Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

is safari available on android

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

is safari available on android

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

is safari available on android

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

is safari available on android

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

is safari available on android

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

  • JetStream /
  • MotionMark /
  • Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

is safari available on android

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

is safari available on android

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

is safari available on android

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

is safari available on android

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

is safari available on android

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

is safari available on android

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

is safari available on android

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

is safari available on android

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

is safari available on android

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

is safari available on android

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

is safari available on android

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

is safari available on android

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

is safari available on android

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

is safari available on android

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

is safari available on android

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

is safari available on android

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

is safari available on android

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

The Tech Edvocate

  • Advertisement
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • Lynch Educational Consulting
  • My Speaking Page
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Page Example
  • Privacy Policy
  • Protected Content
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Terms and Conditions
  • The Edvocate
  • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
  • Write For Us
  • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
  • The Edvocate Podcast
  • Assistive Technology
  • Child Development Tech
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
  • EdTech Futures
  • EdTech News
  • EdTech Policy & Reform
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses
  • Higher Education EdTech
  • Online Learning & eLearning
  • Parent & Family Tech
  • Personalized Learning
  • Product Reviews
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • School Ratings

Questions That High School Students Have About College Admissions

3 ways to make warhammer terrain, 3 ways to brainstorm alone, 3 ways to memorize a speech in one night, how to bake a steak, how to find your spirit animal: 12 steps, 7 ways to know which chakra is blocked, how to paint surfboards: 14 steps, 3 ways to treat allergies in macaws, 3 ways to care for mynah birds, can you install the safari browser on android.

is safari available on android

Safari is a popular web browser developed by Apple for its products such as the iPhone, Mac, and iPad. However, when it comes to Android devices, you may be wondering if it is possible to install the Safari browser on them. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Apple has never made Safari available for Android, and it is highly unlikely that they will do so in the future. Safari is a proprietary software that is exclusive to Apple devices, and the company has never shown any indication of releasing it for Android.

If you are looking for a web browser for your Android device, there are plenty of alternatives to Safari that are available on the Google Play Store. Popular options include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.

These browsers offer similar features and functionality to Safari, such as tabbed browsing, bookmarks, and the ability to save passwords and autofill forms. They are also regularly updated with security patches and performance improvements to ensure a smooth browsing experience.

In addition to these popular browsers, there are also several niche options available on the Google Play Store. These may include browsers that are specifically designed for privacy, speed, or accessibility. While they may not be as well-known as the top browsers, they can still offer a unique and useful experience for users.

In conclusion, if you are an Android user, you cannot install Safari on your device. However, there are plenty of alternatives available that offer similar features and functionality. It is worth exploring different browsers on the Google Play Store to find the one that best suits your needs and preferences.

How to Reset Every Model of iPod ...

How to determine the right inverter size ....

' src=

Matthew Lynch

Related articles more from author.

is safari available on android

TikTok Is Tracking You! 9 Ways to Stop It

is safari available on android

Parse Error: What It Is and How to Fix It

is safari available on android

What About:Blank in a Browser Means and How to Resolve It

is safari available on android

What Does FQDN Mean?

is safari available on android

Ways to Factory Reset Your Windows Computer

is safari available on android

Are You Really Getting Dolby Atmos Sound?

CitizenSide

Can You Install The Safari Browser On Android?

Published: August 22, 2023

can-you-install-the-safari-browser-on-android

What is Safari Browser?

Safari is a web browser developed by Apple Inc. that is primarily used on Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. It was first introduced in 2003 and has since become one of the most popular browsers among Apple users.

Known for its sleek design and user-friendly interface, Safari offers a seamless browsing experience with advanced features and robust security measures. It is built on the WebKit engine, which allows for fast page rendering and efficient usage of system resources.

With Safari, users can access a wide range of websites, search the internet, and enjoy various browsing functionalities. It supports features like tabbed browsing, bookmark management, private browsing mode, and customizable settings for a personalized experience.

One of the notable features of Safari is its integration with other Apple devices and services. For example, users can use “Handoff” to seamlessly transition their browsing sessions from one Apple device to another. They can also use Safari to sync bookmarks, history, and other settings across their Apple devices.

Additionally, Safari is known for its strong emphasis on user privacy and security. It includes features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which aims to protect users from cross-site tracking and unauthorized data collection. It also offers built-in measures to block malicious websites, warn against potential phishing attempts, and secure user information.

Over the years, Safari has evolved to support advanced web technologies and standards. It offers excellent HTML5 and CSS3 support, enabling users to access and interact with modern web applications and media-rich content.

While Safari has primarily been designed for Apple devices, there has been speculation and demand for a Safari version that can be used on Android devices as well. However, Apple has not developed a official version of Safari for the Android platform, which leads to the question: Can you install the Safari browser on Android?

Different Browser Options for Android

Android users have a wide range of browser options to choose from based on their personal preferences and requirements. While Safari is not officially available for Android, there are several alternative browsers that offer similar functionalities and features. Here are some popular browser options for Android:

  • Google Chrome: As the default browser on most Android devices, Google Chrome is widely used and trusted by millions of users. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, seamless sync with Google services, extensive plugin support, and advanced privacy and security features.
  • Mozilla Firefox: Known for its commitment to user privacy, Mozilla Firefox offers a fast and customizable browsing experience. It comes with features like enhanced tracking protection, private browsing mode, and support for add-ons. Firefox also supports a wide range of web standards and offers excellent performance on Android devices.
  • Opera: Opera is a feature-rich browser that focuses on speed, data savings, and a user-friendly interface. It comes with integrated ad-blocking, built-in VPN functionality, and a unique “Flow” feature for seamless integration with other devices. Opera also offers a battery-saving mode and video pop-out feature for an enhanced browsing experience.
  • Brave Browser: Brave Browser is known for its privacy-centric approach and built-in ad-blocking capabilities. It prioritizes user privacy by blocking trackers and ads, resulting in faster page loads and reduced data usage. Brave also rewards users for opting into privacy-respecting ads with its Basic Attention Token (BAT) system.
  • Microsoft Edge: Formerly known as “Microsoft Internet Explorer” and later “Microsoft Edge,” this browser is now available for Android devices. It offers a clean and modern interface, seamless integration with Windows devices, support for extensions, and features like reading mode and tracking prevention.

These are just a few examples of the many browser options available for Android users. Each browser has its own unique set of features, performance characteristics, and user interfaces. It’s essential to explore and experiment with different browsers to find the one that best suits your needs and preferences.

Is Safari Browser Available for Android?

No, Safari browser is not officially available for Android devices. Apple has chosen to keep Safari exclusive to their own ecosystem, meaning it is only accessible on Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.

While Apple has developed versions of some of its popular applications for Android, such as Apple Music and Apple TV, Safari remains an exception. Apple’s decision to keep Safari exclusive to its own devices is likely due to the company’s desire to tightly integrate its hardware and software for a seamless user experience.

Despite the absence of Safari on Android, there are alternative browsing options available that can provide a similar experience. As mentioned earlier, popular browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Brave Browser, and Microsoft Edge offer robust features and performance on Android devices.

It’s worth noting that some third-party developers have attempted to create unofficial versions of Safari for Android. However, it’s important to approach such offerings with caution, as they may not be authorized by Apple and could potentially pose security risks. It is generally recommended to stick with official and trusted browsers available on the Google Play Store to ensure a safe and reliable browsing experience.

While Safari may not be available for Android, it’s worth considering the specific features and functionalities that attract users to Safari. If there are particular aspects of Safari that you find appealing, such as its integration with other Apple devices or its privacy features, you can explore alternative browsers that offer similar capabilities. Additionally, some browser developers strive to mimic the look and feel of Safari, allowing Android users to experience a Safari-like interface on their devices.

Overall, while Safari is not available for Android, there are numerous alternative browsers that offer a wide range of features and compatibility with Android devices. Android users have the flexibility to choose a browser that suits their preferences and browsing needs, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable web experience.

Alternative Browsing Options for Android Users

While Safari may not be available for Android devices, there are several alternative browsing options that offer comparable features and functionality. These alternative browsers cater to different user preferences and provide a seamless browsing experience on Android devices. Here are some noteworthy options:

  • Google Chrome: As the default browser on most Android devices, Google Chrome is a popular choice among Android users. It offers a user-friendly interface, excellent syncing capabilities, support for extensions, and advanced privacy options. Chrome’s seamless integration with Google services makes it a convenient option for those who heavily rely on the Google ecosystem.
  • Mozilla Firefox: Firefox is renowned for its focus on user privacy and customization. It offers enhanced tracking protection, a built-in password manager, and support for add-ons. Firefox Sync allows users to sync their bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across devices. With its emphasis on privacy and security, Firefox is an excellent choice for those concerned about their online privacy.
  • Opera: Opera is an innovative browser that offers unique features such as a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and data-saving mode. Its intuitive user interface and effortless tab management make it an attractive option for Android users. Opera also provides quick access to popular websites through its customizable “Speed Dial” feature.
  • Brave Browser: Brave is an open-source browser focused on privacy and speed. It blocks third-party ads and trackers by default, resulting in faster page loads and reduced data consumption. Brave also offers a feature called Brave Rewards, which allows users to earn cryptocurrency tokens by opting into privacy-respecting ads.
  • Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Edge, previously known as Microsoft Internet Explorer, is now available for Android devices. The browser offers a seamless integration with Windows devices and supports syncing, allowing users to easily switch between their mobile and desktop browsing experiences. It also offers a reading mode and built-in tracking prevention features.

These are just a few examples of the numerous alternative browsers available for Android users. Each browser has its own set of features, performance capabilities, and user interfaces. It’s recommended to explore and experiment with different browsers to find the one that suits your specific needs and preferences.

Remember, while Safari may not be an option for Android, there are plenty of alternative browsers that offer a range of features and customization options. Whether you value privacy, speed, or integration with other services, you can find a browser that meets your requirements for an enjoyable browsing experience on your Android device.

Benefits of Using Safari Browser on Android

While Safari may not be officially available for Android devices, there are certain benefits that users may consider if they are interested in using Safari-like features on their Android devices:

  • Seamless Integration with Apple Ecosystem: One of the significant advantages of using Safari on an Apple device is its seamless integration with other Apple products. If you own multiple Apple devices, such as an iPhone, iPad, and Mac computer, using Safari ensures a consistent browsing experience across all devices. Bookmarks, browsing history, and open tabs can be easily synced, allowing for a smooth transition between devices.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Safari is known for its simple, clean, and intuitive user interface. The browser is designed to prioritize the content, offering a clutter-free browsing experience. With its minimalist design and easy-to-use navigation, Safari provides a seamless and enjoyable user experience.
  • Advanced Security and Privacy Features: Safari has a strong focus on user privacy and security. It incorporates features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which aims to prevent cross-site tracking and safeguard user data. Safari also provides robust protection against malicious websites, alerts against potential phishing attempts, and includes features like private browsing mode for enhanced privacy.
  • Optimized Performance: Given that Safari is developed specifically for Apple devices, it is optimized to provide excellent performance and efficiency. The browser’s utilization of the WebKit engine ensures fast page rendering and efficient usage of system resources, resulting in a smooth and responsive browsing experience.
  • Excellent Support for Web Standards: Safari is known for its excellent support for web standards, including HTML5 and CSS3. This ensures that users can access and interact with modern web applications, media-rich content, and interactive websites without compatibility issues.

While these benefits are specific to Safari on Apple devices, there are alternative browsers available for Android that offer similar features and functionalities. Browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera provide seamless syncing, user-friendly interfaces, advanced security features, and optimized performance for Android users.

Ultimately, while Safari may have its unique advantages within the Apple ecosystem, Android users can still enjoy a fantastic browsing experience by exploring the plethora of alternative browsers available for their devices.

How to Install Safari Browser on Android

Since Safari is not officially available for Android devices, you cannot directly install it from the Google Play Store. However, there are a few alternative methods you can explore if you wish to experience Safari-like features on your Android device:

  • Third-Party Browsers: While Safari itself may not be available, several browser apps aim to replicate the look and feel of Safari. These browsers typically offer a similar user interface and some Safari-like features, allowing you to enjoy a Safari-like browsing experience on your Android device. You can search for these browsers on the Google Play Store and choose the one that suits your preferences.
  • Emulators: Another approach is to use an emulator that allows you to run iOS apps on your Android device. Emulators simulate the iOS environment, enabling you to run Safari and other iOS apps. However, it’s important to note that using emulators can be complex and may not provide a seamless experience, as some apps may not function properly or encounter compatibility issues.
  • Jailbreaking or Rooting: Jailbreaking an iPhone or iPad allows users to remove software restrictions imposed by Apple and install unofficial apps, including Safari, on their devices. Similarly, Android devices can be rooted to gain administrative control and install custom firmware. However, it is essential to understand that both jailbreaking and rooting can void warranties, compromise device security, and have legal implications. Therefore, these methods should only be pursued if you have a thorough understanding of the risks involved.

It’s crucial to exercise caution when exploring alternative methods to install Safari or Safari-like browsers on your Android device. Unofficial methods may come with potential security risks or compatibility issues. To ensure a safe and smooth browsing experience, it is generally recommended to rely on official and trusted browsers available on the Google Play Store.

While Safari may not be available on Android, you can still enjoy a wide range of excellent browser options specifically designed for the Android platform. These alternative browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Brave Browser, and Microsoft Edge, offer robust features, enhanced performance, and compatibility with Android devices, providing an enjoyable and secure browsing experience.

Steps to Use Safari-like Features on Android

Although you cannot directly install Safari on an Android device, you can still incorporate Safari-like features and elements into your browsing experience on Android. Here are some steps you can follow to achieve a Safari-like experience:

  • Use a Safari-like Browser: Look for alternative browsers available on the Google Play Store that mimic the design and functionality of Safari. These browsers often offer a similar user interface and Safari-like features, such as a clean and minimalistic design, tabbed browsing, and bookmarks management. Install the browser of your choice and set it as your default browser.
  • Customize the Interface: Once you have installed a Safari-like browser, explore its settings and customization options. Look for options to adjust the browser’s theme, font size, and other visual elements to resemble the Safari interface. You may also find options to reorder or hide certain browser elements to match Safari’s layout.
  • Enable Reader Mode: Some browsers offer a reader mode that simplifies the layout of web pages, similar to Safari’s “Reader View.” This mode removes clutter, ads, and sidebars, presenting a clean and distraction-free reading experience. Look for this option in the browser’s settings and enable it for a Safari-like reading experience.
  • Sync Bookmarks and Tabs: If you use Safari on other Apple devices, such as an iPhone or iPad, you can sync your bookmarks and open tabs with the Safari-like browser on your Android device. Most major browsers support synchronization across different devices, allowing you to access your saved bookmarks and continue browsing seamlessly between devices.
  • Manage Privacy and Security: Just like Safari, prioritize your privacy and security on Android by exploring the browser’s settings. Look for options to block ads, enable private browsing mode, manage website permissions, and enable protections against tracking and malicious websites. Ensure that your chosen browser has robust privacy and security features to enhance your browsing experience.
  • Install Safari Extensions: Some browsers on Android offer support for extensions similar to those available for Safari. Check if your chosen Safari-like browser supports extensions and explore the available options. Install extensions that enhance your browsing experience, such as ad-blockers, password managers, or productivity tools.

By following these steps, you can tailor your browsing experience on Android to closely resemble Safari. These adjustments will allow you to enjoy Safari-like features, layout, and extensions within the capabilities of Android and the Safari-like browser you have chosen.

Remember that while these steps can help you achieve a Safari-like experience, the overall functionality and integration with Apple’s ecosystem may differ. However, with the right browser and settings adjustments, you can tailor your Android browsing experience to align with the look and feel of Safari.

Safari Browser Alternatives for Android

While Safari may not be available for Android devices, there are several alternative browsers that offer similar features and functionalities. These browsers provide a wide range of options for Android users to enjoy a seamless and personalized browsing experience. Here are some notable Safari browser alternatives for Android:

  • Google Chrome: As the default browser on most Android devices, Google Chrome is a popular choice. It offers a user-friendly interface, fast page loading, tabbed browsing, and extensive customization options. Chrome also integrates seamlessly with Google services and provides synchronization across devices.
  • Mozilla Firefox: Known for its commitment to user privacy, Firefox offers features like Enhanced Tracking Protection, which blocks third-party tracking cookies. It also supports add-ons and boasts a customizable interface. Firefox Sync allows users to sync their bookmarks, history, and passwords across multiple devices seamlessly.
  • Opera: Opera is a feature-rich browser that emphasizes speed and data savings. It offers a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and an intuitive user interface. Opera also features features like a personalized news feed, customizable settings, and a battery-saving mode for a smooth browsing experience.
  • Brave Browser: Brave focuses on privacy by blocking ads and trackers by default. It offers faster browsing speeds, lower data usage, and includes features like HTTPS Everywhere and privacy-oriented search engines. Brave also has a unique Brave Rewards program that incentivizes users for viewing privacy-respecting ads.
  • Microsoft Edge: Formerly known as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge is available for Android devices. It provides a clean and modern interface, seamless syncing with Windows devices, and integration with Microsoft services. Edge also offers features like a built-in password manager, reading mode, and tracking prevention.

