10 Best Internet Browsers in the Market Today
Posted Nov. 7, 2020, 7:16 a.m. by Emil S.2020 is the year of the internet browser. Since the pandemic started, most of us are stuck at home and more than likely surfing the web. For about eight months, the internet has become like a digital refuge for the whole human race. Browsers are like transportation that takes us to our destination. The internet and browsers are becoming necessary tools for us, and our whole society is dependent on this technology. We use it every day in some capacity.
It's present in our work life and personal life. It's for our great benefit to be aware of the different kinds available in the market today. Our devices come with a browser pre-installed in the system, so what we usually do is to let things be. Yet there are many we can choose from, and most of them make security a priority. Here are the ten best browsers available in the market today.
Each one has something special that makes it unique from the rest. They are available on every platform, like Android and Apple devices, Linux, Mac, and Windows 10 computers. Included in this post are the pros and cons of each.
1. Google Chrome: Most Functional
Google Chrome is, by far, the most well-known browser among the rest. It was first used for Microsoft Windows in 2008. It has gone on to be part of Linux and Mac platforms and Apple and Android devices. Chrome's best feature is synchronizing browsing history to different platforms, across other devices. The user's Google account is like the key that can open all the doors.
Chrome is useful for quick internet searches, especially loading Google-owned sites like YouTube and Gmail. YouTube videos will load almost immediately. In comparison to other browsers, which usually takes a while.
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2. Opera: Most Diverse
The Opera internet browser is one of the first browsers ever created. It started in 1994 and adapted to Windows in 1996. It is available on Android, Mac, Linux, Apple, and also Blackberry and Java phones. Opera's desktop editions provide extra functionality because it supports many add-ons. It enables the browser to have more features besides web-browsing. Add-ons like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger work well with Opera. It can function in a pinned taskbar on the left part of the screen. The browser also includes a screencap functionality.
Yet, these add-ons depend on the operating system and user preference. Apps like Facebook Messenger aren't compatible if used on mobile phone devices. The browser's best feature is Opera USB. It has all the attributes of the browser. It functions in a USB drive or any computer that has Microsoft Windows. It is useful for people on-the-go whose devices don't allow for extra programs in the system.
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3. Microsoft Edge: Best for Windows 10
Microsoft Edge was first known as Internet Explorer. Like Opera, it is one of the first browsers created. It started as an add-on in 1995 and was part of the Windows 95 package. It is pre-installed with any device that has Windows 10. It is the default app for opening e-books, PDF files, and websites. It's incorporated in the operating system, which allows for fast page loading.
The browser has unique features like taking screenshots that the user can draw or paint on.
It also has Cortana, Microsoft's virtual digital assistant. It functions like Siri in Apple or Alexa in Amazon's Echo. It also has a voice dictation tool that reads aloud internet content and articles for the users. It can save the user's browsing history and bookmarked data to the cloud.
For a streamlined user experience, the user can synchronize the protected information. It is also compatible with Windows Timeline. It is an add-on feature in the user's Microsoft account that records and saves the browsing and app history. As a result, the user can access it across different devices and platforms.
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4. Documents by Readdle: Best for Saving
YouTube Videos in Apple Devices
Documents by Readdle is the most useful app for Apple users. Besides functioning as an internet browser, it has many other functions. It works as an e-book and PDF reader, a media player, a file manager, and a ZIP file unzipper. It can also work across all the user’s Apple cloud storage accounts. It's beneficial because it can download files that others would typically block. It's also great for downloading videos, especially YouTube videos, which the user can save and edit in the Camera Roll feature on the Apple device. Advanced users for Documents by Readdle can choose another browser within the browser. The user need not switch apps when testing a particular page or website.
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5. Aloha: Best Virtual Private Network (VPN) Internet Browser for Mobile Phones
Aloha is an exceptionally designed free internet browser for Android and Apple devices. It has its own Incognito Mode, which has an add-on VPN service. This feature enables the device to have an added layer of privacy and security. This service forces the device to have less internet traffic. This way, the tool uses a minimal amount of internet data and saves money.
