brave browser vs safari mac

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Brave vs Safari

A side-by-side comparison

As the default on Apple devices, Safari is the second most widely used browser in the world. It’s generally considered more private than Chrome, and is optimized for iOS and macOS. But despite Apple’s best efforts, it still doesn’t match up to a privacy-and-performance browser like Brave.

Brave is faster and more private, even on macOS and iOS devices. And—unlike Safari—it also works on every other device and operating system. So which is right for you?

Let’s compare.

Is Brave safer than Safari?

Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world. But unlike other Big Tech players like Google or Facebook, Apple is far less dependent on advertising revenue; most of their money comes from sales of hardware and software. As such, they have less incentive to collect your data (or allow it to be collected), and more incentive to protect you online.

Still, Safari doesn’t go nearly as far as it could in terms of specific privacy and security protections . Brave, meanwhile, blocks nearly every attempt to track you:

Blocks third-party ads
Blocks cross-site trackers
Blocks third-party cookies
Protects against fingerprinting
Blocks cookie-consent banners
Global privacy control support
Auto-upgrades to HTTPS
Network state partitioning
Filters query parameters
Blocks bounce tracking

Chart describes default settings.

Full protection
Limited protection
No protection, or off by default

As you can see, Safari still allows ads and trackers to appear on the webpages you visit. It still allows some fingerprinting techniques, and even those annoying cookie-consent notices (which Brave blocks by default). With Safari, you’re still followed across the Web. Your browsing and search history are recorded and linked directly with you—all without your knowledge or consent.

Brave, on the other hand, is built for privacy. It blocks those things (and more) by default.

Does Brave have more features than Safari?

Brave is built on the open-source Chromium browser engine (the same one that powers Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi). 1 Safari is powered by Apple’s open-source WebKit engine.

Basic functions like bookmarks and tabs are there in both Brave and Safari. For Safari extensions, you’ll need to visit the Apple App Store; for Brave extensions, you can visit the much larger selection in the Chrome Web Store. But with all of Brave’s built-in features, you likely won’t need any extensions.

Beyond these core similarities, Brave has lots of custom features that are missing in Safari:

Better browsing

Built-in ad blocker
YouTube ad blocker
AI assistant
Vertical tabs
Offline media playlists
News & RSS reader
Reader mode
Translations
Cross-device profile syncing

Privacy & security

Default private search
Built-in VPN
Built-in, private video calls
Tor browsing
Web Torrent integration
Secure, built-in wallet
Crypto rewards program
IPFS peer-to-peer file sharing
Full functionality
Limited functionality
No functionality, or off by default

Some sub-features like Translations and Tab groups are available in both browsers. But to get real parity in Safari, you’d need to install multiple extensions that, unfortunately, can introduce security risks and slow down your Web browsing.

When looking at browser functionality, Brave far outperforms Safari.

Brave cleans up webpages, giving you a less distracting browsing experience on every site—including YouTube.

Safari, on the other hand, shows pages cluttered with ads…and countless other junk you can’t see. One look at a side-by-side, and you’ll immediately notice the difference.

Grab the slider to see the difference between Brave and Safari and try a few sites below

All Recipes

Brave works on all Mac laptop and desktop computers. It performs far better on macOS machines than Safari does. By blocking ads and trackers , it uses less RAM and CPU, and saves memory.

Brave works on all Apple mobile devices. It performs far better on iOS devices than Safari does. By blocking ads and trackers, it uses less battery, less bandwidth, and less mobile data.

Brave is available on Android and iOS, macOS and Windows, and even Linux. No matter which device or operating system you use, Brave will run better than the default browser—or any other browser you might install—on that device.

Safari is owned by Apple, one of the largest (and richest) companies in the world. Brave, meanwhile, is truly independent. It’s a North American company, and since it’s not owned by Big Tech, it’s not beholden to Big Tech.

Safari does not have its own search engine, so Safari users must default to Google or Bing, or one of the “alternative” engines that are in fact just powered by Big Tech. The default search engine in the Brave browser is Brave Search, which is built to keep you private and secure. Brave Search can’t sell, lose, or use your data—we don’t collect it in the first place.

As for quality, Brave Search has indexed more than 18 billion pages (and counting). And while Google’s index has far more pages, it’s important to note that a huge percentage of that is either duplicate content, spam pages, or other junk. Brave Search actually delivers results that are higher in relevance, timeliness, and utility.

And of course, any other search engine will work in Brave as well.

Yes, Brave has the same feature, though we call them private windows instead. But it’s important to note that Incognito windows are not some privacy hack. All these windows do is delete cookies from that particular browsing session, so they’re not connected to future Incognito sessions, or browsing you do in a regular window. When you browse in an Incognito window, you’re still being watched by trackers on the sites you visit.

Chromium is the browser engine for desktop & Android; on iOS both Brave and Safari use Apple WebKit.

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Brave vs Safari – Which Is Better?

One of the biggest challenges that you can face is identifying the best browsing platforms that are secure, fast, and easy to use.

Although there are many browsers on the internet , getting a suitable one for your device and needs can be difficult.

To answer your concerns, we’ll explore two of the more popular browsers today – Brave and Safari. You’ll get to know which among them has strong security features, is easy to use, is compatible with your device, has high loading and browsing speeds, and much more. We’ll also examine their similarities, differences, pros, and cons.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the two browsers in detail and be able to decide which is better for you.

Stay with me as I compare Safari and Brave.

What is Safari?

Safari is a web browser designed by Apple. It is built on open-source code, particularly WebKit, and is written in several programming languages such as Swift, C++, and others.

It took over as the standard web browser for Macintosh computers from Netscape Navigator, Cyberdog, and Internet Explorer for Mac. It only works with iOS, iPad OS, and Mac OS.

How Does Safari Work?

If you use multiple Apple gadgets, Safari performs an excellent job of making browsing easy and seamless. It offers a reading mode that removes unnecessary distractions like advertisements and videos from the web content you would like to read.

Safari compatibility makes a lot of sense if you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac because Apple’s Handoff feature allows you to continue browsing between devices. Plus, when using an iCloud account, it will instantly sync open tabs between devices.

Safari can recognize your favorite articles and display or advertise them for a better reading experience. This view is particularly useful for websites that open new windows as you browse.

A share button integrated into the Safari app allows you to instantly share a webpage via email, message, or social media site like Facebook. The coolest function is the one that lets you use AirDrop to send a website to another nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

What is Brave?

Brave is a privacy-focused web browser developed by Brave Software Incorporation. It is a specific browser that allows you to explore websites, execute web applications, and view online content. It is free and open-source software designed to improve browsing.

It saves site login information and has ad-blocking capabilities. Brave is written in C++, Javascript, and Swift.

This browser is gaining popularity due to its ad-blocking and privacy-protection features.

How Does Brave Work?

Brave is built on Chromium, an open-source project maintained by Google. It is powered by the same back-end components as Chrome, such as the V8 JavaScript engine and the Blink rendering engine.

The Brave browser prevents trackers and advertisements from slowing down and violating your privacy when browsing . Through its search box, it enables you to find new websites. Also, you can save your favorite websites for later reading.

It allows you to make unlimited free calls, private video calls, and create a live stream on YouTube using the internet. You can get all the happenings in the world through its News section. Surprisingly, the browser has a built-in crypto wallet.

Performance

Safari considers itself one of the fastest browsers in the world because of its lightning-quick JavaScript engine. It’s designed to function exclusively on Apple products, optimizing it to maximize battery life and provide sustained power.

Besides, Apple silicon has made it even quicker. It averages a loading speed that is more than 50% quicker than Chrome.

Safari allows you to do more online on a single battery charge than other browsers. You’ll be able to stream videos up to 1.5 hours longer than you would with Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. Furthermore, you’ll also have up to 30 minutes of additional browsing time.

It allows you to view your favorite movies and television shows in their greatest light. Safari now supports 4K HDR video playing in-browser for Netflix, YouTube, and Apple TV.

Brave is super fast. Its loading rate is three times faster than Google Chrome and significantly quicker on your phone. It downloads fast and saves time by eliminating adverts and trackers.

No matter how much you ask of your computer, Brave works more efficiently. Brave consumes up to 66% less RAM than other browsers, even when several tabs run simultaneously. That implies you can run multiple apps in your computer’s background without hiccups.

Brave uses 40% less battery in mobile testing, which is less energy than well-known mobile browsers, including Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.

When using Brave, be free to enjoy background music without worrying about the battery dying. Brave is designed to ensure that your time (and power) is well spent online.

And compared to several ad-blocking internet browsers , Brave saves another 20% in battery use, thanks to its low CPU consumption.

In terms of performance, Safari carries the day. Its loading speeds and ability to preserve battery life puts it way above Brave.

User Interface

Safari has an easy-to-use interface. The search bar is located at the top of the screen on desktops and mobile. Also, widgets displaying frequently visited websites, favorite websites, and suggested reading based on your browser history, are added to the home screen.

If you have several tabs open, you can zoom out on them by clicking the four-square symbol in the upper right corner of the browser, making it easy to discover what you’re looking for.

If you come across a link to a website, you can open it in a new tab. Doing this helps you access the linked page without navigating away from the original page. Tap and hold the link, then choose “Open in New Tab” to open it in a new tab.

Websites on Safari can occasionally be challenging to read. Don’t worry! Pinch the screen to zoom in and out, giving you greater control over how big (or little) the page will look.

Double-tapping the screen will zoom in on the region touched, which is very useful for viewing tiny letters. You can zoom out on the same area by tapping twice.

Remember, you can easily rotate the iPad or iPhone to adjust the screen orientation. Other websites will seem better in landscape mode, and some may function better in portrait mode.

If you discover that you often visit a specific website, you might wish to add it as a bookmark. Just add a site’s icon to your Home screen if you’d want even quicker access. Simply hit the “Share icon,” choose “ Add to Home Screen ,” and then click “Add.”

Your Home screen will display the page as an icon. By tapping the icon, Safari will launch and the webpage will appear.

Like Safari, the Brave interface is also simple to use. You can choose between placing the toolbar at the bottom or the top.

This browser allows you to search all open tabs or recently closed tabs. The upper right corner of the screen has an icon that allows you to search through the tabs. By activating or deactivating the toggle next to the selection, you can regulate the search tab button’s visibility.

The experimental night mode with Brave adds a black backdrop to any website you view, regardless of the publisher’s preferences. The function works effectively and rarely affects the look of sites set to dark mode by default.

Enabling the background pictures option on Brave will allow you to personalize the appearance of the new tab page. Brave will then randomly select a background image for each new tab you open.

With just one click, you can instantly access your favorite or often visited websites on each new tab you open in Brave. The browser permits you to set up the top sites in two ways: your favorite sites based on your preferences or the sites you visit most frequently based on your browsing history.

Bookmarks enable fast access to your favorite websites. The bookmarks also allow you to mark web pages as read for later. You can enable or disable the Brave browser’s bookmarks tab based on your preferences.

The Home button, which you’ll find in the toolbar, allows you to access the homepage easily. You can adjust the Home button’s visibility by toggling it on or off. In addition, you can choose whether the home button takes you to the new tab or a custom page to input the address.

Compatibility

Safari is available on Apple PCs and mobile devices. Although you might be able to run Safari on Linux or Windows, it’s not advised because Apple doesn’t provide support for other operating systems, leaving your device vulnerable.

Also, Safari won’t operate on Android; even if you can figure out how to run it there, it’s not advisable.

You can access Brave on Linux, Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, etc. In addition, it works perfectly on these operating systems.

Crypto Wallet

Brave Wallet is the first safe crypto wallet integrated into a browser. It has no extensions or additional procedures that decrease the exposure to phishing and theft.

You can monitor, expand, and store your cryptocurrency portfolio. Integrated, multi-chain Brave Swaps let you find the greatest price match and link up with Web3 DApps from a single wallet. Also, you can purchase crypto using fiat through Wyre or Ramp Network.

It doesn’t support the crypto wallet.

Brave is the best browser to choose if you are a crypto enthusiast . Supporting a crypto wallet helps you monitor the market without leaving the browser. This makes Brave better than Safari.

Brave and Safari: Similarities and Difference

Similarities

Both browsers have higher loading and browsing speeds.
Safari and Brave come with magnificent security systems.
The two browsers assure your privacy.
You can sync both browsers on multiple devices.

Differences

Brave has an option where users can reward publishers, but Safari doesn’t.
Brave has no payment processor like Safari (Apple Pay).
Compared to Safari, Brave has the best user interface.
Safari is only compatible with Apple devices, but Brave is accessible with almost all devices with varying operating systems.
Brave has a crypto wallet, while Safari doesn’t support it.

Brave vs Safari: Pros and Cons

Its user interface is rather appealing.
iCloud Keychain is used to update and sync passwords.
Most Apple devices already include Apple Pay.
It has high levels of privacy and security.
Syncs with multiple Apple gadgets.
It has a limited extension.
It only works on Apple devices.
It lacks a crypto wallet.

Wrapping Up

I found Brave a better browser than Safari because it serves all users with different operating systems, including iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. Brave comes with a user-friendly design, privacy-focused features, and improved integration, offering you the best browsing experience.

Users with donations and rewards can show their appreciation to publishers and content creators. Besides, it supports crypto wallets.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.

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Brave vs Safari

Brave has 303 reviews and a rating of 4.75 / 5 stars vs Safari which has 227 reviews and a rating of 4.47 / 5 stars. Compare the similarities and differences between software options with real user reviews focused on features, ease of use, customer service, and value for money.

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User Ratings & Reviews

Reviews are generated by real users. When reviewing a product, users are asked to assess the product’s overall quality, which includes assigning specific ratings for ease of use, value for money, customer support, and functionality.

It's extremely user friendly as the UI is well done. Your privacy is also guaranteed, and I like a lot the fact that one can see the amount of trackers that have been blocked.
Same extension library like chrome. Features of crypto community.
Bad point of this tool is the fact that you have to insert the Translator extension to interact with pages in other languages.
Sometimes video can not be played on less known sites.
It is very light easy and gives best performance and its portable along with apple products.
It provides privacy tracker feature that help me most to find out which websites stalk and try to track me,safari saved password is very protected with touch id or face id that was i like most.
Sometimes it can have glitches with our other software, but that might be the other programs having problems on their own.
I don't like that the menu bar with the search bar, tab menu, etc. gets hidden when you're scrolling as it can be annoying to get that back up to change tabs.