Each of these alternative browsers brings its own set of features, performance, and user interface options. Android users can choose the browser that aligns best with their preferences and requirements. Ultimately, the choice will depend on factors like preferred privacy features, syncing capabilities, browsing speed, and user interface design.

It’s important to note that these are just a few examples of the many browsers available for Android. Other browsers, such as Dolphin Browser, UC Browser, and Puffin Browser, also offer unique features and can be worth exploring based on individual preferences.

While Safari may not be an option for Android, these alternative browsers provide a variety of robust features and a seamless browsing experience on Android devices.

Avatar

Related Stories

How To Watch HBO Max On Macbook

How To Watch HBO Max On Macbook

How To Make Gmail Your Default Email Program

How To Make Gmail Your Default Email Program

How To Watch Youtube While USing Other Apps

How To Watch Youtube While USing Other Apps

How To Play YouTube In The Background On Your Phone

How To Play YouTube In The Background On Your Phone

How To Block Pop-Up Ads In Your Web Browser

How To Block Pop-Up Ads In Your Web Browser

16 Best Ad Blocker For Every Browser and Device

16 Best Ad Blocker For Every Browser and Device

How To Make Google Your Home Page

How To Make Google Your Home Page

How To Install TutuApp On IOS And Android Devices

How To Install TutuApp On IOS And Android Devices

Bronny James Set For Health Checkup, Could Return To The Court Soon

Bronny James Set For Health Checkup, Could Return To The Court Soon

12 Unbelievable Pedestal Vase for 2023

12 Unbelievable Pedestal Vase for 2023

12 Amazing 24 Inch Vase for 2023

12 Amazing 24 Inch Vase for 2023

10 Incredible Silver Vase Filler for 2023

10 Incredible Silver Vase Filler for 2023

15 Best Vase Holder for 2023

15 Best Vase Holder for 2023

Top 100 Christmas Songs for the Best Christmas Music

Top 100 Christmas Songs for the Best Christmas Music

16 Best Ad Blocker For Every Browser and Device

Different Types of Aesthetics: 30 Outfit Ideas to Step Up Your OOTD Game

Watch Guide: 20 Best Limited Series on Netflix

Watch Guide: 20 Best Limited Series on Netflix

FitGirl Repacks: A Complete Guide to Repacked Games

FitGirl Repacks: A Complete Guide to Repacked Games

Advertisement

  • Social & Messaging
  • Safari Browser 3.0.4 for Android

is safari available on android

Safari Browser APK for Android

Apple Inc. (Free)

Avast free antivirus

Weltshow Language (Free)

Safari Browser

Safari is a browser for iOS that’s now available for Android. It has most features of the original and functions the same way. You get Dark Mode, Private Browsing, and other minor options. The speed is still there almost no load times between pages.

Security-wise, there’s no way to tell if it retains the level of protection of iOS. The settings are very limited. You have the basic setup like cookies and history management. Nothing your Firefox or Chrome can’t already do. There are no special utilities that entice you to replace your default.

Lightning-fast speed

The best thing about Safari is its speed. It’s lightning-fast. You can say it rivals even Chrome when it comes to loading time. Download time is also great, but not as fast as the iOS version. Switching between pages and tabs are seamless.

The interface is very clean and easy to use. You don’t have that many adjustment options to choose from, but then again, that’s the whole point. The design is to keep things as simple as possible. They may have gotten carried away on simplicity. The Android version doesn’t retain the sophistication of its iOS counterpart.

Too few choices make the whole app look empty and dated.

Doesn’t use many resources

Safari comes in a small size, which makes sense, considering it doesn’t have any plugins. It uses less data than mainstream Android browsers like Firefox and Internet Explorer. The app is also lenient on your RAM. So, you can run more programs alongside it, no problem. Having multiple tabs doesn’t slow down your process, either.

All tabs are interconnected

There are no indications that Safari protects Android users from data collection or malicious sites. It doesn’t handle each tab as a separate instance like Chrome. This means if one tab crashes, so do the others. That says enough about the lack of security. You also don’t have the restore previous session option after a crash.

Other than the built-in Dark Mode, this browser doesn’t offer any other extensions. You can still sync your Google account, but it wouldn’t carry over the addons you had. You will have to use specific plugins for Safari, and there aren’t many of them for this version.

Fast but not secure

The app has good overall qualities and is reliable when it comes to speed. Unfortunately, that’s the extent of its advantages. If all you do is browse the internet, Safari is the way to go.

For more sensitive tasks, stick with your default. There is nothing this browser offers that your main one doesn’t already do. It also doesn’t retain the level of protection that the iOS version has. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be safe as it claims.

  • Android 3.0,
  • Android 4.2,
  • Android 4.2.1,
  • Android 4.3,
  • Android 2.3,
  • Android 3.1,
  • Android 4.1.1,
  • Android 2.1,
  • Android 4.1.2,
  • Android 4.0,
  • Android 4.2.2,
  • Android 3.3,
  • Android 4.1,
  • Android 3.2,
  • Android 2.2

http://www.apple.com/ios/garageband

We don't have any change log information yet for version 3.0.4 of Safari Browser. Sometimes publishers take a little while to make this information available, so please check back in a few days to see if it has been updated.

Can you help?

If you have any changelog info you can share with us, we'd love to hear from you! Head over to our Contact page and let us know.

Explore Apps

is safari available on android

Messages - Text Messages SMS

is safari available on android

Messages - Chat Messaging SMS

is safari available on android

Likey - Interact with creators

is safari available on android

xvii messenger for vk

is safari available on android

Guide for ZOOM cloud Meetings Video Conferences

is safari available on android

Live Talk - free video chat

is safari available on android

Text Free: Call Text Now for Free

is safari available on android

POF Free Dating App

is safari available on android

ATOM Store Myanmar

is safari available on android

2nr - Darmowy Drugi Numer

is safari available on android

Related Software

is safari available on android

Zombie Offroad Safari

Zombie Offroad Safari is a unique new mobile phone game developed by DogByte Games for the Sony Ericsson Mobile Phone. It is a high speed, action packed, obstacle jumping, safari themed, full version

is safari available on android

Brave Browser

Brave Browser is an internet browser with a built-in ad blocker and privacy features. These tools stop advertisements from appearing on your screen, which allows some web pages to load faster than the

is safari available on android

Opera Mini - fast web browser

Browsing the web has never been faster, especially over slow data connections. Opera Mini provides network tweaks that can drastically speed your browsing experience.Fast browsing speeds Opera Mini is

is safari available on android

YoYo - Voice Chat Room Audio Chat Ludo Games

YoYo - Voice Chat Room is a new and innovative social networking and voice chat application that let you and your friends create, upload, and manage your own virtual YoYo rooms. You can also play and

is safari available on android

AirScreen - AirPlay Cast Miracast DLNA

Aircreen is a new technology in the market that aims to improve the user experience of any Android mobile or tablet. With the help of Air Screen, users can get rid of the ugly background that appears

is safari available on android

Remove China Apps

It seems that there are hundreds of thousands of websites with the intent to sell or download illegal software applications, such as the "fake-tear-off" uninstaller. The new iPhone has been targeted b

is safari available on android

Opera Browser

Opera is a web browser for Android with a minimalist design and an emphasis on speed and saving data. The newest version is sleek and modern, with features meant to improve your mobile browsing experi

is safari available on android

Firefox Lite - Fast and Lightweight Web Browser

Firefox Lite - Fast and Lightweight Web Browser - is the most popular web browser for mobile devices operating on major mobile networks like AT&T and Verizon. Originally released for Androids, Firefox

is safari available on android

Chhota Bheem Race Game

One of the most popular racing games on mobiles is now available for free on Android devices. Chhota Bheem Race Game is an exciting game with high-end graphics and tracks where you could take a thrill

How Do I Get To Safari Browser

Copy to Clipboard

Introduction

Welcome to the world of internet browsing! With countless browsers available, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect one for your browsing needs. In this article, we will explore the Safari browser – a popular choice among Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. Safari offers a seamless and user-friendly browsing experience, along with a range of features and functionalities that set it apart from other browsers on the market. Whether you’re a Mac enthusiast, an iPhone aficionado, or simply looking to explore new options, Safari is worth considering.

In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how to access Safari Browser on various devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, and even Android. We will walk you through the step-by-step process, ensuring that you can start enjoying the benefits of Safari in no time at all.

But first, let’s delve into why Safari Browser might be the right choice for you. What makes it stand out amongst the crowd and how can it enhance your browsing experience? Read on to find out!

Why Use Safari Browser?

Safari Browser, developed by Apple Inc., offers a range of features and benefits that make it a top choice for internet browsing. Here are some key reasons why you should consider using Safari:

  • Sleek and User-Friendly Interface: Safari boasts a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate websites and access their favorite features without any hassle.
  • High-Speed Browsing: Safari is known for its exceptional speed, allowing users to browse the web quickly and efficiently. It is optimized to render pages rapidly, ensuring that you can access information at the click of a button.
  • Advanced Privacy and Security: Safari takes user privacy seriously and offers robust security features. It is designed to block harmful websites, prevent tracking, and protect against phishing attempts, keeping your online activities secure.
  • Seamless Integration with Apple Ecosystem: If you are a proud owner of Apple devices, such as Mac, iPhone, or iPad, Safari is the perfect browser for you. It seamlessly syncs your browsing history, bookmarks, and passwords across all your Apple devices, ensuring a seamless browsing experience.
  • Efficient Power Management: Safari is optimized for energy efficiency, extending the battery life of your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. You can browse the web for longer periods without worrying about draining your device’s battery.
  • Intelligent Tracking Prevention: Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature blocks third-party cookies and prevents advertisers from tracking your online activities. This enhances your privacy and reduces the amount of targeted ads you encounter while browsing the web.
  • Reader View: With Safari’s Reader View, you can enjoy distraction-free reading by eliminating ads, sidebars, and other clutter from articles and web pages. It provides a clean and optimized reading experience.

These are just a few of the many reasons why Safari has gained popularity among internet users worldwide. Now that you have a glimpse of what Safari offers, let’s dive into how you can access Safari Browser on different devices.

How to Access Safari Browser on Mac

If you own a Mac computer, Safari Browser comes pre-installed and is ready to use. Follow these simple steps to access Safari on your Mac:

  • Locate the Safari icon in the dock at the bottom of your screen. It resembles a blue compass.
  • Click on the Safari icon to open the browser.
  • Alternatively, you can also access Safari through the Launchpad. Click on the Launchpad icon in the dock, and then click on the Safari icon.
  • Once Safari is launched, you can start browsing the web using the address bar located at the top of the window. Type in the URL of the website you want to visit and press Enter.
  • Safari also offers a range of features to enhance your browsing experience. Explore the toolbar at the top of the window to access options like bookmarks, history, extensions, and more.
  • You can open multiple tabs in Safari to browse multiple websites simultaneously. To open a new tab, simply click on the plus icon (+) located next to the existing tabs.
  • To close the browser, click on the red “X” button in the top left corner of the Safari window.

That’s it! Now you can enjoy all the features and benefits of Safari Browser on your Mac. Whether you’re researching, shopping, or simply exploring the web, Safari offers a seamless and fast browsing experience.

How to Access Safari Browser on iPhone or iPad

If you own an iPhone or iPad, Safari Browser comes pre-installed as the default browser. Follow these simple steps to access Safari on your iOS device:

  • Locate the Safari icon on your home screen. The icon resembles a blue compass.
  • Tap on the Safari icon to launch the browser.
  • Safari will open with a blank page, ready for you to start browsing.
  • You can enter a website URL or search term in the address bar at the top of the screen and tap Go on the keyboard to visit the website or perform a search.
  • Safari also provides various features to enhance your browsing experience. To access these features, tap on the icon resembling two squares at the bottom right corner of the screen. This will open the tab view, where you can manage your open tabs, view your bookmarks, and access other options.
  • You can open multiple tabs in Safari on your iPhone or iPad by tapping the plus icon (+) in the tab view. This allows you to browse multiple websites simultaneously.
  • To close Safari, simply press the home button to exit the browser or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on newer iPhone models) to access the app switcher and swipe Safari off the screen.

That’s it! You can now enjoy the powerful features of Safari Browser on your iPhone or iPad. Whether you’re surfing the web, reading articles, or conducting research, Safari offers a user-friendly and smooth browsing experience on your iOS device.

How to Access Safari Browser on Windows PC

Although Safari is primarily designed for Apple devices, it is also available for Windows users. To access Safari Browser on your Windows PC, follow these steps:

  • Open your preferred web browser on your Windows PC, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
  • Navigate to the official Apple website at www.apple.com/safari .
  • Scroll down the page until you find the “Download Safari” button.
  • Click on the “Download Safari” button, and the Safari installer will start downloading.
  • Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded file and double-click on it to launch the installer.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to install Safari on your Windows PC. Make sure to read and accept the license agreement.
  • After the installation is complete, you can find the Safari icon either on your desktop or in the Start menu.
  • Start browsing the web using the address bar at the top of the Safari window. Enter a website URL or search term and press Enter to visit the website or perform a search.
  • Similar to other browsers, Safari displays tabs at the top of the window, allowing you to open multiple websites at once. To open a new tab, click on the plus icon (+) next to the existing tabs.
  • To close Safari, simply click on the red “X” button in the top right corner of the window, or press Alt+F4 on your keyboard.

Now you can enjoy Safari Browser on your Windows PC and experience its speed, security features, and seamless browsing experience.

How to Access Safari Browser on Android

Safari Browser is primarily designed for Apple devices and is not officially available for Android. However, if you still want to experience Safari on your Android device, you can try alternative methods to access it:

  • Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
  • Search for third-party browsers that offer a Safari-like browsing experience. Look for browsers that mention Safari compatibility or a similar user interface.
  • Install the Safari-like browser of your choice from the search results.
  • Once the installation is complete, locate the newly installed browser on your home screen or app drawer.
  • Tap on the newly installed browser to open it.
  • The browser’s interface and features may resemble Safari, but it is important to note that it is not the official Safari Browser developed by Apple.
  • Start browsing the web using the address bar or search bar provided by the Safari-like browser.
  • Explore the features and customize the settings according to your preference.
  • You can open multiple tabs in the browser to browse multiple websites simultaneously, similar to Safari.
  • To close the Safari-like browser, simply press the home button or navigate to the app switcher and swipe it away.

Keep in mind that while these alternative browsers may provide a similar experience to Safari on Android, they may not have all the features and optimizations of the official Safari Browser. It is essential to read user reviews and check the compatibility of the browser with your specific Android device before installing.

Remember, Safari is primarily designed for Apple devices, and if you have an Android device, there are many other great browsers available on the Google Play Store that are specifically designed for Android and offer a seamless browsing experience.

Troubleshooting and Common Issues

While Safari is a reliable and user-friendly browser, you may encounter occasional issues or glitches. Here are some common troubleshooting tips for addressing Safari-related problems:

  • Clear Cache and Cookies: If Safari is loading pages slowly or displaying outdated content, clearing the cache and cookies can often resolve the issue. Go to Safari’s preferences, select the “Privacy” tab, and click on “Manage Website Data” to clear the cache and cookies.
  • Disable Extensions: Browser extensions can sometimes conflict with Safari and cause performance issues. Temporarily disable or remove any unnecessary extensions to see if that resolves the problem.
  • Update Safari: Keeping your browser up to date is essential for optimal performance and security. Check for updates in the App Store (for iOS and macOS) or in the Microsoft Store (for Windows) to ensure you’re using the latest version of Safari.
  • Restart your Device: Sometimes, a simple restart can solve temporary glitches or issues with Safari. Close the browser, restart your device, and then open Safari again to see if the problem persists.
  • Reset Safari Settings: If Safari is still acting up, you can try resetting its settings to default. Go to Safari’s preferences and select the “Advanced” tab. Click on “Reset” and choose the options you want to reset, such as history, bookmarks, and extensions.
  • Disable Pop-up Blocker: If certain websites or web pages are not loading properly, it may be because Safari’s pop-up blocker is preventing the content from appearing. Go to Safari’s preferences and select the “Websites” tab. In the left sidebar, select “Pop-up Windows” and make sure the desired websites are not blocked.
  • Check Internet Connection: Slow or unstable internet connectivity can affect Safari’s performance. Ensure that you have a stable and reliable internet connection by checking your Wi-Fi or cellular data settings.

