Best Web Browsers in 2021
The best web browsers will assist you in getting the most out of the internet while visiting protected and secure on whatever device you utilize.
It’s astonishing how many the best web browsers are. While you may think that all internet browsers are the same, there are many variations between them – from cosmetic changes to speeds to how each browser manages your data. As such, we’ve tested a complete collection of them to see what the best web browser could be for you.
Including privacy and data management becoming a more critical issue, it’s essential to know how your web browser handles and shows your browsing data and history. Then we’ve reassessed our list, getting things like data management, trackers, and ad blocking into account. Also, while most browsers give immediate access to most web pages, we’ve taken both speed and resource efficiency into account, too (because you don’t want your web browsing tools chewing up your laptop’s power, for instance).
While assessing these internet browsers, we also saw mobile versions for smartphones and tablets to ensure we got the complete experience. Most maximum people now sync their web browsing across devices, so it’s important to know that the one you pick works just as well on the progress as it does at home.
Of course, web browsers are just half the story. If you need to stay safe online, then you require a couple of extra things. Firstly, you’ll want to make sure you have some of the best antivirus software installed on your computer to avoid opening yourself to malware and other viruses that attack your system via the internet. Also, to keep your data secured, we suggest one of the best VPN services, which can hide your IP and keep your browsing private and secure.
Best Web Browsers in 2021
1. Microsoft Edge: Best web browser overall
Our top web browser, thanks to excellent speeds and efficient power usage
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Low-performance drain
- Great privacy settings
- Every good about Chrome
- Lacking its own unique “feel.”
Following years of fumbling the ball with Internet Explorer and a very inauspicious start for itself, Microsoft certainly has a winning formula on its hands with Microsoft Edge. We could be proud that it managed this by basing its new web browser off Google Chrome, which used to be our favorite browser, but really, who cares?
Microsoft Edge uses the winning formula of Chrome. It adds some different features to differentiate itself from its competitors, namely a more economical resource drain that means it won’t set your computer ablaze if you open too many tabs. Edge also comes with a much more strong set of privacy features to help keep snooping websites out of your data, and it hasn’t signed up to FLOC like Chrome.
Microsoft Edge used to be under Chrome in the rankings, but with each update, it’s getting better, and now, to us, it sits at the head of the pile. It’s simple to switch to Edge from Chrome. Also, you can do so in a focus of seconds.
2. Avast Secure: Good for privacy
Excellent if you need to bundle antivirus with web browsing
Compatibility: Windows, Mac (early access)
- Includes free antivirus software
- Doesn’t work on mobile devices
Avast Secure web browser is excellent at stopping phishing schemes, and it compares you to Avast’s free antivirus program to help prevent online malware from infecting your computer.
This includes standard browser tools like tabbed browsing, session restore, and a password manager. Its pop-up blocker is automatically approved from the moment it is installed, growing more typical of all internet browsers. This has a privacy browser to keep your browser history from being tracked while online.
Avast is fast at starting up and navigating between pages. Also, compared to more popular browsers, Avast loaded more directly. Avast’s most significant drawback is only compatible with Windows computers, so you can’t use it on Apple or Android mobile devices. There is an immediate access Mac version, but we wouldn’t suggest using it yet as this isn’t yet fully-fledged.
3. Google Chrome: Best browser for Gmail users
A large web browser if you use the Google suite but is power-hungry
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Seems great
- Tons of extensions
- Cross-device preferences
- Resource hungry
- Has FLOC data tracking
Google Chrome has reigned best in the world of web browsers for some time now, though it has since slipped to the second spot in our list. Chrome features an expanded library of extensions to help you customize your browser experience and has a smooth, minimalist style that carries all the information and functionality you want without getting in the way or looking ugly.
It’s also compatible with just about all device under the sun, and you can carry your favored settings between devices utilizing your Google account. That means, for instance, that your smartphone will remember the bookmarks you stored on your laptop.
4. Mozilla Firefox: The best web browser for privacy
Visit safe and secure online with the fastest web browser
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Slick design
- Robust security and privacy settings
- Low system draw
- Some extensions than Chrome
After a few years in a bit of fall due to its addiction to having all your computer’s RAM, Mozilla Firefox is back in the significant leagues. This revitalized version of Firefox instantly has a lighter result on your system while still providing all the functionality you’d expect from a web browser.
Firefox also allows one of the most comprehensive security and privacy feature sets of any web browser, which means it’s the most reliable web browser to use if you need to keep your personal information secure when you’re online.
The single thing letting Firefox down at the moment is the lack of extensions when related to Chrome and Edge, which share the same vast library. Firefox’s unique architecture means it requires bespoke extensions, so the library isn’t as deep as we’d like.
5. Vivaldi: Best browser for customization
If you like control over everything your browser can do, Vivaldi is ideal for you.
- Compatibility: Windows, Android, macOS
- Highly customizable
- Pretty quick
- Web panels are fantastic
- Too complex for some
Download Vivaldi and you’ve got a fast, handy web browser with some great built-in features. While it takes’t technically do anything that you can’t do by Chrome or Edge and many extensions, Vivaldi bakes a wide range of features into a single browser and is all the more enjoyable for it.