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Safari vs Brave

Safari vs Brave Verdict

Video Chapters

0:00 - Intro

‍ 0:15 - Browser Wars

‍ 2:19 - Arc Browser

‍ 3:06 - Arc Features

‍ 5:38 - Chrome Stagnation

‍ 7:00 - Safari

‍ 8:41 - Switching from Safari to Arc

‍ 9:52 - Brave

‍ 11:11 - Vivaldi & Firefox

‍ 11:43 - How most browsers make money

‍ 12:28 - Best Browser Verdict

Which is Better?

If you're exploring Safari vs Brave , you're probably more of a privacy-focused individual that is using one or many Apple devices (MacOS as your operating systems).

With both of these web browsers, you're going to get security at the forefront.

After reading this article, you will know exactly which browser better suits your needs! ⤵

Main Differences

Safari only works on Apple devices (so if you're using many different operating systems, Brave is going to be your only option).

Looking at the foundation, Safari was built atop Webkit, whereas Brave was built atop the Chromium engine , which is the same engine that most of the top browsers on the market also use (e.g. Arc , Chrome , Opera , and many others). This makes switching between these browsers incredibly easy, as passwords and bookmarks are all structured the same.

Safari relies quite heavily on using iCloud as your password manager, which is backed up securely to the cloud, whereas with Brave uses an on-device encrypted password manager, that you have the choice of backing up to the cloud through your seed phrase for unlocking it.

Safari vs Brave Video Comparison

Safari vs brave screenshots, web browsers overview.

The battery optimized browser built by Apple.

What Is Safari?

This is the default browser that comes with mac devices, and has existed for over a decade.

With Safari, you're not going to get anything too cutting-edge or innovative, because they, like Google Chrome are focused on stability for their 1+ billion users.

For a further breakdown in understanding the negatives that come with browsers that have hit major scale, refer to our Chrome vs Safari comparison.

Features & Differentiation

Since Apple is a hardware company at the end of the day, the whole point of Safari is that you're going to get a great cohesive experience if you're using all Apple products (Mac + iPad + iPhone).

The largest benefit to be had here, in our eyes, comes from Apple owning both the hardware and software layers. This allows them to go above and beyond with optimizations like battery life and cross-device syncing.

While they have baked in password management

We don't really see much major innovation or differentiation coming to Safari though. Why? Because this isn't Apple's core business. Not only that, but Apple has zero interest in going after the B2B and collaborative browser space. When comparing Arc Browser vs Safari , you'll see first-hand that Arc has a lot more going on in the features and differentiation space as they ultimately want to be the browser for teams and collaboration.

Tab Management

We do applaud Apple for adding tab groups, and allowing for them to be on the side of the browser window. There's some small similarities when comparing Safari vs Brave in the recently released sidebar tab management in Brave and Arc .

User Interface (UI)

With Safari, you get a familiar and safe UI. It looks like a browser, it looks pretty much the same as it has the past decade, and it's relatively bland in terms of how it looks.

There's just not much to mention here, but the truth of the matter is some of this is by design. Their focus is to be stable, functional, and to let the content of the website you're currently on, shine.

User Experience (UX)

Rating: b-.

This is where we can give Apple some props on the user-experience, if of course you're also using other Apple products. Take for example you visit a website on your iPhone, you get a prompt in your MacOS dock that shows a website was just opened on mobile. Want to open it up on your desktop? Simply click the Safari icon in your software dock.

In actually using the browser though, there's nothing in particular that stands out as an exceptional UX. This category in particular is where Arc shines. They have the smallest UX details, that just makes using the browser on the day-to-day so incredibly enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

Are you a huge Apple fan? Do you only care about getting the best possible battery performance on your MacBook and nothing else matters to you? Do you absolutely despise change? If so, Safari is probably fine for you.

If you're on the other hand sort of bored when looking at the existing browser market and wish you could get a bit more enjoyment and productivity out of your browser, then that's where you should definitely be giving Arc a shot.

Genuinely, give Arc a shot for a week straight as your daily driver, and I'm willing to bet you that you never come back to Safari again.

Arc Browser is genuinely what Apple could have made, had they re-thought the browser from the ground up, without all the baggage that currently exists with Safari. And for that reason, that's why we rank Arc at the top of our best browser apps list. Genuinely wouldn't be surprised if Apple one day acquired Arc and replaced it with Safari as the default browser for MacOS.

Native Integrations

Custom integrations.

There is currently no promo code for this app but we are close partners , so if you use the link above to visit the site and then let their team know that Efficient App sent you, you may just get a little something... extra 😉

There is currently no promo code for this app—we'll update it here if that changes in the future!

A privacy-focused (and crypto/blockchain-focused) browser built atop Chromium.

Brave Comparison Summary

Brave is a web browser that was originally built more as a cryptocurrency/blockchain-focused browser, tied quite closely to the BAT token (Basic Attention Token).

The whole premise was that you can get paid in BAT tokens via their Brave rewards program, by referring others to use Brave, and simply using Brave in your day-to-day. These tokens could then be used to support creators and websites.

They are essentially trying to take back control from the traditional ad model, and compensate their users versus selling their data, like that of Chrome.

For that reason, they have ad-blocking enabled by default (similar to Arc , which just enables the uBlock Origin chrome extension on the back-end).

They also have things like a VPN and a crypto wallet baked in at a core—this will either totally connect with you, or mean nothing. If the latter, it's probably not the right browser for you.

Who is Brave Browser For?

Brave browser is a private browser through-and-through. If you're looking for the browser with the most privacy features, like enhanced tracking protection from site trackers, it has those security features baked right in at the core. That's actually what Brave has built it's name on.

So if you're someone that has a major distrust for Google services, and is open to the minor inconveniences that come with focusing on online privacy, Brave may be the browser for you.

That said! It is still built atop the Chromium engine, which is essentially Google's open source project at the core, but it is void of Google Services baked in, so you'd just have to trust that the open source project is truly protecting your data. Most of the leading browsers are built atop Chromium as it stands. This actually makes it way easier to switch over to because all the same extensions and bookmarks will transfer over fluidly.

Who shouldn't use Brave?

If you wouldn't identify as a heavily privacy-focused individual, more specifically, someone that is interested in the security benefits that come from leveraging the blockchain, and aren't heavily into crypto, Brave wouldn't be your best choice (here's a list of the best browsers ).

If you're someone that usually loses passwords (e.g. aren't using a 3rd party password manager like Dashlane ), or wouldn't be great at remembering a seed phrase to backup/restore all of your data (bookmarks, passwords, etc.) then Brave will probably be a bit of a nightmare to use.

Design/Experience

Brave looks and feels a lot like... Well, Chrome / Chromium . They've modernized the interface a bit by adding in optional features like vertical tab support:

That said, it still looks and feels like most browsers do—for better or worse. They don't seem to be taking any risky bets or overly experimenting on the design/UI/UX-front, which is honestly fine for what most people are expecting to get out of their browser.

The interesting thing here is that Brave, like many of the leading browsers on the market use Chromium at the core (e.g. Chrome, Arc, Opera, Vivaldi, and even more recently Microsoft Edge).

What this allows for is the same browser extension support, and more broadly, all these browsers have the same underlying rendering engine (open sourced by Google).

Point being, changing browsers between Chromium-based browsers makes switching between them pretty seamless (low friction), and Brave is no exception here.

Brave often connects most with heavily privacy-focused individuals, for whom are typically more in the crypto space. For example, at Consensus 2023, most people I talked to were using, or at least familiar with Brave.

A asked them what they liked most about it, and their responses were almost entirely around the privacy aspect. For example, "they don't even know what I'm bookmarking—my account is tied to a hashed key, so I can anonymously save my environment, and re-access it with my unique token—no email address/identification required."

And look, I get it, it's impressive to how they are leveraging the blockchain to store some of this information without tying it to identity, but personally for me, I'll take the benefits that come with using a traditional database and user account, like most other modern browsers like Arc and Chrome rely on for storing and syncing your data between devices.

If you're considering Brave, I genuinely think you already know yourself. But if you're not quite obsessed with privacy, to the level of at times potentially inconveniencing yourself (e.g. you forget your unique hash/key, you lose your history and settings—there's no "forgot password" per-say).

If you think privacy is important enough to not want to use Chrome though, there are genuinely other privacy-focused alternatives (in that they aren't trying to sell your data unlike Google with Chrome is), like Arc Browser. If you're on MacOS (Windows coming soon), definitely recommend giving that a shot.

Best Web Browser 2024? Arc vs Chrome vs Safari vs Brave

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Brave vs Safari: A Comprehensive Browser Comparison

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When it comes to internet browsing, there are numerous options to choose from, each with its unique features and capabilities. Two popular browsers that stand out are Brave and Safari. In this article, we provide a comprehensive comparison between the two, highlighting their similarities, differences, and what makes them stand out. We explore everything from user interface and experience, performance and speed, privacy and security features, cross-platform compatibility, and additional tools and features.

Introduction to Brave and Safari Browsers

Before we delve into the comparison between these two browsers, it's crucial to understand what they are. Here's a brief overview of Brave and Safari browser.

What is Brave Browser?

Brave Browser is a free and open-source web browser that's built on the Chromium web browser engine, the same one used by Google Chrome. The browser aims at providing users with greater privacy and faster browsing experience by automatically blocking third-party ads and trackers. It also has a built-in ad-blocking feature which helps to speed up page load times and reduce bandwidth consumption.

One of the most significant benefits of using Brave Browser is its privacy features. It blocks ads and trackers, which helps to keep your browsing history and personal information private. Also, it uses HTTPS Everywhere, which ensures that your connection to the website is always encrypted. This feature is essential when using public Wi-Fi networks, as it helps to protect you from hackers and other malicious entities.

Another great feature of Brave Browser is its speed. The browser is designed to load web pages faster than other browsers, thanks to its ad-blocking feature. When you visit a website, Brave Browser automatically blocks all the ads on the page, which helps to reduce the load time. This feature is especially useful when you're browsing on a slow internet connection.

What is Safari Browser?

Safari, on the other hand, is Apple's web browser that's native to macOS and iOS devices. It's built on WebKit, an open-source web browser engine. Safari is known for its immense speed, efficiency, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. It's also known for its user-friendly interface, extensive security features, and exceptional browsing experience.

One of the most significant benefits of using Safari Browser is its integration with the Apple ecosystem. If you own an Apple device, you can seamlessly sync your browsing history, bookmarks, and passwords across all your devices. This feature makes it easy to switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac without losing your browsing data.

Another great feature of Safari Browser is its speed. The browser is designed to load web pages quickly, thanks to its efficient use of resources. Safari is also known for its exceptional energy efficiency, which helps to extend your device's battery life. This feature is especially useful when you're browsing on a laptop or mobile device.

Safari Browser is also known for its extensive security features. The browser uses Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which helps to block third-party cookies and prevent advertisers from tracking your browsing history. Safari also uses sandboxing, which isolates the browser from the rest of your device's operating system, making it more difficult for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities.

In conclusion, both Brave and Safari Browser are excellent choices for browsing the internet. Brave Browser is ideal for users who value privacy and speed, while Safari Browser is perfect for Apple users who want a seamless browsing experience across all their devices. Ultimately, the choice between these two browsers comes down to personal preference and the features that matter most to you.

User Interface and Experience

When it comes to browsing the web, user interface and experience are crucial factors to consider. The browser you use should have an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that allows you to navigate through web pages with ease. In this regard, both Brave and Safari browsers excel.

Design and layout

The design and layout of a browser can significantly impact the user experience. In this regard, Safari stands out with its intuitive design, which makes it a favorite among Mac users. Its layout is clean and uncluttered, with essential tools and menus easily accessible. On the other hand, Brave browser's design is similar to that of Google Chrome but with additional privacy-focused features. This design makes it easy for users who are already familiar with Chrome to transition to Brave without any issues.

When it comes to minimalism, both browsers have a straightforward and easy-to-use interface. However, Safari's design is more minimalistic, which allows users to focus more on the web content. The browser's toolbar is hidden by default, and users can access it by clicking on the menu bar.

Customization options

Customization is another crucial aspect of user experience in browsers. Brave browser has numerous customization options that allow users to tailor the browser to their preferences. Users can choose from numerous themes, fonts, and colors, among others. This feature makes Brave a popular choice among users who want a personalized browsing experience.

On the other hand, Safari offers limited customization options, but it makes up for that with its seamless integration with the Mac ecosystem. Users can customize the browser's toolbar by adding or removing buttons and rearranging them to their liking. Additionally, Safari allows users to customize the browser's appearance by changing the background color and adding a custom image.

Accessibility features

Accessibility is an essential aspect of user experience, and both browsers have extensive accessibility features. These features make it easier for users with disabilities to browse the web. Both Brave and Safari have features such as voice control, magnification, and keyboard navigation.

Safari goes the extra mile by providing more advanced features such as VoiceOver, which reads aloud on-screen content, and Safari Reader, which extracts the text from a web page and presents it in an easy-to-read format. These features make Safari a popular choice among users with visual impairments or reading difficulties.

In conclusion, both Brave and Safari browsers offer an excellent user experience, with intuitive designs, extensive customization options, and accessibility features. Choosing between the two ultimately depends on your personal preferences and needs.

Performance and Speed

When it comes to browsing the internet, performance and speed are two of the most crucial factors. Users want to be able to access web pages quickly and efficiently without any lag or delays. In this regard, both Brave and Safari are popular choices for users due to their excellent performance and speed.

Page load times

One of the significant advantages of using Brave browser is its built-in ad-blockers and tracker blockers. These features help the browser load web pages significantly faster than Safari, which does not have a built-in ad-blocker. However, both browsers offer acceptable page load times, with Safari marginally taking more time to load pages.

It's worth noting that page load times can also depend on other factors such as internet speed, website design, and the number of resources required to load a page. Nevertheless, Brave's ad-blockers and tracker blockers can make a noticeable difference in page load times, especially when browsing websites with lots of ads and trackers.

Resource usage

Another crucial factor to consider when comparing browsers is their use of system resources such as battery life, memory, and CPU usage. Safari is known for its efficient use of system resources, making it an excellent choice for users who value battery life and want to extend the lifespan of their devices.

In contrast, Brave browser's use of resources is similar to that of Google Chrome, which is known for significant memory and CPU usage. While Brave's resource usage may not be as efficient as Safari, it is still a viable option for users who prioritize speed and performance over resource usage.