If the above troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, it may be helpful to seek assistance from Apple Support or consult online forums and communities dedicated to Safari users. Remember, these suggestions are general troubleshooting tips, and more specific solutions may be required depending on the nature of the problem.

In conclusion, Safari Browser offers a seamless and user-friendly browsing experience across various devices. Whether you’re using a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or even a Windows PC, Safari provides a range of features and benefits that make it a top choice among internet users.

We explored the process of accessing Safari Browser on different devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Windows PC. For Mac users, Safari comes pre-installed and can be easily accessed from the dock or Launchpad. iPhone and iPad users can find Safari as the default browser on their home screens. Windows PC users can download and install Safari from the official Apple website. While Safari is not officially available for Android, alternative browsers can provide a similar Safari-like experience.

We also discussed the reasons why Safari Browser is worth considering. Its sleek and user-friendly interface, high-speed browsing capabilities, advanced privacy and security features, seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, and efficient power management make it a compelling choice for users.

Additionally, we touched upon troubleshooting tips for common Safari-related issues, such as clearing cache and cookies, disabling extensions, updating the browser, and more. These troubleshooting steps can help resolve any occasional glitches or performance issues encountered while using Safari.

With its robust features, speed, and security, Safari Browser continues to be a popular choice among internet users. Whether you’re browsing the web, conducting research, or enjoying online entertainment, Safari offers a smooth and enjoyable experience on a variety of devices.

So, why wait? Give Safari Browser a try on your preferred device and discover the power of seamless browsing at your fingertips.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

  • How To Download Movies
  • How To Download Music
  • How To Download Videos
  • How To Download Games
  • TECH REVIEWS

Close Icon

What Is Data Leakage In Machine Learning

What is interpretability in machine learning, related post, what is real estate investment banking, what is metadata in machine learning, what is risk in banking, what is correspondent banking, which malware protection module uses a machine learning technique to detect malware, related posts.

How Do I Change My Browser Settings

How Do I Change My Browser Settings

How To Download Excel File On Mac

How To Download Excel File On Mac

How To Download An MP3 On IPhone

How To Download An MP3 On IPhone

How To Download Videos On Browser

How To Download Videos On Browser

How To Go To Private Browser On Mac

How To Go To Private Browser On Mac

How Do I Make Safari My Default Browser

How Do I Make Safari My Default Browser

How To Delete Download History

How To Delete Download History

How Do I Enable Location Permission In My Browser

How Do I Enable Location Permission In My Browser

Recent stories.

What Is Data Leakage In Machine Learning

What Is Data Cleaning In Machine Learning

Which Malware Protection Module Uses A Machine Learning Technique To Detect Malware?

  • Privacy Overview
  • Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Best Android browsers in 2023

These are the best Android browsers to try out on your smartphone

best android browsers

The best Android browsers allow you to customize your web-browsing experience on mobile just like how Android lets you fine-tune the look and feel of your home screen.

Even though we still think Google Chrome is the best Android browser for most people, other browsers place a greater emphasis on speed, privacy or readability and some even offer their own VPN -like proxy services. Just like with Chrome though, many of the Android browsers on this list can sync with their desktop counterparts. This way, you can access your history, saved passwords or even send open tabs on your computer over to your smartphone.

Whatever your needs and preferences, there’s likely an ideal Android browser for you among the best Android browsers we’ve tested and used on the best Android phones .

The best Android browsers you can download today

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If you're happy living in the Google ecosystem and believe you've benefited from the company knowing everything about your online life, then it's hard to justify avoiding the default browser on most Android devices. 

Syncing between mobile and desktop editions of Chrome is helpful, giving you the option to access passwords you've stored in Chrome (provided you don't use one of the best password managers , that is). As the dominant browser on the market, Chrome is also the most reliable option, as every web developer considers Google's browser when building a website.

Chrome offers extensive additional features such as secure storage for payment methods, a "Lite" data-saver mode, automatic translation of dozens of languages, a malicious-ad blocker, a pop-up blocker and the ability to group tabs.

This doesn't quite match the abundance of features that you can get with Firefox or Opera, but Chrome definitely ticks most of the mission-critical boxes. The search giant's browser even has the ability to detect when you're using a compromised password as well as enhanced safe browsing.

If you want a glimpse at what's coming soon to Chrome, or you want to test out some features that may never make it to the main Chrome browser, there are three additional Chrome apps starting with Chrome Beta , then Chrome Dev and finally, Chrome Canary . 

Each step further into experimental territory is trading in a bit of reliability, so you will likely want to turn to the traditional Chrome browser for vital tasks. But it's fun to try out upcoming features currently working their way through Chrome's development cycle. 

And if you've been using Chrome for a while, you may want to check out our guide on how to speed up Chrome on Android .

Opera is another mobile browser with a desktop counterpart that boasts all the benefits for users of both versions. 

Opera stands out from the rest of the best Android browsers with a data-saver mode that compresses videos as well as standard web pages. As a result, pages load faster thanks to the reduced data, and if you don't have one of the best unlimited data plans , you won't burn through your monthly data allotment as quickly.

Opera also offers a built-in free VPN -like feature that gives you a virtual IP address, although notably, you can't use both the VPN feature and data-saver mode in tandem. (Technically, the "VPN" is a proxy service for the Opera browser app only. To encrypt other apps' communications, you'll need one of the best Android VPN apps .) It also now blocks web trackers.

Even with its many features, Opera was one of the fastest browsers that I tested, with only Chrome consistently outperforming it. One slight frustration with Opera is its convoluted interface: You may be distracted by the menus at both the top and bottom of the screen.

Opera also offers a few variants of its browser. Opera Mini is focused on the data-saving side of things, while Opera Touch is geared toward a one-handed browsing experience.

As with Google Chrome, there's a strong incentive to carry over Firefox to your Android phone if that's the browser in which you do the majority of your desktop browsing. 

Your passwords, history and bookmarks will sync if you create a Firefox account and sign into it on all your devices, and if you spend a lot of time on one tab on your desktop, Firefox on Android will highlight it for you on your phone.

For better or for worse, you can customize Firefox to an astounding degree, with different themes and extensions that can tweak just about every aspect of the browser. 

If you are the sort of person who wants to decide how the tabs display in your browser, what color everything should be and exactly which features you want accessible, then Firefox is for you. If that sounds like a nightmare, however, you should look elsewhere, as even a basic setup of Firefox warrants some tweaking.

Firefox fans who are particularly security-conscious should take a look at Firefox Focus . It drops some of the functionality of its elder sibling in favor of privacy protection. 

A Firefox update brought over the Firefox Focus feature to always open links in a private tab. Alternatively, there are more experimental versions of Firefox, Firefox for Android Beta and Firefox Nightly for Developers . There's also a separate app for a VPN run by Firefox parent company Mozilla , although the VPN costs $5 a month.

Speaking of that Firefox update, the browser now has a dark mode and a grid view for open tabs. The URL bar has been moved down to the bottom of the screen, which Firefox did to accommodate larger phones. (You can move the bar back to the top if you prefer.) A new Collections feature lets you organize and save tabs, which should help with research projects.  

4. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser

DuckDuckGo, built around the DuckDuckGo search engine and based on Chromium (like Chrome and Brave), doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of the rest of the best Android browsers. 

Yet it makes up for this lack of features with its singular focus on keeping your activities private. A button to the right of the address/search bar will wipe all your tabs and browsing history at any moment with a tap.

DuckDuckGo also eliminates any ad-trackers that may be trying to follow you around the web and automatically will default to the highest encryption available on the site you are visiting. It even gives each site you visit a "privacy grade" ranging from A to F.

While the browser itself isn't reporting any of your activity back to the DuckDuckGo search engine, this protection still falls far short of a VPN. If you are looking to keep your activity secure from even your carrier or the Wi-Fi network you are connected to, then you will need a separate VPN app for that purpose. (You can check out our list of the best VPN services if you're looking for a VPN.)

DuckDuckGo doesn't offer any way to set up a DuckDuckGo account, so you won't be able to sync across devices but that's kind of the point of this privacy-minded service. However, it does now offer a desktop browser for those that want the same experience on both their phone and computer.

5. Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has delivered a compelling Chromium-based browser in the second version of Edge. The Android version has undergone a snazzy revamp to match the desktop browser (although you can customize its look and feel), and it's a decent option that syncs up with your Microsoft account.

Microsoft Edge has finally added extension support, and it also offers several extras that are extension-based in other apps, such as an ad blocker, translation services, password manager, tracking blocker, price checker, voice search and something called NewsGuard. That latter feature assesses news websites based on their “journalistic standards of credibility and transparency.”

Sadly, Edge has killed its reading-list feature, which delivered the full-page version of an article rather than an abbreviated or text-only version of an article. 

Unlike the desktop version of Edge, the mobile browser lets you swap out the default search engine easily, so you can use Google instead of Bing in your Microsoft browser if you want to — but we've found that Bing works pretty well too.

The Vivaldi desktop browser, developed by the original Opera team, offers extensive customization options, but its Android counterpart is more focused on delivering unique features. 

Vivaldi’s Speed Dial is your main view, which is a visually appealing and easy-to-use quick launcher for bookmarks. 

When conducting online research, you may appreciate the built-in rich text Notes tab, the native full-page screen capture, the Clone tab option that pulls up a duplicate of your current tab to avoid losing it, and the translation tool that can handles web pages in 108 languages. There's even a QR code reader to take you to websites without having to open a dedicated barcode-reading app, a fun built-in 2D shooting game, and a way to adjust the width of your tabs.

Regardless of your default search engine, you can do a quick switch to another search tool — eight popular options are supported — by just clicking in the address bar. The search icons will appear below; tap on one to use it.

Vivaldi’s overall performance was quick, though I would often see the placeholder for an image or whitespace for a video or ad as I scrolled, even a minute or more after I loaded a longer article. 

I appreciate this preference for delivering the text as quickly as possible, but waiting until I scroll to load the rest of the page's content is taking this too far and ultimately a worse experience.

While it lacks extension support or more powerful ad-blocking features found in some of the other best Android browsers, Vivaldi offers a compelling feature set that I hope to see its developers continue to build upon. 

Since I last tested the browser, an update has added support for custom ad-blocking lists, and you can now move the address and tab bars to the bottom of your screen if that's how you roll.

7. Brave Browser

Brave was one of the first browsers to offer a built-in mobile ad blocker, which is left on by default. The Chromium-based browser provides users with the ability to pay websites for their content using the company’s Basic Attention Token (BAT) system, and Brave's own privacy-minded search engine is now the default.

I found that that only a few sites that I read regularly were registered with Brave's BAT tokens, but this will obviously vary greatly from user to user. There’s no official list of Brave publishers, but a small checkmark appears on the Brave logo in the upper-right corner of the browser when you are on a supported site.

The browser itself covers all of the basics and adds a couple of nice touches, such as the ability to set different preferred search engines on standard versus private tabs and some fairly granular privacy settings. There aren't many options to customize the look or feel beyond turning on a dark theme or moving the address bar to the bottom of the screen, but Brave does let you group tabs.

There are other features that cater to privacy, including forcing secure HTTPS connections when possible, blocking cookies and browser fingerprinting, and even blocking JavaScript, which will cripple many websites. However, the option to easily use the Tor anonymizing protocol hasn't carried over from the desktop version of Brave.

As far as browsing goes, the initial load times on Brave are comparable to our other top options, which is odd given that Brave strips out ads and trackers which should in theory be slow components to load. 

Despite the claimed “estimated time saved” on the home screen for the app, I found no perceptible advantage even on sites with extensive ads and trackers.

If you use the Brave desktop browser, you’ll no doubt enjoy the Android version as well, as it will sync over your content and carries over your Brave Rewards. (In fact, a recent update looked to bolster Brave's syncing features.) 

As a standalone option, though, there’s little to recommend Brave over the other best Android browsers higher on this list.

How to choose the best Android browser for you

For most people, the best Android browser will be the one that comes pre-installed on their phones. If you have no problems with Google Chrome when surfing the web on your smartphone, you should probably keep using it and not really worry about having to find another option.

However, if you don’t use Chrome on your desktop or laptop, you may find it more useful to switch to the mobile version of the browser you do use. Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera,Brave and Vivaldi all have Android versions and they’re worth checking out if any one of them is your preferred desktop browser.

You’ll also want to consider privacy and ad-blocking features when deciding between the best Android browsers. Many of the mainstream browsers offer some version of these features but for an extra layer of privacy, you may want to turn to a browser that specializes in keeping your online activity safe from prying eyes.

Don't forget to check out our other guides on the best Android apps , the best ad blockers and the best Android antivirus apps. 

How we test Android browsers

We conducted our initial browser testing using a Pixel 3 running Android 9 Pie, though your experience won’t differ all that much from phone to phone. During our testing, we looked at more than half a dozen browsers and focused on ones that are regularly updated.

We also periodically go back and check the browsers we’ve reviewed for new features to ensure that the experience hasn’t significantly changed with subsequent android updates.

Our testing process involves using each browser as our primary way to surf the web on one of the best Android smartphones until we get an overall impression of current features and user experience.

We also test loading speeds and see how well each of the browsers on this list handles websites that aren’t suited to mobile devices like those for banks or local restaurants. At the same time, we also visit websites that feature a lot of ads to see how each browser performs when it comes to stopping pop-up ads . 

Get Black Friday deals in your inbox!

Instant access to the hottest deals available plus daily breaking news, reviews, helpful tips and more from the Tom's Guide team.

Anthony Spadafora

Anthony Spadafora is the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. Before joining the team, he wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

One of the worst things about smart homes reminded me why I'll never use an iPhone

Android 14 upgrade is bricking some Google Pixel devices — what you need to know

9 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Max, Hulu and more (Nov. 17-19)

Most Popular

By Alison Barretta September 14, 2023

By James Archer September 13, 2023

By Alison Barretta September 03, 2023

By Steven Asarch August 31, 2023

By TJ Fink August 17, 2023

By TJ Fink August 15, 2023

By Sam Hopes August 09, 2023

By Emily Long August 09, 2023

By Mike Prospero August 03, 2023

By Terry Sullivan August 03, 2023

By Alison Barretta July 25, 2023

  • Browser Reviews

Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process .

Logo: Safari

  • Usually pretty fast
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Default for Mac & iOS

Safari Review

Safari is Apple's native browser for Mac and iOS. The browser marketplace has become pretty competitive, and there are a host of other browser options you could use instead of Safari. But the question is, should you? Read our Safari review to find out.

Hannah Pisani

All Mac and iPhone users will be familiar with Safari — it’s Apple’s native web browser and has been around since 2003. Apple has taken Safari through 15 major updates, but that’s not to say it’s the best browser out there. After all, the browser market is a competitive one. Should Safari be the go-to for Apple users? Well, read our Safari review to decide.

There’s a lot we like about Safari — both on Mac and iPhone. It’s straightforward to use, integrates well with Apple’s applications and looks sleek and crisp. However, Safari is far from perfect, with the lack of browser extensions being a particular weakness. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Safari is the native browser for Mac and iOS devices. It’s got a clean design and is straightforward to use. 
  • Safari ranks pretty high for privacy and security, but it lacks the customizable features and add-ons that you get with other browsers.
  • The big win for Safari is its integration capabilities. It syncs effortlessly across your Apple devices and you can use Apple Pay in-browser. 

Ultimately, our take on Safari is that it depends on what you need. If you’re a lover of Apple devices who wants to browse the web for fun and research purposes, then Safari is probably enough. However, if you’re looking for a personalized, customized and enhanced web browsing experience, you may want to consider other providers.

Let’s get into the Safari browser review. One more thing: Safari is only available on the iOS operating system. If you’re a Microsoft Windows or Chromebook user, we advise you stop reading now and check out our list of the best browsers instead. 

Cloudwards completed a fresh review of Safari. Since our last review, Safari has updated its design, but its features remain unchanged.  Testing: MacBook running OS Monterey and an iPhone running iOS 14.8.1. 

Safari feels intuitive to use and covers the basics well. However, it lacks the features and vast extension libraries of its competitors.

Safari is pretty secure because it uses Google’s Safe Browsing database to protect you from phishing and malware. It also automatically blocks suspicious websites and pop-ups by default.

This depends on your needs. If you’re looking to add a range of extensions to your browsing experience, or are particularly security conscious, you’ll be better off with Google Chrome. However, if you are an avid Apple fan and want a fast, seamless user experience across all your Apple devices, Safari won’t disappoint.

Safari isn’t outdated in our view. It offers a range of elements that make it perfect for day-to-day browsing needs.

Safari Review: Alternatives

Logo: Opera

Safari Review: Strengths & Weaknesses

  • Usually pretty fast 
  • Intuitive user interface 
  • Default for Mac & iOS
  • Limited extensions library 
  • Only available on Apple 
  • Customization not obvious 

Safari encourages continuity. One of its standout features is the fact that, if you’re an iPhone, iPad and Mac user, you can work seamlessly across your Apple devices. This is because Safari takes advantage of iCloud syncing features. Essentially, rather than storing data locally on your device, Safari stores your data in the cloud. 

