Choosing an Internet browser » Which browser is a good choice?
Published: 22.04.2022 | Reading time: 8 minutes
This text is machine translated.
It has been known since August 2020 that Microsoft will be retiring its Internet Explorer at the end of 2021. It is one of the best-known programs in the context of web culture. Until 1995, it was mainly Netscape Navigator that provided access to the World Wide Web.
This changed in the same year with the introduction of Internet Explorer. The web browser was delivered together with Windows 95. At the time, this was one of the most successful operating systems in the world. This promoted the rapid spread of the Internet browser. Despite widespread criticism and ridicule, it enjoyed great popularity for many years. Its market share rose to over 90 percent at times.
However, Microsoft missed the opportunity to accept the criticism and shine with innovations in new versions. Instead, it rested on its laurels and only plugged the biggest security gaps.
In 2002, Mozilla Firefox was launched as a serious competitor and quickly became one of the most popular internet browsers in the world.
In 2008, Google released its Chrome browser. This overtook the browser field from behind. The focus of Google Chrome was on speed and clarity.
In the years that followed, various browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera were able to assert themselves in users' favor. However, Microsoft Internet Explorer went into a steep decline. For this reason, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Edge as the operating system's new default browser in 2015 (in Windows 10).
In 2020, Microsoft stopped the further development of Internet Explorer. Important programs on Windows computers - such as Microsoft 365 apps and Teams - no longer support Internet Explorer. There will be no more support from June 15, 2022. By then at the latest, it will also be time for the last users to switch!
The 5 most popular web browsers at a glance
We present the five most popular web browsers below. These are as follows: Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Opera. We show the advantages and disadvantages and answer questions such as: Which is the most secure browser? We also link to the manufacturers' websites, which explain how easy it is to switch browsers.
Compared to other browsers, Google's web browser is now the most popular way to access the internet in Germany.
Like almost all other browsers, it can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet.
Although it is so widespread, there are not only reasons for using it, but also reasons against it.
If you decide to use Google Chrome as your gateway to the world, download the installation file for your operating system.
Advantages of Chrome
- High speed - occupies top positions in browser comparisons by trade journals and the like - Google test results are regularly very good
- Secure browser - rarely security gaps, any gaps that occur are closed quickly
- With a Google account (requires an e-mail address from Google) it is possible to link the browser with other Google services
Disadvantages of Chrome
Very RAM-hungry
Increased dependence on Google
A lot of tracking, i.e. Google collects and stores a lot of data by “tracking” web movements and can sell it to earn money
Linkability of Google services very opaque - can lead to synchronization problems
Google Chrome is available as a separate app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
Apple Safari has been Apple's in-house standard web browser since 2003. Since the Mac OS X Panther version, it has been included in the scope of delivery (including iOS and iPadOS). Before that, the Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac was the default browser on Apple devices.
Since version 6 of 2012, Safari has no longer been available for Windows and is always delivered in parallel with the release of a new operating system.
As the browser is already pre-installed on Apple systems and there is no current version for Windows, there is no need to provide a link to the download in this section.
Advantages of Safari
- Very good speed (fastest browser on iOS, slightly slower than Firefox in online performance tests on Macs)
- Very good performance, runs stably
- Perfectly matched to Apple products
- Requires only a fraction of the RAM performance of the competition when browsing
- Useful add-ons
- Synchronization: Bookmarks, history and passwords - available on all Apple devices thanks to storage in the iCloud
- Clear interface (tab management) (tile view possible on Macs)
- iOS Safari emulation possible in desktop version (display of special pages for mobile devices)
- Blocking of cookies and trackers possible (individually configurable on mobile devices)
Disadvantages of Safari
- Bugs are not fixed very quickly, but browser security is comparably good - you are very well protected overall on isolated Apple systems
- Limited expansion options
- Only limited customization of the interface
- Limited number of search engines: Google, Bing, Duckduckgo, Yahoo, Ecosia (as of 09/2021)
- No integrated ad blocker (can be added)
Apple Safari is only available for Apple products, i.e. for macOS, iPadOS and iOS. Safari is no longer available for Windows.
