The word ‘browse’ can be used in many contexts and can have different meanings in different scenarios. Take an example where ‘to browse’ can mean to scan or read and it can also indicate eating, grazing, pasture, or crop.
In this case, we are looking at browsers or web browsers. This is the software that is used to extract information from the World Wide Web. Here we will be looking at the top five browsers available today by looking at their basic features and comparing them based on various factors. At the end of this read, you can choose a browser that fits your online persona or lifestyle. Here they are in order of importance.
Firefox
Best for everyone. It is known to be a secure web browser and one can say it is the best browser for PC.
Mozilla Firefox or simply Firefox, although it occupies third place in the global market share of browsers, is known to be more secure and faster than the most widely used PC browser i.e. Chrome.
Firefox has recently added a new feature that saves you from getting tracked while you work online. Firefox now protects you from Supercookies, which stay hidden in your browser and keep tracking your information – this is a huge merit and takes Firefox to first place in the list of top 10 browsers.
Features:
- Pop a video out of the browser window so that you can stream and multitask.
- Expanded dark mode.
- An extra layer of protection.
- Search everything with a unified search bar.
- Customize the menu or toolbar.
- Browse fast and free.
- The new tab page has great content at your fingertips.
Verdict: Taking into consideration all the positive aspects of Firefox like privacy, security & speed – Mozilla Firefox is undoubtedly the best web browser.
Price: Free
Chrome
Best for people who want trouble-free, easy, and fast Internet surfing.
Google Chrome is a cross-platform web browser developed by Google. It is a fast and easy-to-use web browser. Chrome lets you browse and navigate the net while using less data just by turning on Chrome’s data saver. It also lets you browse without saving your browsing history, using the incognito mode.
Features:
- Fast browsing
- Data saver
- Let’s you download to view offline.
- Keeps your phone safe by showing warnings when you attempt to navigate through a dangerous site.
- Voice search option
- Translate text on your screen.
- Smart personalized recommendations.
- Privacy
- Sync across devices
Verdict: Chrome is an easy-to-use web browser and is one of the fastest web browsers – this makes it highly recommendable and is, in fact, the most used web browser in the world.
Price: Free
Edge
Best for people who like to buy things online. It provides you with a list of coupons so that you can easily apply them to your order and also lets you compare the prices of a product across different websites.
Microsoft Edge holds fourth place in the global market of PC browsers.
Edge lets you browse the internet while having access to various features like styling and customizing the home page, shopping while saving time and money, and lets you stay organized. Collections make it easier than ever to collect, organize, share and export web content to word or excel.
Features:
- Customisable with your favorite extensions.
- Available across devices
- Feel always connected through the feature of sync.
- Stay private online.
- Browse safely
- Tracking prevention
- Allows you to view, edit and share PDFs directly from the browser.
- Save money with price comparison.
- Find deals with coupons.
- Let’s you stay organized.
Verdict: Microsoft Edge is the best web browser for shopaholics and people in the know when it comes to customising browsers.
Price: Free
Apple Safari
Best for people with privacy and security concerns and those who want the fastest browser.
Apple Safari – a browsing software built for Apple products, is the fastest browser in the world due to its powerful Nitro engine, with features like no other. It gives you best-in-class browsing with powerful privacy protection and power efficiency.
Features:
- Safari Reader allows you to pull out important content from a networking site without having to filter through ads and distractions.
- HTML 5 Support
- The smart address field gives you the desired suggestions based on your search history.
- Safari Nitro Engine makes it the fastest browser in the world.
- Safari Extensions
- Powerful privacy protections.
- Customizable start page.
- Less power-consuming.
- Best-in-class browsing.
Verdict: Though Safari offers its user a number of features like no other browser and is proved to be the most power-efficient and fastest browser, thereby making it one of the best web browsers. It has a bad rep due to its ‘not so easy to use features and the significant amount of money that one has to pay for having access to it.
Price: Starts at $100 per month per user.
Opera
Best for those who use social media websites a lot.
Opera has been listed as the tried and tested alternative to Chrome. Opera has originated features that were later adopted by other web browsers including Speed dial, Pop-up blocking, re-opening recently closed pages, private browsing, and tabbed browsing.
Features:
- Speed dial
- Pop up blocking
- Sync data
- Opera Flow is used to send files between our devices instantly.
- Re-opening recently closed pages.
- Private browsing
- Built-in screenshot tool called Snapshot.
- Image mark-up tool
- Built-in ad blockers.
- Tracking blockers
Verdict: This ad-free browser is a treat for people who switch between social media applications. Opera can be considered the best browser for PC – for the shopaholics.
Price: Free