If you’re signed in with your Apple ID across your Apple devices, you can switch from device to device without your browser session being interrupted (to an extent). For example, you can favorite a web recipe on your phone and then access it on your Mac. 

We also like that you can sync passwords across your devices — although, this isn’t actually down to Safari, but Apple’s iCloud Keychain software. 

While this interoperability is a definite benefit, it has its limitations. Sure, favorite websites and bookmarks transfer, but you can’t sync your settings or open tabs across devices. 

Features on Mac

Safari covers the essentials well for Mac devices. It has a sleek, minimalist design and is intuitive to use on a desktop. While there are customization features, they’re kind of muted and hard to find.

In the right-hand corner of the browser start page, you’ll find a settings icon that enables you to lightly edit the appearance of your start page — whether you view your favorites, privacy report and so on. You can also upload your own background image from the start page. 

These few features are pretty basic — and so is the functionality of the desktop browser. While it’s good for basic browsing, if you want to harness the power of a library of extensions, Safari falls short. 

That’s not to say that Apple doesn’t offer extensions for Safari. It does, but the library certainly isn’t as vast as open-source competitors like Firefox ( read our full review of Firefox here). 

There are big names in the Apple extension store that are perfect for consumer browsing — we were able to install well-known favorites like Honey, 1Password and Grammarly. However, a lot of Safari’s extensions are, well, built for Safari. Apple’s app store has a bias to it, whereby a lot of the extensions are available only for Safari. 

If you’re an Apple devotee, there’s nothing to worry about — especially if you’re a family of Apple users. We like that the company has robust parental control settings that are easy to customize.

Parents can easily configure a secure browsing experience for their children without having to download any extensions. We have a comprehensive guide on how you can set parental controls on iPhones and iPads.

On Mac, for example, you can do this by clicking “system preferences” and then the screen time icon. Once on this page, you can select controls relating to app restrictions, content restrictions and downtime. 

Features on iOS

Safari is also solid on iOS, although it lacks the wow factor of competitor home screens like Google Chrome. While the Chrome mobile app, for example, automatically shows you the latest trending news on the home screen, Safari opens up as a gray, static canvas of your favorite websites and frequently visited pages. 

We don’t want to imply that this is a bad thing, though. It all depends on what you’re after from your mobile browsing experience. Moreover, iOS shines in its syncing and communication capabilities. If you see a website or article you like, you can easily share it with your phone contacts in just a couple of clicks across applications like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

You can also easily bookmark iCloud tabs, add them to favorites and save them to your home screen with a single tap for later use. 

Ease of Use

Safari’s interface is a bit like Marmite — you either love it or you hate it. Mac devotees will likely find Safari intuitive to use, but that’s partially due to previous experience with Safari. Because it comes preloaded on Apple products, there’s no learning curve.

For Chrome users, the Safari start page could be a little jarring. Gone are the bells and whistles of a center-space search bar and the latest news stories. Instead, you’re greeted with a minimalist gray interface featuring your reading list, favorite pages and a block of your most visited sites. 

Ease of Use on Mac

Safari’s user interface is pretty easy to get your head around. The address bar is at the top of the screen, and your tabs appear underneath it in chronological order. Above the address bar, you can find all the usual suspects that you’d expect from a browser, like your history, bookmarks and edit options. 

One nice feature is the “tab overview” function in the top right-hand corner, which zooms you out of your tabs so you can see all your sites at a high level. If you’re someone who uses lots of research tabs for school or work, this is really handy. 

Another slightly hidden feature of Safari for Mac is the tab group feature. In the top left-hand corner of the Safari screen, you’ll see a page icon. Click this and a panel will appear on the left-hand side of your page. From this panel, you can create tab groups, where you can save a group of web pages to be opened at a later date. 

Ease of Use on iOS 

It’s a similar story on iOS. The layout of Safari for mobile devices is intuitive and simple, with a search engine function embedded at the top of the homepage. The one downside of Safari on iOS is that tab management is a little clunky. 

Every time you open a new tab, it gets added to a card deck tab list, which can easily become overwhelmingly long if you’re not careful about closing tabs that you no longer use. 

While apps like Chrome will let you know how many tabs you have open, it’s a bit of a guessing game with Safari and it’s easy to lose track if you click links with websites that open new tabs. 

Safari offers a private browsing option that’s super easy to find — we would say easier to find than in its mobile app competitors. By tapping the “open new tab” option, you’ll automatically see a “private” browsing option in the bottom left-hand corner of your mobile screen. 

Safari’s Integration With Apple Devices

So far, Safari seems to be doing OK in the browser game, but Apple really makes up for things when it comes to its native browser’s integration capabilities. Apple Pay, for example, is one of the best features of using Apple. With macOS expMonterey on a relatively new MacBook Pro, we can use Safari to pay for transactions with a quick and effortless touch ID feature. 

It’s a similar picture on iPhone, where Safari and face ID combine for an effortless checkout experience. Of course, this functionality depends on the e-commerce website you visit. Not all merchants offer Apple Pay, but it is a nice touch when they do. 

Saying this, we’re also aware that most browsers give you the option to save your credit card details, but there is something glitzy about the touch ID and face ID capabilities of Safari and Apple Pay that appeals — even if it is slightly gimmicky. 

We also like that Safari enables you to effortlessly email or call a website you’ve visited by clicking these details. On iOS, you’ll be able to immediately call the number; on Mac, the email address will open up in Apple Mail. 

Performance

Safari’s performance is, for the most part, superb on both Mac and iOS. We tested Safari’s speed, compared to Chrome on Mac, to see how it performed. 

We used BrowserBench’s trio of tests — Speedometer 2.0, JetStream 2 and MotionMark — each of which analyzes a different aspect of the browser. Read our review of the fastest browsers here. 

We performed the tests on a MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 CPU running at  2 GHz. It’s worth noting that the strength of your internet connection can impact the browser speed, so keep that in mind when reviewing the results, which were as follows.

Benchmark Test Results

With Speedometer, Chrome came up tops. Its reading was 122.05, compared to Safari’s 113.8. This means Chrome is the faster option, but Safari is still pretty speedy. The difference is negligible and we haven’t noticed it with either browser. 

On JetStream, Chrome came in at 118.675, with Safari taking a slight lead with a reading of 125.705. This indicates that Safari is solid for handling more complex JavaScript workloads.

However, with MotionMark, which tests the graphics capabilities of the browser, Safari’s result was 356.31, while Chrome’s was 403.6. MotionMark is all about testing the user experience — how a browser responds and performs in terms of graphics and responsiveness. 

Safari’s Improved Performance on Apple Devices

While Chrome takes the lead here, we have to say that we haven’t noticed a clear difference in the user experience while using Chrome compared to Safari. Although, if you’re into gaming on your browser, you may find Chrome preferable. 

So, while Chrome may be faster, Safari’s performance is still excellent. From an efficiency perspective, Safari is also better than other browsers that are based on Chromium (take a look at our Chromium review ). This is because of Safari’s lightweight design, which means it needs less RAM than other providers. 

This difference is exemplified the most by tab usage. If you’re familiar with the MacBook Pro “fan whir,” then be wary of opening too many Chrome tabs at once. 

While we can open an unlimited number of Safari tabs without experiencing the whir, if we open too many Chrome tabs, it will trigger the Mac’s fan. If you want more on the battle of Chrome vs Safari, read our full review . 

Safari isn’t bad in terms of security, but it’s not amazing either. While the browser uses Google’s Safe Browsing database to prevent phishing and malware, its pop-up ad blocker seems to fall short. 

We’ve visited many news websites and found that ads have interrupted our browsing experience. We’d recommend downloading an additional pop-up ad blocker extension to impede this. 

Another thing to bear in mind is that Safari’s updates are few and far between. While competitor search engines like Google Chrome mandate security updates roughly every two to three weeks, Safari security updates are less frequent at anywhere between four and six weeks. 

These security updates tend to contain critical patches that correct vulnerabilities in the browsing software. Left too long without a patch, cybercriminals could take advantage of these security weaknesses, which is why we recommend using the best VPN for Safari .  

Finally, as noted earlier, Safari’s integration with Apple devices makes password management super simple. You don’t need to install an extra password manager; Safari automatically stores your passwords in the iCloud Keychain. 

As an added bonus, Safari also features dark web monitoring. This alerts you if your password or email address has appeared in a data breach, and asks you to change the password. 

Hidden in Safari’s “preferences” section are a range of basic privacy features that are automatically enabled, such as tick-box options to prevent cross-site tracking, hide your IP address and block all cookies. 

Safari doesn’t boast these features. You have to look to find them. but it’s encouraging to know that they are enabled by default, as opposed to users having to opt in for better privacy. 

On your start page, you’ll even see a feature called “privacy report,” which highlights how Apple’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention functionality has identified and blocked website trackers from tracking you. 

Safari Browser Review: The Verdict

Ultimately, Safari is a robust browser choice for both iOS and Mac users. If you’re a big Apple fan, then using Safari makes sense for basic browsing — especially given its seamless integration with other Apple functions like iCloud and Apple Pay. 

However, if you’re looking for high degrees of customization and personalization, then Safari’s minimalist interface and handful of extensions will feel limiting. 

We’d love to know what you think of Safari. How do you think it compares to other browsers? Is Safari your go-to browser, and if so why? Let us know in the comments! Thank you for reading.

I myself like Safari a lot, the fact its integrated with Mac OS and IOS is actually a big plus for me. Ads have never really bothered me, and Apple does include cross site blocking now in Safari 13. In Mac OS Safari hands down beats any other browser in conserving battery life.

Safari is a blazing fast and system efficient browser. But a major downside with it is Bookmarks bar. I for one hope that it one day support favicons only on the bar. On Chrome i can only have icons and no text. Safari does not allow this which is tragic.

Safari has got to be the absolute worst browser in the world! Constantly shutting off say a problem occurred. I would not give a plug nickel for the entire mess

I find this review very wrong. For starters, maybe use the actual 2020 Safari (included on iOS 14 and Big Sur beta) when you say it’s updated to 2020 when it only gets a major update every year. Security is actually pretty good and privacy is the best. You get tracker blocking, 3rd party cookies blocking and apple had the best privacy practices. If a security threat comes out, they’ll update the browser faster, OBVIOUSLY. This is the easiest browser to use, and I find it weird you consider TOR to be easier. iCloud Keychain is 100% integrated with the browser and has great features like notifying you when there’s a data breach. You can now add a wallpaper to the start page, and add or remove categories from it. There are great ad blockers for Safari, just because there are few doesn’t mean they aren’t good. You mention here that tabs aren’t synced, well they are, it’s called iCloud tabs and you can access it through the tabs menu. Everyone uses google anyways but you can change writhing those 4. If you want more, you can type that websites name then what you want to say. For example, “Twitter The daily show and an option will show up saying “search Twitter for daily show”. You can also make it so the start page is a specific website. Safari performed very well indeed, but the best is its smoothness. I can clearly see you used this for 10 minutes and called it a day. This article is very biased

Thank you. You are spot on. I tried all these browsers but they don’t come close to safari in all aspects.

Google Chrome is far more better than Safari. Sorry.

As a developer, Safari is absolutely garbage-tier. It’s almost impossible to test properly without an actual Apple device. The ios version still doesn’t support many css grid features properly, and it handles videos like trash. It is a poorly optimized, obsolete browser that often feels like Internet Explorer. Stay away.

Safari only works with Apple devices so why would you want to test it on non-apple devices?

I WANT to love Safari as I want to love all Apple. Itunes/Imusic have DEFINITELY lost me and now Safari is headed down the same road. The fact that I cannot turn off Google Ads, drives me nuts. There are things I love about Safari, but I’m absolutely tired of browsers shoving ads at me. ENOUGH. Safari will let you shut off popups (with Adblock and some other extensions), but it still shows me a big Google ad across the top of top news sites. Done. Same with Chrome- less private than Safari, at least Chrome lets me shut off ads, but I don’t want to be tracked so I can be marketed to on other sites. I’m done with that. AND Safari on my iphone (granted, it’s an old one) constantly reloads the site so I can’t read a darned article. It’s maddening. I’ve switched to Brave and it’s actually the best browser experience I’ve had. Apple- REMOVE the google ads and I’ll come back, but not until.

I WANT to love Safari as I want to love all Apple. Itunes/Imusic have DEFINITELY lost me and now Safari is headed down the same road. The fact that I cannot turn off Google Ads, drives me nuts. There are things I love about Safari, but I’m absolutely tired of browsers shoving ads at me. ENOUGH. Safari will let you shut off popups (with Adblock and some other extensions), but it still shows me a big Google ad across the top of top news sites. Done. Same with Chrome- less private than Safari, at least Chrome lets me shut off ads, but I don’t want to be tracked so I can be marketed to on other sites. I’m done with that. AND Safari on my iphone (granted, it’s an old one) constantly reloads the site so I can’t read a darned article and it’s due to ad software. It’s maddening. I’ve switched to Brave and it’s actually the best browser experience I’ve had. Apple- REMOVE the google ads and I’ll come back to Safari, but not until.

Awful experience since 6 months ago or so. It is so slow to open new tabs I had to switch on google Chrome. Adds up to bad opinion on so dirt prone new Macbook materials and bad updates experience. Seems to me Apple is not what it used to be and more and more just hype.

Doesn’t work for most biometric or other authentication on iOS. Seems like safari is ages behind chrome and other browsers. Apple needs to get it together and support standard web features like camera access and dragging and dropping within html5 tables instead of expecting every website to bend over backwards for their browser.

Well, your sort of stuck with Safari on IOS or should I say all browsers are stuck using Safari’s WebKit engine. Sort of Apple’s way of leveling the field or Safari. Unfortunately Safari is limited to Apple OS so the ideal of a cross platform browser is critical for many who use different devices and want a browser that works on all of them. I also find Safari has far more compatibility issues at times then a Chromium based browser. I think WebKit faces the same challenges as Trident Engine that Microsoft used, and Gecko that Mozilla uses for Firefox. Web developers mainly focus on Chromium and ignore the other more obscure engines. Obviously, Microsoft figured his out adopting Chromium for its Edge browser. Apple may need to rethink Safari and how its relationship is to the web?

I love Safari! However,I have a problem going into Safari when I updated something on my iPhone

Safari 16.0 does not update websites that has been just updated by myself. It shows web page that was downloaded initially.

After the update, Safari doesn’t load on my homepage. I work back & forth and need it located in my dock & minimize on my homepage.

I like Safari it suits me

Hannah Pisani

  • The Best iPhone VPN in 2022: Protect Your iOS Mobile Device
  • Safari vs Chrome in 2023: Performance, Speed and Features Compared

Eugenie Tiu

Because the Cloudwards.net team is committed to delivering accurate content, we implemented an additional fact-checking step to our editorial process. Each article that we fact check is analyzed for inaccuracies so that the published content is as accurate as possible.

You can tell that an article is fact checked with the Facts checked by symbol, and you can also see which Cloudwards.net team member personally verified the facts within the article. However, providers frequently change aspects of their services, so if you see an inaccuracy in a fact-checked article, please email us at feedback[at]cloudwards[dot]net. We strive to eventually have every article on the site fact checked. Thank you.

To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

  • Backchannel
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Newsletters
  • Wired Insider

Tired of Safari? Try These Mobile Browsers Instead

This image may contain Logo Symbol and Trademark

You probably have a cozy relationship with your phone's default web browser. And that's fine! But when it comes to surfing the mobile web, you can do so much better. Try one of these mobile browsing alternatives for iOS and Android. In many cases, these alt-browsers offer better privacy options, data-saving features, and desktop syncing abilities than your phone's native browser. Try putting one of these apps on your home screen to take your browsing to the next level.

Microsoft Edge gives Windows 10 users one continuous browsing experience as they move between devices. Start reading an article on your computer, finish it later on your phone. The browser's Reading View makes it easier to focus on text-heavy pages, and Hub View organizes your favorites, history, reading list, and bookmarks in one place. Edge can also bring autofill information or saved usernames and passwords across devices, so you don't have to re-enter information twice. Of course, you'll need to sync your phone to a PC with the latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Once connected, you'll be able to browse with ease across devices. Available on iOS and Android .

Image may contain Logo Symbol and Trademark

You’ve probably used Firefox browser on your desktop, but the free Mozilla browser app makes for a pretty nice mobile experience. The app opens to the search engine (Google is the default, but you can change it). Below the search bar are four icons: The first offers popular site suggestions, like Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon, as well as articles recommended by Pocket. The star icon shows your bookmarked pages. There's a clock icon, which surfaces your browsing history, and a reading list, which opens text articles in the eyeball-friendly Reader View. The app also lets you sync browsing data from your phone to your computer. For private browsing, tap the mask icon to browse the web without leaving a trace of your history. If you really want to go undercover, try Firefox Focus, which adds tracking protection and content blocking. It blocks ad trackers, analytics trackers, and social trackers; it also makes it easy to erase cookies and passwords. Available on iOS and Android .

