BEST Web Browser in 2024? Top 6 Browsers Compared.

Summary

This video compares six top web browsers, focusing on speed, performance, and unique features. Chrome excels in speed but raises privacy concerns. Brave offers privacy with built-in ad and tracker blockers. Arc, with its innovative AI features, stands out for its interface and tab organization. Opera and Edge provide productivity tools, while Safari is praised for its privacy and Apple ecosystem integration. The script also discusses browser security, syncing capabilities, and the importance of privacy protection tools like Incogni.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Chrome scored best in one out of three browser performance tests, but Arc surprisingly scored best in the other two.
• 🔍 In real-world testing, Chrome, Brave, Arc, and Edge felt equally fast and responsive, while Opera had a laggy interface despite quick site loading.
• 🍎 Safari, optimized for Mac, was found to load sites slower than other browsers, even when loading apple.com.
• 🌐 All browsers except Safari are based on Chromium; Safari uses Apple's WebKit engine, which didn't show speed advantages.
• 🛠️ Chrome's performance benefits from Google's heavy influence over the Chromium project, which was built with Chrome in mind.
• 🔐 Brave stands out for its privacy features, including a built-in ad and tracker blocker, and modifications to Chromium for privacy.
• 🤖 Arc Browser innovates with AI, offering tab organization, page summaries, and AI-driven search within web pages.
• 🎨 Opera promotes its optional sidebar with built-in messenger access to social media platforms, but its privacy credentials are questionable.
• 🔗 Microsoft Edge offers a mix of traditional and innovative features, including a sidebar, workspaces, and integration with Microsoft services.
• 🔒 Privacy is a significant consideration, with Brave, Arc, and Safari being recommended for users prioritizing privacy over convenience or speed.

Q & A

Which web browser scored the best in one out of three tests according to the benchmarks mentioned in the script?

Chrome scored the best in one out of three tests according to the benchmarks from browserbench.org.

What was the surprising result regarding Arc browser's performance in the benchmarks?

Surprisingly, Arc scored best in two out of the three tests, outperforming Chrome.

How did the script's author ensure that third-party extensions were not affecting the performance tests?

The author ran each test in an Incognito tab to ensure that third-party extensions were not skewing the performance results.

Which browser felt equally zippy and responsive as Chrome, according to the script?

Brave, Arc, and Edge felt equally zippy and responsive as Chrome in real-world testing.

What is the main difference between Safari and the other five browsers mentioned in the script?

Safari is powered by Apple's WebKit engine, whereas the other five browsers are based on Chromium, Google's open-source browser project.

Why does Google Chrome still seem to be the most responsive and reliable browser despite other Chromium-based browsers having similar speed theoretically?

Google Chrome is likely the most responsive and reliable because Google has a heavy influence over the Chromium project, and it was purpose-built with Google Chrome in mind.

What is the main privacy concern with using Google Chrome according to the script?

The main privacy concern with using Google Chrome is that Google is a data company that collects user data for targeted advertising, which is their business model.

Which browser has a built-in ad and tracker blocker, and how is it related to privacy?

Brave has a built-in ad and tracker blocker, which is a feature that enhances user privacy by blocking unwanted ads and tracking attempts.

What unique feature does Arc browser have that sets it apart from other browsers in terms of AI integration?

Arc browser maximizes AI with features like tab organization, summaries of pages when hovering over links, and the ability to ask a question about a page using a keyboard shortcut.

What is the main issue with Opera's sidebar feature according to the script?

The main issue with Opera's sidebar feature is that it essentially loads websites in smaller boxes attached to the sidebar, which may not be as helpful as promoted.

How does Microsoft Edge differentiate itself from other Chromium-based browsers in terms of productivity features?

Microsoft Edge differentiates itself with an extensive range of productivity features, including Workspaces for collaboration, easy access to Microsoft Copilot, and a tab organizer for grouping similar tabs automatically.

What is the main advantage of Safari for Mac users in terms of privacy and ecosystem integration?

