Google Chrome
FreeThe most widely used browser in the world.
- Broadest website compatibility
- Largest extension catalogue
- Sync across all your devices
5 web browsers programs worth considering instead of — or alongside — Mozilla Firefox.
The most widely used browser in the world.
Chromium-based browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
Feature-packed browser with a free built-in VPN.
The power-user browser — customise almost everything.
Anonymous browsing through the Tor network.
Firefox is the last major browser not built on Google's Chromium engine, developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation. It offers strong tracking protection on by default, deep customisation, and genuinely excellent built-in developer tools.
It is open source and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. Below are 5 web browsers programs that cover the same ground — some open-source, some cross-platform, each free to use.
| Program | Licence | Platforms | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Broadest website compatibility |
| Brave | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Ad and tracker blocking built in |
| Opera | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Free built-in VPN |
| Vivaldi | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Tab stacking, tiling and hibernation |
| Tor Browser | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Multi-hop traffic anonymisation |
Chrome is the browser most of the web is tested against, which in practice means the fewest compatibility surprises. Notable for broadest website compatibility and largest extension catalogue. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Brave is built on Chromium — so Chrome extensions and site compatibility carry over — but ships with aggressive ad and tracker blocking enabled out of the box. Notable for ad and tracker blocking built in and runs chrome extensions. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Opera bundles features that are usually add-ons elsewhere: a free built-in VPN, an ad blocker, a battery saver and integrated messengers in the sidebar. Notable for free built-in vpn and integrated ad blocker. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Vivaldi is aimed squarely at people who want control: tab stacking and tiling, a built-in email client, notes, keyboard shortcuts for everything, and interface customisation far beyond what other browsers expose. Notable for tab stacking, tiling and hibernation and built-in mail, calendar and feed reader. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
Tor Browser routes your traffic through multiple volunteer-operated relays so no single point can link your identity to what you browse. Notable for multi-hop traffic anonymisation and circumvents network censorship. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
2 are fully open source (Brave, Tor Browser) — pick one of these if you value auditable code you can self-host. For the widest platform coverage, Google Chrome, Brave, Opera run on three or more operating systems.
All 5 are free to download from the publisher's own website, so installing two or three and testing them on your own files is the fastest way to decide — it costs nothing but a few minutes.