This image may contain Pottery Art and Porcelain

This mobile browser was built specifically for Samsung devices, but people liked it so much that the company made it available for download on all Android phones. It utilizes a built-in ad-tracking blocker, and works with third-party ad-blocking apps. But perhaps the most interesting feature of the Samsung Internet app is its compatibility with Samsung's Gear VR platform. That means if you've got a Gear VR headset, you can select links merely by looking at them. Available on Android .

This image may contain Logo Symbol Trademark and Tape

Many Android phones already get Chrome as the default browser, but iPhone users can get in on the fun too. The mobile browser is especially useful if you already use Chrome on the desktop. You log into the app using your Google ID, and it syncs your personal data to the mobile browser. You get access to all of your saved logins, your bookmarks, and your browsing history, including whatever tabs you have open on your desktop. You also get Chrome's incognito mode for private browsing, and access to Google's excellent cloud translation service that lets you translate a foreign-language web page into English with a tap of a button. Available on iOS and Android .

Image may contain Logo Symbol Trademark Tape and Text

If you struggle to keep your data usage to a minimum, or if you have spotty service in your area, you can use Opera Mini to make pages load faster. The browser automatically blocks ads and compresses parts of web pages to speed up load times and to reduce the data payload. It also comes with a curated news feed of articles it thinks you'll enjoy based on your browsing data, and an incognito mode for when you'd rather browse in private. Available on iOS and Android .

Image may contain Triangle

This privacy-focused browser gives you unlimited encrypted VPN service for free. Just tap the shield in the top left corner to turn the VPN on and browse privately. The VPN also has a data-saving feature that compresses pages to save you bandwidth and speed things up. Beyond letting you surf in a "private mode" like other browsers, Aloha goes as far as letting you lock down certain tabs; they can then only be accessed with TouchID or a passcode. It comes with an ad-blocker to make pages appear cleaner, and there's a built-in media player that manages your downloaded files and lets you play music and videos right there in the browser. Aloha is available on iOS and Android .

13 Best Deals at Target’s Black Friday Sale

Medea Giordano

The PlayStation Portal Turns Your PS5 Into a Handheld, Sorta

Eric Ravenscraft

Meta’s Ray-Bans Still Can’t Escape the Glasshole Effect

WIRED Staff

The Top New Features in Apple’s iOS 17 and iPadOS 17

Julian Chokkattu

How to Use Android’s Nearby Share to Send Photos and Files

Reece Rogers

Here’s Everything You Can Do With Copilot, the Generative AI Assistant on Windows 11

David Nield

WIRED COUPONS

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/42428/logo/modloft_discount_code.png

Black Friday Sale: 50% off sitewide + Extra $100 Modloft discount code

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/41838/logo/SHEIN_coupon_code.png

Up to 30% off -SHEIN Coupon Code

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/37974/logo/Instacart_logo_-_22__1_.png

Instacart promo code: $25 Off your 1st order + free delivery

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/34427/logo/doordash-promo-codes-logo.png

50% Off DoorDash Promo Code + Free Delivery

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/37954/logo/Ulta_logo_-_WIRED.png

Ulta Beauty Coupon Code: get $3.50 Off $15 qualifying purchase

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/30208/logo/_0047_Dyson--coupons.png

Extra 20% off sitewide - Dyson promo code

Android Police

What chrome for android needs to learn from safari.

Apple’s iOS browser does some things better than Chrome for Android

Google Chrome is one of the best browsers on Android — and elsewhere. This makes sense, as Google puts a ton of resources into ensuring that it stays the top-dog in terms of market share. However, when you look at Chrome for Android , you might notice that it feels a little long in the tooth. Sure, the browser may have recently received a Material You theme overhaul, but other than that, the basic way that you interact with it has stayed the same for years. Things are different on iOS, and Apple keeps its pre-installed browser Safari feeling fresh with significantly improvements.

These days, I much prefer to use Safari on a day-to-day basis, and I’m not happy with Chrome whenever I’m using some of my favorite Android phones .

Bottom-based interface

Apple took a leap of faith and decided to switch Safari over to a bottom-based interface. The step was initially met with criticism from loyal Apple fans, so the company added an optional screen-top interface, but the default way to use Safari is with the address bar and most control elements at the bottom. This makes Safari great for one-handed and ergonomic use. Typing in another address or reaching the tab switcher doesn’t involve overstretching your thumbs all the way across the screen and forcing you to adjust the grip on your phone. Sure, you still need to tap some options at the top, but the majority of interactions happen at the bottom.

Compare that to the state of Chrome on Android. Google experimented with a bottom-based interface for a long time, but ultimately decided to scrap the “Chrome Duet” experiment altogether (the codename under which Chrome’s bottom-based interface was developed). The decision was met with an immediate outcry from the enthusiast crowd that was already using this bottom interface through hidden Chrome flags, but Google has so far stood its ground. It’s a shame, because handling Chrome is a significantly less ergonomic experience than Safari. To open new tabs, type in an address or search term, or to get to the overflow menu, you always need to stretch your thumb to the top of the screen.

What makes this more infuriating is the fact that Chrome for iOS puts a lot of options in a bottom bar that simply doesn’t exist on Android. On iOS, Chrome offers backwards and forwards buttons at the bottom, along with the tab switcher, a new tab button, and the overflow menu. The address bar remains up top, but this is already so much more than what Chrome users get on Android.

That’s not to say that Safari’s interface is perfect, nor always intuitive. To reach the important overflow menu that gives you options like page zoom, website translation, and other website settings, you need to tap a nondescript “aA” button in the left of the address bar. It’s true that Android’s vertical ellipsis isn’t much more descriptive than that, but at least Google and third-party developers consistently use it throughout apps to denote a menu that lists more options. The unintuitive, weird “aA” menu is pretty much exclusive to Safari on iOS.

Some of my complaints here are easily enough resolved by switching to a third-party browser on Android. Virtually all other popular browsers for the OS add at least some buttons and tools to the bottom of the screen, even if most retain the address bar at the top by default. Come on, Google, there is definitely proof that people are interested in using an interface like this.

All the smooth gestures

Another aspect where Safari takes the crown is gestures. Once you know your way around Safari using them, you might never need to tap a button again for dealing with your tabs. Safari lets you switch between tabs by swiping left or right on the address bar. It even has a clever trick to teach you how to use this feature. The browser shows a small preview of the next tab’s address bar to the left or right of the one for the currently active tab (depending on how many tabs you have opened and which one you’re looking at). This indicates that you can just swipe left or right to open it, making it easy to compare two websites on the fly, without having to use split-screen or any other tricks like it.

My favorite gesture is probably the one for opening a new tab. Once you’ve reached your right-most tab, you can just swipe one more time, like you’d want to open a tab to the right of it that doesn’t yet exist — Safari will then open a new tab. I find this much faster and more convenient than long-pressing the tab switcher and hitting New tab or opening the tab switcher to do this, which are options available on both Chrome and Safari. Safari also lets you quickly access your tab overview by swiping up from the address bar, and you can close tabs you don’t need anymore from this view with a swipe to the left.

Chrome, to its credit, is capable of most of these gestures, too. You can swipe left and right on the address bar to switch between tabs, and you can swipe down from the address bar to open the tab switcher — you can even swipe away tabs you no longer need. However, the gestures feel a lot less fluid and appear more tacked-on — plus, there aren’t similarly clever indicators that you can switch tabs in this manner, not like what we get on Safari. Combined with the bottom navigation, the way Safari handles gestures is once again more ergonomic than what Chrome does.

This may be sound like nitpicking, but smooth animations and clear transitions between pages make it easier to interact with technology. Not everyone knows their way around their phone as well as people in the tech bubble, and fluid, logical animations help a great deal in helping users understand shortcuts and how their phone’s navigation functions. Plus, I also have some gripes with Safari in this category. For some reason, it’s not possible to close tabs in the tab overview by swiping to the right — left is the only way to go.

Extension support

One final thing that Safari has going for it is extension support. Given how Apple is known to love its walled garden, this actually feels like quite the surprise. Safari for iOS supports a whole range of extensions that also work on its desktop counterpart, like password managers, ad and tracking blockers, CSS tweakers, couponing services, reading services, new tab customizers, grammar and spell checkers, and more.

To find out what’s hindering Google from adding extension support, we talked to Vivaldi CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner. He told us that in the open-source Chromium code (which Vivaldi also uses for its browsers) instructions concerning extensions are commented out for mobile. This means that it’s theoretically possible to enable extension support if the will were there. That’s also how browsers like Kiwi are able to support Chrome extensions on Android, though for third-party Chromium browsers like it, this support comes at a cost. For every single update, the developers have to ensure compatibility by checking if any of the extension code has broken — which is a significant hurdle in fast adoption of security patches and feature updates within Chromium code.

It’s possible that Google’s main motivation behind not allowing mobile extensions is ad blocking concerns. As long as Chrome remains the most-used browser on Android, Google doesn’t have much incentive to add features that could hurt its bottom line, even if there are more than enough ad blockers on Android. These are just a tad more complicated to use than a browser extension, though, which likely means that fewer people take advantage of these solutions than they might on desktop browsers.

Good artists copy, great artists steal

Chrome and its Chromium rendering engine may be unrivaled today, with the browser routinely winning benchmarking races. But that’s not all there is to a good browser. If Google wants to woo its users with features again, rather than just relying on its position as the default browser on Android, it needs to innovate on the feature front. Like we said, Safari isn’t the only browser that offers good ideas, so it’s time for Google to start looking at the competition — and downright steal what makes sense.

  • Affordable Luxury: Top-Tier Tech Delights
  • Early Black Friday Deals!

What Is Safari?

Hint: Apple device users use this all the time

is safari available on android

  • University of Texas at Arlington

Safari web browser is the default for the iPhone , iPad, and macOS , first released by Apple in 2003 and briefly offered on Windows from 2007 to 2012. The popularity of the Safari browser exploded with the iPhone and the iPad, and currently has about a  54% market share of mobile browser usage  in the United States.

In most ways, Safari is like any other popular browser. Users can browse websites, bookmark favorites, and open multiple sites in tabs. Built using the WebKit engine, Safari was one of the first web browsers to support the new  HTML 5  standard. It was also one of the first browsers to have support for Adobe Flash turned off by default, with the mobile versions of Safari having never supported Flash .

Safari on Mac OS is currently on version 11.1, which includes an upgrade to Intelligent Tracking Prevention. This feature helps prevent a specific website from tracking pages browsed on other websites, a process called 'cross-site tracking. Safari on iOS shares its version with the iOS version, which is currently on 12.1.

What Makes Safari Stand out From Other Web Browsers?

While you might have trouble spotting the differences between Google Chrome, Apple's Safari, or Microsoft Edge at first glance, the Safari browser has some key features that help separate it from the pack, including the ability to format articles for easier reading.

  • iCloud Tab Browsing . This feature automatically syncs open tabs across devices with the same  iCloud  account. You can view a list of all tabs open on your MacBook while using Safari on the iPhone or iPad. It's similar to Chrome's bookmark sharing but doesn't require logging in. 
  • Sharing . The Safari app has a built-in share button that enables users to quickly share a website through messaging, email, or social media such as Facebook or Twitter. The coolest feature is the ability to share a site directly with another nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac using AirDrop. 
  • Reader View . Safari can detect articles and present them in a format that strips out navigation and advertisement in favor of a more readable view. This view is especially great for websites that load new windows as you scroll or become unreadable on an iPhone or iPad because of navigation.
  • Energy Efficient . While iMacs are great desktop computers, Apple is primarily a laptop and mobile device provider. Safari proves this by being extremely energy efficient, buying you precious minutes, and sometimes even hours of extra use compared to Chrome, Firefox, and other popular browsers.

What Are Safari's Deficits?

The Safari web browser has a lot going for it, especially for those who are rooted in the Apple ecosystem and own a Mac along with an iPhone or iPad. However, it's not all roses and butterflies:

  • Limited Plugin Support.  Safari supports Extension, but the plugins available for Safari lag behind those available for Chrome.
  • Exclusive to Apple . While it's possible to run Safari on Linux and it was briefly supported on Windows, Safari is primarily a web browser made to run on Apple hardware. You can't run it on Android smartphones or tablets, and you should avoid the Windows version because Apple no longer supports it with critical security updates.
  • No Tab Icons . Favicons are essentially icons for websites. And while browsers like Google Chrome use these icons in tabs to help differentiate browser tabs and help the user pick out the one they want, Safari doesn't include them on tabs.

Safari Alternatives

While Safari is the default browser for iOS and Mac, users can download a wide range of browsers on either platform. The Mac supports Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, and many other web browsers, while iPhone and iPad users can download Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and even Microsoft Edge.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2023
  • What is Dolphin Browser and How Does It Work?
  • What's the Difference Between a Mac and a PC?
  • What Is macOS?
  • The iPadOS Versions Guide
  • What Is USDZ?
  • 10 Hidden Features in macOS Sonoma (2023)
  • Can You Install the Safari Browser on Android?
  • How to Turn on Incognito Mode in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and Opera
  • How to Delete Cookies in Every Major Browser
  • How to Increase Web Browser Security
  • How to Use the Safari Web Browser on iPhone
  • How to Manage Your Browsing History in Safari
  • What's the Best Mobile Web Browser?
  • How to Enable Cookies in Your Browser
  • How to Save a Web Page as a PDF

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

is safari available on android

why safari on Android

Why safari on android¿ Tnx verry much

Posted on Jan 25, 2023 12:56 PM

Similar questions

  • Why do some websites tell me that my Safari Why do some websites tell me that my Safari 191 1
  • Safari Safari ist nach der Aktualisierung von ios 16 sehr langsam geworden und öffnet keine Websites!!!! 130 4
  • Safari browser Why is the safari app opening google after update 162 1

IdrisSeabright

Jan 25, 2023 1:11 PM in response to Community User

No, Safari is not available on Android phones.

Loading page content

Page content loaded

Jan 25, 2023 1:25 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

that's what I thought until I was personally convinced of the opposite, but now I'm even more curious what the meaning is because if you want and love an iPhone then you will be a user of it, if it's the opposite why

Jan 25, 2023 1:32 PM in response to Community User

AnitaSolin wrote:
that's what I thought until I was personally convinced of the opposite,

There is no Safari for Android so I don't know how you could be "convinced of the opposite".

but now I'm even more curious what the meaning is because if you want and love an iPhone then you will be a user of it, if it's the opposite why

What is the meaning of.....what?

No matter how much you love iPhones, there still isn't a version of Safari for Androids.

Also, punctuation and discrete sentences will help people understand what you mean.

Firefox is no longer supported on Windows 8.1 and below.

Please download Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release) to use Firefox.

Download Firefox ESR 64-bit

Download Firefox ESR 32-bit

Firefox is no longer supported on macOS 10.14 and below.

is safari available on android

Comparing Firefox Browser with Apple Safari

If you use a Mac or have an iPhone, chances are you’re familiar with the Safari web browser. The fact that it’s pre-installed as the default browser for Apple product users definitely gives it an early advantage, but Firefox has its own set of useful features that make it an attractive alternative and can now be set as your default browser on your Mac and iPhone. Here we’ll explore the main differences between our browser and Safari in terms of privacy, utility and portability between devices.

is safari available on android

Security and Privacy

Privacy has become a white hot topic for tech companies as they realize more and more people are feeling vulnerable to things like data breaches, ad trackers and hackers. But when it comes down to the real tools people use to navigate the actual interwebs, is it all talk or are they actually taking action to keep your data secure?

As alluded to before, Apple is one of those companies that recently decided to step up their privacy game. Not long ago, Apple implemented cross-site tracking prevention in Safari, which prevents ads from following you around the internet. Safari also offers a strong password suggestion when you sign up for a new account on any website. And if you’re invested in the iCloud ecosystem, it syncs that password securely with your other devices, so you never actually have to remember it.

Like Safari, we at Firefox have made a point of focusing on privacy and security. But unlike Safari, we’ve been standing on the privacy soap box for a long time. In fact, Mozilla (our parent company) was one of the first voices in the tech community to sound the alarm for online privacy.

Our Private Browsing mode blocks trackers and erases your passwords, cookies and history every time you close it. But you can also experience our advanced privacy features even in regular browsing mode. With the latest edition of Firefox, enhanced tracking prevention is turned on by default. This prevents things like cross-site trackers from following you as you jump around the web. Also, with Facebook being caught out almost daily for privacy problems, our Facebook Container extension makes a lot of sense. It makes it harder for Facebook to track you around the web — similar to what Safari does to prevent cross-site tracking — but Firefox actually isolates your Facebook session into a separate container blocking Facebook from tracking what you do on other websites. Why do they need to know what you look up on WebMD anyway?