Safari's main advantage is its perfect integration with the Apple ecosystem and its commitment to privacy, as Apple does not monetize user data and offers features like Apple Pay and Touch ID passkeys exclusive to Safari.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Browser Speed and Performance Test

This paragraph discusses a comparative analysis of six top web browsers, focusing on speed and performance. The author uses test results from browserbench.org and real-world testing to evaluate the browsers. Chrome scores best in one out of three tests, while Arc outperforms it in the other two. However, the real-world experience shows Chrome, Brave, Arc, and Edge to be equally responsive. Opera and Safari, despite their quick loading times, have interface lags and slower site loading issues, respectively. The paragraph also touches on the Chromium project's influence on browser speed and the unique features of each browser, such as AI integration in Chrome, Brave's built-in ad and tracker blockers, and Arc's innovative interface and AI features.

05:02

🛠️ Browser Features and Privacy Concerns

The second paragraph delves into the unique features of each browser and raises privacy and security concerns. Chrome, despite being based on Chromium, is noted for its responsiveness and reliability, although it lacks privacy features. Brave stands out for its privacy-centric features, such as an ad blocker and tracker blocker, and its approach to monetization without selling user data. Arc Browser is highlighted for its innovative interface and AI features, including tab organization and page summaries. Opera is mentioned for its optional sidebar and workspaces, while Microsoft Edge is recognized for its productivity features and integration with Microsoft services. Safari is discussed for its integration with the Apple ecosystem and its privacy features, although it is criticized for a lack of innovation. The paragraph also addresses the privacy concerns related to data collection by browser companies and introduces Incogni, a service that helps users remove their personal information from the web.

10:02

🔒 Choosing the Right Browser for Privacy and Innovation

In the final paragraph, the author reflects on the importance of privacy and innovation when choosing a web browser. Chrome is recommended for its smooth and reliable performance, despite its lack of privacy features. Brave is suggested for users who value privacy and are willing to use a Chromium-based browser with added privacy protections. Safari is considered for Mac users who prioritize privacy and ecosystem integration. Arc Browser is highlighted as an innovative choice for those seeking AI-driven features and a unique browsing experience. The author emphasizes the need for users to take action to protect their privacy, regardless of the browser they choose, and mentions a link to Incogni for further protection. The paragraph concludes with the author's personal preference for Arc Browser and a reference to a separate video detailing its distinctive features.

Keywords

💡Web Browsers

Web browsers are software applications used to access, browse, and interact with the internet. In the context of the video, the script discusses various web browsers' performance, features, and privacy aspects. The video aims to compare different browsers to determine if any can outperform Google Chrome, the current dominant browser in the market.

💡Performance

Performance in this script refers to the speed, responsiveness, and stability of web browsers. The video script evaluates how quickly browsers can load websites and handle tasks, using benchmarks and real-world testing to compare the efficiency of different browsers, with a focus on Chrome, Arc, Brave, Edge, Opera, and Safari.

💡Chromium

Chromium is an open-source browser project developed by Google and serves as the foundation for many web browsers. The script mentions that except for Safari, all other browsers discussed are based on Chromium, which theoretically should make their speeds identical, but the script notes differences in responsiveness and reliability among them.

💡AI Features

AI features refer to artificial intelligence capabilities integrated into web browsers to enhance user experience. The script highlights how browsers like Chrome and Brave have embraced AI with features such as automatic tab grouping, writing assistance, and summarization of pages. Arc Browser is noted for maximizing AI with unique features like tab organization and on-demand summaries.

💡Privacy

Privacy in the context of the script relates to how web browsers handle user data and protect against tracking and data collection. The video discusses privacy concerns with browsers like Chrome, which is owned by Google, a company known for data-driven advertising. In contrast, browsers like Brave, Arc, and Safari are highlighted for their focus on user privacy.

💡Brave Browser

Brave is a web browser that emphasizes privacy and security. The script notes that Brave has a built-in ad and tracker blocker and has made modifications to the Chromium codebase to enhance privacy. It also mentions Brave's unique monetization model that allows users to opt into privacy-respecting ads.

💡Arc Browser

Arc Browser is presented as an innovative browser with a distinct interface and a focus on AI features. The script describes its unique vertical tabs, browser bar in the sidebar, and advanced AI functionalities like page summaries and question-answering about web pages. It's positioned as a 'think-different' browser that viewers will either love or hate.

💡Opera Browser

Opera is a web browser that the script mentions for its quick site loading but lagging interface. It is also discussed for its optional sidebar feature, which includes built-in messenger access to services like Facebook Messenger and Telegram, and its workspaces for tab isolation, despite the limitations in user profile management.