Browser Benchmarks

Several benchmarks compare the performance and speed of different browsers, helping users make informed decisions about which browser to use. According to the benchmarks, both Brave and Safari ranked among the best browsers, with Safari having a slight edge in terms of performance on Mac devices.

However, it's worth noting that benchmark results can vary depending on the specific hardware and software configurations of each device. Therefore, users should consider their own needs and preferences when choosing a browser, rather than relying solely on benchmark results.

In conclusion, both Brave and Safari are excellent browsers that offer fast and efficient browsing experiences. Users can choose between them based on their individual needs and preferences, whether it's speed, resource usage, or other factors.

Privacy and Security Features

When it comes to browsing the internet, privacy and security are two of the most important considerations for users. The Brave browser and Safari both offer a range of features designed to keep users safe and secure online.

Built-in ad-blockers

One of the standout features of the Brave browser is its built-in ad-blocker and tracker blockers. This means that users can browse the internet without being bombarded by ads or having their activity tracked by advertisers. The ad-blocker also helps to speed up page loading times, as there are no ads or trackers to slow things down.

While Safari doesn't have a built-in ad-blocker, it does have its own Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature. This feature aims to block trackers from following users across the internet, helping to protect their privacy and prevent targeted advertising.

Tracking protection

In addition to its ad-blocker, the Brave browser also has other privacy-focused features such as HTTPS Everywhere. This feature ensures that users have a secure HTTPS connection with all sites they visit, helping to protect their data and prevent it from being intercepted by third parties.

Safari has similar security features, such as blocking pop-ups and warnings about websites that it suspects to be malicious. This helps to protect users from phishing scams and other online threats.

Secure browsing options

Both Brave and Safari offer a range of secure browsing options to help keep users safe online. Safari has additional security features such as Fraudulent Website Warning, which alerts users when they visit fraudulent websites, and secure password suggestions that help users safeguard their login credentials.

Brave has similar features, such as the ability to import passwords securely into the browser. This means that users can easily manage their passwords and ensure that they are using strong, secure passwords for all of their online accounts.

Overall, both the Brave browser and Safari offer a range of privacy and security features that can help users stay safe and secure while browsing the internet. Whether you're concerned about targeted advertising, phishing scams, or other online threats, these browsers have you covered.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Desktop and mobile integration.

Safari browser is native to macOS and iOS devices and offers seamless integration across all Apple devices. This means that users can easily switch between their iPhone, iPad, and Macbook without losing their browsing history or bookmarks. Additionally, Safari's Handoff feature allows users to start browsing on one device and continue on another without interruption.

Brave, on the other hand, takes cross-platform compatibility to the next level. It is compatible with numerous platforms, including macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. This means that users can access their bookmarks, history, and other settings not only across different Apple devices but also across different operating systems. This is especially useful for users who work on multiple devices and need their browsing data to be synced seamlessly.

Supported Operating Systems

Both browsers support multiple operating systems. Safari is available on macOS and iOS devices, making it a great choice for Apple users who value the integration between their devices. On the other hand, Brave is available on a wider range of platforms, including macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. This makes it a more versatile option for users who use different devices and operating systems.

Browser Extension Availability

Both Brave and Safari have numerous browser extensions and add-ons that users can install to enhance their browsing experience. Some extensions are specific to each browser, such as Reading List in Safari and Brave shields in Brave.

Safari's App Store offers a wide range of extensions that users can download and install with just a few clicks. From ad-blockers to password managers, Safari has a vast collection of extensions that cater to different needs and preferences.

Brave, on the other hand, has its own extension store, the Brave Web Store, which offers a curated selection of extensions that are optimized for the browser. Additionally, Brave's built-in ad-blocker and tracker blocker provide a more secure and private browsing experience without the need for additional extensions.

Overall, both Safari and Brave offer a great selection of extensions that cater to different needs and preferences. Whether you're looking for a simple ad-blocker or a more sophisticated password manager, you're sure to find an extension that suits your needs.

Additional Features and Tools

When it comes to browsing the internet, having additional features and tools can make the experience more enjoyable and efficient. In this section, we'll dive deeper into some of the features mentioned in the previous section and explore additional ones that Safari and Brave offer.

Reading Mode and Reader View

Reading Mode and Reader View are great features for those who want to reduce visual clutter and make reading on the web easier. Safari's Reading Mode allows users to focus on the content of a web page by removing ads, sidebars, and other distractions. Reader View takes it a step further by presenting the content in a clean, easy-to-read format that is customizable to the user's liking.

Brave browser offers similar features to Safari, allowing users to customize the appearance of web pages and reduce visual clutter. With Brave's Shields feature, users can also block ads and trackers, giving them even more control over their browsing experience.

Password Management

Managing passwords can be a hassle, but both Safari and Brave offer features to make it easier. Safari's automatic password generation and iCloud Keychain securely store login credentials, making it easy to log in to websites without having to remember multiple passwords.

Brave has a built-in password manager that helps users keep track of their login credentials. This feature allows users to store and autofill passwords for websites, making the login process seamless and secure.

Developer Tools

For web developers, having access to advanced developer tools is essential. Both Safari and Brave offer extensive developer tools that help developers test, debug, and optimize their web applications and sites.

Safari's developer tools are especially useful for Mac and iOS developers, offering features like responsive design mode, which allows developers to test how their sites look on different devices and screen sizes. Additionally, Safari's Web Inspector allows developers to inspect and modify the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code of a web page in real-time.

Brave's developer tools also offer a range of features, including the ability to inspect and edit web page code, view network activity, and debug JavaScript code.

Overall, both Safari and Brave offer a range of features and tools to enhance the browsing experience and make it easier for users and developers alike.

Pros and Cons of Brave and Safari

Advantages of brave browser.

Provides automatic ad-blocking and tracker blockers for enhanced privacy

Supports numerous platforms

Customizable

Offers lucrative rewards for opting into Brave Rewards

Advantages of Safari Browser

Seamless integration across all Apple devices

Efficient use of system resources such as memory, battery, and CPU usage

Enhanced security features, such as the Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature

Intuitive design for Mac users

Disadvantages of Brave Browser

Heavier on system resources compared to Safari

Doesn't have the seamless Apple ecosystem integration that Safari offers

Third-party extensions may be less refined compared to those on Safari

Disadvantages of Safari Browser

Built-in ad-blocker is not available

Customization options are limited compared to Brave

Poor performance on non-Apple platforms

Conclusion: Which Browser is Right for You?

Ultimately, the choice between Safari and Brave browser comes down to personal preferences, needs, and priorities. Both browsers offer unique features that make them stand out in the crowded browser market. Safari is an excellent choice for Mac and iOS device users who want a seamless browsing experience and more privacy-focused features. On the other hand, Brave browser is an excellent option for users who prioritize privacy, customization options, and rewards. Whatever browser you choose, make sure to keep it updated regularly to ensure the latest security and performance features.

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The 7 Best Browser for Mac in 2024: Safari, Chrome, Firefox & More

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If you’ve been using Safari on your Mac and are wondering whether there’s something better out there, we’re here to tell you that there is. Though Safari is a secure and relatively fast browser, there are faster, more secure options. Here’s our editor’s choice of the best browser for Mac.

Last Updated: 27 Feb'24 2024-02-27T14:40:46+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Vivaldi — The best web browser for MacOS that’s highly customizable, secure and loaded with features.
Brave — The most secure web browser that’s efficient and easy to use.
Chrome — The most popular browser globally, offering multiple extensions and integrations to Mac users.
Safari — A lightweight, default browser for Mac that uses less RAM than other browsers.
Firefox — A veteran browser with solid privacy and security features that safeguard your browsing activity.
Opera – Loaded with built-in features because it strives to work without external add-ons.
Edge — Second-fastest browser on the market, with fewer extensions than competitors.

Facts & Expert Analysis

Most Efficient Pick: Vivaldi is our top choice since it’s safe and efficient, uses less RAM and can sync seamlessly across multiple devices.
Best for Blocking: Brave is the most secure browser for Mac due to its advanced, built-in ad-blocking capabilities.
Standard But Secure: Safari is more secure than Chrome but offers fewer extensions. Recent updates make it adequate for everyday users.

Everyone’s looking for a smooth and fast browser that doesn’t compromise their privacy or data security. Your computer’s default browser doesn’t always offer the best browsing experience, so it’s worth considering other options. If you’re a MacOS user and are looking for the best browser for Mac, we have seven great options for you to consider.

We have updated our list of the best browsers for Mac.

Article rewritten to include up-to-date information about features and company news.

Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: Vivaldi

Vivaldi won this roundup of the best browser for Mac, especially since it recently launched the long-awaited iOS version. Our editorial team found it to be secure and loaded with features, and it seldom required extensions or add-ons.

Vivaldi is highly customizable, and we were able to sync our settings and customizations across devices. It’s ideal for both power and non-power users. Try it out for a seamless, secure and highly personalized browsing experience.

The Best Browser for Mac: Our Top 7 Choices

There are several browser options that you can try out for your Mac. You may be seeking one that offers the best security and speed. Maybe you’d like the fastest one that offers integrations with iOS tools. You may also want one with an appealing user interface and user experience. Our roundup of the top seven best browsers for Mac will help you settle on the best one for you.

Check out our online security courses and grab a limited-time offer. Enrollment available now!

1. Vivaldi — Best Browser for Mac

Highly customizable UI
Tracker & ad blocker
Android & iOS apps
Compatibility issues
Slower than basic browsers

Vivaldi is a highly customizable browser that’s loaded with features and caters to both power and non-power users. You rarely need to add any extensions because of its extensive feature set. However, if you do need additional capabilities, you can access all the extensions available on the Chrome Web Store.

A Vivaldi account can accommodate multiple user accounts, allowing each user to keep their data and unique settings separate from the rest. You can also sync your browser data and settings across all your devices to switch between them seamlessly. You get basic cookie-blocking capabilities, and your data isn’t sent to Vivaldi’s servers or third parties.

One of the biggest downsides of using Vivaldi was the absence of an iOS version. That changed when Vivaldi launched its iOS browser in September 2023 , elevating it from second place to first place on our list. Our Vivaldi review has more details about this effective browser.

2. Brave — Most Secure Browser for Mac

Memory efficient
Ad blocker available
Advanced privacy & security
Limited built-in VPN
Infrequent updates
Few site compatibility issues

Brave is a Chromium-based browser that offers more advanced security than Chrome and other browsers. It has a built-in ad, tracker and cookie blocker that ensures advertisers aren’t tracking your online activity. What’s more, the “forgetful browsing” mode automatically clears all cookies once you leave a site.

Brave runs its own advertising model that prioritizes user privacy more than other browsers do. Users can earn “Brave rewards” and get paid for watching ads. They can also choose which ads to watch, giving them a sense of control over the kind of marketing they view. However, Brave rewards are only accessible in a few geolocations.

Due to its ad-blocking capability, Brave interferes with the layout of some web pages, inhibiting their usability. It also gets fewer updates than its competitors, making it lag behind whenever new technologies emerge. Overall, we find Brave to be the most secure browser for Mac and deserving of the second-place ranking on our list. Our Brave review has more details.

3. Chrome — Fastest Browser for Mac

Efficient performance
Minimalistic design
Multiple extensions
Data & browsing concerns
Few customization options
Inefficient memory usage

Google Chrome is a lightweight, efficient browser that is easy to install and use. It’s one of the most commonly used browsers for Mac and other operating systems globally, offering multiple integrations and extensions. You can sync the browser between your Mac and iOS device using your Google account, making it easy to use across devices.

Chrome has a minimalist design that’s easy to use for kids, adults, pros and novices alike. It quickly loads web pages and has a “reading list” feature that downloads pages in advance for you to view while offline. Chrome’s software (Chromium) is the building block for many other browsers on the market, such as Opera, Vivaldi and Brave.

As we noted in our Google Chrome Review , it uses more RAM and CPU than other browsers despite recent updates, which affects other apps you need to use simultaneously. It has limited themes and customization options compared to competitors like Brave or Vivaldi. Google Chrome is notorious for tracking user activity. Your data is not safe and will likely end up in the hands of a third-party company.

4. Safari — Default Browser for Mac

Lightweight user interface
Advanced privacy protection
Secure Apple Pay payments
Only on macOS & iOS
Fewer customization options
Limited extension options

Safari is the default browser for Mac and iOS and works seamlessly across Apple devices. It stores data in the cloud rather than on your device, helping save space on your gadgets. iCloud’s “private relay” makes it more secure than Chrome , as no single party can see the sites you visit or who you are — not even Apple. It also requires comparatively less RAM to run.

The iCloud “keychain” stores all your passwords in one place, eliminating the need to download a password manager extension. You can use touch ID to pay in online stores that accept Apple Pay. This means you no longer have to manually input your card details each time you want to make a payment. It’s also a more secure way to pay online.

Safari’s customization features are hard to find and less dazzling than open-source competitors like Firefox or Chrome. It also has fewer extensions. If you’re an Apple enthusiast who needs a simple browser for personal use, Safari is your best bet. However, if you’re a power user or into gaming, you may want to look elsewhere. Our full Safari review has all the details.

5. Firefox — Safe Browser for Mac

Vast add-on library
Solid privacy & security
Many customization options
Inefficient RAM usage
Slower than competitors
Incompatible with some web pages

Firefox uses malware protection to block cross-site tracking cookies, crypto miners, fingerprinting and social media trackers, making it a great choice for security-minded users. It keeps you safe from most ads and malicious trackers without compromising website functionality.

Firefox is the only major contemporary browser that’s not based on Chromium. Websites that use certain Microsoft technologies or nonstandard Google features may not be compatible with Firefox.

Our tests showed that Firefox’s RAM usage was high, but still only half as high as Chrome’s. The Quantum updates launched in 2017 transformed the browser’s design, reduced RAM usage and boosted browser speed. We tested Firefox against competing browsers in our Firefox review and found it to be slower than most, which is fine for basic browsing.

Firefox’s Mac and iOS versions are both easy to use and quite similar to each other. If the mobile version appears different from the desktop version, you can use the “request desktop site” feature to align them. You can also download several add-ons and extensions from the library to enhance Firefox’s functionality.