As far as security goes, Firefox is solid there as well. Any time you’re in Firefox, you can right-click in the password field to securely generate a strong password using the Fill Password option. When you save your new password, we will prompt you to save to its built-in password manager, Lockwise . We also serve up users and account holders with another free and useful product called Monitor that automatically alerts you if your data is included in a known data breach.

If you choose to use Safari, you’re in safe hands as long as you’re using an Apple device. But Safari only works on Apple devices, whereas Firefox works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux. So no matter what operating system you choose, Firefox has you covered with our security and privacy protections.

Download Firefox Browser

Apple is widely known for its closed ecosystem as it relates to creating software for its products. But inside the App Store, it does offer a section to developers to create plugins and add-ons to make the browser more robust. These extensions are also browsable through the App Store and easily added to Safari.

In addition to the regular set of features you’d expect in a browser, such as tabbed browsing and private browsing, Safari has some unexpected features as well. For instance, if a user were to right-click a word anywhere on a page inside Safari, then click Look Up, they’d get a dictionary definition plus entries from the thesaurus, App Store, movies and more. Safari’s Parental Controls are easy to customize, allowing the adults to breathe a little easier when the kids begin to get curious about the internet.

Like Safari, Firefox encourages its enthusiastic developer community to create add-ons and extensions to the browser. And since our platform is open-source, there’s a vast selection adding a wealth of functionality.

Also, when you sign up for a Mozilla account, you get access to unique services like Pocket that integrate directly into the browser. The Pocket for Firefox button lets you save web pages and videos to Pocket in just one click, so you can read a clean, distraction-free version whenever and wherever you want — even offline.

Firefox is also great for video and audio. With autoplay blocking built directly into the browser and turned on automatically, no website will ever shout or bark at you uninvited.

Screenshots is another popular feature built right into the Firefox browser, allowing you to easily capture a picture of your screen. When you take a screenshot, you can choose to copy the file or choose which folder you want to find it in, instead of cluttering your desktop.

Both browsers have a lot of crossover features, as well as some unique functions. It’s worth mentioning, if you take a lot of screenshots, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without this handy feature that’s built right into Firefox. But if you’re just looking for a fast, private browser for surfing and shopping, then you may want to give Firefox a try — especially if you’ve been exclusively using Safari because it came preloaded as the default browser on your computer. Eventually, you’ll discover which one is more suited to your needs.

Portability

Firefox and Safari both provide a seamless experience when moving from desktop to mobile browsing or vice versa. For Safari, one of its main strengths is its continuity features. It syncs your bookmarks, tabs, history and more to iCloud so they’re available on all your devices. That means you can open a tab on your iPhone and have it also appear on your macOS laptop with just a click.

Firefox also offers a similar sync feature when you sign up for a free Mozilla account that enables users to easily synchronize their bookmarks, browsing history, preferences, passwords, filled forms, add-ons, and the last 25 opened tabs across multiple computers. What sets Firefox apart from Safari is that it is available on any desktop or mobile platform, iOS, Android, Windows or macOS, boosting its portability across any device you may own.

The Firefox app for iOS and Android is one of the fastest browsers available and also has solid security and anti-tracking features — a huge plus if you’re constantly bouncing between a laptop and mobile devices.

Since Safari is Apple’s proprietary web browser, its iCloud syncing works exclusively with Apple products. This can be somewhat limiting if, for example, you’re both an Android user and an iPhone user or if you have a Windows based PC for work but use an iPhone as your personal device.

Overall Assessment

Safari does a great job of making the browsing experience simple, fast, and seamless if you’re an Apple user with multiple Apple products. Like Safari, Firefox is a fast and utilitarian browser, but privacy and cross-platform compatibility are our defining features. Firefox updates each month with new features and functionality. For example, one recent update switched on our Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) by default for new users, which effectively blocks cookies and cross-site trackers.

In the end, it just boils down to what you value in your browser. If you’re integrated with the Apple ecosystem, Safari is still a great choice. But if you value having the latest and greatest privacy protections and being able to work across multiple operating systems, we think Firefox is your best bet. Firefox is also a solid option as a secondary browser for those Apple-exclusive users who may want to switch into a different browser for those online moments that call for extra layers of privacy protection.

The comparisons made here were done so with default settings and across browser release versions as follows: Firefox (81) | Safari (14) This page is updated semi-quarterly to reflect latest versioning and may not always reflect latest updates.

How-To Geek

The best browser for mac users (and safari alternatives).

Is Safari really the best choice, and what are the best alternatives?

Key Takeaways

  • Safari is highly optimized for Apple hardware, but it may have limited web app compatibility and fewer extensions compared to browsers like Chrome.
  • Firefox is a privacy-conscious alternative to Safari, offering features like Do Not Track and blocking invisible trackers. Chrome is the most popular browser, known for its compatibility and wide range of extensions, but it may compromise privacy. Consider trying other browsers like Edge and Vivaldi, or unique options like Arc for a different browsing experience.

Your choice of web browser can have a big impact on your Mac experience. From integration with the services you use to power efficiency and reliability, here’s how to decide which is best for you.

Safari is (Arguably) the Best Mac Browser

There are a few good reasons to pick Safari as your browser of choice if you’re a Mac user, especially if you use other Apple devices like an iPhone or iPad . It might surprise you to find out that you’re not alone, with Safari being the second most popular browser on the web thanks to its inclusion on both mobile and desktop devices.

Apple tightly optimizes Safari for use exclusively on Apple hardware. This means that Safari is highly power efficient on a Mac. When Apple gives an estimate of battery life on its latest Mac models for performing activities like “wireless web” they’re specifically referring to the use of Safari. The company is in a position where both the hardware and the software are designed in unison, so Apple is not bound by thousands of different hardware possibilities.

That helps Safari remain performant on Apple hardware too, a fact you can see for yourself using browser benchmarks like Speedometer 2.0 . In use, Safari feels snappy. The UI is small and non-intrusive, and you can even customize the toolbar using the right-click menu as you can other native Apple apps.

Safari is also loaded with familiar features and technology. iCloud makes it possible to share tab groups, browsing sessions, bookmarks, a Reading List, and even extensions with your iPhone or iPad. The Share menu works just as it does on the iPhone. Continuity makes it possible to quickly jump between devices by placing a small icon in your Mac dock.

Apple’s services work especially well in Safari. You can log in with your Apple ID using your fingerprint, pay for items using Apple Pay right in your browser, and use a variety of Shortcuts actions to build workflows that work using Safari .

Apple also makes it easy to add extensions using the Mac App Store. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it adds an additional layer of protection against potentially harmful extensions. You can still choose to install unsigned extensions by enabling the Develop menu if you want.

In terms of privacy, Safari isn’t the best browser you can get your hands on but it’s far from the worst. The browser works with Apple’s iCloud Private Relay for iCloud+ subscribers, which anonymizes web requests using a two-step process . Do Not Track is enabled by default, and it provides partial protection against trackers.

You can’t get rid of Safari from your Mac, so it’s ready and waiting for you with every new Apple computer purchase (or every time you reset the operating system ). Apple is always updating and building upon Safari with enhancements, like macOS Sonoma’s ability to turn websites into app-like instances.

Want to Ditch Safari? Here's What to Use Instead

Though Safari is suitable for a wide range of users, it’s far from the last word when it comes to web browsers. It’s convenient and always there if you want it, but it’s not without its critics. One reason you might want to switch is web app compatibility, which can be limited on Safari due to its relatively narrow user base. A lot of Safari users are mobile users, and many services prefer to funnel these users into dedicated apps.

Safari lacks the compatibility of a browser like Chrome or Edge, which means some web apps will simply refuse to work in Safari and demand that you use something else instead. Perhaps worse still, some websites won’t warn you before they refuse to function as intended. You might get glitchy behavior that can be avoided by using another browser.

Safari also isn’t a “platform” quite in the same way that Chrome and similar browsers are. There is a huge range of extensions made with Chrome in mind (including browsers like Edge and Vivaldi), which might make such a platform more desirable if you live inside of browser extensions.

You may even find yourself with no choice but to use an alternative for work or education purposes. Some institutions refuse to support certain browsers, and since Safari is limited to Apple devices it’s easier to tailor an experience to a browser that has cross-platform compatibility.

If privacy is your main concern, Safari might not go far enough to protect you, and you may be tempted to move to something like Firefox instead.

Firefox is the Privacy-Conscious Safari Alternative

Mozilla’s browser is a solid alternative to Safari, with some excellent privacy considerations. Firefox enables Do Not Track by default and blocks both invisible trackers and tracking ads. Firefox even uses DuckDuckGo as its default search engine.

Firefox tests slower than Safari and Chrome in many benchmarks, but how much time this will save you during your daily surfing sessions is up for debate. The browser also enjoys a far wider range of extensions than Safari, though it still falls short of the Chromium family.

Like Safari, Firefox Sync allows you to share browsing sessions and bookmarks with other devices including Windows PCs and mobile platforms like iOS and Android. Firefox remains a browser of choice for those mostly concerned with web privacy and enjoys a loyal (if small) base of users.

Chrome is Number One for Compatibility and Extensions

Google Chrome is the behemoth of web browsers, with more than 60% of all web users choosing to use it. As such, it enjoys excellent compatibility with most websites and web apps, and some even insist on its use (or a similar Chromium-based browser).

Google Chrome fares poorly from a privacy standpoint , with Do Not Track disabled by default, and both invisible trackers and tracking ads able to track you unless you limit this behavior with extensions. On the plus side, there are a huge number of extensions and apps available for Chrome that can help remedy the problem.

Though Chrome has a bit of a reputation for being a resource hog, Google has attempted to address the problem with a feature called Chrome Memory Saver that is designed to purge websites from memory after a period of inactivity. The company also improved Chrome’s energy efficiency with Chrome Energy Saver Mode .

Chromium-Based Browsers Offer Unique Alternatives to Chrome

Chromium is the core open-source browser core on which Chrome and similar projects are built. This means you can have Chrome’s speed, compatibility, and even the full range of extensions without having to use the Google-branded variant.

There are plenty of other Chromium-based browser to choose from, such as Microsoft Edge which falls into the same privacy pitfalls as Chrome; Vivaldi with its customizable interface and email client; and Brave Browser which delivers a slightly confusing combination of cryptocurrency features, opt-in adverts, and privacy considerations.

For a no-frills experience, there’s also vanilla Chromium , the open-source version of Chrome to which Google contributes. Then there are projects like Ungoogled Chromium , which removes dependency on Google services and makes tweaks to enhance privacy.

Alternatively, Try Something Completely Unique

Arc is a browser that does things a little differently than most. Not only does it cull your tabs for you, but it also includes some unique features like side-by-side tab mode, note-taking and whiteboard functionality within the app, and a macOS Spotlight-esque command interface for getting around without touching your mouse.

We reviewed Arc in March 2023 and loved it, though the fledgling browser wasn’t without issues surrounding power consumption and general jitteriness. It’s now out of beta and things have settled down somewhat, so it might be worth a shot if you’re looking for a web browser that helps you stay neat and organized.

It’s far from the only weirdo browser out there though. Colibri is a browser that lacks tabs and emphasizes an uncluttered experience. It’s designed to force you into more mindful browser sessions. Tor is a browser designed for browsing the dark web , but there are other private browsers like Mulvad and Waterfox that you might want to use instead.

The Case for Multiple Browsers

There are so many compelling reasons to use Safari that we think it’s the best choice for most users. Failing that, Firefox offers a solid browsing experience that respects your privacy.

It’s a good idea to have more than one browser installed for those times when you encounter difficulties with your primary choice. On top of this, you can kit a second browser out with extensions that might make certain web operations easier to complete.

is safari available on android

  • Google Pixel

Is There a Safari Browser for Android [Expert Approved!]

featured image google pixel 1hcy1etZn

This article has been fact checked by a third party fact-checking organization.

Frank Hayden

There is no official Safari for Android app, but there are lots of knockoffs in the wild, many of which are scamware. We don’t recommend downloading any app that’s masquerading as Safari for Android because there are plenty of other well-rated mobile browsers available. Some of the most popular browsers for Android include Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you. Chrome is the most popular browser on Android, but it’s not as fast as some of the other options. Firefox is more powerful, but it can be slower in some cases. Opera is faster than Firefox, but it’s not as popular. Safari is the fastest of the bunch, but it’s not as popular as some of the other options.

You gotta know

There is no official Safari browser for Android, but there are a few unofficial ones available. Some of the more popular unofficial browsers include: AirDroid, Browserify, and UC Browser.

most android devices come with google chrome as their default browser

What Is the Equivalent of Safari on an Android Phone

Safari is the default web browser on Apple iPhones.

Google Chrome is the default web browser on most Android phones.

Samsung Internet is the default browser on Samsung Galaxy phones.

Firefox and Opera are other web browser options available on mobile phones.

Safari offers a more user-friendly experience than some of the other browsers.

safari downloads go to icloud drive on the iphone and ipad

Can I Use Safari on Android Tablet

Safari is an iOS application that is designed for use on mobile devices. Unfortunately, you cannot install it on an Android device. This is because Safari is strictly an iOS application and Android devices do not support iOS applications.

safari is an ios application that is designed for use on mobile devices

What Browser Is Most Like Safari

There are more than 100 alternatives to Safari for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Android, Mac and Android Tablet. The best alternative is Mozilla Firefox, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Safari are Brave, Google Chrome, Tor Browser and Vivaldi. Mozilla Firefox is a browser that is similar to Safari. It is free and Open Source.

safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your apple devices 3

What Is the Default Browser for Samsung Phones

Most Android devices come with Google Chrome as their default browser. However, some Samsung devices come with a different browser, such as Samsung Internet. If you want to use Google Chrome as your browser, you can change its default setting in your device’s settings.

safari is the default web browser on apple iphones

Does Samsung Have a Web Browser

Samsung has two web browsers installed on their Android devices, Google Chrome and Samsung Internet. Samsung Internet is a modified version of the Chrome browser that is designed specifically for use on Samsung devices.

There are a few differences between the two browsers. Samsung Internet is faster and has more features than Google Chrome. Samsung Internet also has a built in ad blocker, which Google Chrome does not have.

Overall, Samsung Internet is a better browser than Google Chrome. It is faster, has more features, and has an ad blocker.

samsung has two web browsers installed on their android devices google chrome and samsung internet

How Do I Download the Safari App

Safari is one of the most popular mobile browsers on the market. It is available on both iOS and Android devices. Safari is a versatile browser that has a lot of features, including the ability to access websites and apps that you may not be able to access with other browsers.

To download Safari, open the App Store on your iPhone or Android device. In the search bar, type “safari” and press the magnifying glass icon. Tap on the GET command button to reinstall the Safari app. Wait until the download and installation process is complete.

Once Safari is installed, you can open it by tapping on the Safari icon on your device’s home screen. Safari has a lot of features, including the ability to access websites and apps that you may not be able to access with other browsers. For example, you can access websites that are blocked by your administrator or firewall. Safari is also a great browser for accessing websites that are not available in other browsers, such as websites that require a subscription.

some people use chrome on their phones to surf the internet

What Browser Does This Phone Use

Some people use Chrome on their phones to surf the internet. Chrome is a web browser that’s used by a lot of people.

Where Do Safari Downloads Go on Iphone

Safari downloads go to iCloud Drive on the iPhone and iPad.

What Is Safari on Apple Iphone

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices.

Safari brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and industry-leading battery life so you can browse how you like, when you like.

Safari is the world’s fastest browser.

Safari provides a great experience on all types of devices, from your desktop computer to your iPhone and iPad.

Safari is perfect for exploring the web, finding your favorite websites, and staying connected with the people and information you care about.

Safari is available on all Apple devices, including your desktop computer, laptop, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Safari is always up-to-date with the latest features and innovations in the web browser industry.

The wrap-up

If you’re looking for a mobile browser that’s fast and popular, we recommend downloading Safari. Chrome, Firefox, and Opera are also great options, but they may not be as fast as Safari.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to search
  • Skip to select language
  • Sign up for free
  • English (US)

Installing and uninstalling web apps

This guide covers how users can install and uninstall PWAs on their devices. If you want to learn about making a web app installable as a PWA, see Making PWAs installable instead.

History of web app installation

Browsers have always enabled saving shortcuts to websites, known as "bookmarking." These are just links to websites.

Some operating systems (OS) have enhanced bookmarking capabilities, enabling saving bookmarks to common places, such as the home screen or taskbar, with an icon launching the site in the OS's default browser. For many websites, this is also just a link to the site. If the site is a Progressive Web Applications (PWA) , saving to home screen installs the PWA on the user's device, fully integrating it into the operating systems like native applications on most devices. Just like PWAs can be installed, they can also be uninstalled.

