuring words, Anmol can be found watching Manchester United matches or glued to his MacBook watching re-runs of his favorite TV shows for upteenth time.

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How-To Geek

Arc browser, a gorgeous chrome alternative, arrives on windows.

Browse the web a new way.

After about six months of beta testing, Arc Browser is now available on Windows 11. While this browser may be too unconventional for some users, its unique capabilities and gorgeous design should make everyone excited for the future of web browsing.

The Arc Browser initially launched on macOS in 2022. Its creator, The Browser Company , is laser-focused on changing how we use web browsers and takes risks in the name of innovation. Even at a glance, Arc Browser looks alien—it uses a collapsible sidebar for tabs and bookmarks, it places an emphasis on split-screen browsing, and it's incredibly colorful.

Arc also contains a multitude of unique features. A Spotlight-like universal search shortcut lets you navigate the web using natural language, you can summarize web pages with AI, and a collaborative Easel "scrapbook" page encourages you to share Arc with others. Some of these features are missing from today's Windows 11 release, though the Windows version adds touchscreen support.

As with most new browsers, Arc is Chromium-based. It's compatible with all websites and supports Chrome extensions.

But, unlike Chrome or Edge, the Arc Browser isn't built in C++. It uses Swift, a memory-safe programming language developed by Apple. The White House and NSA are encouraging developers to ditch C++ for memory-safe languages like Swift and Rust, so this could give Arc Browser the upper hand in terms of software security (though plenty of users question Arc's privacy and security). The Browser Company brought Swift to Windows specifically for Arc Browser and maintains a Substack full of Swift development tutorials.

We reviewed the Arc Browser on macOS around this time last year. While it wasn't a perfect experience, we were shocked by some of the browser's unique features, including its Spotlight-like universal search tool and "Easel" collaboration service.

Note that Arc Browser requires an account, and its mobile app (which is currently limited to iOS) is just as unorthodox as the desktop app. This browser is attempting to do things in a new way, which some people won't appreciate.

You can download Arc Browser for Windows 11 or macOS today. There isn't a waitlist, though I'd like to reiterate that Arc Browser requires an account. A Windows 10 version of Arc Browser is in the works, and The Browser Company has ported Swift to Windows on ARM to prepare for the oncoming glut of ARM-based PCs .

Source: The Browser Group