6. Opera — Browser With the Most Built-In Features

Multiple built-in features
Fast & responsive
Built-in ad blocker
Privacy & security concerns
High RAM usage

Opera is a veteran browser that later adopted the Chromium base. It strives to be a browser that needs no extensions, so it comes loaded with all the essential features built in. If you can’t find what you need while using it, you can download extensions and add-ons to fill in the gaps. Its intuitive design makes it easy to use on Mac.

In our full Opera review , we tested its speed against that of other famous browsers and found it to be among the top three. However, Opera does take up a lot of your Mac’s RAM to reach those speeds. Only Android users have access to Opera Mini, which is lighter and prioritizes saving memory.

Opera has a built-in ad blocker, and you don’t have to download an extension for it like you do with Chrome. However, some privacy and security concerns have emerged with Opera — it uses less effective malware blockers than Google Safe Browsing. What’s more, several apps on Opera come from third-party developers, so your data will probably end up with them.

7. Edge — Second-Fastest Browser for Mac

Quick lookup feature
PDF reader with markup
Fast loading speeds
Fewer extensions
Privacy concerns
Cluttered homepage

Microsoft Edge is one of the fastest web browsers for Mac and other operating systems, coming in second behind Google Chrome. It has a lightweight design that uses less memory, cutting down on initial load time. Edge upgraded from Internet Explorer’s slow, stop-motion scrolling to a smoother motion to elevate the user experience.

Edge has an intuitive PDF reader that competes favorably with add-on readers like Javelin PDF Reader. When you highlight text or annotate it, it remains that way when you reopen the PDF reader.

There have been privacy concerns about Edge sharing user data with third parties like Facebook. It also collects data from Windows users even after they’ve restricted it on their browser. In addition, the curated news and other content shown on the feed after the homepage loads makes the browser seem cluttered.

You can download extensions from the Chrome Web Store onto Edge, but you’ll need to manually set them up before using them. Overall, it’s easy to use on Mac but is ideal for Windows users. You can find additional details in our full Edge review .

Final Thoughts

These seven best browsers for Mac offer a smooth browsing experience depending on the use case. We prefer Vivaldi or Brave because of their strict security policies, effective ad blockers, efficient RAM usage and seamless browsing experience. They are also easy to use and have a minimalistic design with no clutter.

Chrome outperformed Safari due to its multiple extensions and seamless integration with a myriad of third-party apps. However, Safari is more secure than Chrome and works just fine for non-power, everyday users. Firefox, Opera and Edge are also effective and worth trying out.

Which browser have you been using on your Mac? What makes you want to find a new browser? Which of the seven browsers listed here do you consider the best for your Mac? Let us know in the comments, and thank you for reading.

FAQ: Mac Browsers

Chrome is better for Mac because it offers many more integrations and extensions than Safari does. However, if you’re an Apple product enthusiast who’s not a power user, the updated version of Safari will do just fine.

Vivaldi is the preferred browser on Mac because it is fast and secure, has efficient RAM usage and allows you to sync browser data and settings across devices.

Chrome is the fastest browser on Mac, closely followed by Edge.

The best browser to use on Mac is Vivaldi. It’s great for both power and non-power users, has great data security and offers a seamless browsing experience across synced devices.

Well I used to use safari with mac or Monterey, And when I download something, most of the time, the format would be correct but when I try to open it, it would say that this is not compatible. But everything worked super with brave, especially with no ads on youtube, now I am revealed to watch videos on youtube too, and chrome used to be laggy and slow, for my windows and mac laptops both! Chrome is great over all, but through many perspectives, it lacks many useful needs.

My experience with must browsers mentioned on this review has been mixed. I have no opinion on Brave & Puffin as I had not tested them.

In regards of resources utilization, the worst have been Chrome and IE (even the newer version of IE).

In regards of security, the worst are Chrome and IE, despite of improvements.

On a positive note, the Safari, Opera, Firefox and Vivaldi, with these one is able to: see, experience, and delight how developers put their efforts improving their browser. It is quite ironic due to the fact 3 of these mentioned are Chromium based. I pretty much fall back to 3 browsers: Safari, Firefox, and Vivaldi. Vivaldi being my goto and 2nd being Safari. All depends on the Sites visited, which many are not Safari friendly.

Common to all (Safari, Opera, Firefox, and Vivaldi) is the ability to open several windows with 40 Sites each, prior seeing reduce performance on my systems. Vivaldi is the best performer when I open so many Sites; actually, with Vivaldi I had been able to open 5 windows/w over 50 Sites per window, at this max is when Vivaldi will behave like Chrome (2 windows with 25 Sites each).

For private browsing I like the performance of Vivaldi, Firefox and then Opera. This has been my experience. I am not able to speak to anyone else experience.

I have suddenly lost the ability to link to an embedded url in an email. I’ve used ms outlook thru firefox for years on a macbook pro and now on a macbookair. What have I misconfigured to cause this? This problem appears if the full hyper link is there or if it’s an underlined word like unsubscribe, or if it’s a “button” like “more info.”

My parents have an older iMac (2.5 GHz i5 , 4 GB DDR3 ram) that they do not want to change; the most updated Mac OS they can run is Sierra; thus the latest version of Safari they can run is 12.1.2 (the current is 16.1). Is there a more modern browser they can run?

I need help figuring out if someone is using a computer in my house. I’ve been told that safari is Mac default web browser. So when I see “ Logged in on a Mac. Does that mean she’s on a actual computer?

Is the article’s “Last Updated” date autogenerated to be the current date? The article is listed as updated today, but it still lists Vivaldi’s sole “con” as a lack of an iOS version, which has been available for a few months now

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Best web browser for Mac

We spend a lot of our time on browsers. Whether it’s using communcations apps to talk with friends, family or colleagues, searching for things online, streaming entertainment, using services for work or doing a bit of shopping. So, it makes sense that you’d want to use a browser that can make this experience as good as it can be. Many people stick with Safari on their Mac, as it’s already there and works well. But, if you’re willing to look beyond Apple’s favoured child, then there are plenty of interesting alternatives available. With this in mind, we round up the best alternatives to Safari and see what they have to offer.

If you want to increase the privacy and security on your browser then you should also read Best VPN for Mac and How to use a VPN on your Mac .

Built-in to every Mac
Syncs very well with other Apple devices
Good performance
Less extensions that Chrome-based rivals
Doesn't play well with non-Apple devices

Apple’s Safari browser has been around for a long time, and over the years it’s been improved to the point where it’s now a very solid choice for most people. As you’d expect, it boasts the standard features found on most modern browsers, including bookmarks, tabbed browsing, a password manager, private browsing options, a dark mode, read later list, plus a Shared with You section on the Home page that lists links you’ve been sent in Messages.

The reading mode is still one of Safari’s hidden gems, as it turns any webpage into a clean, clear article devoid of ads, links, and other distractions. There’s also now the Quick Note feature which, as the name suggests, allows you to instantly grab text or images from a webpage and have them appear (complete with links) in the Notes app.

With macOS Monterey, Apple introduced Tab Groups, a feature that gained even more capabilities in Ventura. It is a handy feature that allows you to collect particular tabs together by a category of your choosing, so you don’t have to search for them among your other open tabs. This is useful if you’re planning a holiday, event or researching another interest. Best of all, the Group Tabs sync to Safari on your iPhone, iPad or other Macs. Apple built on this in macOS Ventura by making these Tab Group shareable, so you can send them to friends, colleagues or family who can instantly see all the pages and links – perfect if you’re all collaborating on a project. You can also pin tabs within these groups and give them customised start pages too.

Privacy is an important part of Apple’s offering, with Intelligent Tracking Protection there to stop advertisers from watching what you do. This is accompanied by anti-fingerprinting settings that prevent sites from looking at your hardware and software configuration to work out who you are online, plus security features that block sites that could contain malware.

The newest weapon in this armoury is PassKeys. This is an encrypted login that seeks to eventually do away with passwords althogether. It’s a little fiddly to set up initially, but after that it’s very easy to use. You can check out more details in our how to use PassKeys guide.

There’s also full integration for Apple Pay, making it easy to buy items online either through the Touch ID sensor in Macs with Touch Bars or via your iPhone. See our How to use Apple Pay on a Mac for more details.

In its current form Safari is better than ever, and that’s before you start exploring the available extensions that can increase its capabilities even further. The truth is, the best browser for your Mac is probably already installed.

Google Chrome

Huge selection of extensions
Cross-platform
Loads of features
Traditionally a memory-hog
Requires Google account

Google’s Chrome remains the world’s most popular desktop browser by quite a margin, although that does encompass Windows users too. This success isn’t hard to fathom, as Chrome is an excellent tool which has an entire ecosystem of plug-ins and extensions, ranging from privacy monitors to ones that fix your grammar.

Multiple tabs are handled very well, although it can lead to RAM being hogged by Chrome if you like to leave a huge amount open at the same time, but this is often true of most browsers. Google has recently addressed this though, allowing users to now set memory and energy use filters that should improve performance.

In use, it’s fast. Pages are rendered quickly and there’s a global setting for the zoom, which can be handy if you find text a bit small on modern sites.

As you’d expect, being a part of the same family, Chrome dovetails effortlessly with Google’s online apps – Drive, Docs, Calendar, Photos, Translate etc – allowing users to launch them from an app tray in the menu bar. You can also utilise the extensions available to create reminders directly from the browser thanks to the likes of Google Keep. A new feature we’ve found very helpful is a quick price comparison guide that’s built right into the browser. Great way to save money when shopping.

The extensions are the things that differentiate Chrome from other browsers, with a bewildering 150,000+ to choose from. You can use password managers like Dashlane , discount coupon checker Honey , Grammarly to improve your writing, and so much more. To see our pick of the crop read Best Chrome extensions . As with Safari, there’s also a group tabs feature in Chrome that can keep your window tidy and make it easy to quickly find related webpages among your open tabs.

Password storage is secure, and you can keep your payment details in Chrome so that it’s easy to make payments online, albeit not through Apple Pay.

Google uses high-levels of security to ensure you don’t access sites that contain malware and also isolates each tab to prevent any kind of cross infection should you stumble into something nasty.

Of course, this is Google we’re talking about, so you’ll be giving your data directly to the company as you use Chrome, including your online habits, so just be sure you’re ok with that before you begin.

Edge Chromium

Uses Chrome extensions
Built-in PDF editor
Quick access to Microsoft services
Design can be cluttered
Works best with Microsoft account

Microsoft initially launched Edge with its own engine, but after a while decided to adopt the Chromium one that drives Google’s Chrome browser. Since then, the app has grown into a very good option for the those who want the Chrome experience but with it’s own distinct flavour.

The design on Edge is modern and tidy, albeit a little cluttered at times, with plenty of powerful features built into the main menu. Collections opens up a side bar where you can drag web pages or add notes. It’s a great way to use Edge to plan for a trip or research a major purchase. Alternatively you can use the Tab Groups that are similar to the ones on Safari and Chrome. These are displayed on the tab bar along the top, with ones you’ve assigned to group all colour coded so you can see them instantly. Then, if you want to focus on something else, click the group name and all the tabs are collapsed into that, ready to reopen when you want to see them again. Vertical tabs also lets you instantly switch the open tabs from along the top of the page to a list in a column on the left. It’s a nice little feature that can make it easier to find what your looking for quickly.

You’ll also find a reader mode that reduces a page down to just the words, plus Edge can read aloud the contents if you prefer that approach. A very useful addition is a built-in PDF editor that can make filling out online forms a doddle, and the Web Select feature allow you to copy and paste contents from a page while retaining all of the formatting.

As with most major browsers, Edge has a password manager that can store you details for web sites and online accounts, plus it offers a Password Health and Password Monitor feature so you know if your details could be compromised.

If you use Outlook, then you’ll find the quick access to mail, calendar appointments and To Do items very handy. Those with a Microsoft 365 account can also launch free versions of MS Office apps from within the browser, much like with Google apps on Chrome. There’s also a grammar and spelling checker borrowed from Microsoft 365 that helps improve your writing when online in Edge. This new Editor works across social media sites or pretty much anywhere you can enter text.

Microsoft also includes various privacy features, all of which can be tweaked in the settings, plus you have access to the thousands of extentions that come with Chrome. If you’ve dismissed Edge in the past as just Internet Explorer with a facelift, we think you should reconsider that opinion.

Focus on privacy
New Firefox view feature
Loads of themes and plug-ins available
Not as many features as Safari or Chrome

Another stalwart that’s received some much-needed spit and polish recently is Firefox. There was a time when this was one of the major players in the browser field, but time hasn’t been kind to Mozilla’s creation and Google Chrome has been one in particular that tempted people away. That’s a shame, as today’s Firefox version is slick, smart, and provides a worthy alternative to its higher profile competitors.

Mozilla takes privacy seriously and has a range of features to keep you safe online. Tracking Protection stops websites from following you around the web and collecting data that can be used to serve ads. There’s also ad and script blocking that speed up webpage loading times. There’s even an extension that sandboxes Facebook so it can’t follow your activities around the web. Whatever the tweaks under the hood, our experience with the app proved it to be rapid and reliable.

Firefox has always been a browser that lets you personalise things, so be sure to take a look at the various themes and extensions available that can decorate the menu section of the browser or add additional features. The menu bar itself has a number of functions that you can easily access by dragging icons onto it, providing quick links to things such as emailing links, saving the page to Firefox’s Pocket app to read later, or sending pages directly to your phone.

Some new features worthy of note include a built-in PDF editor, plus Firefox View which allows you to pick up on your Mac from whether you may have been on a webpage on another device. A bit like Handoff on Safari.

The extensions might not be as plentiful as they are on Chrome, but there’s lots of useful add-ons that can tailor your Firefox experience to just the way you like it. Mozilla also offers various tools such as Relay (similar to iCloud Private Relay) that creates email alisases you can use for signing up to online services or giving to people that you don’t want to know your real address. A VPN that can hide your location, plus Monitor that watches out for password breaches that may have included any of your accounts and passwords.

It may not be the force it once was, but there’s plenty of life left in Firefox yet.

Quick access to messaging apps
Group Tabs and Pinboards
Interface can look busy

Opera is built on the same foundations as Chrome, giving it a familiar feel in terms of features and performance. That doesn’t mean it’s a clone with a different badge though, as the app comes with some interesting design choices and handy tools that make it a solidly modern browser.

