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Since most of your working (or even entertainment) time today is spent in your web browser window, it's likely the most important app on your computer. Without a doubt, there are lots of web browsers for Mac, but not all of them were created equal. So you might be wondering what is the best web browser for Mac.
Safari is the default web browser for Mac and iOS devices. It is developed by the Apple Inc. And can be downloaded from its developer “Apple” website. Safari web browser is available for Apple Products not for Windows. With lots of modern features, it is the fourth largest most widely used web browser. Some of the best web browsers for mac are Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, and Edge Chromium. These feature-rich web browsers can be used to browse the internet on a. The list of Browsers featured here is based on user reviews, performance reviews, interface, speed and other extensive views towards these browsers. This list is to give internet users more information on which browser has what features. All these browsers deserve to be in the list of top web browsers because of their unique style, interface.
After all, not everyone's needs are the same. You might be striving for speed or safety, or alternative ways of surfing online. And with Microsoft Edge set to appear on Mac shortly, the competition to become the top browser for Mac is getting fierce — but there's no need to try them all.
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The browser comparison below will outline all strengths and weaknesses of all the contenders on the market today to reveal the best browser for Mac you need.
What Makes The Best Web Browser
Depending on how exactly you use your Mac browser, you might require different features and specialties. Generally, there are four broad categories that make people sway one way or another.
Familiarity: Use something regularly for a while and you'll develop muscle memory, which makes it extremely hard to switch to anything else. This is the main reason most people keep using the first web browser they've tried. But it’s important to realize that experimenting with alternative browsers is not hard and might present you with much better options in no time.
Speed: Slow speed might quickly kill even the best web browser for Mac. If you think about it, no one has ever asked for their webpage to take more time to load.
Security: A lucky few might have never been the target of a hack or malware with a potential to disrupt or in some cases destroy a computer. But there's no such thing as being too careful. While some browsers are optimized for ease of use, there are safe browsers too that are secure from the ground up.
Bells and whistles: For some, it's the little things that matter most. Looking for Chromecast support? Configurable shortcuts? Extension libraries? All best internet browsers try to differentiate themselves in various ways to tailor to particular audiences.
The top browser for Mac out of the box: Safari
It could be that the best browser for Mac is the one that comes with every Mac already. Apple's proprietary web browser for Mac, Safari, is preinstalled on all Apple devices and is generally a good choice. No shame here for not bothering to explore alternative browsers at all.
Safari is good because Apple doesn't do things by half measures. Benchmarks suggest that when it comes to Safari vs Firefox, Safari loads HTML twice as fast, and four times as fast for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Makes sense — no one knows Apple hardware better than Apple, so they have all the trump cards for near-perfect speed optimization. Safari might well be the fastest browser for Mac.
In terms of extras, Safari has a decent support for third-party plugins and integrates perfectly with your iOS and watchOS devices.
What’s great:
- Blazing-fast speed
- Already installed on your Mac
Not so great:
- Lacks Chromecast support and some other plugins
The most popular web browser: Chrome
Chrome is by far the top browser for Mac and other operating systems when it comes to popularity — some reports suggest that 70% of people on the web use it. But does that mean it’s the best web browser for Mac?
It could be. First of all, Chrome is generally one of the fastest web browsers. Second, it uses Google's proprietary Sandbox security technology, so you're completely safe running all kinds of websites on it. Third, Chrome's extension library is the largest on the market, allowing you to transform the browser into the tool for all your needs.
Even better, when you sign into your Google account on any Chrome browser anywhere, it'll load your bookmarks and logins right away. So if you're constantly using different computers, Chrome is a great choice (just remember to log out if you're using public ones).
Best Browsers For Mac
When it comes to Safari vs Chrome, Safari wins as the best browser for Mac, whereas Chrome takes the crown if you find yourself jumping between operating systems.
