How to choose a web browser: privacy, engine and sync

Choose a web browser by its engine, its privacy defaults, the platforms you use and how much you want to rely on one account for sync. Several browsers in the ranking share the same Chromium engine, so the choice among them rests more on privacy defaults, built-in extras and licensing. Ad blocking is a separate decision, and it is covered near the end of this guide.

Check the engine and site compatibility

The engine is the part of a browser that draws pages. Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave and Vivaldi use Chromium. Firefox and LibreWolf use Gecko, the engine Firefox builds itself. Safari uses WebKit and runs only on Apple systems.

Engine choice affects compatibility. Firefox's listing on listme.name notes that some sites are tested mainly in Chromium browsers. If you depend on a particular web app for work or banking, check that it works in the browser you plan to use before you switch.

Compare privacy defaults and licensing

Privacy defaults differ more than engines do. Firefox blocks trackers by default. Brave blocks ads and trackers on every site without extra setup. Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention is on by default and comes with a Privacy Report. LibreWolf starts with privacy and security settings applied, removes telemetry, and is a community-maintained fork of Firefox.

Chrome's built-in protection covers malicious sites through Safe Browsing, and it includes a password manager. Its sync and sign-in tie the browser to a Google account, which some people will not want. Built-in blocking limits ads and trackers in the browser. It does not hide your activity from your internet provider or from sites you sign in to, so treat it as one layer of privacy, not all of it.

Open source is a separate criterion. Firefox, Brave and LibreWolf are open source under MPL-2.0, according to their product entries. Chrome, Edge, Safari and Vivaldi are not open source. Open source lets outsiders read the code, but it does not guarantee that a browser is private or secure. It does make it easier for independent people to check what the browser does, and it lets forks such as LibreWolf exist.

Look at built-in extras

Built-in extras can help or distract. Brave includes Brave Search, an AI assistant and a VPN service, and its Brave Origin edition needs a purchase. Vivaldi bundles mail, a calendar and a feed reader, with tab tiling and workspaces. Microsoft Edge brings Copilot and Microsoft Rewards. Each of these adds scope beyond a browser, so count only the features you would actually use.

Decide with a short table

If you want	Look first at	Trade-off to accept
Open source with tracker blocking by default	Firefox	Its engine is Gecko; some sites are tested mainly in Chromium browsers
A Chromium browser with blocking and no setup	Brave	Brave Origin needs a purchase; bundled search, AI and VPN add scope
Google sync and a familiar interface	Google Chrome	Closed source; sign-in ties sync to Google services
An Apple-only browser built into the system	Safari	Not available for Windows or Android
Microsoft and Copilot features on Windows	Microsoft Edge	Not open source; Copilot and Rewards add scope
Built-in mail and heavy tab management	Vivaldi	Not open source; many built-in tools add to the interface
A privacy-focused Firefox fork	LibreWolf	Updates depend on a community team; no mobile version listed

Top picks from the ranking

The best web browsers ranking orders the browsers as follows, with the editorial score in brackets:

1. Firefox (92.0): open source under MPL-2.0, with trackers blocked by default and tabs and passwords synced across devices.
2. Google Chrome (91.5): the most familiar choice, with Google account sync and a password manager. It is closed source.
3. Brave (90.0): open source on the Chromium base, with ads and trackers blocked on every site.
4. Safari (88.5): built into macOS, iOS and iPadOS, with tracking prevention included. It is limited to Apple devices.
5. Microsoft Edge (84.5): a Chromium browser for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, with sleeping tabs and energy saver. It is not open source.
6. Vivaldi (82.0): a customizable Chromium browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader.

LibreWolf (79.5) completes the ranking. It is a Firefox fork that applies privacy settings from the start, and its listing shows no mobile version.

Ad blockers are a separate choice

A browser's built-in blocking and an ad-blocker extension can overlap, so check what each one covers. The ad blockers ranking puts uBlock Origin first (93.5). It is open source under GPL-3.0, works in Chromium browsers and Firefox, and lets you choose filter lists, but it needs tuning. AdGuard covers browsers and, on Mac and Android, the whole system, with a free browser extension and paid Pro versions on some platforms. AdGuard Home blocks ads for every device on a network, but it needs a server and network setup. On iPhone, iPad and Mac, 1blocker is a Safari-only option, and its paid upgrades are sold through the App Store.

What to do next

List your must-haves before you compare: privacy defaults, open source, Apple-only use, sync, or a particular extension. Shortlist two browsers that meet them, and check that your key sites and extensions work in each. Sign in to sync only with an account you trust, and review what sync includes in the browser's settings.