Web Browsers: The best browsers to use in 2025
In 2025, there are so many different browser options that it can be very confusing trying to choose one. All of them have different pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. So let’s go over the most popular browsers on the market and compare features!
The Lineup
In this article we’ll be covering these browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
- Brave
- Opera
- Vivaldi
- Safari
The Showdown
Platforms
Shown below are the platforms that the browsers support.
| Browser | Platforms |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Microsoft Edge | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Firefox | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Brave | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Opera | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Vivaldi | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Safari | macOS, iOS |
As you can see, the majority support all the major platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Engines
Shown below are what browser engine the browsers use.
| Browser | Engine |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Blink |
| Microsoft Edge | Blink |
| Firefox | Gecko |
| Brave | Blink |
| Opera | Blink |
| Vivaldi | Blink |
| Safari | WebKit |
As shown above, most browsers use the Blink engine as it is fast, compatible with most websites, and open-source as part of The Chromium Project.
Has Sync
| Browser | Sync |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Yes |
| Microsoft Edge | Yes |
| Firefox | Yes |
| Brave | Yes |
| Opera | Yes |
| Vivaldi | Yes |
| Safari | Yes |
All of these browsers have sync, so that’s not a concern!
Browser Extension Support
| Browser | Support |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Excellent |
| Microsoft Edge | Excellent |
| Firefox | Good |
| Brave | Excellent |
| Opera | Excellent |
| Vivaldi | Excellent |
| Safari | Decent |
Most of the browsers have good extension support, but Safari’s support isn’t the greatest so you might not be able to find some extensions.
Open Source
| Browser | Open Source |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | No |
| Microsoft Edge | No |
| Firefox | Yes |
| Brave | No |
| Opera | No |
| Vivaldi | No |
| Safari | No |
Firefox is the only one out of these seven browsers that is open-source, so consider going with Firefox if you care about that.
Browser Speed
Below are browser benchmarks1 for the browsers. Unfortunately, there aren’t any benchmarks for Safari since it’s macOS only and the results would be unfair, but it’s a very fast browser if you own a Mac - just take my word for it :)
The Tests
- Speedometer benchmarks general web performance + JS performance and is the most important test.
- JetStream benchmarks overall browser responsiveness.
- MotionMark benchmarks overall graphics performance.
| Browser | Speedometer 2.0 (Higher is better) | JetStream2 (Higher is better) | MotionMark (Higher is better) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | 144.9 | 130.3 | 553.4 |
| Microsoft Edge | 131 | 131.75 | 548 |
| Firefox | 98.4 | 82.3 | 258 |
| Brave | 108 | 121.5 | 452 |
| Opera | 108.2 | 123.3 | 403 |
| Vivaldi | 107 | 122.9 | 382 |
| Safari | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Overall Browser Performance
Speedometer 2 Winners: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge
JetStream 2 Winners: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge
MotionMark Winners: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge
So as you can see from the results, Chrome and Edge are some incredibly fast and capable browsers - they won all three tests!
The Final Verdict
So now, the part you’ve been waiting for: What browser should I actually go with?
Best Browsers for Speed
Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are undeniably the fastest browsers. If you’re looking for pure speed and a good experience, go with these.
Best Browsers for Efficiency
Microsoft Edge is one of the most efficient browsers out there (on Windows), consuming minimal amounts of RAM and energy while still being one of the fastest options.
Best Browsers for Privacy
If you need good online privacy, Brave and Firefox are the best choices.
Best Browser for Customization and Features
Vivaldi is the best browser for customization and features - it basically has endless settings to customize, and it has tons of built-in features, widgets, and apps!
Best Browser for Mac
With its OS integration and optimized code designed for Mac, Safari is the best browser to use on macOS.
What’s the deal with Opera?
Opera has been criticized as being spyware or untrustworthy due to the fact that it was purchased by Chinese companies including Kunlun Tech and Qihoo 360 in 2016. In 2022, Opera cut ties with Qihoo 360, but Opera is still majority-owned by Kunlun Tech.
I did not include Opera in my recommendations because of this criticism, but in terms of the product itself, it’s a pretty good browser and tends to be pretty lightweight and fast like Edge if you have lower-end hardware that struggles to run browsers like Chrome, Brave, Firefox, or Vivaldi. And just like Vivaldi, Opera has some cool productivity and organization features which can be useful, such as Tab Islands, Split Screen, or Workspaces.
My Overall Favorites
Personally, I use a combination of Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. Firefox is great for privacy and I like that it’s open-source, and Edge is very fast and has great compatibility making it a great “daily driver” browser.
Browser benchmarks sourced from: “Fastest Browser in 2022 [Browser Speed Test & Comparison].” Cloudwards, 29 Jan. 2022, www.cloudwards.net/fastest-browser/. ↩︎