bing vs google vs safari

• Shop Now: Amazon Labor Day Tech Sale
• Get These 12 Student Discounts!

Safari May Be Most Popular, But Experts Say MS Edge Most Useful Browser

There’s a lot to love about Microsoft’s offering

• Macalester College
• Columbia University

• Western Kentucky University
• Gulf Coast Community College
• Mobile Phones
• Internet & Security
• Computers & Tablets
• Tech Leaders
• Home Theater & Entertainment
• Software & Apps
• Social Media
• Women in Gaming
• Apple’s Safari Browser now has more users than Microsoft Edge.
• Experts say that Edge has new AI features worth checking out.
• Safari might be a better choice for users worried about security.

Unsplash / Mockup Photos

Apple is narrowly winning the browser battle for the hearts and clicks of users, but experts say that rival Microsoft Edge has features worth trying. 

Apple's Safari has retaken the lead over Microsoft Edge to become the world's second most popular desktop browser, according to StatCounter. Safari is used on 11.87 percent of desktop computers, 0.87 percent more than Edge, which comes in at 11 percent. 

"Edge is known for its speed and performance, making it a great choice for users who want a fast and reliable browsing experience," Piyush Tripathi , a software engineer for Square , told Lifewire in an email interview. "It also has a clean and modern interface that is easy to navigate, making it a great choice for users who are new to web browsing."

Browser Battles

Apple and Microsoft are locked in a ferocious competition for users. Last year, Edge beat Safari for second place by less than one percent margin, thanks to positive reviews.

"Safari is known for its security and privacy features, making it a good choice for users who are concerned about their online safety," Tripathi said. "It also has a lot of useful features, such as the ability to save and organize bookmarks and a built-in reader mode that makes it easier to read articles online."

Safari also has many tools that make it an excellent choice for users who want to customize their browsing experience, Tripathi added. For example, it has a built-in password manager that makes storing and managing passwords easy, and a solid set of extensions, such as AdBlock, that can enhance the browsing experience. 

"It also has tight integration with Apple's ecosystem, which is great for Mac and iPhone users," he added. 

Edge’s Edge

While Safari offers solid performance, Edge has new features that make it a great choice for users who want to stay up-to-date with the latest web technologies, Tripathi said. The browser has a built-in PDF reader that makes it easy to view and edit PDF files and a range of tools that work seamlessly with the Windows platform and make it easier to share content with others.

One area where Edge is winning over Safari is in the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence (AI). Microsoft recently announced that it's boosting its Edge features that rely on Bing search powered by AI. The browser's Bing feature will change from single-use search sessions to multi-session productivity experiences with chat history and persistent chats within Edge.

"Looking to the future, we can expect to see new browser enhancements, especially related to artificial intelligence, that will make it easier for users to browse the web," Tripathi said. "For example, we may see more advanced security features that make it easier to protect personal information online, as well as new AI-based tools that make it easier to collaborate and share content with others."

Windows / Unsplash

The new Edge update adds several visual search features, including the ability to search using images. It also allows users to generate charts, graphs, and other visual answers as part of a search. Microsoft plans to expand its Image Creation Tool, enabling users to create images through chat prompts, to support more than 100 languages.

As part of the upgrade, Edge gets a sleeker look with rounded corners, organized containers, and semi-transparent visual elements. The browser will also soon support plugins. 

For example, if you're researching the latest restaurant for dinner in Bing chat, it will leverage OpenTable to help you find and book a reservation. Or, with Wolfram|Alpha, you can create powerful visualizations and get answers to complex science, math, and human-curated data-based questions directly from Bing chat. 

But the most interesting browser might not be available from Apple or Microsoft. Will Ward , the founder of Industry Arabic , pointed to Arc Browser , which he called "an impressive new browser built with Chromium that is entirely focused on customization and creating user-specific workspaces. It's only available on Apple devices for the moment, but the start-up browser company really sets the bar high for customization."

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

• The Legacy Internet Explorer Leaves Behind
• 1Password Introduces Biometric Support For Desktop Users
• iCloud+’s New Privacy Features Are Good, but Limiting
• Why Google Chrome Copying Safari’s Bottom Search Bar Is Great News
• Microsoft Will Finally Shut Down Internet Explorer
• Your Computer Hardware May Be Leaking Data About You
• Why It Matters That Google Is Developing a Browser Not Based on Webkit
• Experts Worry Microsoft Forcing Edge on Us Is Just the Beginning
• Brave Browser Falls Short of Its Promises of Privacy
• Why You Shouldn’t Use Chrome’s Updated Password Manager
• Still Using That Old-Fashioned Browser? Maybe It's Time for Something New
• Experts Say White House’s Call for Coders Was Risky
• Why You May Want to Try a Cloud Browser
• Google Brings Improved Search Features to Chrome on Android and iOS
• Now You Can Block Web Fonts You Probably Didn’t Know Are Tracking You
• Why Experts Say You Need This New VPN Browser to Protect Your Privacy

• Mobile Site
• Staff Directory
• Advertise with Ars

Filter by topic

• Biz & IT
• Gaming & Culture

Front page layout

CLASH OF THE BROWSERS —

Study ranks the privacy of major browsers. here are the findings, upstart brave browser gets the highest ratings. chrome, firefox and safari fall between..

Dan Goodin - Mar 17, 2020 8:08 pm UTC

Microsoft Edge received the lowest privacy rating in a recently published study that compared the user information collected by major browsers. Yandex, the less-popular browser developed by the Russian Web search provider Yandex, shared that dubious distinction. Brave, the upstart browser that makes privacy a priority, ranked the highest.

The rankings were revealed in a research paper published by Trinity College Dublin computer scientist Doug Leith. He analyzed and rated the privacy provided by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Brave, Edge, and Yandex. Specifically, the study examined the browsers’ sending of data—including unique identifiers and details related to typed URLs—that could be used to track users over time. The findings put the browsers into three categories with Brave getting the highest ranking, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari receiving a medium ranking, and Edge and Yandex lagging behind the rest.

In the paper, Leith wrote:

From a privacy perspective Microsoft Edge and Yandex are qualitatively different from the other browsers studied. Both send persistent identifiers that can be used to link requests (and associated IP address/location) to backend servers. Edge also sends the hardware UUID of the device to Microsoft and Yandex similarly transmits a hashed hardware identifier to back end servers. As far as we can tell this behaviour cannot be disabled by users. In addition to the search autocomplete functionality that shares details of web pages visited, both transmit web page information to servers that appear unrelated to search autocomplete.