The first is a column on the left side of the screen that contains shortcuts to various options. Top of the list are Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram, all of which can be logged into and used while browsing the web. There’s also an option to add a Twitter account too, all of which is very useful if you don’t want to keep picking up your phone.

Another icon is for My Flow, an Opera specific feature that allows users to send webpages directly to their iPhone. At the bottom of the column are three dots that open the options menu. In here you can add or remove lots of other icons that take you to your bookmarks, a news section that collates the latest stories from your favourite outlets, a speed dial for commonly used sites, and plenty of other goodies.

Opera also has some privacy tools that make life easier when browsing, including a built-in ad blocker and a free VPN. The latter is great for keeping yourself safe when using public WiFi, even if the choice of server locations is limited.

Extensions are available in aplenty, thanks to the Chrome heritage, as are themes to personalise the aesthetic. You can also use Workspaces now, which is essentially the same as Group Tabs in Safari. Here you add new Workspaces (giving them names and choosing a relevant icon), then open various tabs in each one. This means you can quickly switch between themed webpages, simplifying things and stopping you having a million ones open at the same time. There’s also Pinboards, which is essentially a built-on version of Pinterest that lets you collect images from around the web and build them into mood boards.

If you’re looking for a browser that not only protects your privacy online, but also reduces the need for other apps on your system, Opera has much to offer.

Great privacy features
Ad-free browsing
Limited features compared to Safari and Chrome
It can be a bit obsessed with Crypto currencies

Brave is a relative newcomer when compared to all of those listed above, making its debut as recently as 2016. Since then it’s gone from strength to strength, powered by its focus on removing all ads from the pages you visit. From a creator’s point of view this can be problematic, as most sites (including this one) rely on advertising in order to pay the writers and technicians who produce the content you’re reading. But for consumers, the freedom from intrusive ads can make the web a place where you can breath once more.

Brave takes things one step further by giving users the option to view ‘privacy-respecting ads’ that will pay them for the honour. This is all done via the Brave Rewards scheme, which is an innovative idea and has the added bonus of allowing users to essentially pay tips to sites they enjoy.

All that aside, Brave is a slimline app that speeds its way around the web. You’ll find plenty of settings to hone its performance to your whims, plus there’s the normal collection of password managers, bookmark menus, and accompanying mobile apps that can sync your profile. You can also avail yourself of a built-in Crypto wallet, plus there’s a Brave VPN, although that will cost you $9.99 per month or $99 for a year.

Brave offers its own Independent Search function that won’t track your enquires, there’s a private video-conferencing feature, the new Playlists capability with which you can compile videos and tracks from the web and have the playlist automatically available to enjoy on your iPhone, plus a customisable news feed that again won’t track your reading activities online. Have you gotten the idea yet? Brave is all about privacy, but not at the expense of functionality.

As it’s built on the Chromium engine, you’ll find all the normal Chrome features, but without some of the ads and tracking behaviour. Whether you support the idea of a total ad-blocking browser or not, there’s little argument that Brave gets the job done in style.

Fast performance
Swiss army knife approach to app integration
New features added regularly
Almost too many features

There’s a good chance you haven’t have heard of Vivaldi, or at least the browser rather than the 17th century Venetian composer. It’s a name you should familiarise yourself with though, as the company was started by Jón von Tetzchner, who co-founded Opera back in 1994.

Vivaldi has some two main focusses: privacy and customisation. So, if you want to take control of your browsing experience in a granular fashion then it may well be the grail at the end of your quest.

At its heart, Vivaldi is similar to Opera as it uses the Chromium engine. This gives it the advantage that you can use Chrome’s plugins. Where it differs is in its attitude to your data. Once you set up a password on your Mac you can sync your devices (only macOS, Windows, Linux or Android at present) knowing that everything in protected by end-to-end encryption that not even Vivaldi can see. Abusive ads that track you are blocked by default and there are various other settings to minimise any intrusions to your privacy.

Like Opera, Vivaldi has a side bar containing various options such as downloads, bookmarks, history, plus a few innovative options. One is Notes, which allows you to quickly jot down information without having to leave the browser and you can even include screenshots. This is great if you’re researching something or just want to remember a quote. You can also create tab groups and stack them on two levels in the menu bar. That’s not all though! Vivaldi lets you set whether the tab bar appears in the traditional vertical position at the top of the page or move it to the the flanks or along the bottom. You can also open multiple tabs at once in a split screen view, so you can work on them at the same time.

Web panels is another clever feature, in that it enables users to setup mini versions of webpages that can be accessed by clicking on its panel name. This is best suited to messaging services but also for Twitter and mobile optimised sites, as they will fit into the single column view.

You’ll also find further options in the bar across the bottom of the page, including the ability to capture a screenshot, adjust the zoom level via a slider, turning off images and videos on a page, as well as a comprehensive list of page actions you can instantly enable or disable by clicking a tickbox.

Vivaldi is now offering integrated Mail and Calendar apps that can help you stay organised without ever needing to leave the browser, plus the Vivaldi Translate feature means you can look up words and phrases not in your native tongue, but without Google getting to see what you’re translating.

Keeping the open source spirit alive is the recent integration of Mastodon, the federated alternative to the hate-filled Twitter bonfire of Elon Musk’s vanity.

There’s so much to explore in Vivaldi and it keeps growing at a steady pace. It might be one of the newest browsers around, but we think it could well be the way they all go in the future.

Avast Secure Browser

Slim-line and secure
Built-in VPN
A bit basic

Although this browser remains in a beta stage at the moment, it’s another interesting option to those looking for a Chrome-style browser but with beefed up security and privacy. Avast is a name that will be familiar for anyone who has looked at antivirus software in the past, and its putting those years of data security to good use in its Secure Browser.

Using the built-in tools you can have your browsing protected by the included VPN, manage and monitor your passwords, stop trackers from using digital fingerprinting techniques to identify your device, plus a variety of other security features.

Of course, as the Chromium engine is underneath, you can use all the standard Chrome features such as bookmarks, private modes, dark modes, not to mention the wide wealth of extensions available. Syncing all of your data and settings across devices is also available, with the Avast Secure Browser also available on iOS.

It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of Opera, Vivaldi or Brave, but if you want a fast, simple, secure browser for your Mac, it’s well worth a look.

Duck Duck Go for Mac

Safe and secure
Blocks most trackers
Very stripped back
Doesn't work with some plug-ins

Another new entry that still remains in beta is the browser from Duck Duck Go. You may recognise the name from the aponymous privacy-focussed search engine, but now you can use a dedicated browser whose mission it is to stop you being tracked while online. Based on the WebKit engine that powers Safari, DDG is a stripped back experience that gets out of the way and lets you swiftly find the content you want, while stopping anyone else watching. Although it shares the Apple build, DDG is equipped with purpose built password management, bookmarks and tab coding, which does have the knock-on effect of making it incompatible with a lot of plug-ins, most frustratingly password managers.

That being said, if you want a second browser for quickly and securely navigating the web, then the Duck Duck Go beta is well worth consideration. If you want to know more, you can check out our Duck Duck Go for Mac review .

Author: Martyn Casserly , Contributor

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.

How-To Geek

The best browser for mac users (and safari alternatives).

Is Safari really the best choice, and what are the best alternatives?

Key Takeaways

Safari is highly optimized for Apple hardware, but it may have limited web app compatibility and fewer extensions compared to browsers like Chrome.
Firefox is a privacy-conscious alternative to Safari, offering features like Do Not Track and blocking invisible trackers. Chrome is the most popular browser, known for its compatibility and wide range of extensions, but it may compromise privacy. Consider trying other browsers like Edge and Vivaldi, or unique options like Arc for a different browsing experience.

Your choice of web browser can have a big impact on your Mac experience. From integration with the services you use to power efficiency and reliability, here’s how to decide which is best for you.

Safari is (Arguably) the Best Mac Browser

There are a few good reasons to pick Safari as your browser of choice if you’re a Mac user, especially if you use other Apple devices like an iPhone or iPad . It might surprise you to find out that you’re not alone, with Safari being the second most popular browser on the web thanks to its inclusion on both mobile and desktop devices.

Apple tightly optimizes Safari for use exclusively on Apple hardware. This means that Safari is highly power efficient on a Mac. When Apple gives an estimate of battery life on its latest Mac models for performing activities like “wireless web” they’re specifically referring to the use of Safari. The company is in a position where both the hardware and the software are designed in unison, so Apple is not bound by thousands of different hardware possibilities.

That helps Safari remain performant on Apple hardware too, a fact you can see for yourself using browser benchmarks like Speedometer 2.0 . In use, Safari feels snappy. The UI is small and non-intrusive, and you can even customize the toolbar using the right-click menu as you can other native Apple apps.

Safari is also loaded with familiar features and technology. iCloud makes it possible to share tab groups, browsing sessions, bookmarks, a Reading List, and even extensions with your iPhone or iPad. The Share menu works just as it does on the iPhone. Continuity makes it possible to quickly jump between devices by placing a small icon in your Mac dock.

Apple’s services work especially well in Safari. You can log in with your Apple ID using your fingerprint, pay for items using Apple Pay right in your browser, and use a variety of Shortcuts actions to build workflows that work using Safari .

Apple also makes it easy to add extensions using the Mac App Store. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it adds an additional layer of protection against potentially harmful extensions. You can still choose to install unsigned extensions by enabling the Develop menu if you want.

In terms of privacy, Safari isn’t the best browser you can get your hands on but it’s far from the worst. The browser works with Apple’s iCloud Private Relay for iCloud+ subscribers, which anonymizes web requests using a two-step process . Do Not Track is enabled by default, and it provides partial protection against trackers.

You can’t get rid of Safari from your Mac, so it’s ready and waiting for you with every new Apple computer purchase (or every time you reset the operating system ). Apple is always updating and building upon Safari with enhancements, like macOS Sonoma’s ability to turn websites into app-like instances.

Want to Ditch Safari? Here's What to Use Instead

Though Safari is suitable for a wide range of users, it’s far from the last word when it comes to web browsers. It’s convenient and always there if you want it, but it’s not without its critics. One reason you might want to switch is web app compatibility, which can be limited on Safari due to its relatively narrow user base. A lot of Safari users are mobile users, and many services prefer to funnel these users into dedicated apps.

Safari lacks the compatibility of a browser like Chrome or Edge, which means some web apps will simply refuse to work in Safari and demand that you use something else instead. Perhaps worse still, some websites won’t warn you before they refuse to function as intended. You might get glitchy behavior that can be avoided by using another browser.

Safari also isn’t a “platform” quite in the same way that Chrome and similar browsers are. There is a huge range of extensions made with Chrome in mind (including browsers like Edge and Vivaldi), which might make such a platform more desirable if you live inside of browser extensions.

You may even find yourself with no choice but to use an alternative for work or education purposes. Some institutions refuse to support certain browsers, and since Safari is limited to Apple devices it’s easier to tailor an experience to a browser that has cross-platform compatibility.

If privacy is your main concern, Safari might not go far enough to protect you, and you may be tempted to move to something like Firefox instead.

Firefox is the Privacy-Conscious Safari Alternative

Mozilla’s browser is a solid alternative to Safari, with some excellent privacy considerations. Firefox enables Do Not Track by default and blocks both invisible trackers and tracking ads. Firefox even uses DuckDuckGo as its default search engine.

Firefox tests slower than Safari and Chrome in many benchmarks, but how much time this will save you during your daily surfing sessions is up for debate. The browser also enjoys a far wider range of extensions than Safari, though it still falls short of the Chromium family.

Like Safari, Firefox Sync allows you to share browsing sessions and bookmarks with other devices including Windows PCs and mobile platforms like iOS and Android. Firefox remains a browser of choice for those mostly concerned with web privacy and enjoys a loyal (if small) base of users.

Chrome is Number One for Compatibility and Extensions

Google Chrome is the behemoth of web browsers, with more than 60% of all web users choosing to use it. As such, it enjoys excellent compatibility with most websites and web apps, and some even insist on its use (or a similar Chromium-based browser).

Google Chrome fares poorly from a privacy standpoint , with Do Not Track disabled by default, and both invisible trackers and tracking ads able to track you unless you limit this behavior with extensions. On the plus side, there are a huge number of extensions and apps available for Chrome that can help remedy the problem.

Though Chrome has a bit of a reputation for being a resource hog, Google has attempted to address the problem with a feature called Chrome Memory Saver that is designed to purge websites from memory after a period of inactivity. The company also improved Chrome’s energy efficiency with Chrome Energy Saver Mode .

Chromium-Based Browsers Offer Unique Alternatives to Chrome

Chromium is the core open-source browser core on which Chrome and similar projects are built. This means you can have Chrome’s speed, compatibility, and even the full range of extensions without having to use the Google-branded variant.

There are plenty of other Chromium-based browser to choose from, such as Microsoft Edge which falls into the same privacy pitfalls as Chrome; Vivaldi with its customizable interface and email client; and Brave Browser which delivers a slightly confusing combination of cryptocurrency features, opt-in adverts, and privacy considerations.

For a no-frills experience, there’s also vanilla Chromium , the open-source version of Chrome to which Google contributes. Then there are projects like Ungoogled Chromium , which removes dependency on Google services and makes tweaks to enhance privacy.

Alternatively, Try Something Completely Unique

Arc is a browser that does things a little differently than most. Not only does it cull your tabs for you, but it also includes some unique features like side-by-side tab mode, note-taking and whiteboard functionality within the app, and a macOS Spotlight-esque command interface for getting around without touching your mouse.

We reviewed Arc in March 2023 and loved it, though the fledgling browser wasn’t without issues surrounding power consumption and general jitteriness. It’s now out of beta and things have settled down somewhat, so it might be worth a shot if you’re looking for a web browser that helps you stay neat and organized.

It’s far from the only weirdo browser out there though. Colibri is a browser that lacks tabs and emphasizes an uncluttered experience. It’s designed to force you into more mindful browser sessions. Tor is a browser designed for browsing the dark web , but there are other private browsers like Mulvad and Waterfox that you might want to use instead.

The Case for Multiple Browsers

There are so many compelling reasons to use Safari that we think it’s the best choice for most users. Failing that, Firefox offers a solid browsing experience that respects your privacy.

It’s a good idea to have more than one browser installed for those times when you encounter difficulties with your primary choice. On top of this, you can kit a second browser out with extensions that might make certain web operations easier to complete.