What’s great:
- Fast and secure
- The best third-party support for browser extensions
- Travels well by signing into Chrome from anywhere
- Fully integrated with Chromecast
Not so great:
- Not as fast as Safari
The underdogfox web browser: Mozilla Firefox for Mac
Though it's not as commonly used as Safari or Chrome, Firefox is not without its share of devoted fans. It's been a mainstay in the browser wars for many years now and is maybe the most recognized one of the alternative browsers for people who would rather not support megalithic companies like Apple or Google. So do you want to download Firefox for Mac?
Unfortunately, sometimes the underdog is the underdog for a reason. Firefox is quite a bit slower when it comes to loading webpages. And while you can sign into your Firefox account for bookmarks just like in Google Chrome, the fact that it’s not a standard option on most computers in the way Chrome is makes this feature less useful.
Add to that a busy design that looks at odds with macOS, and when it comes to Safari vs Firefox as the best browser for Mac, Safari is the clear winner.
What’s great:
- Open-source development
- Long-established user base
- Firefox account to sync bookmarks across computers
Not so great:
- Slow by modern web standards
- Busy design
The 'could be a contender' browser: Opera for Mac
Opera has been around for years, but it's always been the 'also-ran' of the alternative browsers. But things could be different now: Opera today comes with a free VPN, ad-block, and built-in messenger client support right out of the box. The free VPN alone makes this browser worth downloading and checking out.
In the backend, Opera usings the same Blink Engine that powers Chrome, so you can be sure of its speed. Add to that integrated phishing and malware lists and you have a fast and secure browser. Some could argue that given recent Opera innovations it might have surpassed Firefox as the third-best web browser. It also might now be the best new browser for Mac, depending on what you’re looking for.
What’s great:
- Free VPN
- Just as fast as Chrome
- Great default ad and malware blocking
Not so great:
- Less third-party support compared to Chrome
- Low adoption
How to change default browser on Mac
What Is Best Internet Browser For Mac
So now that you have so many options to try — explore their websites and download the ones that you like. Just remind yourself that you're not yet fully committed to any single one.
But once you decide which one is your favorite, you need to know how to change default browser on Mac:
- Click on the Apple menu ➙ System Preferences
- Navigate to the General tab
- Find a dropdown menu marked 'Default web browser' and click on it to choose from the browsers you've installed
The top browser for Mac is what you make of it
In the end, it doesn't matter too much which browser is the best — if you like it and feel like it does what you need it to do, then everybody's happy. What matters the most is whether or not you can customize the browser to your needs. That means downloading extensions that make the most of your internet experience.
If you've ever been watching a YouTube video and thought, 'I wish there was a safe and easy way to download this video,' then you absolutely need to check out Downie.
Capture video from any browser
Try a seamless video downloader that works with any browser. With Downie, you’ll be able to instantly save videos from 1000+ sites.
Downie is an app for your Mac that lets you drag and drop videos from any website onto your computer. It works like magic:
- Copy a link from Vimeo or YouTube or anywhere else
- Open Downie and hit ⌘ + V to paste the link
- The download will start automatically
Even for times when you can't find a song anywhere but streaming video, use Downie to simply download the audio file. Brilliant!
Want to edit or format that file? Downie blends seamlessly with Permute, which lets you combine videos, edit them down, or convert the file type:
- Drag and drop a video onto Permute
- Choose to work with Audio or Video
- Use the dropdown to choose the file format to convert to
- Click Start
Yet another great app to completely unlock your browser is Inboard. Designed to easily capture screenshots from your screen so that you can create collages and moodboards, Inboard lets you cut and paste images from your Mac browser, and even make a Pinterest-style inspiration board from all your captured pictures.
Best of all, Downie, Permute, and Inboard are all available to try absolutely free for seven days when you sign up for Setapp, an app subscription services that gives you over 150 different apps for every possible use case. Now that’s a Mac browser transformed!
Setapp lives on Mac and iOS. Please come back from another device.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Today internet surfing is like any other daily chore. People involuntary check their mobiles and laptops the first thing in the morning for updates, emails and what not. More and more people are online these days and thus the importance of good web browsers is paramount.