Strong, enduring identifiers

Both Edge and Yandex send identifiers that are tied to device hardware, the study found. These unique strings, which can also link various apps running on the same device, remain the same even after fresh installs of the browsers. Edge sends the universally unique identifier of a device to a Microsoft server located at self.events.data.microsoft.com. This identifier can’t easily be changed or deleted. The researcher said that the Edge autocomplete, which sends details of typed sites to a backend server, can’t be disabled. As Ars reader karinto pointed out in a comment , however, instructions for disabling the feature are here .

Yandex, meanwhile, collected a cryptographic hash of the hardware MAC address and details of visited websites through the autocomplete function, although the latter could be disabled. Because Edge and Yandex collect identifiers that are linked to the hardware running the browsers, the data persists across fresh browser installs and can also be used to link various apps running on the same device. These identifiers can then be used to track IP addresses over time.

“Transmission of device identifiers to backend servers is obviously the most worrisome since it is a strong, enduring identifier of a user device that can be regenerated at will, including by other apps (so allowing linking of data across apps from the same manufacturer) and cannot be easily changed or reset by users,” the paper warned.

A Microsoft representative provided a response on condition she not be named and the response not be quoted. She gave no reason for this requirement. She said that Edge asks for permission to collect diagnostic data that’s used to improve products. She said this collection can be turned off. While the data “may” contain information about visited websites, it isn’t stored with users’ Microsoft accounts.

Browser syncing

When users are signed into Edge, they can sync their browser history to make it available on other devices. Users can view and delete this history on the privacy dashboard located at privacy.microsoft.com. Microsoft’s Defender SmartScreen—a Windows 10 feature that protects against phishing and malware websites and the downloading of potentially malicious files—works by inspecting URLs that users intend to visit. This default functionality can be disabled through the Edge Privacy and Services settings.

The unique identifier allows Edge users to use a single click to delete associated diagnostic data stored on Microsoft servers.

At the other end of the privacy spectrum was Brave. The study found the default Brave settings provided the most privacy, with no collection of identifiers allowing the tracking of IP addresses over time and no sharing of the details of webpages visited with backend servers.

Chrome, Firefox, and Safari fell into a middle category. The autocomplete feature in all three browsers transmitted details of visited sites in real time as the URLs are being typed. These default settings, however, can be disabled. Other potentially privacy-harming behaviors included:

• Chrome: sends a persistent identifier along with website addresses, allowing the two to be linked
• Firefox: includes identifiers in telemetry transmissions that can link these things over time (telemetry is on by default but can be disabled). Firefox also opens a persistent websocket for push notifications. The websocket, the researcher said, is linked to a unique identifier and can potentially be used for tracking that’s not easily disabled.
• Safari: Defaults to a start page that can leak information to “multiple third parties” who can preload pages containing identifiers to the browser cache. What’s more, associated iCloud processes made connections containing identifiers.

Apple officials declined to comment on the report, but did point out that Safari by default provides blocking of third-party cookies and a complementary feature known as Intelligent Tracking Prevention, both of which limit the information third-party websites can obtain about users.

In a statement, Mozilla officials wrote:

Browsing history is only sent to Mozilla if a user turns on our Sync service, whose purpose is to share data across a user’s devices. Unlike other browsers, Sync data is end-to-end encrypted, so Mozilla cannot access it. Firefox does collect some technical data about how users interact with our product, but that does not include the user's browsing history. This data is transmitted along with a unique randomly generated identifier. IP addresses are retained for a short period for security and fraud detection and then deleted. They are stripped from telemetry data and are not used to correlate user activity across browsing sessions. As the study itself points out, “transmission of user data to backend servers is not intrinsically a privacy intrusion.” By limiting collection and retention of data and safeguarding the data users do share with us through encryption and anonymization, Firefox works to protect people’s privacy and provide a secure browsing experience. Clear and publicly available practices and processes reinforce our commitment to putting users’ needs first.

Representatives of Googledidn’t immediately provide responses to the findings. This post will be updated if responses come later. The research analyzed behavior of Chrome version 80.0.3987.87, Firefox 73.0, Brave 1.3.115, Safari 13.0.3, Edge 80.0.361.48, and Yandex 20.2.0.1145.

As Apple's background comment suggests, the study takes a narrow view of browser security, because it didn't take into account features that block third-party tracking. Still, the paper makes a good case why people using Edge, users of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari may want to disable the website autocomplete feature, which I’ve never found to be all that useful anyway. Microsoft’s response above provides ways to curb some of the other data transmissions as well. While the browser comes with enhanced security measures that are resistant to exploits, users who prioritize privacy should consider disabling default behaviors or using a different browser.

Story updated to add comment from Apple and Mozilla.

reader comments

Channel ars technica.

• Vote: Reader’s Choice
• Meta Quest 4
• Google Pixel 9
• Google Pixel 8a
• Apple Vision Pro 2
• Nintendo Switch 2
• Samsung Galaxy Ring
• Yellowstone Season 6
• Recall an Email in Outlook
• Stranger Things Season 5

The best web browsers for 2024

All web browsers have the same basic function, and yet, the choice between them has always been one of the most contentious in tech history. You have more options these days than ever before, whether you’re looking for the best web browser for privacy , the best for speed, or perhaps something a bit more adventurous.

To help you decide on the best web browser, we grabbed the latest browsers and put them through their paces. Even if some could use a complete overhaul, these options are your best chance for a great online experience.

The best web browser: Google Chrome

Chrome is ubiquitous — and for good reason. With a robust feature set, full Google Account integration, a thriving extension ecosystem (available through the Chrome Web Store), and a reliable suite of mobile apps, it’s easy to see why Chrome is the most popular and the best web browser.

Chrome boasts some of the most extensive mobile integration available. Served up on every major platform, keeping data in sync is easy, making browsing between multiple devices a breeze. Sign in to your Google account on one device, and all Chrome bookmarks, saved data, and preferences come right along. Even active extensions stay synchronized across devices.

Chrome’s Password Manager can automatically generate and recommend strong passwords when a user creates a new account on a webpage. Managing saved passwords and adding notes to passwords is even easier. The search bar, or Omnibox, provides “rich results” comprised of useful answers, and it now supports generative AI capabilities. Favorites are more accessible as well, and they’re manageable on the New Tab page. And it’s now easier to mute tabs to avoid unwanted sounds.

