How to choose best browser?
Choosing the right browser can have a huge effect on how you experience the internet, and if it's been several years since you last tried a new one, you might be shocked by the impact it can have.
Speed and privacy are two of the biggest considerations that will guide you when you're choosing a browser; some demand more of your system resources while others are relatively lightweight, and some offer full suites of security tools to protect your identity online, while others allow cookies and ads to run unhindered.
1. Google Chrome – Overall top web browsers
Platforms supported: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome OS
Launched in 2009, Google Chrome quickly rose in the popularity charts because it was the fastest web browser back then. Now, it has competitors. And as the most used web browser, Chrome should maintain a standard for speed and efficiency. Although many accuse the free web browser of eating all the RAM.
Other than basic browser features like bookmark management, extensions, themes, incognito mode, etc., one thing I like about Chrome is the profile management. The feature allows multiple people to use the same browser without getting their internet history, download history, and other things merged. Tab Grouping is another useful feature that helps reduce clutter.
2. Mozilla Firefox – Best Chrome alternative
Platforms Supported: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, BSD (Unofficial port)
Firefox Quantum is the revamped version of Mozilla’s free Windows 10 browser designed from scratch. It packs some useful features such as better recommendations, enhanced tab management, a new task manager page, and much more.
3. Microsoft Edge Chromium – Best browser for Windows
Platforms Supported: Windows 10/7/8, Xbox One, Android, iOS, macOS
Edge Chromium sprung out of a big decision that Microsoft took in early 2019. It switched to the Chromium-based source code while ditching the Edge HTML engine being used on the legacy Edge.
The result is that the new Edge browser can run almost all of Google Chrome extensions, and has improved heavily in terms of performance. So, it’s the best browser for Windows 10 that integrates with the OS better than its competitors.
4. Opera – Browser that prevents crypto jacking
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Basic Phones
You might very well remember using Opera Mini on your Java-enabled mobile phone. Probably, the oldest web browser that’s currently receiving active development, Opera almost got diminished due to the success of Chrome.
The desktop version of the web browser includes some features that are usually designed for smartphones, like, a data compression mode and battery saver. Other exciting features the Opera can flaunt are in-built ad-blocker, screenshot tool, crypto mining prevention, VPN service, currency converter, etc.
5. Brave web browser – doubles up as Tor
Supported Platforms: Linux, Windows 7, macOS
The seventh entry on our list of best web browsers for your computer in 2021 is Brave Browser. In a short span of time, Brave has earned a reputation as a privacy-focused web browser. It comes with inbuilt blockers for advertisements and website trackers.
Developed by JavaScript creator Brendan Eich and Brian Bondy, this open-source browser has also introduced a pay-to-surf model that promises to share part of Brave’s revenue. Brave Browser also announced that users would get 70% of the ad revenue.
6. Vivaldi – A highly customizable browser
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux
Vivaldi is only a few years old, but it ranks among the best web browser apps for Windows 10 people can use in 2021. It was created by Opera Software co-founder Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Tatsuki Tomita.
While using Vivaldi, you’d notice its adaptive UI changes according to the color scheme of the website you’re browsing. Vivaldi is also based on Blink, but it was meant to bring to life many Opera features that were sacrificed during Opera’s transition from Presto to Blink. Being a Chromium-inspired browser, it supports Chrome extensions just like Opera.
The browser is very similar to Opera, with the same sidebar on the left-hand side. But the level of customization provided, such as for the address bar, tab bar, etc., is what makes Vivaldi a top web browser. More customizations include adding custom keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures as per liking.
There is a note-taking tool present in the sidebar. Users can also add any website to the sidebar as a web panel. They can access the website anytime through a split-screen view.
7. Maxthon Cloud Browser
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone
Maxthon, existing since 2002, started primarily as a web browser for Windows, but it arrived on other platforms later. The developers have promoted Maxthon as a cloud browser. However, the PR gimmick doesn’t seem to be exclusive anymore as almost all the top web browser apps now support data sync over the cloud.
