Don’t know which Web browser to use? In this comparison we will show you all the advantages and weaknesses of the main browsers that can be used on a PC
The times in which the Internet was associated to the browser integrated into Windows (ie Internet Explorer) are long gone: more and more people rely on third-party browsers to browse the Web, benefiting from much higher functionality than the old Internet Explorer.
But if you are new in the world of computing and you do not know which Web browser to choose, how can we indicate the best browser between Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari, ie the most used at the moment on PC and Mac?
In this guide we will show you in detail all the merits and defects of the Web browsers mentioned so you can choose the one that best suits your browsing needs and the most suitable based on the hardware you have.
The interface, the expandability, the execution speed, the security and the amount of RAM consumed will be used as evaluation parameters.
1) Google Chrome
Let’s start now from the most used Web browser currently on the vast majority of home and business PCs, or Google Chrome.
You can download this browser from here -> Google Chrome.
This browser has a very simple and intuitive interface to use, with all the elements just a click away and the possibility to open new tabs by simply clicking on the symbol at the top of the tab bar.
The bookmark bar can be fixed or only displayed on the welcome screen, as well as some buttons like the one to call up the homepage, but in general the Google Chrome interface is not very customizable.
Expandability side Google Chrome boasts a huge number of extensions for any additional functionality required: from content blocking to video download manager, through email notification icons and weather forecasting, there’s really an extension to everything.
Google Chrome is among the fastest browsers to open Web pages, even in multitab: despite the fame of “eat-RAM” program if you do not exaggerate with the extensions (those that consume memory!) The browser always maintains a good balance between performance and consumption of RAM memory.
Security side Google Chrome is one of the safest browsers thanks to the use of a dedicated sandbox for each process, the separation of each activity in separate processes and the control systems of downloads and malicious links integrated and provided directly by Google.
2) Mozilla Firefox
Another very famous browser (the first to firmly oppose the domain of Internet Explorer) is definitely Mozilla Firefox, available for free download from here -> Mozilla Firefox.
This browser presents a whole new interface called Quantum, which significantly improves the design of the pages displayed without detracting from the customization.
In fact, with this browser we can decide (unlike Chrome) where to place any button or any bar, so as to make it truly unique and tailor-made.
Expandability is one of the strong points of the browser, which has renewed all its extensions to work even better and faster using the Quantum engine; many old extensions no longer work, but the most important ones (such as content blocking, online passwords and download managers) are available without any problem.
Mozilla Firefox is a fairly light and fast multi-process browser, in particular if we do not exaggerate with the extensions (however very light): in fact it remains one of the best browsers on older PCs or that have less than 4 GB of RAM.
The responsiveness of the pages is very high, everything opens quickly and without particular expectations.
Security side Mozilla Firefox integrates an anonymous mode that can block any type of tracking, even that carried out by the sites, so as to be able to navigate in anonymity and security (especially if coupled with a VPN).
3) Microsoft Edge
Microsoft has replaced the now old and famous Internet Explorer with a completely redone browser, called Microsoft Edge.
This browser is integrated into Windows 10 and is the default browser (if you do not install any other).
This browser has a very simple, Chrome-style interface, with all the buttons just a click away in the top bar.
It is not customizable in design, but we can also install extensions on this browser to block unwanted content, to save passwords online and to better manage downloads.
Being integrated in Windows 10 is currently one of the fastest browsers and with the best consumption of RAM, so if we do not want to install any other browser we can easily focus on Edge as a single browser.
On the security side, the browser receives updates directly with the operating system, so just keep Windows 10 updated to receive updates for Edge.
4) Safari
The default Web browser on Mac devices is Safari, it is not even necessary to install it as it is already present by default.
This browser offers an interface and graphics designed exclusively for the Mac, with the classic menus at the top and the keys to manage the window on the left.
The browser is fast enough to open Web pages, just as the system is comfortable to open new pages in both new windows and new tabs (we can choose by right clicking on each link).
This browser offers an extension gallery to be able to expand the functionality, so you can better manage documents, save passwords online and block unwanted content.
In terms of performance, Safari is definitely one of the best performing browsers on the Mac due to its complete integration with the operating system.
The browser is also sufficiently secure, because its updates are provided as part of the updates that periodically receive Macs.
5) Opera
A browser little known to the general public but that can be installed on any PC is Opera, free download from here – > Opera.
This browser has all the features of a modern browser, including support for extensions (the same as Chrome), which combines a unique design and the sidebar to quickly access the history, favorites and downloads made with the browser.
Opera is a very fast browser (based on Chrome), which consumes little system memory (at least without extensions) and which has an effective system for anonymous browsing, an integrated free VPN and a system for speeding up Web pages (which compress the pages before loading them).
If we are tired of the classic browsers, we can try it without problems we will not be disappointed.
Which is the best browser?
Obviously there is no absolute winner, but we can choose one of the browsers that we analyzed based on the most common needs of users:
– Sporadic navigation: in this case we recommend using the browser integrated into the operating system (ie Edge and Safari);
– slow PC: we recommend using Mozilla Firefox or the browser integrated in the system;
– View streaming video and audio: we recommend using Google Chrome;
– PC for anonymous surfing and to protect privacy: we recommend using Mozilla Firefox;
– PC for social and to view chat: we recommend using Google Chrome;
– PC with great possibilities to catch viruses: we recommend using Google Chrome with some extensions designed for security.
As you can see in many scenarios Google Chrome is the browser that we recommend more, but without detracting from other browsers that in many scenarios will give the right satisfaction without necessarily having to focus on one choice.