Among the boons in Vivaldi are the choices to post to Instagram from a desktop computer or laptop, auto-fill cookie pop-ups (so they never appear), and the capacity to take full-page screenshots of web pages with a single button press. This is single scratching the surface of everything that Vivaldi happens, plus it comes with a vast number of customization choices.
It’s fast, too, and it doesn’t have bad data collection uses. The just real downside is that it can be tougher to use if you’re not technically-minded, and you won’t do a common suite of the features it gives.
6. Seamonkey: One to avoid
No suggested, but it is available if you want to try it
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Open source web browser
- Clunky and slow
SeaMonkey is an open-source browser, so you have access to the code and can customize its features.
Users in the SeaMonkey community share thoughts and code for features they want to add, and you can join the discussion, also if you don’t write code. There isn’t a central management team that manages these add-ons or version updates; then, you have to be vigilant about exactly what’s being added. A version release may be buggy, add tools that you don’t want, or be anxious. This SeaMonkey community works together to give patches or new versions to fix these issues in these cases.
The current version of SeaMonkey includes a password manager, customizable tools, and session restore. This isn’t fit with smartphones or tablets, and it feels clunky and outdated. Plus, it is much slower than other web browsers we tested. It also does a bad situation of identifying phishing schemes and other harmful websites, and it doesn’t stop malware from being downloaded to your computer.
We like the open-source community of SeaMonkey. But, it’s not a browser we suggest you use.
7. Safari: The best web browser for casual Mac users
As the default option, Safari is great for casual Mac users.
- Compatibility: Windows, macOS, iOS
- Fast
- Not resource hungry
- Limited features
- Enough significant on Apple devices
Safari is the best default browser preinstalled on Apple devices, including MacOS laptops and home computers, and smartphones in the iPhone range. This has all the basic features you’d expect from a web browser and will do an excellent job if you’re a casual user. This works quickly and doesn’t drain your PC’s performance much, but the lack of customization options and poor range of extensions means that it struggles to stack up against other alternatives like Chrome or Firefox.
There’s more no Windows version, which is an issue in keeping all your preferences and settings unified across various devices. You can share settings in your Windows PC and iOS iPhone with chrome, but you can’t do that with Safari. It’s okay, but there are good options out there.
8. Opera: Good all-rounder
Has waned in popularity lately but remains a viable option
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Uses the same base program like Google Chrome
Not recognized by earlier websites, which may block your access to them
Opera feels related to Google Chrome because it uses the same base program. Although Opera is unique because it features a sidebar wherever you can pin links to your favorite websites, sort of like a bookmark, or shortcuts to email and chat windows.
You can modify the settings to hide the sidebar and use more traditional menus and toolbars like other internet browser programs.
Opera is decently quick, about on par with Firefox and Chrome when it comes to first startup, site navigation, and page loading. It’s fitted with both Windows and Mac computers and runs on iOS and Android mobile devices. This URL bar doubles as a search bar; also it has stacking, which means you can drag and drop open tabs in the order you need them.
Opera is blocked by some websites that aren’t familiar with this web browser, especially very old and out-of-date websites that haven’t been updated to the most recent browser types. Furthermore, Opera doesn’t have any form of web blocking or parental controls by default, however, you can add these via add-ons.
9. Maxthon: Best for drag-and-drop
If you like to drag and drop, this is a solid option
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Drag-and-drop content feature
- Doesn’t stop malicious downloads
Maxthon is an excellent choice if you like the feel and user experience of Internet Explorer but have a Windows 10 operating system where Explorer isn’t an option. Maxthon has some new features, most notably its drag-and-drop content feature.
This lets you grab any image or content on any website and drop it into a personal message or email message to share or send, eliminating the need to clip, copy or save content.
Maxthon also involves parental controls to block specific content based on security levels and site ratings. URLs and data you’ve typed into online forms are automatically saved and auto-filled the next time you start to fill out a form. However, you can adjust the settings to prevent the autofill of personal information.
The internet browser isn’t very efficient at stopping malware downloads or blocking phishing schemes, so we strongly suggest using a third-party antivirus program besides Maxthon.
10. Avant: Best IE compatibility
If, for some reason, you chose Internet Explorer… this is for you
Compatibility: Windows
- Useful as an add-on to Internet Explorer
- Slower than other browsers
The Avant Browser feels very related to older versions of Internet Explorer, which isn’t surprising because it uses the same primary source code. Avant can be used as both a standalone browser or as an add-on to Internet Explorer, giving IE users updated tools and functions no longer supported by Microsoft.
This internet browser has session restore automatically approved, which means your tabs and activities are saved each time you close the browser and be there the next time it is opened. It also automatically updates itself. In our tests, Avant Browser did an excellent job protecting against phishing schemes and malicious downloads. This isn’t very quick, though, coming well behind several more popular options in both navigation and page loading times.
This comes in helpful if you still need to use Internet Explorer to access certain secure apps that won’t let different web browsers.