Other updates have included a Dark Mode for Windows and macOS , better New Tab customization and tab group creation, tab hover cards, and an in-browser warning if your password was discovered in a data breach. There’s a price tracking feature that can help locate the best deals. Android users will appreciate the Phone Hub for linking and monitoring their phones. There’s also the ability to quiet notifications, so websites don’t bombard you with requests to enable in-browser notifications.

What’s the bottom line? The Google Chrome browser is fast, free, and even better looking than before. With a thriving extension ecosystem, it’s as fully featured or as pared-down as you want it to be. Everything is right where it belongs, privacy and security controls are laid out in plain English, and the browser just gets out of your way. While it can be a little RAM-hungry at times , Google is working to make it more efficient — like Microsoft’s Edge, Google can now hibernate tabs in the background to stop them from using too many resources.

Overall, Chrome remains the best web browser download for the average user.

And, things are looking to get even better. Google announced some significant upgrades to the browser that haven’t gone live yet, to celebrate Chrome’s 15th birthday . A Material You design language will allow users to customize Chrome’s look and feel and attach themes to profiles to make it easy to tell them apart. The menu system will be revamped to provide easier access to a variety of settings and features including Extensions, Password Manager, Translate, and others. The Chrome Web Store will be redesigned using Material You to be easier to use, and AI will help identify useful extensions. And finally, Safe Browsing will now work in real time to protect against threats.

The best Chrome alternative: Microsoft Edge

In response to the market’s rejection of its original home-grown Edge browser, Microsoft rewrote Edge using the open-source Chromium web browser engine. The new Edge launched on February 5, 2020 , as a separate, stand-alone browser that replaced the integrated version. It became part of Windows 10 with the May 2020 update, although you can still download it for Windows 10 builds prior to version 2004. Of course, it’s the default web browser for Windows 11.

At first glance, the new Edge browser looks and feels like Google Chrome. It prompts you to import Chrome’s bookmarks toolbar and other settings. This is great if you hated the old Edge browser and want to give Microsoft’s new browser another shot. It also supports Chrome extensions , though the browser leads you to the Microsoft Store for add-ons. You must manually load the Chrome Web Store to install anything not listed in Microsoft’s repository.

However, it’s not Chrome with a Windows 11 theme. Microsoft reportedly disabled many features, including Google’s Safe Browsing API, ad blocking, speech input, Google-centric services, and more. In return, the company worked to optimize Edge and reduce its footprint while continuing to add new, Microsoft-oriented features. As of January 2023, Edge is the most efficient browser in terms of memory usage. It also allows sleeping tabs, to let tabs release their resources when they haven’t been used for some time.

Features launched since its release have included the new Edge Sidebar that provides easy access to various tools, more flexibility in managing how Edge starts up, Citations to make it easier for students to cite sources, and various other updates to make the browser more productive. Edge Workspaces lets users organize tasks into dedicated windows, and Microsoft has continuously tweaked various features, like the Edge Sidebar, to make them more user-friendly.

Microsoft Edge also provides simpler privacy settings and security updates. Microsoft Edge uses a graphically friendly interface that displays three security levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict. With Balanced set as the default, many sites request you to disable your pop-up blocker even though one isn’t manually installed. All in all, we’re very optimistic that Edge is on its way to challenging Chrome as the best web browser.

The best Chromium alternative: Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is the best browser that’s not based on the Chromium browser engine. Mozilla has taken real strides to make its browser a truly modern way to surf from site to site, thanks to efforts like its upgrade to Firefox Quantum , its VR alternative Firefox Reality , and password-free browsing .

It wasn’t too long ago that Mozilla rebuilt the browser’s interface, offering a cleaner, more modern take on what a web browser should be. The changes weren’t just skin-deep, however. There’s some impressive engineering going on behind the scenes.

For example, Firefox Quantum is designed to leverage multicore processors in ways that its competitors just aren’t doing. It was not designed to make a huge difference in your day-to-day browsing, but Mozilla hopes this design will give Firefox Quantum an edge moving forward. By engineering for the future now, Firefox Quantum is in a better position to take advantage of quicker processors as they emerge.

Some Firefox strengths include privacy protections with SmartBlock anti-tracker support, improved password syncing across devices, enhanced readability, integrated breach alerts, and a Protections Dashboard that provides a summary of how Firefox protects your privacy behind the scenes. WebRender improves the graphics performance on Windows PCs with Intel and AMD CPUs.

Recent updates include easier download management, captions, and subtitle support on YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix videos watched in picture-in-picture mode, HDR support in macOS, and the ability to edit PDFs with text, drawings, and signatures. Firefox can also recognize text from an image, which is copied to the clipboard when selected. Finally, Firefox Colorways provides new options for optimizing how Firefox looks on-screen.

Beneath those changes, Firefox remains a comfortable, familiar standby. It’s a capable browser with a deep catalog of extensions and user interface customization. While managing settings across platforms isn’t as seamless as Google Chrome , the mobile browser app lets you share bookmarks between devices when using a free Firefox account.

There’s a bit of a fringe benefit, too. Since it’s been around longer than Chrome, some older web apps — the likes of which you might encounter at your university or workplace — work better on Firefox than they do on Chrome. For that reason, it never hurts to keep it around.

Overall, Firefox is more privacy-centric than Chrome and comparably fast, but its feature set isn’t quite as expansive elsewhere. If you like the sound of this, download the Firefox browser today.

The most innovative web browser: Opera

Another venerable browser and popular alternative, the Opera browser shares much of Chrome’s DNA and deserves its place as one of the best web browsers. Like both Edge and Chrome, Opera is built on Google’s open-source Chromium engine and, as a result, they all have a very similar user experience. Both feature a hybrid URL/search bar, and both are relatively light and fast.

The differences appear when you look at Opera’s built-in features. Where Chrome relies on an extension ecosystem to provide functionality users might want, Opera has a few more features baked right into the browser itself. It introduced a predictive website preload ability, and an Instant Search feature isolates search results in their separate window while the current page fades into the background, letting users more easily focus on the research task at hand.

