BEST Web Browsers In 2024: Top 10 Compared

Web browsers have become the gateway to the internet. A portal of endless possibilities to a borderless world of information and experience, all within a click away. From connecting devices with our loved ones from across the globe to shopping for your next favorite gadget, web browsers have transformed the way we interact with the world without hassle.

These virtual toolboxes have evolved to become more efficient, faster, and with more powerful performance than ever before. Their features accommodate the daily uses of both the average Joe and tech wizards, catering to our needs whilst offering extra benefits in terms of administrative tasks, customization, security, and privacy. From the classic Mozilla Firefox to the newer Brave browser, there are various options to choose from.

1. Google Chrome

Hands down the first and favourite on the list, Google Chrome has won the majority of users on the internet. Whether you’re an Apple user, a Microsoft Windows user, or simply using plain Android mobile, Google Chrome is on the face of them all. This web browser is a favourite due to its speed, stability, and user-friendly interface.

The software was first released back in 2008 and has since become one of the most highly used browsers in the world. The browser itself has its own plugins that users could use and install to customize their own web experience. One of the famous plugins is the Adblocker, Grammarly, and Google Drive.

Pros:

• Fast and reliable performance
• A wide range of extensions and plugins are available
• Integration with Google services like Gmail and Drive
• Easy to use and navigate

Cons:

• High memory usage
• Privacy concerns due to data collection by Google
• The closed-source nature limits customization options
• Can be resource-intensive on older or less powerful devices

2. Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a web browser that has been around since it was first released back in 2002. It was created by a group of developers who wanted to provide an alternative to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The team led the company by listening to the community and developing the famous browser that we know today by adding the first tabbed browsing features and customizable interface to attract and appeal to users.

During that time, the browser wars were intensely fought between Mozilla, Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, and Chrome. At their peak in 2009, they were ranked first in terms of usage share of approximately 32% of the market. Firefox has become one of the most popular browsers in the world. Although not as dominant as they were back then, their team continues to push the capabilities of web browsing for the benefit of their long-time users.

Pros:

• Open-source and customizable
• High level of privacy and security features
• A wide range of extensions and plugins are available
• Faster than ever before due to the Quantum update

Cons:

• High memory usage
• Some extensions and plugins may not be available on Firefox
• Not as widely used as Google Chrome

3. Microsoft Edge

Formerly known as the great “Internet Explorer,” Microsoft Edge might still be able to come back from their hard fall right after Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome took their crown years ago.

They show no signs of stopping yet, as their company Microsoft plans to enhance their browser’s performance and speed, particularly when it comes to loading pages and executing JavaScript codes. The team plans to increase availability and ensures that the Edge will always be installed on most personal computers, and now more than ever, on Androids and IOS devices.

Pros:

• Fast and efficient performance
• Integration with Microsoft services like OneDrive and Office
• Built-in reading mode and note-taking features
• Comprehensive privacy and security options

Cons:

• Not as many extensions and plugins available as in other browsers
• Lack of customization options compared to other browsers
• Limited compatibility with some websites

4. Opera

Next up we got the Opera web browser. It’s made as a free and fast web browser that was developed by the company Opera Software, a Norwegian company specializing in internet technologies. It was first released in 1995 becoming the world’s oldest web browser of the Internet age and has since evolved into a feature-rich browser that offers a lot of customization options.

Opera is known for its built-in ad blocker and VPN, which help users stay safe and secure online while maintaining anonymity and granting access to geo-restricted content. It also has a feature called Speed Dial, which allows users to quickly access their favourite websites. One negative about the Opera browser is that it has a smaller user base than other browsers, which means it may not be compatible with all websites.

What’s interesting is the browser has been winning numerous awards over the years in terms of speed, security, and innovative features, yet they struggle to gain a large market share against other web browsing rivals – It might just simply be a matter of marketing.

Pros:

• Fast and efficient performance
• Built-in ad blocker and VPN
• Comprehensive privacy and security features
• Integration with popular messaging services like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp

Cons:

• Not as widely used as other browsers
• Some websites may not be compatible with Opera
• Limited extension and plugin options compared to other browsers

5. Safari

While Microsoft Edge was a dominator of the default web browser on many computers, Safari is guaranteed to always have a place in Apple devices. The Safari web browser was introduced back in 2003 by Apple. The browser was initially made to function only on the Macintosh application. Over time, Safari was later made the default web browser for all Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

One of the great features you can get from Safari is its integration with other Apple services, like iCloud and Apple Pay. For instance, if you’re shopping on a website using Safari on your iPhone, you can use Apple Pay to quickly and securely complete your purchase without having to enter your payment and shipping information.

The Safari web browser is uniquely secure as it does not share the same security infrastructures as other browser does since it is exclusively for Apple devices only. Another useful mention of the Safari browser is the reading list feature where users can save articles and webpages to read later on and even without any internet connection. This comes in handy when users are travelling abroad with roaming data and with limited access to the internet.

Pros:

• Fast and efficient performance
• Integration with Apple services like iCloud and Apple Pay
• Comprehensive privacy and security features
• Energy-efficient design for longer battery life on Macs

Cons:

• Not as widely used as other browsers
• Limited extension and plugin options compared to other browsers
• Only available on Mac and iOS devices

6. Brave

As the internet age progresses significantly and users began to be more conscious about their data shared with other companies, Brendan Eich (the co-founder of Mozilla Firefox) decided to step in and take this opportunity to create a new web browser called, “Brave.” This platform was recently released back in 2016 and was designed to protect the privacy of users who wanted a much safer and more secure browsing experience.