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The best browser for Mac in 2022

What should you look for in a web browser for Macs? It needs to be stable, secure, and as speedy as possible — plus, add-ons are always a good option to have. The one you go for is not always an easy choice. After all, as a Mac user, you might find yourself using Safari. But is it still the best browser for Mac?

Apple Safari

Google chrome, microsoft edge.

If you’re wondering which web browser is the safest, speediest, or most customizable, there are quite a few to pick from. We’ve done the research and are ready to make several top recommendations. Here are the best web browsers you can get on a Mac.

Apple has done an incredible job of optimizing Safari for today’s internet needs and Mac machines. The result is a web browser that’s usually the best option for getting things done on MacOS. It has cross-site tracking and some built-in ad targeting prevention for privacy. Add Apple’s famously locked-down system, and you have a browser that’s secure and reliable (HTTPS certificates for sites on Safari must be renewed every year, for example). It’s also speedy, with the 2021 Jetstream 2 browser benchmark giving it a score of 136, higher than other popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

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For Apple fans, Safari also offers amazing integration. At a moment’s notice, you can search for a title on the App Store or hand off your web browser session to another device like your iPad or MacBook. Integration with iCloud also allows you to use Safari’s password-management services if you prefer to avoid third-party apps. All in all, Safari offers excellent performance, is available on your Mac right out of the box, and has a growing number of extensions that allow you to expand its capabilities.

Google’s Chrome has made a name for itself with its minimalistic interface and rich collection of extensions for adding tools or apps directly to the web browser — nearly 190,000 of them in total. The web browser also can aid you in translating webpages, double-check your security, and has robust settings that allow you to toggle nearly everything on or off as you desire. While not quite as speedy as Safari, our Jetstream 2 tests gave it a score of 130, which still is very respectable.

Chrome also excels at multitasking, and it’s one of the friendliest browsers for managing multiple windows and long strings of tabs in intuitive ways, so it remains a strong choice for those who need a lot of organization. It’s not entirely perfect — sometimes bugs can creep in, and it can be greedy for RAM — but it is frequently updated and offers strong customization options. It’s also very friendly with Chromecast devices and, of course, Chromebooks if you use Google’s system elsewhere.

Firefox is one of the few mainstream browsers with an open-source origin, giving it a broad portfolio of add-ons for users to play with and customize as they see fit. This can also introduce some security concerns, but in recent years Mozilla has proven adept at frequent updates, fixes, and optimization (including privacy restrictions that keep providers from selling your data). While Firefox is in excellent shape these days and makes an efficient alternative if you want to switch, it did perform notably worse on our Jetstream 2 tests with a score of 74, so it’s not the best option if speed is your primary concern.

Where Firefox really shines is its personalization options. If you’re worried about privacy, you can use the Enhanced Tracking Protection to block or review whatever you want. If you want to build the web browser out as a workplace hub, you can download whatever add-ons you need to support work apps, content checking, analysis, and much more. Even native features like picture-in-picture support or Pocket app integration make Firefox incredibly useful. The downside is that you’ll have to spend time learning it all if you’re new, and its add-ons aren’t quite as easy to navigate as something like Chrome’s extensions.

Microsoft Edge’s revamp appears to be a strong success, as the browser is officially more popular than Firefox among worldwide users. The interface is also better than it has ever been, with the Chromium base of the browser inspiring a Chrome-like clean look that’s excellent for organization and intuitive to understand. Chromium also gives it access to all the extensions on the Google Chrome Store — they may not always run as well on Edge, but you can still find the solution you want. Microsoft also has added some neat categorization that allows you to do things like save webpages in a Collection for future reference. Whether you’re switching from Chrome or just looking for a capable alternative web browser on Mac, Edge is certainly worth a try.

Users who have had problems with slowdowns or buggy performance using Chrome on their Macs may be able to find serenity in Opera , another web browser-based in Chromium but more focused on a lean, privacy-oriented structure. It’s made to be as efficient as possible, which is why it’s generally better for avoiding RAM shortages or unexpected crashes. Opera also is filled with intelligent, native features that modern-day internet users will immediately appreciate, including built-in ad blocking, built-in chat messengers that are always available, and even a free built-in VPN that you can enable for additional privacy. You also can customize it with options from a dark mode to web browser-specific keyboard shortcuts.

If privacy is your primary focus , we suggest going with Brave . It offers in-depth privacy management for ads, scripts, and cookies, along with a built-in password manager and a constantly updated total of what’s been blocked. While phishing attempts and malware are automatically detected, you can customize other various security settings to work site by site or for the entire web browser. It’s also extremely efficient, so if you are trying to save on battery life or similar goals, then it’s worth trying out.

Vivaldi’s cross-platform web browser structure has several unique features that may be perfect for online experiences. First, the interface is incredibly customizable compared to the somewhat limited options of other web browsers, allowing you to string out or stack tabs as you want, divide into multiple sections for apps or menus, switch to thumbnail perspectives for certain webpages, and much more. There’s also plenty of compatibility for Chrome extensions and robust privacy measures that include blocking all kinds of tracking. It’s excellent for micromanagement, especially if you’ve been disappointed by web browser limitations in the past.

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For most new Mac users -- especially if they're coming from Windows -- one of the first questions they need to ask is how to take a screenshot on a Mac? There's no dedicated Print Screen key like there is on Windows, but there is keyboard shortcut, and if you want something more akin to Microsoft's Windows Snipping tool, there are some great screenshot apps you can use, too.

Here's how to take a screenshot on a Mac in a few different ways. How to take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts MacOS keyboard shortcuts are the quickest ways to take screenshots, whether you're capturing the entire screen or just a portion. By default, Apple's methods save your screenshot to the desktop, but if you want to copy the screenshot to the clipboard, there's a keyboard shortcut you can use instead. How to capture a selected area

Now that Apple has started outfitting its laptops with its M3 generation of chips, it's time to take another look at which is the best MacBook to buy in 2024. That’s not always easy, though, as buying the newest MacBook isn’t always the right decision. Apple has several tiers of performance, as well as various sizes, which can further complicate the matter.

What’s more, you can also still get M1 and M2 MacBooks, some from Apple’s own website and some from third-party retailers. But are they still worth your money? Our guide should help you decide.

The iMac is potentially one of the most well-known all-in-one desktops and probably launched the whole concept of having a full desktop tower contained in a tiny little thin device. Of course, the issue with going with an iMac is that you have to be in the Apple ecosystem, or you'll have to pay a pretty penny to get one of the newer iMacs. Luckily, the all-in-one market has boomed in the last few years, and there are a lot of great alternatives outside of Apple that you can pick from. To that end, we've gone out and scoured all the major manufacturers out there and found our favorite all-in-one picks for you below to save you a bit of effort, although if you don't find what you're looking for below, you may want to check out some of these other excellent desktop computer deals as well. The Best iMac Alternatives in 2024

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Brave vs Safari

Opera vs Safari
Safari vs Firefox
Brave vs Opera
Safari vs Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox vs Brave
DuckDuckGo vs Safari
Microsoft Edge vs Safari
Brave vs Google Chrome
Brave vs DuckDuckGo
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Apple Safari Browser
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Brave is a privacy concerned web browser that is built by Brave software Incorporation. The development credit for this software goes to Brendan Eich. Brave is developed using C++, Javascript and Swift programming languages. It has MPL 2.0 license. Brave is becoming popular in the market due to its ad-blocking and privacy assurance features. It is an open-source and free software made to enhance the browsing experience.

Safari is also a web browser used for surfing the internet and it was built by Apple. It was mainly used on the Mac operating system but it can also be used on Windows operating system. Initially, it was released in 2003, just like chrome it is also freeware. It is open source and is written using different programming languages like C++, Swift etc.

Following is a table of differences between Brave and Safari:

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Brave vs Safari: Which is Better in 2024?

James Milin-Ashmore Last updated: June 2, 2022

WHAT’S IN THIS REVIEW?

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Brave and Apple Safari are seen as two of the best web browsers for privacy , but which should you choose in terms of performance, and the overall user experience? Arguably, it depends on which device you’re using, and how much you’ve bought into the Apple ecosystem.

Brave is built on the open-source Chromium code released by Google . Safari is Apple’s own creation and its preferred access point for users who want to get online on mobile or desktop.

We’ve compared these two browsers by using a range of different criteria such as usability, privacy, security, performance, and more to give a definitive answer if you’re weighing Safari vs Brave.

User Experience: Draw

Features: Safari wins

Privacy & Security: Draw
Device Compatibility: Brave wins
Performance: Safari wins
Final Verdict: Which Browser is Better?

Currently, Apple’s Safari browser market share is roughly 19% worldwide, while Brave has a minuscule 0.05%. The latter still has a long way to go, despite aiming to offer something slightly different.

The Brave browser is responsive and focused on providing online privacy , although any services relating to cryptocurrencies are wasted on the majority of users. For example, you’re able to check the prices of various assets from the home page, while Brave Wallet is “the first secure crypto wallet built directly into the browser.”

You can choose to block all ads or to receive a crypto payment for each ad served in the form of Basic Attention Token (BAT), which is a currency devised for the network.

Personally, I’m not bothered to collect meager amounts of crypto, and I block all ads entirely. It’s a seamless experience, and it’s amazing to see a web page loaded without ad-blocking while using someone else’s device.

Safari has made major strides in terms of user experience, although that’s to be expected considering it’s been built from the ground up to work with a particular operating system. It’s great news for anyone using an Apple device ( macOS or iOS ), but everyone else will be left wanting to some degree.

One of the biggest perks is that it syncs across multiple devices instantly, making it one of the best options as long as you’re not interested in add-ons.

There are a couple of elements I don’t really like with Safari, despite the ease of use.

For example, the home page isn’t particularly interesting, and it can shut down unexpectedly. Videos sometimes won’t play in the browser, and the iOS keyboard has a full stop which often gets in the way.

These are obviously minor flaws in the grand scheme of things, and it’s not necessarily enough to separate either browser. If UX is most important for you, it depends on your interests, as well as your devices.

Both browsers – Brave vs Safari – offer a range of features that you’d expect in 2024.

We’ll begin with Brave. In terms of ease of use, it’s especially simple to port over your old browser settings and bookmarks, so you won’t have to start from scratch. Brave’s privacy and security features are numerous, with the selection seen below only scratching the surface.

This includes a built-in password manager , cookie control, and fingerprinting prevention . Since Brave was built using Chromium, you’ll also be able to download many apps from the Chrome Web Store.

As for Safari , you’ll be able to access iCloud, and you can save anything from passwords to payment methods to saved bookmarks. You’ll also benefit from a browser/OS combo which is one of the sleekest overall, including strong battery life, tabbed groups, and various extensions.

One potential issue is the lack of Brave users. This leads to developers focusing on more popular options, in a bid to be as marketable as possible. Even Safari suffers from this to some degree (19%) compared to Chrome , and with an estimated share of just 0.05%, Brave’s user base is as inconsequential as you’ll get.

If you’re solely interested in privacy features, Brave is a viable option. If you’re looking for a browser that can do almost everything, as well as handle any privacy concerns, Safari wins out.

Protect your privacy while browsing with a secure VPN.

Privacy & Security: Draw

Either browser is viable in terms of both privacy and security. For example, Apple heavily publicized its decision to protect Safari users’ data, going so far as to offer the option to block all cookies or prevent cross-site tracking within the settings menu.

screenshot of Apple Safari privacy features

The decision led to Safari’s public spat with Facebook , and claims that Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency feature would lower the company’s 2022 sales by roughly $10 billion. Privacy is reportedly considered across the majority of Apple services and hardware. This is what they have to say about their Maps app:

“ Maps goes even further to obscure your location on Apple servers when you search using a process called “fuzzing.” Because your location can give away your identity, Maps converts the precise location where your search originated to a less-exact one after 24 hours. ” Apple Inc.

Essentially, you can expect improved online privacy , especially while using their apps and services. It’s one of the more justifiable reasons for the higher than average price tag for hardware.

Back to the browsers . Brave was envisioned as an option that will block ads and trackers, while still offering a way to make publishers money. It was designed by Brendan Eich, creator of JavaScript programming language and former CEO of Mozilla . They say:

“ Our servers neither see nor store your browsing data – it stays private, on your devices, until you delete it. Which means we won’t ever sell your data to third parties. ” Brave

The Brave browser certainly works well if you dislike the idea of being tracked online.

It feels like a bit of a cop-out to call it a draw, but either option is great from a privacy perspective.

Device Compatibility: Brave Wins

Next up is compatibility – a category that’s easy to assess Brave vs Safari on. Brave is available on a wide range of devices, as it’s not confined by hardware released by Apple.

Of course, this makes it an instant win for the Chromium browser. Here’s a list of major operating systems that work with Brave:

Safari is always going to lose out in this respect, as it can only be accessed with Apple devices on macOS or iOS .

I can remember Safari being available for Windows , but they discontinued the feature back in 2012. Instead, they’ve opted to focus on their own hardware, which has arguably proven to be a smart decision over the past decade.

Safari is probably the ideal choice for Apple users, but Brave has better compatibility overall.

Performance: Safari Wins

For many users, connection speeds and overall performance are one of the most important features when deciding between Brave and Safari.

Nobody wants to be hanging around while a page loads, and it’s a habit of mine to leave multiple tabs open. Both browsers are reasonably performant as they load up fewer ads and trackers.

Apple is happy to publicize the exceptional speeds of Safari when matched up against similar browsers. For example, Safari on macOS is twice as fast as Firefox on Windows 10, and beats out both Chrome and Edge on both operating systems.

It’s also notable if you’re aiming to save battery life with a laptop or phone.

As for Brave vs Safari, when it comes to overall performance, both can point to reduced bandwidth use, although the latter is likely to produce better speeds when browsing or streaming videos .

Final Verdict

It’s hard to go wrong with either option if you’re using an Apple device. This is true even if you’re on iOS or macOS, although it’s probably easier to stick with Safari if you’d prefer to solely trust Apple with your data.

Safari Beats Brave: 4-3

Features: Safari
Device Compatibility: Brave
Performance: Safari

Finding the right fit

As always, the best browser will depend on what you’re looking for, as well as your preferred operating system(s). Apple has ensured that Safari is an attractive prospect for its users. Whereas Brave is a viable alternative that wins out in terms of compatibility – and online privacy to an extent.

Protect your privacy and data on Apple devices with a secure VPN.

