I’ve tried almost every browser out there and these are my top 6 (none are Chrome)

WebMaster

Technology

March 17, 2025

Web browsers are some of the most important pieces of software we use every day, but we take them for granted. Most users settle for whatever default ships with their devices — and that’s a mistake. There are far better options available that improve upon the default in myriad ways.

Also: 5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy first

1. Opera

Also: Opera’s sidebar upgrade makes it easier to access your favorite apps – here’s how

Although Opera doesn’t have quite the security of other browsers on this list, it does offer forced HTTPS, malicious site protection, Secure DNS, and V8 security. Opera also performs very well. Outside of stripped-down, minimal browsers, Opera can compete with any modern option in the realm of performance. Plus, with the inclusion of Aria AI and the Opera VPN, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option. 

Use Opera if you’re looking for outstanding performance, some of the best tab management on the market, and a built-in AI tool. Opera can be installed for free on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and iPadOS.

When I’m using MacOS, you can bet the browser I’m using is Arc. Arc includes a Workspace feature (called Spaces), similar to Opera, but makes it even easier to move between those Spaces via a two-finger trackpad swipe to the left or right. You can also theme each Space, assign Spaces to profiles, export all open tabs in a Space to a folder, and even share your Space. 

Look out, both Opera and Arc; there’s a new fork in town, and this time it’s focused on Firefox… with some serious improvements, the biggest of which is tab management. The developers of Zen Browser took a tip from Opera and Arc and added Workspaces to make tab management so much easier. On top of that, they’ve made theming the browser possible without having to install third-party extensions. 

Use Zen Browser if you wish Firefox had better tab management and more options for theming. Zen Browser can be installed (for free) on Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

And then there’s the OG browser of the bunch, Firefox. This open-source browser has had its ups and downs over the years, but it eventually rose from bloat and poor performance to become the lean, fast app that it is today. 

Firefox has some of the best security available for a web browser and a vast array of extensions that add functionality and even change the theme. The nice thing about today’s Firefox is that the developers have shrugged off the idea that a web browser needed every feature that could be dreamed up. Sure, it was fun seeing what developers could toss at a browser, but in the end, we just need software that works well… which is exactly what Firefox does.