💡Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is described as having features similar to Arc but with a more traditional interface. The script highlights its productivity features, workspace collaboration, and integration with Microsoft services. Edge is also noted for its performance on Mac and the inclusion of a built-in tracker blocker.

💡Safari Browser

Safari is Apple's web browser, known for its optimization on Mac but criticized in the script for slow site loading. The video notes its basic features, privacy focus, and integration with the Apple ecosystem, including exclusive features like Apple Pay and Touch ID passkeys. However, it is considered less innovative compared to other browsers.

💡Incogni

Incogni is a service mentioned in the script that helps users remove their personal information from data brokers and people search sites. It is presented as a solution for privacy concerns, allowing users to scrub their data from the web and protect their online identity.

Highlights

Six top web browsers tested for speed and performance.

Chrome scored best in one out of three speed tests, while Arc scored best in the other two.

Chrome, Brave, Arc, and Edge felt equally fast and responsive in real-world testing.

Safari, optimized for Mac, loaded sites slower than other browsers, including apple.com.

All browsers except Safari are based on Chromium; Safari uses Apple's WebKit engine.

Chrome's responsiveness and reliability attributed to Google's heavy influence on Chromium.

Brave claims resource efficiency but struggles with sites like Google Maps.

Chrome introduces AI features like automatic tab grouping and writing assistance.

Brave offers a built-in ad and tracker blocker, and a crypto wallet.

Arc Browser maximizes AI with innovative features like tab organization and page summaries.

Opera promotes an optional sidebar with built-in messenger and workspaces but lacks multiple user profiles.

Microsoft Edge offers productivity features and is tightly integrated with Microsoft services.

Safari's main advantage is its perfect integration with the Apple ecosystem.

Privacy concerns with Chrome, Edge, and Opera due to data collection and integration with services.

Brave, Arc, and Safari focus on privacy with modifications to Chromium and no data selling.

Incogni, the sponsor, helps remove personal data from the web to protect privacy.

All Chromium browsers support Chrome extensions, while Safari has its own library.

The best browser choice depends on priorities like performance, privacy, or innovation.

Arc Browser is praised for its innovative AI features despite a unique interface.

Transcripts

- I tried six of the top web browsers

to see if they could dethrone Chrome.

I started by comparing the speed and performance

of each browser.

I combined test results from browserbench.org

with real-world testing to assess speed and stability.

Looking at the benchmarks,

Chrome scored the best in one out of three tests.

And surprisingly, arc scored best in the other two.

I ran each test in an Incognito tab

to ensure that third-party extensions

weren't skewing the performance.

And although Arc scored much higher than Chrome

in two of the three tests,

it doesn't feel much faster than Chrome

in my real-world testing.

Chrome, Brave, Arc, and Edge feel equally zippy

and responsive.

Opera load sites quickly, but the interface often lags.

And while Safari is supposed to be

the most optimized browser for Mac,

it loads sites slower than any other browser,

including loading apple.com.

Every browser, except Safari, is based on Chromium,

Google's open source browser project

developed as part of the launch of Google Chrome in 2008.

Safari is powered by Apple's WebKit engine.

And although it does have some advantages

I'll talk about later, speed is not one of them.

Since the other five browsers are all based on Chromium,

their speed should theoretically be identical,

but Google Chrome still seems to be the most responsive

and reliable of the bunch.

This is likely because Google has a heavy influence

over the Chromium project,

and it was purpose built with Google Chrome in mind.

The other browsers are adding features on top of Chromium,

which can affect the speed and stability.

Brave claims to be more resource-efficient than Chrome,

but sites like Google Maps struggle to function smoothly

in Brave and other Chromium browsers.

Okay, but apart from performance,

what features make these browsers unique?

Chrome has embraced AI in its recent versions,

with features like automatic tab grouping,

writing assistance, and access to Gemini in the browser bar.

Chrome has the basics you'd expect,

like browser profiles, a password manager,

and a variety of themes.

But even with the addition of AI features,

Chrome feels stale compared to other browsers.

It lacks a built-in ad blocker and tracker blocker,

which is something you'll find in Brave.

Brave's built-in ad blocker works well,

and it won't be affected by the upcoming changes

to Google's extensions API.