You can install extensions from the Opera Add-ons store , which are just like Chrome extensions. Similar to Google’s browser, you’ll find useful tools like Giphy, Amazon Assistant, Avast Online Security, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and more. If Chrome’s wide variety of extensions is important to you, then Opera becomes an intriguing alternative. It might just be one of the best browsers for quickly navigating web pages.

Opera also features a built-in “Stash” for saving pages to read later. There’s no need to sign up for a Pocket or Evernote account to save a page for later reading. Similarly, Opera features a speed-dial menu that puts all your most frequently visited pages in one place. Google Chrome also does this, but only on a blank new tab. Finally, Opera has a built-in unlimited VPN service, making it a more secure browser option.

The biggest changes came with Opera 60 and Reborn 3, a complete revamp that brought a new borderless design, Web 3 support, and a Crypto Wallet, allowing users to prepare for blockchain-based sites. With version 69, Opera became the first browser with a built-in Twitter tool, and the company has added others as well including Instagram and TikTok. Just click the icon on the toolbar, log in to your account, and tweet away right from within the slide-out menu.

Other recent advancements include Lucid Mode, which sharpens video playing on a variety of platforms, supports emojis instead of web links, and other enhancements. The Opera Sidebar adds new functionality much like Edge’s Sidebar, allowing quick access to various Opera features. And Opera Aria adds new generative AI capabilities built right into the browser.

You can see that we’re well into hair-splitting territory, which is why it’s important to remember that your choice of browser is, more than any other service or app you use each day, entirely dependent on your personal preferences — what feels most right for you. The Opera web browser has a unique look and feel, and it combines some of the best features of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Alternative browsers

While the preceding browsers will meet most users’ needs, other alternatives exist for anyone looking for something different. This section is for those who have a more niche preference in web browsers  or want to try something new.

Apple Safari

If you use Apple devices exclusively, Safari is already your default browser. It’s also significantly faster than in the past, surpassing Chrome in its quickness. It’s integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and you’ll likely get better battery life thanks to Apple’s in-house optimizations and the underlying hardware.

Safari also focuses a great deal on privacy and security. If you want to minimize how you’re tracked and whether Big Brother is looking over your shoulder, then Safari is a good choice. If you also use an iPhone and/or an iPad, then using Safari on your Mac will make for the most seamless transition between platforms. Open websites on an iPad or iPhone are carried over to macOS.

Safari is not offered outside the Apple ecosystem.

Vivaldi Browser

The Vivaldi browser is truly unique. No two Vivaldi users will have the same setup. When you run it for the first time, you’re guided through a setup process that lays out your browser in a way that makes sense for you. You choose where your tabs and address bar go and whether you want browser tabs displayed at the top of the page or in a separate side panel. This is a browser built from the ground up to deliver a unique user experience, and for the most part, it succeeds. Vivaldi 2.0 enhanced the customization features and made them easier to access.

This browser excels at customization, and you can choose from a variety of tasteful themes that don’t feel dated or out of place on a modern PC, in addition to the aforementioned UI choices. It also has some standout privacy-enhancing features, like its team-up with DuckDuckGo to make the non-tracking search tool the default option when in privacy mode.

Finally, recent updates added more powerful tab management, enhancements like Web Panels that make for smarter browsing, and (as mentioned) even more powerful customization options. Other new updates include a built-in ad blocker, a built-in tracker blocker, a clock in the Status Bar, a new Notes Manager, and a Break Mode for pausing the internet while keeping the browser open.

Brave Browser

One of the most unusual browsers around is Brave — or, perhaps, it’s Brave’s business model that’s the strangest. Brave blocks all ads on all web pages by default, which makes it arguably the fastest browser around. Ads are a huge portion of how many websites make money — block these ads, and suddenly the most important web financial tool is eliminated.

That’s where the Brave Rewards program comes in. Users receive Basic Attention Tokens (BATs) when they view alternative ads that Brave places in the browsing stream. Users can pass along a portion of their tokens to publishers. As of January 2021, there were over 70,000 websites that supported BAT-based transactions through the Brave browser, including Wikipedia, The Guardian, WikiHow, MacRumors, and more.

What’s in it for users? Simply put, if you’re not waiting for ads to download along with website content, then your web experience will feel much faster. Brave performs no user tracking, making it ideal for private browsing as well.

Tor Browser

The Tor Browser is a version of Firefox that serves one very specific purpose: A simple entry point for The Onion Router, or Tor .

Tor is software combined with an open network aimed at making you invisible by routing your traffic through several anonymous servers. While it’s not foolproof, it’s very difficult for someone to identify you when you’re properly configured and using something like the Tor Browser to surf the web — especially if combined with a VPN .

There are many legitimate uses of the Tor Browser and the Tor network. It’s a good choice for people who live in countries with repressive governments, as well as journalists and activists. The dark web is also one of the destinations for people using Tor, which includes many nefarious and illegal sites.

In any event, if you want to remain completely anonymous while surfing the web, the Tor Browser and network are for you. If you want a more mainstream alternative, Opera includes a VPN component, but it’s far less private.

Avast Secure Browser

Avast Secure Browser first arrived as the Opera-based Avast Safezone Browser in 2016 as part of the Avast Antivirus paid bundle. It was revised and rebranded in 2018 as a free stand-alone product based on Chromium. Originally the “SafeZone” aspect kicked in when users visited websites to make purchases or manage money.

Avast Secure Browser provides several built-in tools to protect your data and privacy. These include an anti-phishing module, fingerprinting and online tracking prevention, an ad blocker, and a Webcam Guard tool to control which websites can access your camera. The Hack Check tool will determine if your info was leaked in a data breach.

Avast Secure Browser is a stand-alone download for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The desktop version doesn’t include an integrated VPN but instead directs users to download the company’s separate SecureLine VPN software. The listed Bank Mode — part of the Avast Free Antivirus client — flips on when users load a banking website.

Best web browser features — what to look for

Benchmark tests.

Notice we don’t include Safari in our main comparison. Apple’s Safari web browser is unavailable on Windows, Android, or Chrome OS, so we removed it from our primary list.

Most browsers are compatible with web standards and handle performance with relative ease. A casual user probably won’t notice a difference in the rendering speed between today’s modern browsers, as all six are much faster and leaner than those of a few years ago.

We ran the following benchmarks on a desktop with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive, and Windows 11. All browsers were clean installs of the most current production versions as of January 2023, and all were run at their default settings.

