Why We Picked It

Most people need no introduction to the search behemoth's browser, Google Chrome. It has an attractive design and loads pages quickly. Most website codes now target Chrome, so compatibility is never an issue. Chrome is available for all major platforms, and the mobile version can sync bookmarks, passwords, and settings.

Chrome doesn't have many unique browsing features, though the search company recently added a Google Lens panel for searching images on webpages and AI-powered tools to organize tabs by similarity and generate images for custom themes. Chrome's Gemini features are now largely on par with Edge's Copilot features. Chrome now has a reading mode and vertical browser tabs, too. It doesn't offer a cryptocurrency locker, note-taking feature, a screenshot tool, or a VPN, however.

Google adopted the Manifest v3 extension standard, thereby removing the API function that allows ad-blocking software to work fully. All extensions, not just ad-blockers, must adhere to this new standard. The change brings some positives, however. It should lead to more efficient resource use and block online code from running extensions.

Chrome's ill-fated Privacy Sandbox, which sought to balance ad targeting and user privacy but ran into regulatory issues, has been replaced by Ad Topics, Site-Suggested Ads, and Ad Measurement. These send info about you, your interests, and the URLs you visit to advertisers, and all are active by default.

Who It's For

Most people: Chrome is the fastest web browser in our testing, although other Chromium browsers are very close. It's also the most popular browser in the world, so it has the best compatibility with websites. Of course, all the browsers here work well on the vast majority of websites.

Gemini users: Google is rapidly adding Gemini AI features to Chrome. For example, paid Google AI subscribers get access to Auto Browse in Chrome, which enables Gemini to browse the web for you.

Why We Picked It

The default browser on Apple devices is a strong choice, though its interface has some nonstandard elements, and its web standard support lags behind that of Chromium-based browsers. Safari was a pioneer in several areas of browser features. For example, it was the first to include a Reading mode, which cleared unnecessary clutter such as ads and videos from web articles.  

The browser can generate summaries and tables of contents for long articles using AI. It also has a Highlights feature that extracts contact info, operating hours, and location data from business web pages.

Apple was early to raise awareness of fingerprinting, by which web trackers identify you based on your system specs. Unfortunately, the EFF's Cover Your Tracks test site shows only partial protection against these trackers in Safari, whereas some competitors achieve Strong protection. The browser includes other privacy protections; for example, it disables third-party cookies by default, like Brave and Firefox. And for iCloud+ subscribers, Safari’s Private Relay obscures your IP address, similar to a VPN. Safari uniquely removes long strings of identifying characters from URLs for added privacy.

Other benefits of Apple’s browser include support for Apple Pay, Keychain, and the "Sign in with Apple" feature that replaces Facebook and Google account authorization. If you use an iPhone and a Mac, Safari's cross-platform integrations are very convenient. Apple’s Handoff feature, for example, lets you continue your browsing session between devices.

Who It's For

Apple users: Apple's browser integrates with Apple Pay, syncs your browser data using your Apple ID, and supports Handoff for moving browser sessions between Apple devices. If you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Safari should be your first choice.

Privacy fans: Apple's Safari prioritizes privacy more than Chrome or Edge. The browser's anti-tracking features, third-party cookie blocking, and VPN-style Private Relay feature help protect your data.

Why We Picked It

Windows’ default web browser, Microsoft Edge, uses Chrome’s web page-rendering code, Chromium. This guarantees broad site compatibility and frees up its developers to add unique features. And they have done that in spades. Edge runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows desktops. Mobile versions for Android and iOS let you sync favorites, history, and passwords. 

Edge has Copilot AI features, including the ability to summarize a current web page, generate an image or essay from a text prompt, or find more detailed information. A feature called Copilot Vision lets you share browser tabs with the AI and discuss both the visuals and text aloud. Just keep in mind that Microsoft retired the separate Copilot Mode.

Edge is a leader in disk usage, performance, and thrifty memory management. Startup Boost technology reduces the time it takes to open the browser, and a sleeping tabs feature means those you're not viewing use less memory. The browser's Efficiency mode can also extend laptop battery life. Other focuses include privacy and a customizable start page. For enterprise customers who still rely on Internet Explorer to run legacy programs, Edge offers IE Mode.