We'll first cover the precursors — saving links to websites.

Bookmarking websites

All browsers have add-to-favorites bookmark functionality. A bookmark, or favorite, is a clickable shortcut for a web page. Bookmarks enable quick access to websites without the user having to enter a URL or otherwise search for content. Bookmarking is especially useful for long URLs and accessing frequently visited content that is not the site's homepage.

All browsers enable users to view and manage their bookmarks, including renaming and deleting favorites. By default, the bookmark's display includes the text content of the bookmarked page's <title> element along with an icon consisting of the site's favicon .

Browsers enable saving, editing, moving, deleting, and otherwise managing bookmarks. The UI for bookmark management differs by browser.

Add to home screen

Smartphones, starting with the iPhone in 2007, added "save to home screen" functionality. For regular (non-PWA) websites, this feature is similar to bookmarks, but instead of adding the favicon and title of the page to the bookmarks menu — a browser feature — favoriting in this manner adds an icon to the OS's home screen.

Adding a non-PWA site to the home screen does not install the website on the device. Rather, it adds the developer-defined icon to the home screen, that, when clicked, opens the bookmarked link in the default browser.

iPhone add to home screen, install prompt, icon, and delete functionality.

If the site added to the home screen is a PWA, the PWA will be installed on the device.

Deleting the icon from the home screen removes the bookmark. The deletion confirmation provides information as to whether deleting the icon deletes a bookmark or entire application.

Installing and uninstalling PWAs

While installing a PWA only takes a couple of clicks, depending on the web application features, the result of installing a PWA usually goes well beyond creating a link to a page on the Internet; installing a PWA more deeply integrates the web application on the user's device.

Depending on the PWA, device, and features of the operating system and browser, installing a PWA may enable native-like features, such as giving the app its own standalone window or registering it as a file handler. This also means uninstalling a PWA, which also only requires a couple of clicks, does more than just removing the PWA's icon.

Installing PWAs

The UI for installing a PWA from the web varies from one browser to another, and from one platform to another.

The user interface for installing PWAs differs by device and OS combination. The "Add to homes screen" user interface installs the PWA on Safari on iOS. Other browsers, including Chrome for Android, include the app installation command in the browser setting menu. In Chrome and Edge on desktop, when the user navigates to the page, if the page is a PWA and the PWA is not currently installed by the browser, an installation icon will be visible in the URL bar:

PWA install prompt in URL bar

When the user selects the icon, the browser displays a prompt asking if they want to install the PWA, and if they accept, the PWA is installed.

PWA installation confirmation prompt

Once installed, the PWA will behave like other applications that are installed on the OS. For example, on macOS, the icon will appear in the dock, and will have the same icon options as other applications:

PWA icon in the doc on MacOS

On most desktop browsers, the install prompt is in the URL bar. On mobile, the install prompt is generally found in the menu of browser options. No matter the browser or OS, the installation needs to be confirmed.

PWA installation on Chrome for Android, with confirmation, home screen icon, and offline experience.

Once installed, the PWA behaves just like other installed applications: clicking on the application icon opens the PWA, even when the user is offline.

Installation is supported on all modern desktop and mobile devices. Whether the PWA can be installed by the browser on the operating system differs by browser/operating system combination. Most browsers support installing PWAs on all operating systems—Chrome OS, MacOS, Windows, Android, Linux, etc.—directly or when an extension is installed.

Firefox requires a PWA extension .

Apple is unique when it comes to PWAs: PWAs can be installed on macOS from any browser except Safari. The opposite is true for iOS versions before 16.4, where PWAs could only be installed in Safari. PWAs can be installed on iOS/iPadOS 16.4 or later from any supporting browser.

When an installed PWA is launched, it can be displayed in its own standalone window (without the full browser UI) but it still effectively runs in a browser window, even if the usual browser UI elements, such as the address bar or back button, aren't visible. The application will be found where the OS saves other applications, within a folder specific to the browser.

PWAs installed by a browser remain specific to this browser. This means that the browser that was used to install a PWA is the one used to run that PWA. It also means that you can install the same PWA from a different browser and that the two apps will behave as two different instances and will not share any data.

The browser used to install the PWA will know the PWA is installed, but other browsers will not have access to the installed status. For example, if you install a PWA using MS Edge, Edge will prompt you to open the PWA when you visit the site while Chrome will continue to prompt you to install the application. If you install the PWA using Chrome as well, you will have two copies of the PWA. When multiple instances of a PWA are open, data is not shared between instances installed from different browsers.

When you tap the web app's icon, it opens up in the browser environment that installed the PWA, generally without the browser's UI around it, though that depends on the way the developer configured the web app manifest . Similarly, the method used to uninstall the PWA depends on the browser that was used to install it.

Uninstalling

On most mobile operating systems, uninstalling a PWA is accomplished in the same way as uninstalling other applications. On some mobile operating systems, PWAs appear in the same control panel where applications downloaded from app stores are managed and can be uninstalled there.

On iOS, PWAs installed from Safari are listed and searchable from the "App Library" screen, but are not listed along with other installed applications under "Settings". On iOS, long tapping an icon surfaces the delete bookmark UI; removing the icon from the home screen deletes the PWA.

In some desktop operating systems, uninstalling a PWA can be done directly in opened PWA. To uninstall, open the PWA. In the top right corner of the opened app, there will be an icon that must be expanded to see more tools. Depending on the browser used to install the PWA, there will either be a link to uninstall the PWA, or a settings link that opens the browser's settings page with an uninstall link. Either click on the uninstall option in the drop-down menu, if there, or navigate to the app settings in a browser tab and click uninstall.

App settings in MS Edge with an uninstall link

Selecting app setting from the opened drop-down menu in Edge, opened the MS Edge browser edge://apps tab. There we are provided a list of installed applications with options for each, including 🗑️ Uninstall . Confirm the uninstall. That's it!

In Edge, the installed PWAs are listed and can be managed by visiting edge://apps in your Edge browser. In Chrome, the list of Google Apps and installed PWAs are viewable and managed by visiting chrome://apps in your Chrome browser.

  • Using PWAs in Chrome: computer and Android
  • Install, manage, or uninstall apps in Microsoft Edge

How to Use Safari Browser for Android? - Post Thumbnail

How to Use Safari Browser for Android?

Are you looking for Safari for Android? Can you get Safari for Android? The straightforward answer is no. Safari for Android is not available, and nor will it be. Even though most Apple fans fall for the expensive handsets, they do agree that Safari for iOS devices is the worst. It has different features and functions on the tablet and phone in contrast to the Mac version. Instead, many other browsers are available that gain popularity over Safari, the Apple creation that remains tough to change, is quite confusing and even painful for the users. If Apple established the Safari browser, it does not mean that it is the best of all.

3 Similar Web Browsers for Android

Google chrome.

Google chrome is the flagship of the Android browser that most of the times comes pre-installed among most of the Android devices. Hardly there is anyone on the earth who has not used google chrome on their mobile phones after its extensive use on Mac and PC. You can use Google chrome instead of looking for Safari for Android.

UC browser has a fast download and loading ability that makes it a highly rated app on the Google Play Store. You will see the application opens to a simple background with mostly used web icons already saved to favorites. When you scroll down, you will see various items on the palate, such as business news, headlines, entertainment news, etc. No doubt, it is the best web browser, but it collects unnecessary information and inquires for all the permissions.

The Opera Mini browser has undergone a significant update on its user interface in recent months. It offers real-time statistical data and reports on the occurrence of data consumption among installed applications. Opera Mini also provides data savings by compressing photos, media, and videos that are accessed over the internet. All this without loss of outstanding quality. You can browse the internet with the application, although some plugins may not run properly.

The Best VPN’s for Android

Using a VPN for Android is necessary for a couple of reasons that are given below:

  • It can bypasses geo-blocking and restrictions, especially for streaming youtube, Hulu, and Netflix.
  • VPN can hide your IP address so that you can remain private and anonymous.
  • A VPN secures your online anonymity and online spying.
  • It helps to keep your personal data secure and safe.

Here are the top 3 VPN’s for android phones that are fast, safe, and secure.

NordVPN – A VON with maximum VPN Servers with various IP Addresses       

NordVPN is a top candidate in each category, but it makes its way to top among Android VPNs due to the remarkably high reviews it receives from its users. NordVPN application earned a 4.3 ranking on Google Play Store, one of the highest ratings we have seen. It has over 5,200 plus servers in 60 different countries. The application also has a built-in ad blocker, so that you can browse the internet more freely and use limited data. The app also offers 30 days money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access (PIA) – the most flexible VPN for Android

PIA is best known for its high speeds. When tested on a computer, it sustained 81% of our 100 Mbps connection speed. It is one of the fastest logging speeds we have ever seen. If you are looking for high speed and fastest Android VPN, you should use Private Internet Access. PIA also receives a 4.0 rating on the Google Play store meaning that people like the app. Private Internet Access has more than 3,300 servers, which is an amazingly high number. You will always get one in the country where you want that is not getting smashed with the traffic.

TunnelBear – Best Rating on Google Play

TunnelBear offers a fantastic application, which is one of the causes why it is currently rated 4.4 on the Google Play Store. It is one of the highest ratings we have ever seen for a paid VPN service provider. Just like everything else developed by TunnelBear, it is full of cute bears and fun graphics. The application is straightforward and pleasant to use, so you are more likely to use it. The VPN itself is excellent, as well. Unlike iOS, Android gets 256-bit OpenVPN encryption, which means that your traffic is secure. TunnelBear is stable, and they have a no-logging policy. You can read more how to use this VPN here .

  • Search for: Toggle Search

‘Fortnite’ Arrives This GFN Thursday With GeForce Performance You Can Touch

Fortnite on GeForce NOW with touch controls on mobile is now available to all members, streaming through the Safari web browser on iOS and the GeForce NOW Android app.

The full launch — including the removal of the waitlist — follows a successful beta period in which more than 500,000 participants streamed over 4 million sessions to hundreds of mobile device types.

The closed beta  gave the GeForce NOW team the opportunity to test and learn, which resulted in optimized on-screen touch controls and game menus, with gameplay that feels intuitive. The end result is a touch experience for gamers to enjoy.

We’re thanking the beta participants, whose millions of streamed sessions made these improvements possible, with a three-day Priority membership — or three-day extension for existing RTX 3080 and Priority members. See below for details.

Streaming ‘Fortnite’ on GeForce NOW

GeForce NOW provides millions of gamers the opportunity to stream their favorite PC games — like Fortnite — to nearly any device . Games render on PCs in the cloud with high-performance NVIDIA GPUs and deliver gameplay back to those devices in a fraction of a second.

Getting started is easy. Visit the GeForce NOW membership page and choose from one of three levels of performance, including a Free membership option. RTX 3080 and Priority members get an upgraded experience with higher quality graphics, faster access to servers and more features. After signing up, download native GeForce NOW game streaming apps for PC, Mac, Android or TV, or start streaming right away from play.geforcenow.com .

Members can link their Epic Games account from the Settings > Connections menu to automatically sign in to Fortnite upon game launch.

Touch on GeForce NOW

With the addition of touch controls, Fortnite mobile players get GeForce performance they can touch. RTX 3080 members stream improved graphics that render at up to 120 frames per second on select 120Hz Android devices and can play with millions of other Fortnite players around the world.

GeForce NOW manages patches and game updates for members. As new seasons arrive or a new mode drops, members are always game ready. When no-build Battle Royale arrived in Fortnite with the launch of Fortnite Zero Build , GeForce NOW members were able to play right away.

For tips on gameplay mechanics or a refresher on playing Fortnite with touch controls, check out Fortnite’s Getting Started page.

A Three-Day Thank You to Beta Participants

As a thank you to members who helped improve Fortnite mobile touch controls during the closed beta period, participants can redeem a three-day Priority membership to GeForce NOW. Priority members get higher performance, access to premium servers and extended six-hour session lengths, for an upgraded gaming experience.

Members redeem the free promotional membership — or extension of their existing Founders, Priority or RTX 3080 membership — by logging into the redemption portal and following the instructions to activate. Beta participants will also receive an email in the coming days with additional details.

Get to Gaming

Vampire The Masquerade Swansong on GeForce NOW

GFN Thursday always means more games. Members can find these and more streaming on the cloud this week:

  • DEADCRAFT (New release on Steam )
  • Old World (New release on Steam )
  • Vampire: The Masquerade Swansong (New release on Epic Games Store )
  • Dolmen (New Release on Steam , May 20)
  • Trigon: Space Story ( Epic Games Store )

Sign up for an RTX 3080 or Priority membership to play these and any of the 1,300 games available on the service.

With the power to take great gaming on the go with you, we’ve got a question this weekend. Let us know your answer on Twitter or in the comments below.

what's the best place to game in the cloud that's 𝙣𝙤𝙩 at home? 🗺️ bonus points for pictures — 🌩️ NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) May 18, 2022

NVIDIA websites use cookies to deliver and improve the website experience. See our cookie policy for further details on how we use cookies and how to change your cookie settings.

Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences

These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

is safari available on android

Special Features

Vendor voice.

is safari available on android

In quest to defeat Euro red-tape, Apple said it had three Safari browsers – not one

And with a straight face, too. brussels didn't buy it.

Apple tried to avoid regulation in the European Union by making a surprising claim – that it offers not one but three distinct web browsers, all coincidentally named Safari.

Never mind that Apple itself advertises the sameness of its Safari browsers when pitching its Continuity feature: "Same Safari. Different device."

Cupertino also claimed it maintains five app stores and five operating systems, and that these core platform services, apart from iOS, fell below the usage threshold European rules set for regulating large platform services and ensuring competition.

In September, the European Commission designated six gatekeepers – Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, Microsoft – under the Digital Markets Act and gave each six months to comply with the legal obligations outlined in the DMA, a set of rules designed to limit the power of large technology platforms and promote competition.

is safari available on android

Apple was declared a gatekeeper in three core platform services: operating systems (iOS), online intermediation services (AppStore), and web browsers (Safari). As a result, it's expected that Apple will allow third-party app stores that work with iOS and browser engines other than Safari's WebKit by March 2024 – in Europe, if not elsewhere.

Informed of this back in July, Apple filed a response in August that challenged the European Commission's determination. In its response, "Apple reiterated its position that each of its Safari web browsers constitutes a distinct [core platform service]," the European Commission said in its newly published decision document [PDF].

"According to Apple, Safari on iOS, Safari on iPadOS and Safari on macOS qualify as web browsers within the meaning of [the DMA requirements]," the case summary explained, noting that Apple argued only Safari for iOS falls within the DMA's scope.

This strategy appears not to have been very effective. Apple's pushback has only managed to get the European Commission to further investigate whether iPadOS and iMessage should be seen as gatekeeper-controlled core platform services.

  • Microsoft seeks EU Digital Market Acts exemption for underdog apps like Edge
  • Forcing Apple to allow third-party app stores isn't enough
  • Microsoft Edge still forcing itself on users in Europe
  • Europe's tough new rules for Big Tech start today. Is anyone ready?

The decision document noted that Apple argued that its three Safari browsers each have different interface options and different uses. "For example, Safari on iPadOS and macOS include a sidebar feature, which allows end users to see opened tabs, tab groups, bookmarks and browsing history," the decision summary states. "This feature is unavailable on Safari on iOS."

Bruce Lawson, a UK-based web developer who helped found Open Web Advocacy, a group that has lobbied for regulatory restraint of Apple, characterized Apple's gambit as a "post-modernist triumph" for being essentially incomprehensible.

Lawson comments that "in order to avoid having Safari being deemed a Core Platform Service (and thus falling under the remit of DMA), Apple argues 'Look, those Safaris on iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, TvOS, WatchOS are TOTALLY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS and none of them have enough users in the EU for you to even think about regulating us, alright? We’re a tiny startup! Will nobody think of the children?!?' (I paraphrase somewhat)."

He also argued that Apple's approach explicitly violates the DMA's Anti-Circumvention provision that forbids subdividing a platform's market share to avoid regulation. The provision says those providing core platform services "shall not segment, divide, subdivide, fragment or split those services through contractual, commercial, technical or any other means in order to circumvent the quantitative thresholds laid down in Article 3(2)."

Hoist by your own marketing material

The European Commission made short work of Apple's argument by citing, among other rebuttals, Apple's own marketing copy that proclaims the singularity of Safari.

Screenshot of Apple's Safari website

Screenshot of Apple's Safari website stating that its browser, regardless of OS or device, is the "same" Safari ... Click to enlarge

The decision document noted: "As Apple explains on its website, all these features allow Safari to work seamlessly across devices: 'Same Safari. Different device: Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch.'"