First, JetStream 2 is a JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmark. It tests how quickly a web browser can start and execute code, and how smoothly it runs. Higher numbers are better.

Notice how all three Chromium-based browsers outperform Firefox. In fact, there’s very little difference between them, while Firefox’s performance is quite poor by comparison.

The next test we ran was Speedometer 2.0 . It measures how responsive a browser is to web applications by repeatedly adding a large number of items to a to-do list. Higher numbers are better.

Here, Opera led the pack, with Chrome and Edge running nearly neck to neck. Firefox came in last here with a relatively low score.

Finally, we tested how much RAM each browser uses, both with no tabs open and then with 10 tabs open accessing the same popular sites. We made sure that each browser had no extensions running, and we let each browser settle in before looking at its memory use. For the test with 10 tabs open, we averaged memory use when all the tabs were opened and then five minutes later to account for any variability.

It’s not a scientific test, but it should be sound enough to give you an idea of which browsers are the most and least efficient in terms of taking up your RAM. We found Opera to use the least amount of RAM when first opened, barely ahead of Edge, while Chrome used the most. Edge used the least with all 10 tabs loaded by a significant margin, a third or less than the other browsers. Chrome used the most with all 10 tabs open, and Firefox and Opera weren’t far behind.

Security and privacy

The most valuable tool for secure and private browsing is user discretion, especially when you consider that every web browser has encountered security breaches in the past. In particular, Internet Explorer and Chrome’s reputations for protecting users’ security and privacy credentials are spotty at best.

Chrome, Safari, Vivaldi, Opera, and Firefox all rely on Google’s Safe Browsing API to detect potentially dangerous sites. Thanks to constant updates, Mozilla, Chrome, and Opera all make constant security improvements. Microsoft disabled this API in Edge.

All browsers offer a private session option, too. Private sessions prevent the storage of browsing history, temporary internet files, and cookies. Browser support for Do Not Track remains spotty.

Mozilla made some strides in differentiating itself from others with a real focus on privacy in recent years. It even debuted a Facebook Container  in 2018 to make it harder for the social network to harvest user information.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to use a VPN when browsing the web? 

You do not have to use a VPN when browsing the internet. However, a VPN can be a good tool to use as it protects your privacy and data by creating a secure and encrypted data tunnel between your browser and a VPN server. In turn, that server creates a secure and encrypted connection between it and the target website.

As a result, the website can’t identify you personally, nor can it see your true geological location or internet address. Not even your ISP knows where you’re surfing or the device you use with a VPN enabled. Some VPN services are free while others require a subscription. We have a list of the current best VPN services .

Which browser is most used in the world? 

Google Chrome leads the web browser market with a 64.68% share, according to Statcounter . Apple Safari follows with 18.29%, Edge at 4.23%, Mozilla Firefox at 3.01%%, and Opera at 2.25%. Internet Explorer is still in use with 0.81%, while Microsoft Edge “Legacy” is fading out at 0.32%.

What are the best ad blockers to use for your browser? 

We have a guide on the best ad blockers for Google Chrome , but here’s a short list:

• AdBlock and AdBlock Plus
• AdGuard (Chrome only)
• CyberSec by NordVPN
• Poper Blocker (Chrome only)
• Stands Fair AdBlocker (Chrome only)
• uBlock Origin (Chrome and Firefox only)

What is browser fingerprinting and how can you prevent it? 

Websites want to know everything about you: Your tastes, your habits, and where you like to surf. When you load a website, it quietly runs scripts in the background that collect information about you and your device. The operating system, the web browser, all installed extensions, your time zone — all of this information is strung together to create a “fingerprint,” which in turn can be used to trace you across the internet via cross-site tracking.

Avast provides a detailed explanation and outlines various forms of fingerprinting. For example, the “canvas” method forces the browser to draw an image or text in the background, without the user knowing, to determine the operating system, web browser, graphics card, installed drivers, and the current font style. Device fingerprinting determines all internal and external device components.

As your fingerprint is tracked across the internet, this “profile” can be sold to data brokers, who then resell the data to advertisers. It’s a more silent means of gathering information about you versus using cookies that require your consent. The problem is, browser fingerprinting is still perfectly legal.

The best way to prevent browser fingerprinting is by randomizing and generalizing data. Third-party software like Avast AntiTrack does this by inserting “fake” data when website scripts try to collect your information. However, this tool allows scripts to continue running in the background so the website doesn’t “break.”

Many browsers offer some type of anti-fingerprinting protection. These include Avast Secure Browser (see above), Brave Browser (randomization), Mozilla Firefox (blocks fingerprinting scripts), and Tor Browser (generalization).

Editors’ Recommendations

• 9 best 2-in-1 laptops in 2024: tested and reviewed
• The 5 best laptops for browsing the web in 2024
• The best PDF editors for 2024
• Best Products
• Google Chrome

Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for technology into a marketing, consulting, and freelance writing career aimed at helping people use technology to enhance their lives. At Digital Trends, he reviews laptops and desktops, including the latest from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Apple, and more, and writes news and easy to understand how-to articles about the computing industry as a whole.

When he’s not writing, you’ll find him reading and watching science fiction, taking photos with his family, and obsessing over Indiana University basketball.

Laptop Reviews

Best Budget Laptops Best 2-in-1 Laptops Best Business Laptops Best Laptops Under $1,000

If you’ve got one of the best MacBooks or Macs, the chances are good that you do an awful lot of sensitive stuff on your computer. Think about all the passwords you enter, the emails you send and receive, and the documents you create -- all of those can provide a treasure trove of data to any sticky-fingered ne’er-do-wells who manage to gain access to your device.

To prevent the worst from happening, it’s a good idea to beef up your Mac security. The good news is that doing so is far easier than you might think, and there are a handful of macOS settings you can change right now to keep your Mac -- and all the information it holds about you -- safe from prying eyes.

When it comes to AI image generators, you've got your choice from dozens these days. Two standouts from that pack (which includes Dall-E, Firefly, Stable Diffusion, and Playground AI) are Midjourney and Grok 2 -- the former with its well-deserved reputation of generating stunningly lifelike images, the latter known for being able to conjure onscreen virtually any idea imaginable, regardless of copyright restriction or longstanding societal norm.