Speed and privacy are two of the biggest considerations that will guide you when you're choosing a browser; some demand more of your system resources while others are relatively lightweight, and some offer full suites of security tools to protect your identity online, while others allow cookies and ads to run unhindered.
1. Google Chrome – Overall top web browsers
Platforms supported: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome OS
Launched in 2009, Google Chrome quickly rose in the popularity charts because it was the fastest web browser back then. Now, it has competitors. And as the most used web browser, Chrome should maintain a standard for speed and efficiency. Although many accuse the free web browser of eating all the RAM.
Other than basic browser features like bookmark management, extensions, themes, incognito mode, etc., one thing I like about Chrome is the profile management. The feature allows multiple people to use the same browser without getting their internet history, download history, and other things merged. Tab Grouping is another useful feature that helps reduce clutter.
2. Mozilla Firefox – Best Chrome alternative
Platforms Supported: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, BSD (Unofficial port)
Firefox Quantum is the revamped version of Mozilla’s free Windows 10 browser designed from scratch. It packs some useful features such as better recommendations, enhanced tab management, a new task manager page, and much more.
3. Microsoft Edge Chromium – Best browser for Windows
Platforms Supported: Windows 10/7/8, Xbox One, Android, iOS, macOS
Edge Chromium sprung out of a big decision that Microsoft took in early 2019. It switched to the Chromium-based source code while ditching the Edge HTML engine being used on the legacy Edge.
The result is that the new Edge browser can run almost all of Google Chrome extensions, and has improved heavily in terms of performance. So, it’s the best browser for Windows 10 that integrates with the OS better than its competitors.
4. Opera – Browser that prevents crypto jacking
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Basic Phones
You might very well remember using Opera Mini on your Java-enabled mobile phone. Probably, the oldest web browser that’s currently receiving active development, Opera almost got diminished due to the success of Chrome.
Related Article
The desktop version of the web browser includes some features that are usually designed for smartphones, like, a data compression mode and battery saver. Other exciting features the Opera can flaunt are in-built ad-blocker, screenshot tool, crypto mining prevention, VPN service, currency converter, etc.
5. Brave web browser – doubles up as Tor
Supported Platforms: Linux, Windows 7, macOS
The seventh entry on our list of best web browsers for your computer in 2021 is Brave Browser. In a short span of time, Brave has earned a reputation as a privacy-focused web browser. It comes with inbuilt blockers for advertisements and website trackers.
Developed by JavaScript creator Brendan Eich and Brian Bondy, this open-source browser has also introduced a pay-to-surf model that promises to share part of Brave’s revenue. Brave Browser also announced that users would get 70% of the ad revenue.
6. Vivaldi – A highly customizable browser
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux
Vivaldi is only a few years old, but it ranks among the best web browser apps for Windows 10 people can use in 2021. It was created by Opera Software co-founder Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Tatsuki Tomita.
While using Vivaldi, you’d notice its adaptive UI changes according to the color scheme of the website you’re browsing. Vivaldi is also based on Blink, but it was meant to bring to life many Opera features that were sacrificed during Opera’s transition from Presto to Blink. Being a Chromium-inspired browser, it supports Chrome extensions just like Opera.
The browser is very similar to Opera, with the same sidebar on the left-hand side. But the level of customization provided, such as for the address bar, tab bar, etc., is what makes Vivaldi a top web browser. More customizations include adding custom keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures as per liking.
There is a note-taking tool present in the sidebar. Users can also add any website to the sidebar as a web panel. They can access the website anytime through a split-screen view.
7. Maxthon Cloud Browser
Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone
Maxthon, existing since 2002, started primarily as a web browser for Windows, but it arrived on other platforms later. The developers have promoted Maxthon as a cloud browser. However, the PR gimmick doesn’t seem to be exclusive anymore as almost all the top web browser apps now support data sync over the cloud.
Conclusion:
The free web browser comes with tools to capture videos from web pages, built-in Adblock Plus, night mode, screenshot tool, email client, password manager, note-taking tool, etc. It also provides access to common Windows tools like Notepad, Calculator, etc. But I wouldn’t prefer using the same as I can open tools faster using the Start Menu.
0 Comments