When it comes to MAC, there are numerous browsers which allow you to do a lot more than just search the internet. I have seen people who like Safari the best or they love chrome. Some are fans of Mozilla. In the end it is a much personalised decision when it comes to internet browsers. Some people love a browser and others do not.
So it is really difficult to put a list of best browsers for MAC out there because each individual has his own set of preferences. In this list, I’ve compiled a list of 9 best browsers for your Macintosh based on various features and preferences. As far as I am concerned, Chrome is my best bet in all situations but other browsers are god too!
Here is the list of 9 top best browsers for MAC in 2015
If you like Mozilla Firefox then you will like Flock Web Browser. It is based on Firefox 3 technology. With this browser you can do a lot more than just browsing web pages. It is designed to streamline and emphasize on your interaction with networking sites, RSS and media feeds and blogs.
It has a spate toolbar which is based on social networks. This allows you to quickly share pages and links with your contacts across multiple networks like Facebook and Twitter. Quit nifty isn’t it?
Download Flock Web Browser
This one is a very feature-rich website which is why it makes our list of best web browsers for MAC. It is compatible with almost any website. It has a lot of additional features which are not available on many major web browsers for MAC. It creates thumbnails of visited sites and also allows you to add shortcuts for browsing later. It has a very powerful security framework and a host of other plugin.
If you are a person who a loves a lot of goodies along the main product then you love Omni. You can download it here.
Maxthon Web Browser
The next entrant on our list is the Maxthon Web Browser. You will love it if you like simple and minimalistic interfaces which are very clean. Thus it provides a full viewing experience which is kind of mesmerizing. There is the Cloud Push feature which allows you to push browsed website to an online cloud account and then to any friend or contact.
You can also view the websites on full screen mode for a better experience. Download Maxthon from here.
Apple Safari
The official web browser of Apple is decent enough to be on our list of best web browsers for MAC. With Apple comes style and the interface is undoubtedly stylish and allows for a very fast and smooth browsing experience. It has awesome features like one click social sharing and speed dial, iCloud integration, RSS feed built-in and more.
Almost every MAC user has used this browser and always has nice things to say about it. You can download it by clicking here.
Camino Web Browser
Another web browser which is based on the Firefox rendering system, Camino is another top web browser for your MAC. One special thing about it is that it only comes for MAC so it is completely adjusted and adapted to its stylish interface unlike Chrome or Firefox which can sometimes be not MAC-friendly. It has scrollable tab bars, annoyance blocker which blocks unwanted popups and flash ads.
If you haven’t tried it then I recommend that you do. MAC users will love it. Download it here.
If you haven’t tried it then I recommend that you do. MAC users will love it. Download it here.
Torch Browser
It is the most popular sidekick like alternative to Google, as it is based on the same Chromium Project. It has some additional features like a separate social sidebar, torrent, video downloads, emojis, Torch music and more. It also supports all chrome extensions!
Download it from this link.
Opera
The newest and latest version of the age old Opera browser is based on fast and smooth web browsing and has its origins in the same Chromium project. You get increased speed, powerful rendering features and even faster speeds in slower connections through the server-side compression tech it employs.
Thus, this reputable veteran brand with the latest updates is another top pick on our list for the best web browsers for MAC. Download it here.
Google Chrome
There is no other browser more popular than Chrome. May it be MAC users or others, those who have used Chrome and adjusted it never want to leave it.
It has a minimalistic interface with a neat and uncluttered design and the robust reputation of Google behind, it does not get any better than this. It supports thousands of creative plugins, allows fast browsing, powerful rendering and controlling options. Some of the MAC aficionados may say that is unfriendly but many do say that it supports very fast browsing on MAC. Download it to find out!
Mozilla Firefox
Our last entrant on the list is definitely one of the best Web browsers for MAC.
You can do a lot of things with Firefox like surf the web (obviously), block annoying popups, protection from malware. It is supported by numerous add-ons to add feature-richness.
Firefox is a very handy web browser; it works where most others face problems. Give it a try here.
Which Web Browser do you use on your MAC? Do comment