Here are the essential facts you need to know about each. Pricing and tiers

Learning how to use Microsoft Teams properly can save you heaps of time. It has a built-in whiteboard, video chat functionality, team organization tools, and integrates well with the Microsoft 365 productivity cloud and its suite of useful applications.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Compared: Safari vs. Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Edge on macOS in 2022

Safari vs. Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Edge on macOS, compared.

The truth is, the perfect browser doesn't exist. Each of the four most popular macOS browsers has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, just based on the engine that's used for web rendering, and what the developers of the big-four have prioritized.

While the best browser for the individual varies on use case, and which websites behave the best on any given browser, there are a series of benchmarking tools that can measure performance on synthetic tasks.

Browser benchmarks

We tested each browser on three different testing platforms: JetStream 2, Speedometer, and MotionMark.

JetStream 2 is a JavaScript-benchmark that scores browsers based on how quickly they can start and execute code, which translates to faster JavaScript performance. Since JavaScript is used on most web browsers, it's a good test of snappiness for code-intensive sites.

MotionMark is a graphical browser testing suite that measures the ability to render complex web pages. Think a page that has complicated graphics and animations. A higher score results in smoother transitions and animations.

Speedometer 2.0 determines the responsiveness of a browser when running web applications. Among the three, it's the truest option for testing real-world performance across many popular websites and online services. A good example is adding tasks to a to-do list in a web app.

Chrome came out on top in JetStream 2 testing, while Safari took second place.

Safari was the fastest in MotionMark benchmark testing.

Speedometer testing showed off interesting results, with Firefox and Edge coming in first and second, and Safari in last place.

Different testing platforms result in different scores, so your own mileage may vary. Safari was the best for graphical performance, for example, but its responsiveness lagged behind others. Choose what specific metrics are most important to you.

For Mac users, Safari is an institution. It's the default browser on Apple platforms and is generally lightweight and efficient. As you'd expect for an Apple product, Safari also emphasizing privacy while you browser online.

From the very first boot on a new Mac, Safari is instantly available and configured for easy, private browsing. That makes it the best choice for the most non-technical among us, since you won't need to download and install anything. Safari "just works" out of the box.

It also features the tighest integration across Apple's other devices and systems. You can use Continuity to easy hand-off your browsing between your Mac and any iPhone or iPad you have around. If you need to buy something with Apple Pay , you can authenticate purchases with Face ID or Touch ID.

Safari also features some strong privacy protections, including mechanisms aimed at mitigating cross-site tracking and ad targeting. It features a built-in password manager that allows you to save and store passwords — with easy autofill options — across your Apple devices.

As an Apple-made product, Safari is the most convenient option on this list for Mac users — particularly those who own multiple Apple devices. It's also a good choice for the privacy conscious, though it isn't the fastest and it doesn't yet have a strong extension marketplace.

• Default Mac browser with effortless setup
• Strong privacy protections
• Integration with other Apple products
• Not the fastest or most responsive browser in some testing
• Lackluster support for add-ons and extensions

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a massively popular browser, and a particular favorite of those who routinely use extensions to customize their web experience. It's the most-used web browser in the world, and it's faster and more RAM-efficient than it used to be. Chrome is even currently speedier than Safari on macOS.

The browser also has one of the world's most extensive list of add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions. From plugins focused on online privacy or to video content downloaders, there are around 190,000 extensions in total to choose from. You can also choose from a number of different themes and customization options.

Intelligent Google-made features include automatic site translations and deep integration with the company's online tools and services — so it's great for those who rely on Gmail, Google Docs, or another Google service. Syncing between Google apps on different devices is also top-notch.

However, Google is a data company that relies on collecting information about its users. While the company has taken steps to bolster its privacy reputation, it's still a company that makes money on harvesting data. Those who are particularly privacy-conscious will probably want to look elsewhere.

It's hard to go wrong with the world's most popular web browser, particularly with its seamless workflow features and customization options. However, if you are even slightly concerned about online privacy, you may want to go with another option.

• Simple to learn, fastest option in some cases
• Syncs your Google account across other devices
• Extensive list of extensions and add-ons
• It's Google — so not that private
• Is a RAM and CPU hog

Mozilla Firefox is one of the only popular and mainstream browsers to have started life as an open source project. It's still a free and open source browser with a hefty focus on privacy and security, which could make it a good fit for those who want a Google Chrome alternative.

Because of its open source nature, users are free to explore Firefox's code — and they do. The browser doesn't have any hidden secrets or data-harvesters. It also features some excellent built-in privacy and security protections, including Enhanced Tracking Protection and an extensive list of customizable permissions.

Firefox was also the first browser to actually offer third-party extensions and add-ons. Although it might not have as many extensions as Google Chrome, you'll still find a hefty list of options ranging from privacy add-ons to customizable themes for your browser.

Although Firefox has some cross-platform integration between its app and built-in Pocket support, it isn't as seamless as Chrome or Safari. If speed if your primary concern, it's also important to note that Firefox isn't the fastest browser by most metrics.

Users who want an open source browser or are committed to Mozilla's mission of keeping the internet open and free will find a browser after their own hearts here. For the average user, however, another browser on this list might be a better fit.

• Completely free and open source
• Extremely customizable with extensions, themes, etc.
• The best option for hardcore privacy
• Not the fastest or most RAM efficient
• Synchronicity isn't as robust

Microsoft Edge is the spiritual successor to Internet Explorer that was first released in 2015. Originally HTML-based, Microsoft overhauled the browser to be based on Chromium, which is the same underlying software used to make Google Chrome.

As such, Microsoft Edge is now much more competitive than it used to be. It's far from a Google Chrome clone, but you should expect a similar level of performance from it. Some users believe that Microsoft Edge even feels snappier than Chrome on a Mac.

Because it's Chromium-based, Microsoft Edge also has a list of extensions similar to Chrome. It also sports a number of unique features, such as a "Collections" ability that lets you save information like text or webpages to a built-in notebook. There's also a vertical tab bar, a built-in read aloud feature, and an easy native screenshot tool.

It's a solid option for anyone that doesn't like Safari and wants an alternative to Google Chrome because of privacy reasons. If you use a Microsoft account like some use a Google account, then Edge might also be a solid option.

• Snappy, lower RAM and CPU usage
• Unique features like Read Aloud and Collections
• Good performance in most metrics
• Can be slower than Chrome in terms of pure performance
• Syncing isn't as strong as Safari or Chrome

The perfect browser doesn't exist, but you can pick and choose what you need

There's no clear answer for what the "best" browser on macOS is. However, some browsers are better suited to specific tasks than others.