For Apple users, you can check out our Safari vs Chrome guide to see if Google’s flagship browser has what it takes to replace today’s winner.

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Is Safari again the fastest browser for Mac at the moment?

Thread starter VitoBotta
Start date Jun 28, 2023
Sort by reaction score

macrumors 6502a

Jun 28, 2023

I just got a new M2 Pro mini so I ran Speedometer 2 on Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge and Firefox. Safari scored 418 while the others were quite lower with Firefox the slowest. All extensions had been disabled in each browser and the tests performed in the same session (I have a ton of apps and a virtual machine running, not sure how much this could affect browsers). So is Safari again the fastest? Have been using Brave lately but wondering if I should switch back to Safari.

Sheepish-Lord

Macrumors 68020.

If you’re using only Speedometer test then it sounds like it performed the best for you. At the end of the day it’s just another benchmark and ultimately it should be what you value most in a browser since any modern one isn’t usually noticeable faster than another.

I don't really use any "advanced" features or features specific to the single browsers to be honest. I only care about the speed

macrumors member

Jul 1, 2023

That's interesting. I get 342 with Safari, 211 with Brave and 132 with Firefox. HOWEVER, in normal browsing, Brave is noticeably faster than Safari, and more or less on par with Firefox, which also is clearly faster than Safari. Brave and Firefox are more or less similar, with Brave being maybe a bit smoother. In all three cases, with a similar set of extensions, i.e. with the setup I'm going to use. I'm on the Sonoma beta but it was the same with Ventura.

eduardodfj said: That's interesting. I get 342 with Safari, 211 with Brave and 132 with Firefox. HOWEVER, in normal browsing, Brave is noticeably faster than Safari, and more or less on par with Firefox, which also is clearly faster than Safari. Brave and Firefox are more or less similar, with Brave being maybe a bit smoother. In all three cases, with a similar set of extensions, i.e. with the setup I'm going to use. I'm on the Sonoma beta but it was the same with Ventura. Click to expand...

I don't know about the fastest, but it is certainly the most energy efficient for me which pretty much seals the deal.

macrumors 6502

shenfrey said: I don't know about the fastest, but it is certainly the most energy efficient for me which pretty much seals the deal. Click to expand...

Jul 5, 2023

I have been using Firefox for a few days now and I really like it so far. The containers feature is dope and like I mentioned previously it works great when pentesting web apps because I get use Burp Suite only with specific tabs using the Container Proxy extension. Love it. As for the speed I haven't really seen any noticeable difference compared to others apart from the benchmark numbers. Maybe the practical difference is even smaller given i am running on M2 Pro

Jul 26, 2023

Firefox has slowed to a crawl for me. Safari works for me at the moment.

Jul 29, 2023

Interestingly performance has improved materially over the past few days.

8 Browsers Worth Trying On Mac That Aren't Safari

W hile computers are capable of a vast array of functions, outside of work hours they're mostly used to surf the web. That means that much of the time you spend on your Mac is filtered through a web browser. If you think of web content as the decorations inside your home, the browser is your house's frame. It defines, at least to some degree, how things are organized and how they appear.

Your Mac (and any other internet-capable Apple products) comes standard with Apple's own browser: Safari. It's a perfectly good browser and designed to work well with your Mac, but it might not be the perfect solution for every online activity or interaction.

It's worth noting that some of your Mac's functionality is only available when using Safari, and you may lose out on features like Handoff when using a third-party browser. We don't recommend that you go and delete Safari in favor of another browser, but adding a second or even a third browser to your setup could offer a wider range of features for all of your online activities.

Google's Chrome browser probably needs no introduction. If you've spent any amount of time online over the last decade, it's likely that you've used Chrome. It is far and away the most popular browser, accounting for roughly 65% of the market. Safari comes in a distant second with nearly 19%. That familiarity is one of Chrome's greatest strengths.

If you're making the switch from a Windows PC to a Mac for the first time, you might want to continue using the browser you're accustomed to, with all of the favorites, features, and settings you've come to know and expect. Downloading Chrome for your Mac is quick and easy (just type Chrome into the search bar, click the first link , and follow the prompts) and provides easy access to any Google-related accounts like Gmail.

If Safari's layout is too foreign and you're longing for something you already know, there's nothing better than Chrome. Of course, Chrome can also be resource hungry, and some users have reported the browser slowing down their machine's performance. Still, if you mostly use your Mac for casual activities and browsing, you're unlikely to notice.

While Mozilla's Firefox browser has enjoyed varying levels of popularity during its lifetime — at its peak, it accounted for more than 30% of the browser market; today Firefox holds only about 3% — it is still a well-known and trusted browsing solution. It's a free and open-source browser which, despite its fall from grace, remains the fourth most popular browser across all devices.

Firefox provides reliable privacy, security, and ease of use, with a user interface that will be intuitive, even if you've never used it before. Like other browsers, Firefox can store favorites and add browser extensions to customize your online experience. Websites you visit are often displayed on the home page, giving you quick access to your favorite online haunts. Firefox also offers autoplay blocking for ads and other video content and Tracking Protection, which stops trackers from following your web traffic to gather data.

There's also a built-in screenshot tool, which allows you to capture whatever is on your screen. That includes screengrabs of video content from your favorite streaming services, something most browsers including Safari won't do.

The Brave browser seeks to prioritize user privacy, security, and autonomy. It was initially built on software called Muon, favored for its security, but eventually moved to Chromium. This means it is pretty familiar if you've used any other Chromium-based browsers before. Despite being only a few years old, Brave has gathered more than 22 million active daily users, thanks to quick performance speeds and its philosophy around advertising . The latter of which has been the subject of some controversy since its launch on November 13, 2019.

The major advantage of using Brave is its built-in ad blockers for both trackers and ads. The idea is to give the user as much privacy and control over advertising as possible. That's also what has driven controversy over the company's business model. Brave innately blocks ads displayed on websites, which deflects revenue from the sites you're visiting. While that's a problem for content publishers, it's what all ad blockers do, and the industry has largely turned a blind eye to that.

Where Brave potentially takes things too far is by offering its own in-house advertisements as an alternative. Users can opt into ads that earn them Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) in exchange. Those tokens can then be used as a cryptocurrency or to purchase goods and services from registered websites. You're still getting ads, just different ads, and you're potentially upsetting the online economy in the process. Use responsibly.

Opera is yet another third-party browser built on Google's open-source codebase. As a result, it offers a familiar user interface coupled with reliable security and privacy. But what makes Opera unique isn't the ways in which it's the same, but the ways in which it's different.

If you primarily use the internet to surf the growing number of social networking sites, and if you use the chat services inside those networks, Opera can streamline the way you communicate. Usually, checking and responding to your messages means opening each site individually, which can be time-consuming and laborious. Opera can put your social media chat boxes into a menu on the left side of the screen, giving you access to them without having to visit each of their associated sites.

If you find that the hours have wound away while you're scrolling through tweets or swiping through videos, and your battery is sucking on whatever the battery equivalent of gas fumes is, Opera has a solution for that, too. The browser's battery-saver mode can extend your overall battery life by paring down how much power surfing requires. If you have the opposite problem, you can also activate Opera's Turbo mode, which uses more power than usual but speeds up load times. Probably best to use that one only when you're plugged in.

There was a time when Internet Explorer was synonymous with the internet. It came installed as a standard feature on every Windows PC, and for a while Windows PCs were pretty much the only game in town. It never even occurred to most of us that you could get online any other way. But time hasn't been kind to Internet Explorer. What was once the preferred, and often only, online portal has survived long enough to become a joke.

With the release of Windows 10 in 2015, Microsoft launched the successor to Internet Explorer in their new browser: Microsoft Edge . Despite being a totally new browser, many users saw it as little more than Internet Explorer with a new coat of paint. However, in 2018 the browser received an overhaul, moving from Microsoft's own proprietary codebase to Chromium.

It uses less RAM than other popular browsers and has a number of unique features. One favorite is the ability to save various types of information including URLs, text, and images inside a "collection" for later reference. It's like bookmarking with context. Edge also has some great accessibility features, like the ability to read aloud content from a webpage. Edge isn't your grandpa's Microsoft browser, and it might be worth revisiting.

These days, there are more browser options than ever, as evidenced by the fact that you're here looking for alternatives to the browser you were given. Still, in spite of the crowded browser landscape, many browsers feel like carbon copies of one another most of the time. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it means you can jump online with a minimum of hassle, regardless of the browser. But it might also mean that we're missing out on a better way, in favor of what we're used to.

Vivaldi is the brainchild of Opera's former CEO and aims to shake up the browser space by offering something totally different than other popular browsers. Vivaldi is built on Chromium's codebase, so all of your favorite Chrome extensions should still work. Otherwise, Vivaldi offers a very different user interface.

After downloading , you'll be asked to customize the browser by choosing the theme that most calls to you. In addition to the typical light and dark themes, you'll also find a number of colorful options. Next, you can choose where you want your tabs to be. You can put them at the top, like other browsers, or tuck them at the bottom or at either side. You'll also find a sidebar of tools that includes bookmarks, a reading list, and a note-taking tool. You'll also see all of your open tabs and a list of recently closed tabs, in case you need to return to them.

Avast Secure Browser

Avast is a respected name in the antivirus and malware space, but if you're surprised to see its name next to a browser offering, you're not alone. The browser got its start as a bonus offering, called SafeZone, in paid subscriptions to Avast's antivirus software. Later, it was added to the free version as well, as an optional download when you installed the antivirus software. You can also download the browser directly from the Avast website.

Later, SafeZone moved to Chromium's codebase and rebranded as Avast Secure Browser (ASB). Because it is built on Chromium, it is compatible with most Chrome browser extensions. ASB also offers built-in ad blockers and protection from trackers and other malicious online actors. The browser achieves that protection by encrypting your IP address and online activity with a built-in VPN, which protects you even when you're on open Wi-Fi networks, according to Avast.

ASB also offers a built-in video downloader plug-in which allows users to pull videos you are actively watching from a number of websites and services. If you're looking for a familiar browser with a handful of cool features and enhanced protection, the Avast Secure Browser could be it.

Ghost Browser

Ghost Browser sets out to solve a very specific problem for a very specific type of internet user. If your work (or your leisure) involves using multiple accounts for the same social networking site or online service, then Ghost Browser makes accessing and using those accounts easier than ever.

Most browsers are designed to store your login information in order to streamline your experience. There's no reason for you to need to enter your login and password every single time you want to access Twitter or open your email. However, if you run multiple Twitter accounts, and need access to multiple email inboxes, or something similar, you're likely to be frustrated. Most sites don't like letting you run multiple instances in the same browser at the same time.

There are workarounds, like using a different browser for each instance or using incognito windows which don't store your information. Or, you could use Ghost Browser. It silos each session so you can open multiple accounts on the same site at the same time, without any trouble. You also have the option to save particular sessions as projects, so you can return to them at a later date. It's able to do that because each session retains its own unique login information and cookies. If you want to browse without even your browser knowing what you're doing, Ghost Browser is the move.

Read this next: 12 Tech Gadgets That Are A Total Waste Of Money

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Apple to unveil AI-enabled Safari browser alongside new operating systems

Safari getting new AI tools in iOS 18

The software — expected to debut as Safari 18 later in 2024 — is currently undergoing evaluation alongside internal builds of Apple's next-generation operating system updates, namely iOS 18 and macOS 15, according to people familiar with the matter. Should all of the new features make it to the release candidate stage, users will be treated to a new user interface (UI) for customizing popular page controls, a "Web eraser" feature, and AI-driven content summarization tools.

Intelligent Search - AI-enhanced browsing and text summarization

Engineers evaluating the latest builds of Safari 18 can find a toggle for the new page controls menu within the browser's address bar. The menu consolidates — and provides quick access to — old and new page control tools, among them being the browser's new "Intelligent Search" feature.

A screenshot of Arc Search on iPhone with a summary of an article from AppleInsider

This feature is not automatically enabled in test builds of Safari 18 and instead requires manual activation from the page controls menu. Once enabled, it's believed the tool leverages Apple's on-device AI technology — specifically the Ajax language-learning model — to identify topics and key phrases within a webpage for which to base the summarization.

In selecting key phrases, Apple's LLM software identifies sentences that provide explanations or describe the structure of objects, depending on the text in question. Words repeated within a text and key sentences are recognized as text topics.

These early indications suggest Apple is striving to deliver text summarization alongside Safari 18 later this year, though the exact implementation of this feature remains fuzzy.

Apple's text summarization features could be a response to rival generative AI tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. But Apple's on-device models and technologies like Private Relay could make the experience much more secure for users. Intelligent Search is also likely to be the same AI browser assistant that one X user hinted at a couple of weeks back.

Web Eraser for better content-blocking

Also accessible from the new page controls menu is a feature Apple is testing called "Web Eraser." As its name would imply, it's designed to allow users to remove, or erase, specific portions of web pages, according to people familiar with the feature.

The feature is expected to build upon existing privacy features within Safari and will allow users to erase unwanted content from any webpage of their choosing. Users will have the option to erase banner ads, images, text or even entire page sections, all with relative ease.

A screenshot of 1Blocker's element blocking feature that removes selected parts of a webpage

The erasure is said to be persistent, rather than limited to a browsing session. This means that Safari will remember the changes even after the original tab or window has been closed.

When visiting a web page with previously erased content, Safari will inform the user that the page has been modified to reflect their desired changes. The browser will also give the user the option to revert changes and restore the webpage to its initial, unaltered state.

As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear.

Updated UI will move key tools into one easy location

The new page controls menu referenced throughout this article will attempt to offer Safari 18 users quick and easy access to several options previously located across different menus and the Share Sheet. Running on pre-release versions of macOS 15, for instance, the menu also pulls in the "Aa" menu common on existing iPadOS versions of the browser. These include zoom options, webpage settings for privacy controls, content blocking options, extension shortcuts, and access to the new AI and erasure tools.

A mockup image of desktop Safari with an iPad-like menu that includes AI and erase features.

These various options existed previously on macOS, but were found by navigating through the Safari settings menu. Having all of these controls in one central location in the Address Bar will make these options more discoverable for end users. Other options like on-page text search and reader mode are also in this menu.

