The Best Web Browsers For 2024
The web has helped with everything from promoting businesses and gaining precise data on target audiences to doing in-depth research on topics and enjoying more personal activities like streaming shows, using social media, playing video games, and emailing friends and family.
All this time online also boosts demand for traits like faster web access, improved data analytics, and more privacy. Web browsers compete to meet those growing needs. If you are looking to improve your web experience, your choice of browser is a powerful place to start.
Even more important than a browser for speed, is your internet service provider. Find internet service providers by address to see what's available!
Below is a list of the top browsers today with their pros and cons to help you choose. Note that while some on the list may be new to you, one might be the best option for your needs over what you have been using.
What is a Browser?
A browser is a software program that helps you visit websites. It must be installed onto your computer to work. A web browser is not an operating system (i.e., Windows or Mac) but works on one. It is also not a search engine – a website, like google or bing, that helps you find other websites. A browser gives you access to the internet and search engines.
A browser may come preinstalled on your device, or you can download it from the web or device stores like Apple Store, Google Play Store, or Microsoft Store. Note that not all browsers work on all devices. The list below indicates the applicable operating systems for each browser.
Google Chrome: Best for Speed and User Data
Available for:
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS
- Mobile: iOS, iPadOS, Android
Google Chrome dominates the browser industry with a global market share of 64%. This makes it an ideal place to browse content and advertise your business. It has the most users and pulls the most data on them for improved targeting.
Chrome is also fast. It is the quickest web browser on Windows computers, even quicker than Microsoft's browser, Microsoft Edge. It is the second fastest browser behind Safari for Apple devices.
Chrome excels at coordinating with other devices smoothly, saving your passwords and bookmarks on each device, and offers a massive library of internal and third-party extensions to improve the browsing experience. You can even get an extension for Bard, Google’s AI.
Still, all that data collection sacrifices privacy. Even searching in “Incognito Mode” is not foolproof. If you use Chrome, have an antivirus system in place. Google also offers many security plugins to help.
Pros
- Extremely fast.
- The best source for promoting your business and improving search results
- A massive library of internal and third-party extensions.
- Syncs across all devices fluidly
Cons
- This browser poses the most significant security risk on the list.
Apple Safari: Best for Apple Devices
Available for:
- Desktop: macOS
- Mobile: iOS, iPadOS
Apple created Safari for their iOS and macOS operating systems only. Non-Apple devices can’t use it. The browser comes standard on Apple devices, which has made Safari second behind Chrome in popularity. It has a global market share of 18%. Like Chrome, Safari’s large reach provides powerful user data to help you better advertise your business to desired audiences. It also offers improved security for users.
Safari automatically blocks third-party trackers and prevents malicious sites from loading. It offers “Intelligent Tracking Prevention” and, unlike Chrome, a proper “Private Browsing” mode. It even has a Reader Mode that removes ads and other distractions from web pages.
You can use other browsers on Apple devices, but Safari is the fastest. Like other Apple products, the system is simple and intuitive. It also offers powerful features like iCloud integration and bookmark sharing across devices. The streamlined design also requires less power consumption than Chrome.
Safari does offer some extensions, but not as many as Google.
Pros
- Fast performance with low power consumption.
- Reader Mode allows you to quickly read articles without distractions or ads.
- Integrates with iCloud, allowing you to sync bookmarks across devices.
Cons
- Only available on Apple devices.
- Fewer extensions than Google Chrome.
Microsoft Edge: Best for Windows Compatibility
Available for:
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS (requires Linux)
- Mobile: iOS, iPadOS, Android
Microsoft Edge is the default browser for Windows devices. It had a rocky start but now has a reputation for being fast, easy to use, and reliable. It is also upgraded regularly and does an excellent job of making improvements that the public wants. Like Safari and Chrome, you can sync passwords, bookmarks, and other data across Windows devices.
Edge integrates well with Windows services like Skype and the Office Suite. It is required for use with Bing, the search engine that offers ChatGPT-enabled web searches.
Microsoft Edge has robust security features, like its built-in anti-phishing and tracking prevention technology. This makes Edge a safer option than Chrome.
Edge is speedy, second only to Chrome on Windows computers (and not by much) and tied with Google for second place behind Safari on macOS computers.