When it comes to smooth JavaScript execution, Chrome is in the top spot with Safari a close second. Safari, according to the MotionMark testing, handles complex web pages better than any other browser.

Firefox, interestingly enough, may be the fastest when it comes to general everyday web apps.

Of course, there's also the issues of extension support, privacy, and synchronization across other devices. Many of the browsers are evenly matched on these metrics, but some excel in specific areas like privacy or cross-platform integration.

But, unlike on iOS, you aren't effectively stuck with one browser core technology. These four browsers, and several more, are available on macOS, and can be run in parallel.

While we don't recommend running all four unless you're a web developer or unit case tester, two or three different browsers can be run at-will, if any given browser doesn't handle your work case well.

Sponsored Content

Get a new MacBook every two years with this subscription service

Top stories.

Exclusive: Apple all-in on struggling Matter, to the detriment of HomeKit Accessory Protocol

What to expect from Apple's September 9 iPhone 16 'Glowtime' event

2025 iPhone 17 may increase RAM to 12GB

Apple CFO shakeup: Kevan Parekh replacing Luca Maestri

How to watch Apple's iPhone 16 'Glowtime' event

Featured deals.

Amazon launches Labor Day sale on Apple, save up to $500

Latest news.

Apple Intelligence Photo Clean Up shows up in iOS 18.1 beta

The latest developer beta of iOS 18.1 brings with it Clean Up for Photos, an Apple Intelligence feature that can remove unwanted elements from photographs.

Apple Wallet now supports Hawaii driver's licenses and state IDs

Hawaii has now joined as the seventh state to approve the use of driver's licenses and state IDs stored on the iPhone and Apple Watch through the Apple Wallet app.

Apple's eighth developer beta for its fall releases drops for testing

Apple has moved on to the eighth round of developer betas for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2, as the public release looms around the corner.

Apple issues third developer betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1

Apple has moved on to the third release of its Apple Intelligence developer betas, with new builds of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 testable by developers.

Addigy introduces MDM solutions for controlling Apple Intelligence

Addigy's new mobile device management controls empower IT administrators, giving them the capability to test and manage Apple's upcoming AI features, putting them in control of their systems.

The Mac mini doesn't sell in huge volumes, but is a crucial part of Apple's ecosystem

The Mac mini, initially an affordable entry into Apple's ecosystem, has evolved into a versatile machine, though sales data paint a mixed picture of its popularity.

Amazon slashes Apple's M3 iMac to $1,099, matching record low price

Labor Day Apple sales are heating up, with Amazon going all out with its latest M3 iMac 24-inch price drop. Pick up the all-in-one-desktop for just $1,099.99.

iPhone 16 will lead Apple to record high $400 billion revenues in 2024

Apple is now expected to exceed $400 billion in annual revenue in 2024, with this record high driven by all of its hardware such as the iPhone, plus another record high for Services.

Apple Books, Mac App Store outages have been resolved

Apple has resolved its outages affecting the Mac App Store and Apple Books, with all of its online stores and services working normally.

Latest Videos

Retro gold rush: which emulators are on the App Store, and what's coming

Nest Learning Thermostat 4th-Gen review: Finally, Apple Home compatibility

Exclusive: every iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro camera spec & Capture Button detail revealed

Latest reviews.

Hohem iSteady V3 review: Robust gimbal with a learning curve

Satechi 4-in-1 USB-C Hub review: Data transfer galore

Rode Wireless Pro review: Impressive features, superb audio quality

{{ title }}

{{ summary }}

• Do Not Sell My Personal Info

•  ⋅ 

Google vs Microsoft Bing: A Detailed Comparison Of Two Search Engines

Google vs Microsoft Bing: Which search engine should you focus on? Explore the differences, market share, and AI integration to make an informed decision.

Between Google and Bing , which search engine should you focus on? Should you focus on both or prioritize one over the other?

Google is still the world’s most popular search engine and dominant APP store player, but things are changing quickly in an AI-driven world.

With the rise of artificial intelligence and both Bing and Google incorporating AI – i.e., Microsoft Copilot powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, Bing Chat, and Google Gemini – into their algorithms and in the search engine results pages (SERPs), things are changing fast.

Let’s explore.

Google Vs. Microsoft Bing Market Share

One of the first distinctions between Microsoft Bing and Google is market share. According to Statcounter , in the US:

• Google fell to 86.58%, down from 86.94% in March and 88.88% YoY.
• Microsoft Bing grew to 8.24%, up from 8.04% in March and up from 6.43% YoY.
• Yahoo grew to 2.59%, up from 2.48% in March and up from 2.33% YoY.

That’s pretty huge to see Bing growing and Google reducing.

Google had a 91.05% search market share in June 2024, according to Statcounter’s revised data , which is down from 91.38% in March and 92.82% YoY. Google’s highest search market share during the past 12 months, globally, was 93.11% last May.

While that may make it tempting to focus on Google alone, Microsoft Bing provides good conversions and has a user base that shouldn’t be ignored. Bing’s usage has grown because of the AI-powered feature Bing Chat, which has attracted new users.

Bing is also used by digital assistants such as Alexa and Cortana.

Bing has around 100 million daily active users which is a number that you can’t ignore. It’s particularly important to optimize for Bing if you’re targeting an American audience. In fact, 28.3%  of online queries in the U.S. are powered by Microsoft properties when you factor in Yahoo and voice searches.

Some have wondered over the years whether Bing is an acronym for “ B ecause It’s Not Google .” I’m not sure how true that is, but the name does come from a campaign in the early 1990s for its predecessor, Live Search.

Another fun tidbit is that Ahrefs recently did a study on the Top 100 Bing searches globally, and the #1 query searched was [Google].

Comparing Google Vs. Microsoft Bing’s Functionality

From a search functionality perspective, the two search engines are similar, but Google offers more core features:

Comparing AI Functionality

How google & microsoft bing differ in size of index and crawling.

Google says :

“The Google Search index contains hundreds of billions of webpages and is well over 100,000,000 gigabytes in size.”

Even so, not even Google can crawl the entire web. That is just not going to happen.

This is why using structured data is so important, especially now with AI overviews . It provides a data feed about your content so Google can understand it better, which can help you qualify for rich results and get more clicks and impressions.