This all suggests Apple intends to unite the iPadOS and macOS Safari UI paradigms when it unveils its new OS releases during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

AI-enhanced Visual Lookup feature could be available in 2025

Simultaneously, Apple is also working on a much more powerful visual search feature scheduled for integration sometime in 2025 that will allow users to obtain information on consumer products when browsing through images. People familiar with the tool say it's similar to the Visual Lookup feature, through which Siri can identify plants, pets and landmarks from photos.

An image of a black cat with big yellow eyes in Apple Photos with text below classifying it as a 'bombay'

Visual Search could be implemented as a system-wide feature. So, instead of surfacing search results in the Photos app, the user may be able to use Visual Search directly in Safari by selecting an image.

Given development of this tool is in the earlier stages, it remains unclear how Apple will ultimately go about implementing it. It also remains to be seen whether or not the feature will make it through internal testing.

The iPhone maker has expressed significant interest in artificial intelligence and more recently published research related to on-device language learning models. This goes hand in hand with widespread rumors about several other AI-powered software features, many of which are expected to make their debut later this year with iOS 18.

Another big year for Safari

From its inception, Safari was always meant to rival existing web browsers.

A Flickr login screen with password auto fill shown as a pop-up

Safari was originally added to macOS as a means of replacing Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Mac, which was the default browser. Over the years, the app made its way to the iPhone , and has since received various upgrades over the years.

More recent versions of Safari provide users with personalized web suggestions, and allow for greater privacy protection with features such as iCloud Private Relay.

This latest set of enhancements only serves to better position Safari against the competition, in an ever-increasing landscape of generative AI tools and third-party ad-blockers.

While Apple tests many such features during different development stages, it is important to remember that not all of them make it to release. Apple has been known to delay features or cancel them entirely, so there's always a chance we may not see these new Safari features after all.

Along with Safari 18 and its associated improvements, we should also see a revamped Calculator with Math Notes make its way to iPadOS 18. Freeform Scenes and Adaptive Voice Shortcuts are new OS features, which are also expected to debut later this year.

Apple is expected to introduce various AI-related enhancements as part of iOS 18 and macOS 15, both of which should be announced at the company's annual WWDC on June 10.

35 Comments

"As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear." They may also have been inspired by Simplified Page....

As long as I can turn it off/hide it they can knock themselves out.

Will the web eraser feature remove pop up videos, such as the ones that appear on this site?

I use the 'Reader' function in Safari quite a bit, but sometimes it doesn't work very well. Seems like something that AI could help make better.

Web ads suck but how else do you think your favorite websites will stay in business? Are you prepared to pay a subscription to every site? I doubt it…

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Iphone web browser choice gets one thing right, two things wrong, say developers.

Being prompted to make an iPhone web browser choice in Europe has seen an uptick in the use of third-party apps , but not everyone is happy about it.

The EU itself is investigating whether Apple’s implementation of the antitrust requirement goes far enough, and developers of third-party browsers say the process gets one thing right, and two things wrong …

iPhone web browser choice

While iPhone owners have been theoretically able to choose their preferred web browser since iOS 14, it wasn’t much of a choice, for a couple of reasons.

First, most people didn’t even know they could choose an alternative browser. The default is Safari, and you’d have to proactively install a third-party one and then manually set it as your default.

Second, Apple insisted that all browsers had to use its own WebKit API. That ensured that competing browsers couldn’t do anything to impact security of privacy, but it also meant that they couldn’t offer faster speeds, or features not available in Safari.

The EU required Apple to drop the WebKit requirement, and also to proactively present users with a choice of browser when they first use their device. These changes were introduced in iOS 17.4 , and only apply within EU countries.

Apple gets one thing right

Developers of third-party web browsers have seen an increase in usage following the implementation of the changes, and they say Apple did play fair in one important respect: browsers are listed in random order, and Safari doesn’t get any special position or prominence in the list.

But two things remain unfair, they say

Wired spoke to a number of developers of alternative iPhone web browsers, and found that they had two criticisms.

First, iPhone owners are not asked to make their choice during the initial iPhone setup process. Instead, they are only presented with the choice when they first open the Safari app. This means that Safari has already presented itself as the default.

“It starts from you clicking Safari,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO and cofounder of Vivaldi. “Which, I think all of us agree, that’s the wrong spot.” Tetzchner said he prefers Google’s implementation of its new browser choice screen that guides Android users to select a default while setting up their phone.

Second, users are given zero information about each browser – just a list of names, many of which will be unfamiliar to non-techy users. That reinforces the idea that they should select Safari unless they already know a reason to make a different choice.

“Giving people information about the choice, and also information about what they’re choosing is really, really important,” says Kush Amlani, a global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser.

A fairer option would be to give each developer a few words to pitch their browser. DuckDuckGo, for example, might have something like “Uses our privacy-first search engine, which doesn’t track you or filter your results.”

We’ll need to wait for the EU’s conclusion to determine what changes might be needed to comply with the law.

Photo by Amanz on Unsplash

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Grandmother shoots robber in the middle of taylor swift 'eras' movie, hero crimefighter grandma shoots robber ... in the middle of taylor swift 'eras' flick.

Forget anti-heroes ... a grandma in New Mexico is a full-blown hero after shooting an intruder who was on the run from cops -- right in the middle of Taylor Swift 's "Eras" flick!

Anissa Tinnin was watching the movie version of Taylor's tour with her granddaughter. They were having a great time, singing, dancing, popping M&M's ... when a guy named Joseph Rivera came charging through her front door. Turns out Rivera had allegedly stolen a car and cops were on to him.

Tinnin says she was manhandled, threatened and ordered to turn over her car keys, which she did. She says, "I told him not to hurt us ... I would do whatever he wanted."

She says when Rivera walked outside, she called 911 and beelined it for her gun case, where she removed a weapon.

For some reason, Rivera came back inside the house. By this time she had put her granddaughter in a bedroom for safety, but the guy came charging at her.

She screamed, "Get back. I will f***ing shoot you! " ... and she did. He asked why she did it, and Tinnin responded, "Because you're in my f***ing house!"

Tinnin even showed compassion, rendering first aid by putting pressure on the wound.

But, she warned Rivera ... one false move and she'd shoot again.

Cops showed up and Rivera is now in custody, charged with burglary, auto theft and other crimes.

Dude has 5 prior felony convictions for burglaries and theft, the stakes were high for Tinnin, and she rose to the occasion.

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Old news is old news be first.

IMAGES

Brave vs Safari
Safari Vs Brave 🥇 Comparativa MEJOR Navegador 2022
Brave vs Safari: Which is Better in 2024?
Best 3 safari vs brave you must have
Brave Browser Vs Safari, Mana Yang Lebih Baik
Brave Browser Vs Safari, Mana Yang Lebih Baik

VIDEO

BEST Web Browsers For Productivity 2024 (Arc Browser vs Chrome vs Safari vs Brave)
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Arc Browser vs Chrome vs Safari 💻 #shorts
Safari Vs Brave: Which Browser Is Better?
SAFARI BROWSER IS DONE FOR! 👀🫣
how to download and install brave browser download

COMMENTS

Brave vs Safari
Brave vs Safari. As the default on Apple devices, Safari is the second most widely used browser in the world. It's generally considered more private than Chrome, and is optimized for iOS and macOS. But despite Apple's best efforts, it still doesn't match up to a privacy-and-performance browser like Brave. Brave is faster and more private ...
Brave vs Safari
Explore: Brave vs Edge. Safari. Safari has no system where users can appreciate their favorite content creator with donations and rewards. Verdict. Brave is the best browser for rewarding because it allows users to appreciate the content creator's work. Also, this can be a source of revenue for the creator. Compatibility
Safari vs Brave detailed comparison as of 2024
Get it here. 430 157. free. 2225 605. When comparing Safari vs Brave, the Slant community recommends Brave for most people. In the question "What are the best desktop web browsers?". Brave is ranked 9th while Safari is ranked 18th. The most important reason people chose Brave is: Released to the community under the Mozilla Public License ...
Safari vs Brave: A Comprehensive Browser Comparison
Safari is a great choice for Apple users who value a seamless browsing experience and prioritize privacy and security. Brave, on the other hand, is a good choice for users who want a browser that is available on multiple platforms and offers advanced privacy and security features, as well as a unique approach to advertising.
Browser benchmarks: Brave vs Safari : r/MacOS
Web App test (Speedometer) — Brave is 22.8% slower than Safari. General test (JetStream2) — Safari is 29.4% slower than Brave. Conclusion. Safari is 30-35% slower than Brave. In real-world usage like scrolling sites with lazy-loading DOM and images like different classifieds sites, social network sites etc. Safari shows awful speed.
Brave vs Safari
Reviews. Comparisons. Alternatives. Brave has 303 reviews and a rating of 4.75 / 5 stars vs Safari which has 227 reviews and a rating of 4.47 / 5 stars. Compare the similarities and differences between software options with real user reviews focused on features, ease of use, customer service, and value for money. Brave. Learn More. Safari.
Safari vs Brave: Web Browsers Comparison (2024)
Main Differences. Safari only works on Apple devices (so if you're using many different operating systems, Brave is going to be your only option). Looking at the foundation, Safari was built atop Webkit, whereas Brave was built atop the Chromium engine, which is the same engine that most of the top browsers on the market also use (e.g. Arc ...
Brave vs Safari: A Comprehensive Browser Comparison
The Brave browser and Safari both offer a range of features designed to keep users safe and secure online. ... Safari is an excellent choice for Mac and iOS device users who want a seamless browsing experience and more privacy-focused features. On the other hand, Brave browser is an excellent option for users who prioritize privacy ...
Browser benchmark: Brave vs Safari performance
Web App test (Speedometer) — Brave is 22.8% slower than Safari. General test (JetStream2) — Safari is 29.4% slower than Brave. Conclusion. Safari is 30-35% slower than Brave. In real-world usage like scrolling sites with lazy-loading DOM and images like different classifieds sites, social network sites etc. Safari shows awful speed.
7 Best Browser for Mac 2024: Safari, Chrome, Firefox & More
Brave — The most secure web browser that's efficient and easy to use. Chrome — The most popular browser globally, offering multiple extensions and integrations to Mac users. Safari — A ...
Top 8 Mac browsers
We pick our favourites, including Safari, Edge, Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi and more. By Martyn Casserly. Contributor DEC 16, 2022 3:42 am PST. We spend a lot of our time on browsers. Whether it's ...
The Best Browser for Mac Users (and Safari Alternatives)
Firefox is a privacy-conscious alternative to Safari, offering features like Do Not Track and blocking invisible trackers. Chrome is the most popular browser, known for its compatibility and wide range of extensions, but it may compromise privacy. Consider trying other browsers like Edge and Vivaldi, or unique options like Arc for a different ...
MacOS Big Sur : Safari vs Brave, which is best : r/MacOS
Reply. [deleted] •. Just install AdGuard for Safari and be done with it. The in-browser filter is free but they also have a paid version which can also act as a centralised network filter, even for HTTPS connections. IMHO it does a much better job than Brave does.
The best browser for Mac in 2022
Microsoft Edge. Opera. Brave. Vivaldi. Show 2 more items. If you're wondering which web browser is the safest, speediest, or most customizable, there are quite a few to pick from. We've done ...
Safari or Brave Browser on Mac? : r/MacOS
As far as I'm concerned it's a honeypot run by advertisers, not a privacy browser . The only third party browser that anyone should be recommending is Firefox. I used Brave, but switched to DDG with safari. You can use both. If it's critical for you to use integration like Keychain, then stick with Safari.
Brave vs Safari
Following is a table of differences between Brave and Safari: Brave. Safari. 1. It is compatible with various operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux etc. Safari web browser supports only the mac operating system. 2. It is a new web browser to the market as it was launched in 2016. It is a decade old web browser as it was launched in 2003.
Safari vs. Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Edge on macOS in 2022
Chrome came out on top in JetStream 2 testing, while Safari took second place. MotionMark browser benchmarks. Safari was the fastest in MotionMark benchmark testing. Speedometer browser benchmarks ...
iOS Browser Privacy Compared: Safari vs Firefox vs Brave vs iCab
Safari and iCab both came in second. While Safari's default privacy is very similar to that offered by Brave or iCab by default, installing a single, free add-on brings it up to the same level as Firefox on Strict. The browser also includes Apple's usual level of integration and convenience, thanks to iCloud syncing.
Brave vs Safari: Which is Better in 2024?
Currently, Apple's Safari browser market share is roughly 19% worldwide, while Brave has a minuscule 0.05%. The latter still has a long way to go, despite aiming to offer something slightly different. The Brave browser is responsive and focused on providing online privacy, although any services relating to cryptocurrencies are wasted on the majority of users.
Which browser is good for the MacBook? Brave or Safari? : r/MacOS
Most definitely Brave. Apple claims Safari is faster by 20% every other year. IMO It's still the same ole clunky, laggy browser. Brave is like using Chrome without the bloatware. Brave is faster because it doesn't load the unnecessary trackers and ads. You won't need a separate extension to block Youtube ads.
Is Safari again the fastest browser for Mac at the moment?
Safari scored 418 while the others were quite lower with Firefox the slowest. All extensions had been disabled in each browser and the tests performed in the same session (I have a ton of apps and a virtual machine running, not sure how much this could affect browsers). So is Safari again the fastest? Have been using Brave lately but wondering ...
8 Browsers Worth Trying On Mac That Aren't Safari
Safari may come standard on Mac devices, but that doesn't mean you have to exclusively use it. These other top browsers are worth a shot. ... The Brave browser seeks to prioritize user privacy ...
Apple to unveil AI-enabled Safari with iOS 18 & macOS 15
Safari was originally added to macOS as a means of replacing Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Mac, which was the default browser. Over the years, the app made its way to the iPhone , and has ...
iPhone web browser choice gets one thing right, two things wrong
The default is Safari, and you'd have to proactively install a third-party one and then manually set it as your default. Second, Apple insisted that all browsers had to use its own WebKit API.
Browser Wars: Brave and Safari V Orion : r/mac
I have Brave Browser just by itself (disable all the crypto stuff, and it runs its Brave shields) Just two days back, I got to hear of Orion ( although it is in beta and the 1password extension was crashing inside the app) Right now, my combination has been using Safari with DuckDuckGo as the search engine for mostly everything on the web.
Grandmother Shoots Robber in the Middle of Taylor Swift 'Eras' Movie
Forget anti-heroes ... a grandma in New Mexico is a full-blown hero after shooting an intruder who was on the run from cops -- right in the middle of Taylor Swift's "Eras" flick!