Web browsers make a huge difference to everyday surfing on the internet. Now there are more competing browsers than ever, which can make it difficult when choosing which is best to use for your needs and purposes. Below we have listed the main browsers and summarised their advantages and disadvantages – considering faster performance, better security, or more flexibility through downloadable extensions.
Chrome – Great for speed
Chrome is a cross-platform browser, which is incredibly stable and well presented to take up the minimum of screen space. There is a wide range of obtainable extensions to install, meaning it can be easily personalised. There is support for parental controls and a huge range of tweaks and settings to ensure maximum efficiency.
However, Chrome isn’t without its downsides. It’s one of the heaviest browsers in terms of resource use, therefore it isn’t brilliant on machines with limited memory. Another consideration is that with Google’s ownership running through, you may be uncomfortable with how your browsing data is used.
Edge – reborn as a Chromium-based browser
Microsoft has recently released their existing Edge browser in a new Chromium-based form, on January 15, 2020. The new Edge uses the same engine as Google’s Chrome browser and now runs faster and smoother, becoming a direct competitor. It is also compatible with all supported versions of Windows and macOS.
Edge features various options for protecting you from online trackers and support for extensions, both from the Chrome Web Store and Microsoft’s own extension repository. If the new Edge is downloaded on Windows 10 PCs, it will automatically replace the legacy version of Microsoft Edge.
Firefox – Great for security
Firefox has been known for its flexibility and support for extensions, however, it recently received its biggest update in 13 years, meaning previous problems with speed have now been turned around – with speeds comparable to Google Chrome thanks to Firefox Quantum, released last year. The new Firefox makes frugal use of memory, even with lots of tabs open.
Firefox is well prepared when it comes to privacy. It’s makers, Mozilla, is a non-profit organisation, which means it doesn’t have the same impetus to collect your data as some other browser developers. The organisation also makes regular updates to help protect its users’ privacy as internet companies come under increasing scrutiny over the way they treat people’s data.
Safari – macOS only
If you want to complete the Apple experience, then Safari may be the one for you. The browser has seen constant improvements over the years.
Safari 13 arrived on Macs in September 2019. It’s associated with macOS Catalina but can also be installed on older versions such as Mojave and High Sierra. There are also privacy and security improvements, including in-built alerts to weak passwords.
Privacy is an important part of Safari, with Intelligent Tracking Protection there to stop advertisers from watching what you do. This is accompanied by anti-fingerprinting settings, which is intended to prevent sites from looking at your hardware and software configuration to work out who you are online, plus security features that block sites that could contain malware.
With Apple optimising Safari for macOS, the company claims significant speed advantages over the likes of the cross platform browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox. For example, battery life is consumed at a lower rate when streaming web video.
Opera – a good choice for slow connections
Opera makes up only around 1% of the browser market but is a browser worth considering. Opera launches fast, the UI is clean, and it does everything its rivals can do with a couple of extras.
One of the main reasons to use Opera is its Opera Turbo feature. This compresses your web traffic, routing it through Opera’s servers, which makes a huge difference to browsing speed if you’re using a slow remote connection or your broadband connection is not good. It reduces the amount of data transferred too, which is great if you’re using a mobile connection, and this re-routing also avoids any content restrictions your ISP might place on your browsing.
Vivaldi – unique docking and tab-stacking
Vivaldi is a browser with a difference. Vivaldi allows you to personalise the whole style and structure of its interface. Vivaldi is built on Chromium, and can be seen as a combination of Chrome and Opera. You can expand it even further with extensions from the Chrome Web Store. Some extensions behave slightly differently in Vivaldi, but most work perfectly.
Brave – a new take on online advertising and privacy
Brave is Chromium-based, with a heavy focus on user privacy and comes with a radical reimagining of how online advertising ought to work. Brave was one of the first browsers to include built-in advertisement and tracker blockers.
It also comes with its own cryptocurrency, called BAT (or Basic Attention Token), allowing users to reimburse the sites and creators they like. If you decide to opt-in, users can purchase BAT through a cryptocurrency exchange, like Coinbase. Users can also earn more by viewing “privacy-respecting” ads. Unlike traditional advertising networks, the calculations determining what advertisements to show you are performed on your own device. This means advertisers aren’t able to build a profile of you and your interests. This is only available in some countries, mostly across Europe and the Americas, plus Israel, India, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, Singapore, and New Zealand.
Summary
Whilst Chrome accounts for almost 70% of market share, depending on your requirements there are different browsers to consider to suit your needs. If you run on a slow broadband connection, Opera may be the best for you. If you want ultimate customisation, you may wish to try Vivaldi. Brave has the best features for the privacy conscious. For those who have low memory specifications, Firefox should be considered. For macOS users, Safari will optimise performance. Chrome is renowned for speed, however, the new Chromium-based Edge browser is claimed to surpass this.