Web Browser Comparison: Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox

Wondering which web browser to choose? We consider the advantages and disadvantages of Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox.

We are sometimes confused to make a choice among the many available web browsers. © Andreas Prott - stock.adobe.com

To go on the Internet and visit your favorite web pages, there is an important tool called a web browser. Whether you're on a PC, tablet or mobile. It serves as a gateway to allow you to access various resources on the Web.

There are so many different web browsers today that it can sometimes be confusing to make a choice: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Mozilla Firefox. While all of them allow you to browse the Internet, they do not have the same features, advantages and features.

So, to choose the right web browser, you have to look at your needs in terms of compatibility, data protection, customization and extensions, or even accessibility.

To help you out, here is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the major web browsers on the market below.

1. Chrome, Google's web browser

You should know: Chrome is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The main advantages and advantages of Chrome

Speed: apart from being the most used browser (with a market share of 65%), Chrome is also the fastest web browser on the market.
Compatibility with other Google services: One of the main advantages of Chrome is that it offers great compatibility with other Google products. For example, you can translate web pages in one click using Google Translate, and access Gmail and Google Docs offline, via Chrome.
Personalization: with the Chrome web store, the browser offers more than 200,000 different extensions! You also have access to a variety of stylish themes, to customize Chrome's design.
Security: Google doesn't skimp on the security of its web browser. With regular and automatic updates, Chrome offers many security features such as private browsing mode, blocking pop-ups, scripts, and cookies, alerts when visiting sites or downloading potentially dangerous files, or sending alerts if your saved passwords are exposed. .

The main disadvantages and drawbacks of Chrome

Data confidentiality: it seems justified to remember that Chrome is a service offered by Google, which collects a lot of personal data about its users such as browsing history, browsing history or location data.
Power consumption: Users often point out the excessive RAM consumption of the browser, as well as its impact on the battery.

2. Edge, Microsoft's web browser

You should know: Edge is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Key benefits of Edge

Compatibility with other Microsoft services: Like Chrome, Edge makes it easier to connect with other services offered by Microsoft, such as Microsoft 365 apps, or Smart Search, which detects files or related information in your company (contacts, places, Teams, or Yammer conversation, etc.).
Security: Edge offers regular updates, which makes it possible to quickly fix potential security vulnerabilities. This browser offers many security features to control your tracking while browsing websites, and automatically protects you from malicious sites and files.
Immersive reader: web browsers offer a system for reading the text of web pages aloud. You can also choose the size and font of the text, the theme of the page, while adding notes.
Child mode: You can take advantage of a navigation mode designed for young children, with a simplified browser, Bing Safesearch and customizable themes.

The main disadvantages and drawbacks of Edge

Limited extension store: Edge browser offers a less extensive extension store than Chrome. Also, since Edge is now Chromium-based, you can download the extension from the Chrome web store. On the other hand, a warning message will appear, stating that "Extensions installed from sources other than the Microsoft Store are not verified and may affect browser performance".
Data privacy: Like Chrome or Safari, Edge collects some personal data by default, such as your search and query interaction data. If it is possible to disable this option, the procedure is not as intuitive as we would like.

3. Safari, Apple's web browser

You should know: Safari is available on macOS, iPadOS, and iOS.

Safari's main advantages and disadvantages

Speed: Safari is the second fastest web browser on the market, just behind Chrome.
Security: Safari offers the ability to block advertising cookies, and protect you from malicious sites and digital tracking.
Sync: You can go through iCloud to find all your open tabs, favorites, or saved passwords on all your Apple devices.
Reading mode: it is possible to activate a mode that makes it easier to read web content, by displaying only text and images. This feature is also available on mobile.

Safari's main disadvantages and drawbacks

Limited compatibility: we know that Safari is reserved for Apple product owners, and therefore restricts access to multiple users. If the company previously offered versions for Windows, up to Safari version 5.1.7, it is now obsolete, and its use is no longer safe.
Limited extension store: Compared to Chrome, there are fewer extensions to offer for Safari users.
Data privacy: Safari collects some personal data such as device location, IP address, or browsing history. On the other hand, Apple stipulates that it does not resell your data for marketing purposes.
Limited personalization: while Apple is used to taking care of the design of its products and services, the company doesn't give users much choice when it comes to personalizing its web browser.

4. Firefox, Mozilla's open source web browser

You should know: Firefox is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The main advantages and advantages of Firefox

Security and privacy: Firefox is a web browser, maintained by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation. It does not seek to derive revenue from advertising, or from the sale of its users' data. In addition, web browsers offer cookie blocking and ad tracking, as well as pop-ups. Firefox can also detect and protect you from cryptocurrency miners.
Useful features: the web browser blocks automatic reading, offers a text-to-speech tool, a QR code reader, as well as a screenshot tool that is directly integrated. Picture-in-picture mode is also available.
Reading mode: Firefox offers an in-depth reading mode that allows the removal of buttons, ads, images, and videos, and offers the possibility of customizing the text layout.
Sync: By creating a Firefox Account, you can find your favorites, history, and open tabs across all your devices.
Extension Store: There are many extensions available in Firefox.
Firefox Focus: Mozilla offers a mobile app that provides a minimalistic and highly secure web browser to make your research easier. You have automatic tracking protection and ads are blocked.

Note: the app does not store any information between your different sessions.

The main disadvantages and drawbacks of Firefox

Power consumption: Many Internet users point out that Firefox consumes a lot of memory, and sometimes has an impact on the battery of their device.
Translation: by default, web browsers don't offer automatic page translation mode, which is an obstacle for many users. However, it is possible to add an extension to work around the issue.
Profile management: Firefox doesn't manage multiple profiles easily. You need to manually type the command “about:profiles” in the search bar, to create a new user or change a profile.

Thus a brief review of the benefits, advantages and disadvantages of a comparison of Web Browsers: Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. Hopefully you can make a wise choice according to your needs.