Best Web Browsers: Privacy, Speed, and Resource Usage

For everything else, browsers are more similar than ever. Aside from Firefox and Safari, they all use Chrome’s engine, so pages look the same and you won’t notice speed differences in everyday use. Three things do change: what they do with your data, which extensions they accept, and how much memory they consume. And, recently, how much artificial intelligence they put in front of you.

Chrome remains by far the most used, with about two-thirds of the global market, followed by Safari, which owes its position to the iPhone. The others split up what’s left.

The comparison #

Firefox #

It has remained the only major browser with its own engine, and it matters more than it seems: if everyone used the same engine, a single company would decide web standards.

In practice, the main reason to choose it today is that it still supports full extensions, so uBlock Origin works at 100%. It has anti-tracking protection enabled by default, notifies you if your email appears in a data breach (Mozilla Monitor), and features containers, which keep work, personal, and shopping sessions separate: sites in one container cannot see the cookies from others. Since 2025, it also includes vertical tabs and tab groups.

It consumes less memory than Chrome when you have many tabs open. You might encounter incompatibility on some poorly built websites—this is becoming increasingly rare but hasn’t disappeared entirely.

Brave #

It is built on Chromium, so it’s compatible with everything, but it blocks ads and trackers directly in the browser without needing extensions. Because of this, Manifest V3 doesn’t affect it.

It includes crypto-related features, its own optional advertising system, and the Leo assistant: you can turn all of this off in settings. If you want a browser that blocks everything without having to configure anything, this is the most straightforward option.

Chrome #

Let’s be honest: it works everywhere, every site is tested on Chrome, the developer tools are excellent, and synchronization never misses a beat. It checks for compromised passwords, and with Memory Saver, it suspends tabs you aren’t using. However, it remains the most RAM-hungry and collects the most data: it is run by a company that lives off advertising. Google is also integrating Gemini, its assistant, into it.

The extension issue is real. With Manifest V3, old extensions have been disabled, and the remaining ad blockers work with stricter filter lists that don’t update instantly. Many won’t notice the difference; those who used custom filters will.

Edge #

It is Microsoft’s version of Chrome, but with a few things done better: sleeping tabs that free up memory, read aloud with natural voices, Immersive Reader, and integration with Windows and your work account. On Mac, it is often lighter than Chrome.

In exchange, it comes full of suggestions to turn off: address bar suggestions, news in the new tab page, Copilot buttons, and shortcuts to Microsoft services. The Privacy, search, and services section is clear, and with half an hour spent in settings, it becomes a clean and fast browser.

Opera #

It aims to give you everything ready to go: ad blocking, a built-in free VPN (actually a proxy that only protects the browser), messaging in the sidebar, and the Aria assistant. My Flow lets you transfer links and files between your phone and computer via a QR code.

For gamers, there is Opera GX, which allows you to set limits on CPU, RAM, and bandwidth while playing, along with Twitch and Discord integration and gaming-themed skins. The downside is that there are many extra features, not all of them useful, and the company behind Opera also makes money from advertising and financial services: check the privacy settings.

Vivaldi #

It was founded by former Opera developers, and it is the browser for those who want to control everything: tab stacks, split tabs, side panels, mouse gestures, notes, integrated mail and calendar, and an interface that can be changed in every detail. In 2025, it also declared that it will not turn the browser into an AI agent.

It’s not for everyone: there are so many options that they can be overwhelming at first. But if you spend many hours in your browser and have specific habits, this is the one that adapts to you instead of imposing its own way.

Safari #

On Mac and iPhone, it remains the most efficient: it uses less battery than others, integrates with the system (passwords in Keychain, Handoff, Apple Pay), and has good anti-tracking protection.

There are two limitations: it only exists within the Apple ecosystem, and its selection of extensions is limited compared to Firefox and Chromium-based browsers.

Browsers with artificial intelligence #

Since 2025, a new category has emerged: browsers built around an assistant that reads pages, summarizes content, compares products, and can even fill out forms or make purchases for you. The most well-known are Perplexity’s Comet and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas; Chrome, Edge (with Copilot mode), and Opera have added similar features. Arc, which many had adopted for its interface, is no longer being developed: the company has moved on to the Dia browser.

They are convenient, but remember that the assistant sees everything you have open, including pages where you are logged in. Furthermore, an agent that clicks autonomously can be tricked by instructions hidden within a page: I wouldn’t use them for banking, email, or payments.

What matters when making your choice #

The extensions you use. If you rely on advanced ad blocking, Firefox and Brave are the most reliable options.

How much memory you have. With 8 GB of RAM and many tabs open, the difference between Chrome and others is noticeable. Edge and Firefox manage inactive tabs better.

Where your passwords and bookmarks are stored. Syncing binds you more than you might think. Using a password manager separate from your browser removes this constraint, allowing you to change your mind without any hassle.

What you share without knowing it. All browsers send usage data: during the initial setup, review your privacy settings, especially on Chrome and Edge.

FAQ #

Which browser is the most private? #

Among common browsers, Firefox with anti-tracking protection set to Strict and Brave with its built-in blockers offer the best protection without needing much configuration. Safari provides good protection against tracking within the Apple ecosystem. However, none of them make you anonymous: for that, you need a tool specifically designed for it, such as Tor Browser.

Which browser uses the least memory? #

Usually, Firefox and Edge—with their sleeping tabs feature—perform better than Chrome when you have many tabs open, and Safari is the lightest on Mac. However, numbers vary from one version to another: if your computer is struggling, test them with your own habits; that matters more than any ranking.

What does it mean for a browser to be “Chromium-based”? #

Chromium is the open-source project upon which Chrome is built. Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, and many others start from the same code, sharing the same engine and compatibility with extensions from the Chrome Web Store. They differ in their interface, added features, and data handling, but not in how pages are rendered.

Does an ad blocker make sense on Chrome? #

Yes, uBlock Origin Lite and similar tools still block quite a lot, but less than before: they work with predefined filter lists and have less flexibility. If you want full blocking, use a browser that still supports full extensions, like Firefox, or one that blocks natively, like Brave.

Is switching browsers after years complicated? #

Less than you might fear: all of them allow you to import bookmarks, passwords, and history from your previous browser in just a few clicks. Just keep both browsers installed together for a few weeks; that way, if something isn’t working right, you always have an alternative.

Is Opera GX better for gaming? #

It doesn’t make games run faster. However, it does allow you to limit how much CPU, RAM, and bandwidth the browser uses while you are playing, so it doesn’t steal resources from your game or stream. If you keep a browser open while gaming, it can be useful; otherwise, it doesn’t change anything.