Brave has a built-in password manager and crypto wallet,

but there's not as many AI features as other browsers.

Brave's Leo AI can summarize pages, documents, and PDFs,

and answer questions about anything.

It's a powerful addition to Brave,

but I'd like to see more interactive AI features added

like automatic tab organization.

Arc browser maximizes AI with tab organization,

summaries of pages when you hover over links,

and the ability to ask a question about a page

with Command or Control + F.

Now, if you've never seen Arc before,

you might be looking at the interface,

wondering, "What in the world is going on?"

And that's because Arc not only uses vertical tabs,

but it also puts the browser bar in the sidebar.

The interface takes some getting used to.

And while the colors are customizable,

you can't customize the layout at all.

It's a think-different browser you'll either love or hate.

But many of the features we're seeing in Chrome

and other browsers were in Arc first.

Arc also has my favorite feature any web browser can have,

automatic picture and picture on videos

when you switch tabs.

It's such a simple feature,

but not many web browsers have this.

Opera, thankfully, has this feature,

and it's one of the reasons I used it for over a year.

Opera loves to promote the optional sidebar

as a useful feature,

though I'm not convinced it's that helpful.

They say it has a built-in messenger,

where you can conveniently access Facebook Messenger

and Telegram, but it's basically loading these websites

in smaller boxes attached to the sidebar.

The sidebar is also where you can access workspaces

to keep tabs isolated from each other,

but unfortunately, workspaces share cookies and extensions,

and Opera does not support multiple user profiles.

You can work around this by installing Opera multiple times

and signing in with a different account

for each installation,

but this is a very inconvenient way

of having multiple profiles.

So while you'll be restricted to one profile,

you can use Tab Islands to automatically

or manually organize tabs and remove clutter.

There's also a built-in ad blocker and tracker blocker,

though Opera may not be the best example

of a privacy-forward browser, as I'll dive into later.

Moving on to Microsoft Edge,

I describe the features of Edge as similar to Arc

with a more traditional interface.

It also pulls some inspiration from Opera,

with an optional sidebar

that has many websites in smaller boxes.

Edge can do both horizontal and vertical tabs,

but if you use vertical tabs,

the browser bar still lives on top, unlike an Arc.

Edge has an insane amount of productivity features.

The Workspaces feature can be used solo,

or you can collaborate with other users

and allow them to browse the same tabs in real time.

You've got easy access to Microsoft Copilot

to ask questions and help you compose text.

There's also a tab organizer feature

to group similar tabs automatically.

And as you may expect,

Edge is tightly integrated with other Microsoft services.

There is a built-in tracker blocker,

though you'll still want to install an ad blocker extension

for best results.

Edge works surprisingly well on Mac

despite it being Microsoft's browser.

But if you are a Mac user, you could also use Safari.

Safari is officially the most boring browser of the bunch,

falling behind with a lack of innovation.

The absolute basics are there,

profiles, a built-in tracker blocker, and tab groups,

though there's no option to organize tabs automatically

with AI.

You can share tab groups,

which feels similar to Edge's collaborative workspaces,

but there's not much new in the way of AI.

Even with the introduction of macOS Sequoia,

there's not many new features in Safari.

There's a new Highlights feature

that pulls relevant info from the page and highlights it,

but time will tell how useful this feature is.

We could see more AI features implemented in Safari

with the rollout of Apple Intelligence later this year,

though there's no concrete information

on how that will impact the browsing experience.

Ultimately, Safari's strong suit

is its perfect integration with the Apple ecosystem.

You can only use Apple Pay in Safari.

And if you want to use your Mac's Touch ID sensor

as a pass key on a website, you can only do that in Safari.

Now, it's easy to just pick a web browser

based on performance and features,

but you should also consider privacy and security.

Chrome is one of the most secure web browsers on the market,

thanks to having Google's resources behind it,

but it's not a privacy-respecting browser.

Google is a data company.

They make their money by collecting your data

and targeting you with ads.

That's Google's entire business model.

That's why services like Gmail, Google Search, Google Maps,

and Google Docs are free.

And Google Chrome was designed to make Google services

run as smoothly as possible.

Google has made repeated moves to increase its revenue,

including making it harder

to develop ad blocker extensions in any Chromium browser.

The privacy concerns continue with Edge and Opera.