The open source browser Mozilla Firefox is a really good alternative to avoid constant tracking by Google Chrome Web Browser, for example. It is particularly noteworthy that it is backed by a non-profit organization that fights for a free internet. Mozilla publishes its finances annually and there is no reason to collect data for advertising purposes.
Firefox is nevertheless on a par with the Chrome Internet browser in all areas: This means it is about as fast, very clear, offers almost as many extensions as Google Chrome and also many additional customization options (layout customization, reading mode, eyedropper).
Advantages of Firefox
- High speed in the browser test (mobile version currently even the fastest browser)
- Greatest strength is privacy and security - it is possible (also selectively) to block almost everything (pop-up blocker, ...), very secure browser
- Highly customizable - almost all elements can be moved, removed or added at will
- Large range of add-ons (extensions)
- Includes various tools as standard: PDF reader, screen capture tool, reader mode, a reading list called Pocket, ...
- With Firefox account - synchronization of settings, history, bookmarks, open tabs - on other devices, including mobile devices
- Password manager “Lockwise”
- Monitor tool - notification if unauthorized login data is suspected
Disadvantages of Firefox
Synchronization cannot be used as a backup, not stored in the cloud for data protection reasons
Firefox for iOS and Android is somewhat slimmed down
The Firefox browser is therefore an excellent all-rounder with very good privacy protection and the best surfing speed. If this is important to you, you should download the installation file. Firefox automatically offers the best available file on the download page.
Mozilla Firefox is available for the following operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android devices and iOS.
Microsoft's Edge browser is the successor to the much-criticized Internet Explorer. Based on Chromium (the foundation of some web browsers), the updated Edge browser looks like a merger with Chrome.
Many familiar functions can be used. For example, certain rights (location, microphone, etc.) can be set manually. In theory, all Chrome add-ons can also be installed in Edge. There are also custom extensions. The mobile version offers almost the same features and a few more extras (article archive, Newsguard). However, if privacy is important to you, it is better to use a different browser.
Advantages of Edge
Use of Chrome extensions plus your own add-ons
Not too RAM-hungry despite being based on Chromium
By default: Reader mode, password manager (but linked to system ID instead of master password), Defender Smartscreen security service (warns of dubious sites)
Synchronization is possible with a Microsoft account
Disadvantages of Edge
Slower than Firefox and Co
Bing is the default search engine (but can be changed)
Interface on the desktop can hardly be customized
Privacy - unclear what data Microsoft collects and what happens to it; if data flows are deactivated, convenience and security suffer
Microsoft Edge is available as a separate app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. It is already pre-installed on Windows PCs.
After more than 25 years, the Opera browser is not the highlight and a recommendation is difficult. The disadvantages outweigh the advantages, especially when it comes to security and privacy.
What's more, Opera is not faster than other browsers. The hardware starvation in particular is also a negative factor. Nevertheless, below is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the browser.
The mobile versions of Opera (“Touch” and “Mini”) offer little that is special. Mini is also one of the slowest of all mobile browsers. Opera automatically offers the appropriate installation file for the operating system on the download page on the Internet.
Advantages of Opera
- Wide range of functions (e.g. screen capture feature)
- Use of Google Chrome add-ons
- Firmly integrated in the browser: Web versions of various messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)
- Highlight - automatic conversion function for time zones, units of measurement and currencies in highlighted texts on the Internet
- “My Flow” - encrypted synchronization of text, links, URLs between multiple browsers
- VPN is integrated as standard (private mode, otherwise only with the Tor browser)
Disadvantages of Opera
- Slower than Firefox and Chrome
- Very RAM-hungry, even with only a few tabs open
- VPN limited - only HTTPS encryption; provider of the integrated VPN unfortunately collects all the data it can get - may be shared with third-party providers
- Privacy and security are Opera's biggest weaknesses
- Security updates only about once a month
Opera is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.