One of the steps taken to achieve their objectives is by implementing a built-in ad-blocker, which blocks all the ads on default as well as the ability to prevent tracking scripts from tagging their users along their browsing session.

This feature not only protects its users but also creates faster load time and a smoother browsing experience. Keeping up with the crypto space, Brave also integrated its own rewards program called Brave Rewards which allows users to earn cryptocurrency by viewing ads. The rewards are earned through the use of a Basic Attention Token (BAT) which only toggles on if the user opt-in to view ads. These currency tokens can also be used to donate to your favourite content creator or support small websites.

Pros:

• Comprehensive privacy and security features
• Built-in ad and tracker blocker
• Fast and efficient performance
• Rewards users with cryptocurrency for viewing ads

Cons:

• Limited extension and plugin options compared to other browsers
• May not be compatible with all websites
• A relatively new browser so may have bugs or glitches

7. Vivaldi

Like Brave, one of the browser rivals, Vivaldi was founded by another co-founder. This time it was Jon von Tetzchner, a co-founder of Opera’s web browser. Jon was dissatisfied with the current capabilities and limited interface options that the current web browsers could do. The customization of the browsers that were currently on market was dull and limited with little to almost no user control for the public. Jon was determined to give the users total control of their online browsing experience.

He assembled a team of seasoned developers and designers to create a highly appealing web interface that attracted tech enthusiasts and creative professionals into using Vivaldi upon its first release back in 2016. Over the next few years, Vivaldi has shown itself to stay committed and consistent with their customizable browsers while meeting their user’s preferences. Upon highlighting their unique selling point to be total user control and personalized creative interfaces, Vivaldi has great potential to be a strong web browser in the near future.

Pros:

• Highly customizable interface and features
• Wide range of customization options for power users
• Built-in note-taking and screenshot features
• Comprehensive privacy and security options

Cons:

• Can be resource-intensive on older or less powerful devices
• May not be as user-friendly for non-technical users
• Limited extension and plugin options compared to other browsers

8. Tor Browser

Next on the list is the infamous Tor Browser. The story of the Tor Browser begins in the mid-1990s when the internet barely existed back then. The internet was wild, as wild as it can get, with unregulated activities, with less to no privacy at all. Security protection for users back then was basically non-existent.

The Tor Project was initialized by a group of non-profit organizations in 2002 with the goal of creating a more private and secure internet. The project turned out to be a success — too successful which led user’s browsing to be almost impossible to trace down. Tor’s web browser was meant to protect users’ privacy and anonymity online by using a complex system of encryption and routing that hides the user’s IP addresses and obscures their online activities.

Over the coming years, this browser became a favourite for privacy advocates, journalists, and even high-ranking government officials. It is also worth noting that law enforcement agencies have been using the Tor Browser to conduct their own investigations and pass on confidential information across the platform. On the other hand, the browser is also used for illegal activities such as hacking, illegal drug sales, and online harassment. No matter what, it is important to use the internet responsibly and ethically for the good of the online community.

Pros:

• Comprehensive privacy and security features, including onion routing
• Anonymous browsing with no tracking or data collection
• Access to the Dark Web and other hidden services

Cons:

• Slow performance due to multiple layers of encryption
• Some websites may not be compatible with Tor due to the anonymity features
• Limited customization options compared to other browsers

9. Chromium

In the early 2000s, the tech giant, Google began working on a new web browser that would rival the best within the industry. This includes competitors such as Netscape, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox. The project was called Chromium – the predecessor of Google Chrome. The company’s goal was to create an open-source web browser. One that is available for the masses. A fast, lightweight, and customizable software that performs and loads quicker than the current web browsers during that time.

The team of developers made steady progress in the developments, writing the codes and installing the minimalistic features. And by the year 2008, they had released the beta version to the public as an open-source project. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and developers from around the world started contributing to the project. They worked on everything from bug fixes to new features, and the browser continued to improve well beyond its years.

Although, now that Google Chrome has taken the crown, Chromium became the core foundation for other popular web browsers to learn from namely, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Brave. Chromium today is well known by professional developers and tech-savvy users who use Chromium for efficiency and customization.

Pros:

• Open-source and customizable
• Lightweight and fast performance
• Wide range of customization options for power users
• High level of privacy and security features

Cons:

• Limited features compared to other browsers like Google Chrome
• Some websites may not be compatible with Chromium
• May require technical knowledge to customize and configure

10. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser

Last but not least, is DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Browser. The catchy name came from their first product which was a privacy-focused search engine that started in 2008. The founder, Gabriel Weinberg, was determined to create a private search engine that wouldn’t track user data and collect their information like how Google does.

His efforts started attracting many American and European users to opt for his search engine, and over time it had grown to release more privacy-focused products for his clients. In 2018, the company then released its DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser which is ironically based on the open-source Chromium browser owned by Google themselves. Their browser includes a handy feature called the “Fire Button,” which allows user to quickly clear their browsing history and data with just one click of a mouse.  

The target market for their privacy browser is the public who particularly values their online privacy and wants full control of their private data from being shared. And after the infamous data breach made by Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, user data has never been more regulated and protected than ever before to fight against unwanted unethical practices made by big tech companies.

Pros:

• Comprehensive privacy and security features
• Blocks third-party trackers and doesn’t collect user data
• Fast and efficient performance
• Simple and easy-to-use interface

Cons:

• Limited extension and plugin options compared to other browsers
• May not be compatible with all websites

Some users may prefer additional features and customization options offered by other browsers.