Edge is deeply integrated with Microsoft services

and has a history of tracking users.

And while Opera offers a built-in VPN,

it's still owned by a Chinese company,

raising some privacy concerns.

If you want to use a browser that focuses on privacy,

consider Brave, Arc, or Safari.

Brave was co-founded by the co-founder of Mozilla,

and it addresses some of the privacy quirks of Chromium.

Brave's website outlines some of the modifications

they've done to Chromium,

including proxy and communications with Google services

through Brave servers.

Despite this, Brave has found a way

to monetize their browser without selling your data,

allowing you to opt into optional ads

that respect your privacy

and share a percentage of the revenue in crypto.

Arc Browser doesn't focus its marketing on privacy

as Brave does, but their privacy policy

outlines that they don't sell your data to Google

or track your activity for advertising.

But perhaps the most privacy-forward browser is Safari.

Apple has shown a longstanding commitment to privacy.

And since they make their money on hardware

and subscriptions,

they aren't incentivized to collect your data to monetize.

Making sure your browser doesn't collect your data

helps protect your privacy,

but the reality is your data is still being sold

to advertisers and data brokers.

This results in a bunch of spam calls and texts.

Not only that, your personal information

like your home address, email address, and phone number

is publicly available on Google.

This is your data,

but how do you remove it from all of these websites?

I removed my data with Incogni,

the sponsor of today's video.

Incogni scrubs your personal info from the web

and takes less than three minutes to set up.

Incogni tackles over 180 data brokers

and people search sites, and it will save you so much time

over trying to remove the data yourself.

Incogni gets to work immediately after you set it up,

and you'll see comprehensive reports

to understand exactly what Incogni removes.

Incogni has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

So if you're ready to try it for yourself

and protect your data, I'll have it linked below.

Thanks to Incogni for sponsoring today's video.

And now, let's take a look at how each of these browsers

handles syncing your data.

Every browser can sync your history, bookmarks,

and extensions between devices.

Chrome, Arc, Opera, edge, and Safari

do this by having you sign up for an account

with your email.

Brave takes a different approach,

which doesn't require you to sign up for an account.

Instead, they use a sync chain,

which securely syncs data between devices.

The biggest security risk

is that anyone could get your sync code

if they have physical or remote access to your device,

but cookies are not synced between devices,

so even if someone did gain access to your browsing history,

they would not be automatically logged into your accounts.

Something every browser supports

is hitting that Subscribe button.

It's free to click Subscribe

and hit the bell to make sure you never miss a new video.

A final consideration when picking the best browser for you

is extensions.

All Chromium browsers support Chrome extensions,

meaning Chrome, Brave, Arc, Opera, and Edge

can all run extensions from the Chrome web store.

Safari has its own extensions library

since it's not using Chromium,

and you'll find the most important extensions

like password managers and ad blockers,

but you may not find every extension you like to use.

Apple's Marketplace has around 2,000 extensions

compared to the 130,000 extensions on the Chrome Web Store.

So in the end, which web browser is best?

Well, that depends on what's most important to you.

If you want the smoothest, most reliable web browser,

use Chrome.

It's boring and it doesn't respect your privacy,

but it's fast and stable.

I have yet to find a smoother browser,

and I ultimately launch Chrome

when I'm having trouble loading sites in other browsers.

If you generally enjoy Chrome

but are concerned about trusting Google with your data,

go with Brave.

Brave is still powered by Chromium,

so it can run your Chrome extensions,

but they've emphasized privacy,

with the built-in ad blocker and tracker blocker

and the modifications to Chromium.

Keeping with the theme of privacy,

if you want nothing to do with Google and you're a Mac user,

consider Safari.

It's a vanilla experience, but it's widely regarded

as one of the most privacy-respecting browsers.

And if you're looking for a browser

that pushes the boundaries of innovation, use Arc.

Arc is different, perhaps too different for many.

But there's no denying that Arc has come up

with a lot of the AI features

that have recently made their way

into Chrome, Opera, and Edge.

Just keep in mind

that no matter which web browser you choose,

you still need to take action to protect your privacy.

I'll have a link to Incogni below so you can get started.

As for my favorite browser,

I've been using Arc for about six months now.

I plan to continue using it.

And if you're wondering

what makes Arc so different from other browsers,

I have an entire video on that here.