Edge has fewer extensions than Chrome, but still a decent selection.
Pros
- Best compatibility for Windows computers
- Fast and lightweight browser.
- Excellent security features and built-in anti-phishing and tracking prevention technology.
- Works fluidly between devices and with Windows services like Skype and Office Suite.
- Syncs passwords, bookmarks, and other data across multiple devices
Cons
- Fewer extensions than Chrome
Mozilla Firefox: Best for Security
Available for:
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Mobile: iOS, iPadOS, Android
Firefox is the best option for security. For example, all your passwords are stored locally rather than on servers. It also encrypts browser requests, making them unreadable to others.
Firefox is a solid tool for developers, even offering a Developing Edition. It is highly customizable while doing an excellent job of filtering add-ons for added safety.
The added protection does come at a cost: speed. The browser has a bad reputation for being slow. It also uses a lot of memory, but if security is a priority, this is the browser for you.
As with the other browsers, extensions can be added to Firefox to tailor it more to your specific needs.
Pros
- The best option on this list in terms of security
- Highly customizable
- A powerful tool for developers
Cons
- Slow speed
- Not available on Chrome OS
- Uses a lot of memory
Vivaldi Browser: Best Personalized Experience and Multitasking Capabilities
Available for:
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS
- Mobile Android
This newer browser has emerged as one of the best. A key trait is user experience. It features an attractive design and a ready selection of themes. You can also customize your start page, commands, gestures, tabs, and more.
Vivaldi is fast and offers excellent multi-tasking tools to make usage even quicker. You get two levels of tabs and even a split screen to display a pinned page alongside an existing page.
It also has some privacy features that differentiate it from the rest. Its default search mode uses DuckDuckGo for advanced security and Vivaldi offers built-in tools like an ad blocker and tracker blocker.
Vivaldi is unavailable for iOS (iPhones or iPads) and uses a lot of memory. Still, it is a great option to make your browser safer and more unique.
Pros
- High customization
- Improved privacy
- Fast
- Great for multitasking
Cons
- It is not available for Apple's iPhones or iPads
- Uses a lot of memory
Brave Browser: Best for Computers with Low Memory and Battery Life
Available for:
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Chrome OS
- Mobile app on iOS, iPadOS, and Android
Brave is an open-source system with a tight focus on privacy and performance. Open-source means that the code is made freely available and it can be modified by users. Brave doesn’t collect your browsing activity and encrypts data while letting you maintain settings and bookmarks across your devices. You can review the security features easily, use the browser's VPN services, and enjoy less censorship.
Brave also requires fewer resources than Chrome, which speeds up the response. It touts itself as requiring 33% less memory than Chrome while putting less strain on your battery.
Brave is unique in that you can earn crypto tokens for browsing certain websites. In some cases, you can earn 70% of the ad revenue for ads Brave displays.
On the downside, there is a definite lack of extensions and add-ons, making it a barebones browser.
Pros
- Strong privacy protection
- Requires less memory and battery power than Chrome
- Open-source
- You can be paid for websites you visit
Cons
Few features
Opera Browser: Best Blend of Social Media Compatibility and Privacy
Available for:
- Desktop: Windows, macOC, Linux, Chrome OS
- Mobile: iOS, iPadOS, Android
This site is ideal for social media users and is one of the best options for privacy. Users enjoy built-in shortcuts to popular social media sites. For privacy, its advanced features protect your identity, security, and data better than Chrome. Examples include built-in ad blocking, anti-tracking, and a VPN client.
Opera is also fast. While not as quick as Chrome, Edge, or Safari, it still has excellent speed. It has a relatively stripped-down system compared to Chrome, which requires fewer system resources.
Conversely, Opera does not have a progress bar for loading websites, and it occasionally loads websites incorrectly. Also, the interface is relatively small compared to other browsers.
Pros
- Fast
- Has a VPN client already built in.
- Includes social tools
Cons
- Sometimes loads websites incorrectly
- Doesn’t update as often as Chrome
- Small interface
Conclusion
The above list of top browsers offers a range of traits that will meet your needs while providing you with a quality browser you can rely on. Once you ensure the option works with your operating system, you'll be off and running.