Deciding on a web browser can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many popping up all over the place, all offering their own set of features. Choosing the right web browser to fit your needs can be the difference between having a great time surfing your favorite websites, or walking away with a headache and a whole lot of frustration. Especially with most major software developers moving to a browser-based user experience. This means choosing the right browser in 2021 has never been more important. I have gathered my top five favorite browsers to help you out with this decision.
The Best Overall Browser
This title has to go to Mozilla Firefox. I know what you are thinking, “it’s not Chrome?” No, it isn’t, and let me tell you why. Mozilla released Firefox Quantum back in 2017 to try to compete with Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Not only did they manage to compete with them, but they have also surpassed them in almost all categories. The new UI uses new technologies, alongside new algorithms to allow for a faster browsing experience. Mozilla has stated Firefox uses 30% less memory while performing 30% faster than Chrome. Firefox Quantum’s new user interface is very intuitive and user friendly and we’ve all heard the rumors about Googe spying on us and stealing our data. If you have any concerns about this, you can rest assured knowing that Mozilla has taken every precaution possible to ensure the privacy and safety of its users. Making it the best overall browser to date. It is intuitive, quick, and secure. What more could you want from a browser?
The simple and easy to use option
Depending on who you are, and what is important to you, Google Chrome is an excellent choice for a web browser. Chrome has been the industry standard for what a browser should be for many years now and has set the pace for all the other browser developers. Chrome’s user interface is extremely smooth. Almost anyone can start using Chrome without ever having used it, and know exactly what to do. It is that user friendly. If you are the type of person that prioritizes functionality over your privacy, then Chrome is the right choice for you. It works on all devices, and operating systems seamlessly. All your favorite extensions and websites will load and run perfectly 95% of the time. It’s not the fastest, and it is certainly one of the most resource-intensive browsers out there, but if you just want something that will work on all your devices all the time, Chrome is right for you.
For all you efficiency freaks.
The Opera browser is another Chromium-based web browser (the same open-source browser Chrome is built on). So to all you Chrome users, this is yet another great alternative. This browser’s claim to fame is that it is a smarter, lightweight version of Chrome. They use many features that other browsers just do not offer, to provide a more streamlined and organized experience. They offer built-in messengers in the browser’s sidebar to allow you to communicate via Facebook Messenger, for example, without ever having to go to Facebook. Additionally, they offer workspaces and a My Flow feature to keep things neat and tidy. They also block ad trackers and give their users access to a free VPN to keep your data secure. Overall, this is an excellent browser for almost anyone, but if organization and workflow are things you find important… Opera is the obvious choice.
The ad-free, and security-minded option.
The Brave Browser is a new kid on the block. It is a much lesser-known browser than any of the others mentioned here, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as good! Brave’s slogan is “Secure, Fast, & Private.” This pretty much sums up what you can expect from Brave. It is built on Chromium which means if you are looking for a more privacy and security-minded version of Google Chrome, then Brave will be an excellent fit for you. For the most part, it will feel like you are still in Chrome. Brave blocks all trackers from advertisements, and just downright block the adds. Your experience surfing the web in the Brave interface will be largely ad-free. They have been criticized for being, “aggressively anti-ads.” The biggest drawback to using this new browser is that it is just so new. They don’t have nearly as many browser extensions supported as the other mainstream browsers. With time, however, I am confident they will get there. If you don’t mind working within the limits of Brave supported extensions, and privacy is something you value, then Brave will be an excellent choice.
And… If you just hate Google. Edge is perfect for you.
Microsoft Edge has recently revamped its entire user interface. Like most other major browsers today, Edge is now based on Chromium as well. This is actually a huge step in the right direction for Microsoft. Their platform is now as good as almost all other browsers on the market. Previously Microsoft has tried to create their own browser from scratch, leaving it lacking in many features. Now, with this major update, they can finally step into the ring and try to find their space. To date, there is very little difference between Google Chrome and the new Microsoft Edge. They offer very little in the way of unique features but do claim to offer enhanced security. They have been criticized for simply being “Chrome in Microsoft clothing.” It will take some time for them to develop their own features to make them stand out from the crowd, but if you are someone who distrusts Google, and likes Microsoft better… the new edge could be a great fit for you. Switching over is seamless, and after a few days, you might even forget you aren’t using Chrome anymore.
I hope you found this article helpful, and you were able to make an informed decision on the browser that most fits your needs. If you have any questions or any other content you would like me to cover, feel free to reach out anytime.