This mobile browser has a vibrant design with well-defined and clear tabs and icons. The browser settings have options to customize the app's layout with many free themes to choose from. It has an ad-blocking feature that stops pop-ups and ads from appearing on websites.
For an annual upgrade of $24.99, the user can also enable this feature in other apps. It's called the Aloha Premium service, which also has ads, and the user can remove them by signing up. Despite this, the user experience is still excellent.
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6. Firefox: Best Well-Rounded Internet Browser
Mozilla’s Firefox internet browser is one of the most popular in the market today. It’s a great alternative to Safari, Chrome, and Edge. It’s one of the oldest ones and has been around since 2002. This browser fixes any defects like bugs, lags, and other system issues by regular updates. Also, new features are installed after updating. It can be frustrating because it will start updating once the device is on. The user will have to wait a few minutes for the new version to install.
This browser is pre-installed on Android, Apple, Mac, Linux, and Windows versions, and the user can create a Firefox account to synchronize all the information. Those versions mentioned also support a wide variety of Firefox browser extensions. For extra security, the Windows version has the Windows Hello Authentication. It's a security-based software built-in to the system. It features a fingerprint and facial recognition technology.
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7. Brave: Most Secure Internet Browser
Brave internet browser's focus is on user privacy and security. It is available on Apple and Android devices, Linux, Windows, and Mac computers, and it blocks cookies and ads, prevents phishing, stops malware, and detects viruses. It has an advanced security feature called HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure). It protects the user's online activity—especially online shopping where financial information is involved.
It is the best browser for users that access the internet all the time. It provides the users' peace of mind. It gives assurance that online activity is safe from hackers and malicious software. Also, as a direct result, it makes for faster loading on websites. What separates this internet browser from the rest is its digital currency. It’s called BAT or Basic Attention Token. It has an integrated software wallet that stores BATs. The BATs can pay online creators or website owners for looking at their content. A user can earn BATs by enabling Brave ads within the browser.
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8. Safari: Best Web Browser for Apple Devices
The Safari internet browser was made mostly for Apple users. It happened this way because the same company made it. They did this with a particular set of hardware in mind, and it's considered Apple's first-party browser for all devices. It's there in Apple watches, iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads. When opening pages, it is the browser’s default app and is pre-installed on all the devices.
It’s there in the best Apple features like AirDrop and Apple Pay. It can also do biometric tasks like Touch ID and Face ID. As long as a particular Apple device supports this browser, it will function in its full capacity. iCloud also works well with this browser. It can synchronize passwords, browsing history, and bookmarks in the Apple devices. It is helpful if the user only supports Apple products. It doesn't work on Android or Windows supported devices.
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9. Vivaldi: Best Web Browser for Multitasking
The Vivaldi web browser was made in 2016 by the same people that made Opera. It's designed with the same technology as with Google Chrome. It makes it possible for the user to install any extensions and add-ons found in the Chrome web store. What makes it different is the ability to customize its appearance and functionality.
One example is that the user can change the browser's UI colors anytime. Another is the user can transfer the toolbar anywhere on the four sides of the screen. Then the user can pin the pages on any side to view them at the same time. It is a useful feature because the user can do many things at the same time. The user can multitask by browsing through a page, checking on Facebook, and watching a YouTube video. This browser is available for devices that support Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms.
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10. DuckDuckGo: Best Private Web Browser
DuckDuckGo internet browser's focus, like Brave, is privacy and security. It is available on Android and Apple devices. This browser app doesn't upload the user's browsing and searching history to any server. It also blocks any online tracking programs. As an extra step for privacy, the user can tap the flame icon in the main menu. It will clear out all unwanted tabs.
Security-minded users will like the security rating on the top part of the screen. The ratings range from D (least secure) to A (most secure). Tapping on the rating will show a report card with information on how the website reached that score. For an added security measure, the browser enables a locked setting. It requires a password or a Face ID or Touch ID to open the device. The user can change the app theme from light to dark.
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There are many browsers available in the market today. The options are there for us, so we tailor it to our needs. It’s to our benefit to know these things, so we can all have the best user experience in these very challenging times.