Microsoft has been simplifying Edge by removing features, including the Collections tool for assembling research materials from the web and the sidebar app list. Features like AI chatbots and vertical browser tabs are now standard in other popular browsers, so Edge has fewer unique features than in the past. The browser's Immersive Reader mode is one of our recommended text-to-speech tools, and it can read web page text aloud using Neural Voices with surprisingly natural intonation.

Other notable Edge options include automatic coupons for shopping sites, an option to show tabs vertically down the side rather than across the top, a screenshot tool, a split-window mode, and timely themes to dress up your browser. Finally, it includes gaming features, such as Clarity Boost, which sharpens images in web games.

Who It's For

Copilot adopters: Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, is a major part of the Edge experience, and Microsoft regularly expands its capabilities. If you already use Copilot elsewhere, this is the browser for you.

Windows users: Edge is the default browser, so you don't need to download a third-party app to get online. Edge uses the Chromium browser engine, so you won't run into any compatibility issues.

Why We Picked It

Firefox, an open-source project from the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, has long been a PCMag favorite. It's the most popular browser that's not from a giant tech company, and it uses an independent rendering engine. Firefox pioneered many web capabilities, and the organization developing it strongly advocates for online privacy. On that last front, Firefox can securely manage your passwords and offers a VPN with 50GB of free data per month. The head of Firefox says Mozilla is committed to making Firefox a better browser.

Firefox is also notable for its extensive selection of extensions. The unique Multi-Account Containers extension, for instance, lets you sequester multiple logins to the same site across different tabs. Without it, you would have to open a private window or start a new session in another browser.

Mozilla’s browser was among the first to support new HTML and CSS capabilities, and the company is working on open-source AR and speech synthesis standards. Privacy-conscious AI features, such as an AI sidebar, a tab organizer, and a translation tool, are starting to make their way into the browser as well.

The Reader View button declutters web pages so you can focus on the text. Picture-in-picture (PiP) video supports closed captions, as well as HDR and AV1 video formats. The browser is very customizable, too. You can arrange buttons on the toolbar to your taste and select from many themes that change the window border patterns and colors. 

The browser offers PDF editing, and its Firefox View button is essentially a pinned tab of recent sites that syncs between the desktop and mobile versions of the browser. More recent features include vertical tabs, a left toolbar that opens a panel for your AI chatbot of choice, tabs from other devices, history, and passwords.

The mobile Firefox apps offer an excellent interface. You can send a tab from one device to others that use the same syncing account. This is a slick and useful feature.

Who It's For

AI skeptics: Mozilla includes an AI kill switch that turns off all of Firefox's AI features. Mozilla is integrating many AI features into Firefox using on-device local models rather than sending browsing data to cloud AI servers.

Privacy enthusiasts: Firefox has private-by-default settings to deter web tracking, including tracking protection and third-party cookie blocking. Firefox still supports Manifest V2 extensions, which lets ad blockers function fully. The popular uBlock Origin ad blocker recommends Mozilla Firefox for the best experience.

Why We Picked It

Brave emphasizes privacy and comes with its own ad blocker, Brave Shields. The browser uses the same Chromium engine as Chrome and Edge, and it's now more popular than Opera in the US. It's the only browser we've tested that has a randomized browser fingerprint to deter online tracking, and it's one of our favorite private browsers. Brave uses a custom private search engine, Brave Search, by default.

The browser includes a Brave Rewards feature that shows you push notification ads and pays you in Brave's BAT token, support for Web3, and a wallet for cryptocurrency and NFTs. These features are all optional.

Brave now sells a $60 Origin web browser that comes without the browser's advertising, cryptocurrency wallet, rewards, or VPN. However, you can turn these features off for free in the normal version of Brave.

Who It's For

Ad blockers: Brave blocks advertisements by default. The Brave Shields ad blocker is built into the browser and isn't subject to the Manifest V3 requirements that limit ad blockers in other Chromium browsers, such as Chrome and Edge.

Privacy-conscious users: Brave has a strong reputation for privacy, and the browser's fingerprint randomization is a unique approach to preventing website tracking. It works best when paired with a VPN to hide your IP address.