Citing six different issues with Apple's claims, the commission concluded: "Safari qualifies as a single web browser, irrespective of the device through which that service is accessed."

Safari qualifies as a single web browser, irrespective of the device

Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of browser biz Vivaldi, told The Register in a phone interview that Apple, Google, and Microsoft all are trying to find ways to avoid onerous DMA requirements.

"All of them are trying to do that," he said. "This is very similar to what Microsoft is doing. Microsoft says no one uses its Edge browser so it should not be designated as a gatekeeper."

Meanwhile, Google is trying to make browser choice screens less effective, he opined.

Von Tetzchner expressed skepticism about Apple's argument that it has three different browsers. "It's all part of the same ecosystem and you have to look at the ecosystem as a whole," he said.

And he agreed that Apple, Google, and Microsoft all qualify as gatekeepers. "We have to go through them to get to any users," he said.

Von Tetzchner expressed optimism about the effect of the DMA. He said he's expecting a relaxation of restrictions and that if that doesn't happen, the DMA isn't functioning properly.

"I have a lot of hope for the DMA," he said. "The EU has been working with these guys for a number of years, trying to ensure there's real competition."

Apple did not respond to a request for comment. ®

  • European Commission

Narrower topics

Broader topics.

  • European Union
  • Operating System
  • Steve Wozniak
  • Web Browser

Send us news

Other stories you might like

Apple might have to pay that €13b eu tax bill after all, asahi linux goes from apple silicon port project to macos bug hunters, side channel attacks take bite out of apple silicon with ileakage exploit, automating generative ai development.

is safari available on android

Apple slams Android as a 'massive tracking device' in internal slides revealed in Google antitrust battle

Date night from hell looms for apple as netherlands says: 'it's not me, it's you', apple exec defends 8gb $1,599 macbook pro, claims it's like 16gb in a pc, epic games, google head to court over epic play store cut, fresh find shines new light on north korea’s latest macos malware, right-to-repair fight going national as ftc asked to lay down the law, eu lawmakers scolded for concealing identities of privacy-busting content-scanning 'experts', apple's year ends with surging services, a billion subscribers, and a view of generation next.

icon

  • Advertise with us

Our Websites

  • The Next Platform
  • Blocks and Files

Your Privacy

  • Cookies Policy
  • Your Consent Options
  • Privacy Policy

Situation Publishing

Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2023

no-js

  • Trending in Computing:
  • Best Dell Laptops
  • Best Monitors
  • Asus ROG Azoth Review
  • How to delete a page in Word in 3 easy steps
  • RTX 4080 vs RTX 4070 Ti
  • Best Mac Apps
  • AMD vs Intel
  • Recall an Email in Outlook

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Google witness accidentally reveals how much Apple gets for Safari search

Trevor Mogg

As part of a deal to be the default search engine on Apple devices, Google pays the tech giant 36% of the revenue earned via search ad activity on Apple’s Safari browser.

It’s extremely rare for information of this nature to be made public. In this case, it was released during Google’s defense at the Justice Department’s antitrust trial in Washington, D.C.

The disclosure was made on Monday by Kevin Murphy, a University of Chicago professor who is also an economics expert for Google owner Alphabet.

  • Apple almost rejected Google for this key Safari feature
  • This Snoopy Apple Watch face is too cute — here’s how to get it
  • You don’t have to use Bing – Google Search has AI now, too

In what was clearly an awkward moment, John Schmidtlein, Google’s main litigator, “visibly cringed when Murphy said the number, which was supposed to remain confidential,” Bloomberg reported .

Just a few weeks ago, a New York Times report put a figure on this, claiming that Google paid “around $18 billion” to Apple in 2021.

A deal between the two companies to make Google the default search engine on iPhone, iPad, and Mac has been in place since 2002. That was five years before the launch of the iPhone, after which the importance of the agreement — for both sides — only grew. While it’s been rewritten a number of times over the years, the huge numbers show just how important it is to Google to retain its prime position on the world’s most popular smartphone .

In the current antitrust case, the Justice Department is claiming that Google has a search monopoly and is illegally maintaining its power over the search engine and search ad markets.

Testifying in the trial last month, Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, said that Google is the ‌iPhone‌’s default search engine simply because it’s the best one available.

When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took the stand, he claimed that the deal between Google and Apple means it’s virtually impossible for search engines like Microsoft’s Bing to have any chance of grabbing a meaningful share of the search market.

It’s clear that for Google and Apple, the deal has been working just fine, allowing both parties to rake in huge amounts of revenue. That’s why this antitrust case is so important. If Google loses, its cozy deal with Apple could be ordered to end, with iPhone users then offered a choice of search engines when setting up their device, removing Google’s engine as the default.

It could also prompt Apple to develop its own search engine, though the launch of any such product could be years away.

Editors' Recommendations

  • How much is Apple Music, and how can you get it for free?
  • How much is Spotify Premium and can you get a deal?
  • Google’s ChatGPT rival just launched in search. Here’s how to try it
  • Apple and Google are teaming up to make tracking devices less creepy
  • New leak reveals exactly how Apple’s VR headset will work

Trevor Mogg

Apple’s secret mixed-reality headset -- dubbed Reality Pro -- is due to launch imminently, but the way you’ll use the device is something of a mystery. Sure, rumors have pointed to some form of gesture control, but that’s a pretty vague description. Fortunately, we might now have a better idea of how it will work.

That’s because Apple has just been granted a patent outlining how you might be able to use a special ring to control objects while using the Reality Pro headset. The idea is that, with this ring on your finger, you’ll be able to perform various gestures that will let you open apps, scroll webpages, and more.

The Pixel Watch is a solid first outing as Google's debut smartwatch. However, it's still lacking a handful of features that early adopters have been requesting that are found on similar devices. Luckily, today marks the start of the rollout of one frequently requested feature: fall detection.

Fall detection is a crucial health and safety feature that all smartwatches are better for having, and now the Pixel Watch is finally joining the ranks of the Apple Watch and the Galaxy Watch with its addition.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is huge news right now, thanks to chatbots like ChatGPT -- but did you know you can already access an AI on your Android phone? Google Assistant is Google's AI-powered voice assistant, and it's available on Android, iOS, and a large number of smart devices (like Google's Nest speakers). While not as capable as ChatGPT (yet), Google Assistant can handle an impressive number of tasks — including pausing and resuming songs and videos, making tasks and reminders, and in some cases, even taking and screening phone calls for you.

That may seem like a lot, but Google Assistant is relatively simple to use. If you've never used a voice assistant before, we've got this guide to help you get to grips with it and take your first steps. What is Google Assistant?

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

How to set Safari extension permissions on a per-website basis

jack-wallen

Most web browser users install extensions -- password managers, ad blockers, writing aids, and more. For the most part, those browser extensions don't cause problems with the sites you visit. But now and then, they do. Take for example the news that YouTube was cracking down on ad blockers -- cracking down to the extent that it would block you from viewing content if it detected you were using an ad blocker.

More Safari: Hide your location  |  Enable reading mode |  Use built-in 2FA code generator  | Merge multiple windows

Now, thanks to the latest version of Safari, you can add exceptions such that you can enable or disable extensions on a per-website basis. So, instead of having to set exceptions for a site (which aren't 100% guaranteed to work), you can simply disable the extension for the site in question.

This handy feature is quite easy to use and does guarantee the results will be effective. 

Let me show you how this works.

How to set Safari extension permissions 

What you'll need: The only things you'll need are Safari version 17 or newer and your favorite extensions installed. I'll be demonstrating on MacOS Sonoma.

One thing to keep in mind is that this feature doesn't work for every extension, so your mileage may vary.

1. Open Safari Settings

The first thing to do is open the Safari browser and ensure you have the site in question open (such as YouTube). Next, click the Safari menu in the MacOS Menu Bar. From that drop-down menu, click Settings.

2. Open the Websites edit window

In the Settings pop-up, click the Websites tab. In this section, you should see a list of all the extensions you've installed that can be managed.

 width=

All of your currently opened sites will be visible here.

3. Enable/disable sites

In the left pane, you'll find the listing of your extensions. Select the extension you want to manage and, in the right pane, you'll see a list of all currently opened tabs, each with a permissions drop-down with three options: Ask, Allow, Deny. Remember when I said earlier that you must have the site in question open in the browser before you attempt to add an exception? The reason for this is that you can't manually add a site as an exception. So, from the list of sites, find the one that's having trouble rendering with the exception enabled, click the associated drop-down, and click either Deny or Ask. If you're certain the site will not function with the extension, select Deny.

Also: Why Safari is no longer my browser of choice on MacOS - and what I use instead

Once you've taken care of all the sites that are having trouble with the extension, you can close the Settings popup and you're good to go. There's no need to restart Safari, as the changes will take place in real time.

And that's all there is to managing the permissions of your extensions in the latest version of Safari. Hopefully, this new feature will ensure that you don't have to miss out on your favorite sites, while not having to bother with more complicated configurations or even removing the extension altogether.

 width=

How to fix an annoying MacOS/iPhone hotspot bug

 width=

How to quickly view all of your open Workspaces tabs in Opera

 width=

My MyQ garage door opener just lost its smarts, but here's my workaround

IMAGES

  1. Cómo Tener, Descargar e Instalar Safari en Android paso a paso

    is safari available on android

  2. How to Download Apple Safari Browser on Android

    is safari available on android

  3. iOS 7 Safari Browser v1.6 for Android

    is safari available on android

  4. Baixar Safari For Android APK

    is safari available on android

  5. Descargar Safari para Android Apk

    is safari available on android

  6. 🍎 Safari For Android

    is safari available on android

VIDEO

  1. How To Get iOS Safari on Android (iPhone Safari on Any Android)

  2. how to install safari browser on android

  3. 🍎 iPhone Safari For Android

  4. 🍎 Safari For Android

  5. How to Download Apple Safari Browser on Android

  6. How to get iOS Safari browser on Android

COMMENTS

  1. Can You Install the Safari Browser on Android?

    Apple's Safari Browser is not available for Android, though there are lots of fakes out there. Download a mobile browser with similar features instead.

  2. Safari

    Blazing fast. Incredibly private. Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it's the world's fastest browser. 1

  3. Can You Install the Safari Browser on Android?

    Unfortunately, the answer is no. Apple has never made Safari available for Android, and it is highly unlikely that they will do so in the future. Safari is a proprietary software that is exclusive to Apple devices, and the company has never shown any indication of releasing it for Android.

  4. Can You Install the Safari Browser on Android?

    While Safari is not officially available for Android, there are several alternative browsers that offer similar functionalities and features. Here are some popular browser options for Android: Google Chrome: As the default browser on most Android devices, Google Chrome is widely used and trusted by millions of users.

  5. Download Safari Browser APK 3.0.4 for Android

    Safari is a browser for iOS that's now available for Android. It has most features of the original and functions the same way. You get Dark Mode, Private Browsing, and other minor options. The speed is still there almost no load times between pages. Security-wise, there's no way to tell if it retains the level of protection of iOS.

  6. How Do I Get To Safari Browser

    In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how to access Safari Browser on various devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, and even Android. We will walk you through the step-by-step process, ensuring that you can start enjoying the benefits of Safari in no time at all.

  7. 10 best web browsers on Android in 2023

    1 Mozilla Firefox. Most Android-based web browsers use Chromium, the open-source version of Google Chrome. These web browsers have similar load times and will ultimately run the same way. So ...

  8. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari: Which Browser Is Best ...

    Google Chrome Most people need no introduction to the search behemoth's browser, Google Chrome. It's attractively designed and quick at loading pages. Most website codes now target Chrome, so...

  9. 5 of the best mobile browsers in direct comparison

    The mobile version of Safari, which is pre-installed on Apple's mobile devices, is only compatible with other Apple devices like iPad and Mac laptops. Firefox, Chrome, and Opera work across all platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux, with the exception of the Edge browser which isn't compatible with Linux-based devices.

  10. Safari (web browser)

    History and development Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer for Mac were two predecessors of Safari. Conception This section needs expansion with: Expand with material from Kocienda's book, Creative Selection. You can help by adding to it. (December 2022)

  11. Android Apps by Safari on Google Play

    Android Apps by Safari on Google Play Safari Skild Safari Skild Provider Safari Milani Safari Milani Delivery Safari Ziihub Safari Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps,...

  12. Thanks, Samsung: Android's best mobile browser now available to all

    Apple iPhones include Safari as the default web browser while most Android phones have Google Chrome as the default. Samsung Galaxy owners have had the Samsung Internet browser available for years ...

  13. Best Browser for Android in 2023 [Best Phone & Tablet Browser]

    Security pertains to the browser's defenses against external threats like malware and phishing. Puffin — The fastest and most secure Android browser. Brave — A fast and private browser with ...

  14. Best Android browsers in 2023

    1 Google Chrome Check Price 2 Opera View 3 Firefox Browser View 4 DuckDuckGo Privacy Bro... View 5 Microsoft Edge View 6 Vivaldi View 7 Brave Browser View The best Android browsers allow you to...

  15. Safari Browser Review 2023 [Is Apple's Latest Browser Good?]

    90 % - Excellent. Safari's performance is, for the most part, superb on both Mac and iOS. We tested Safari's speed, compared to Chrome on Mac, to see how it performed. We used BrowserBench ...

  16. Tired of Safari? Try These Mobile Browsers Instead

    Opera Mini. Opera. If you struggle to keep your data usage to a minimum, or if you have spotty service in your area, you can use Opera Mini to make pages load faster. The browser automatically ...

  17. What Chrome for Android needs to learn from Safari

    Safari also lets you quickly access your tab overview by swiping up from the address bar, and you can close tabs you don't need anymore from this view with a swipe to the left. 2 Images. Chrome ...

  18. What Is Safari?

    Updated on July 5, 2020 Safari web browser is the default for the iPhone, iPad, and macOS, first released by Apple in 2003 and briefly offered on Windows from 2007 to 2012. The popularity of the Safari browser exploded with the iPhone and the iPad, and currently has about a 54% market share of mobile browser usage in the United States. Apple Inc.

  19. why safari on Android

    No, Safari is not available on Android phones. View in context View all replies why safari on Android Welcome to Apple Support Community A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID. Learn more Sign up

  20. Firefox vs. Safari: Which is the better browser for you?

    What sets Firefox apart from Safari is that it is available on any desktop or mobile platform, iOS, Android, Windows or macOS, boosting its portability across any device you may own. The Firefox app for iOS and Android is one of the fastest browsers available and also has solid security and anti-tracking features — a huge plus if you're ...

  21. The Best Browser for Mac Users (and Safari Alternatives)

    That helps Safari remain performant on Apple hardware too, a fact you can see for yourself using browser benchmarks like Speedometer 2.0.In use, Safari feels snappy. The UI is small and non-intrusive, and you can even customize the toolbar using the right-click menu as you can other native Apple apps.

  22. Is There a Safari Browser for Android [Expert Approved!]

    There is no official Safari for Android app, but there are lots of knockoffs in the wild, many of which are scamware. We don't recommend downloading any app

  23. Installing and uninstalling web apps

    The "Add to homes screen" user interface installs the PWA on Safari on iOS. Other browsers, including Chrome for Android, include the app installation command in the browser setting menu. In Chrome and Edge on desktop, when the user navigates to the page, if the page is a PWA and the PWA is not currently installed by the browser, an ...

  24. How to Use Safari Browser for Android?

    The straightforward answer is no. Safari for Android is not available, and nor will it be. Even though most Apple fans fall for the expensive handsets, they do agree that Safari for iOS devices is the worst. It has different features and functions on the tablet and phone in contrast to the Mac version.

  25. 'Fortnite' on iOS Safari and Android Through GeForce NOW

    Fortnite on GeForce NOW with touch controls on mobile is now available to all members, streaming through the Safari web browser on iOS and the GeForce NOW Android app.. The full launch — including the removal of the waitlist — follows a successful beta period in which more than 500,000 participants streamed over 4 million sessions to hundreds of mobile device types.

  26. To avoid regulation, Apple said it had three Safari browsers

    Thomas Claburn. Thu 2 Nov 2023 // 20:15 UTC. Apple tried to avoid regulation in the European Union by making a surprising claim - that it offers not one but three distinct web browsers, all coincidentally named Safari. Never mind that Apple itself advertises the sameness of its Safari browsers when pitching its Continuity feature: "Same Safari.

  27. Apple gets 36% of Google search revenue made through Safari

    Google witness accidentally reveals how much Apple gets for Safari search. As part of a deal to be the default search engine on Apple devices, Google pays the tech giant 36% of the revenue earned ...

  28. How to set Safari extension permissions on a per-website basis

    1. Open Safari Settings. The first thing to do is open the Safari browser and ensure you have the site in question open (such as YouTube). Next, click the Safari menu in the MacOS Menu Bar. From ...