Microsoft Bing hasn’t released similar figures. However, this search engine index size estimate website puts the Microsoft Bing index at somewhere between 8 to 14 billion web pages.

The two engines have shared a little about their approaches to web indexin g .

Microsoft Bing says :

“Bingbot uses an algorithm to determine which sites to crawl, how often, and how many pages to fetch from each site. The goal is to minimize bingbot crawl footprint on your web sites while ensuring that the freshest content is available.”

Around the same time the above statement was made, John Mueller from Google said :

“I think the hard part here is that we don’t crawl URLs with the same frequency all the time. So, some URLs we will crawl daily. Some URLs maybe weekly. Other URLs every couple of months, maybe even every once half year or so. So, this is something that we try to find the right balance for so that we don’t overload your server.”

Google has a mobile-first index, while Microsoft Bing takes a different stance and does not have plans to apply a mobile-first indexing policy .

Instead, Microsoft Bing maintains a single index that is optimized for both desktop and mobile, so it is important to make sure your site experience is optimized, loads quickly, and gives users what they need.

Google has evolved into more than just a search engine with products like Gmail, Maps, Chrome OS, Android OS, YouTube, and more.

Microsoft Bing also offers email via Outlook, as well as other services like Office Online or OneDrive.

Unlike Google, however, it does not have its own operating system. Instead, it uses Windows Phone 8 or iOS on Apple devices.

Now, let’s take a look at where Bing is on par with Google – or superior.

Differences In User Interface & Tools

Google has a clean, simple interface that many people find easy to use, but for some queries, AI overviews are shown.

SEO professionals love our tools and data.

Thankfully, both Google and Microsoft Bing have decent keyword research tools that offer insights into performance:

One area where I think Google falls behind is the data it provides in Google Search Console. If you want to learn how to use it, check out How to Use Google Search Console for SEO: A Complete Guide .

One of the cool feature sets in Microsoft Bing is the ability to import data from Google Search Console:

Another Microsoft Bing feature that I think beats Google is the fact that it provides SEO Reports .

According to Bing, these reports contain common page-level recommendations based on SEO best practices to improve your rankings.

The reports are automatically generated biweekly and provide tips as to what to work on or investigate.

See A Complete Guide to Bing Webmaster Tools to learn more.

Microsoft Bing May Excel In Image Search Over Google

When it comes to image search , Microsoft Bing may have a leg up on Google by providing higher-quality images.

Test out Bing Visual Image Search, which allows you to do more with images. Check out its library of specialized skills to help you shop, identify landmarks and animals, or just have fun.

Then, see How Bing’s Image & Video Algorithm Works to learn more.

However, Microsoft Bing provides more detailed information about the image users are searching for.

How Microsoft Bing & Google Handle Video Search

Microsoft Bing provides a much more visual video search results page, including a grid view of large thumbnails.

Google’s video results are more standard, featuring a vertical list of small thumbnails.

As you can see from the screenshot of a Bitcoin search below, they include different filters like length, price, etc., which is a great user experience.

I did not get this experience with Google video search .

This is one area where Microsoft Bing outperforms Google.

Map Listings On Both Search Engines Matter For Local SEO

Both engines have similar functionality for maps, including map listings and local listings in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Make sure you claim all your listings in both Microsoft Bing and Google and optimize your profile with business information, photos, proper categories, social information, etc.

Accurate name, address, and phone number (NAP) information are key. Google focuses on a user’s immediate vicinity by default, providing highly localized search results, while Bing offers a broader view of the wider area in local searches, which can be beneficial for some businesses.

See A Complete Guide to Google Maps Marketing.

Optimizing For Google Search Vs. Microsoft Bing

Google is primarily concerned with E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust . Providing users with high-quality, useful, and helpful content that is factual, original, and offers users value, as well as a site that provides good user experience, will help you rank.

Backlinks are also still important.

Microsoft Bing has always been focused on on-page optimization. It emphasizes exact-match keywords in domain names and URLs, gives weight to social signals and official business listings, and favors older and established domains.

Unlike Google, Microsoft Bing states in its webmaster guidelines that it incorporates social signals into its algorithm. That means you should also focus on Twitter and Facebook – including building good quality content on your site and social platforms – if you want to rank highly in Microsoft Bing.

Content is extremely important for both search engines. Always focus on high-quality content that satisfies the user’s intent and informational needs. By creating useful and relevant content, users will naturally love it and link to it.

Both speed, mobile-friendliness, and proper tech infrastructure matter for both engines.

Make sure you check out these resources for optimizing for various search engines:

• Going Beyond Google: SEO on Other Search Engines
• 7 Alternative Search Engines That Do Social Good
• Embracing Bing Search & Giving It the Attention It Deserves
• DuckDuckGo SEO: What You Should Know

Google Is Pushing Organic Results Further And Further Down The Page

As time goes on, Google continues to push organic results down the page, resulting in more revenue from paid search ads and fewer clicks from organic search. That is why a blended strategy is important to win in today’s SERPs.

Here is a comparison between a search in Google and a search in Bing. As you can see, Bing does not have as many ads as Google, and organic listings are more prominent on the page than Google.

Google Search Vs. Microsoft Bing: The Verdict

Both Microsoft Bing and Google satisfy the informational needs of millions of people every day.

While Google remains the dominant player in the battle between Bing and Google, they both offer opportunities for your brand to reach new users and put you in front of millions of qualified customers who are looking for information, products, and services.

Bing offers unique advantages and opportunities, particularly in visual search, social signals, and certain niche markets.

Bing holds a smaller market share but has a growing user base.

Since optimizing for both Bing and Google is similar, with some key differences, I recommend optimizing for both. This can enhance overall visibility and reach, especially in a world where Google is pushing organic listings further and further down the page.

More resources: 

• 23 Great Search Engines You Can Use Instead Of Google
• Meet The 7 Most Popular Search Engines In The World
• How Search Engines Work

Featured Image: Overearth /Shutterstock

Winston is a strategic problem solver who drives growth and revenue through innovative SEO and digital marketing strategies. With over ...

Google vs. Bing vs. DuckDuckGo: The Ultimate Search Engine Showdown

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

This App Lets Me Easily Use My Mac Without a Mouse

Why i'm leaving gmail and using this security-focused email service instead, this ai chatbot's preview window is the best, and everyone should give it a try.

Choosing your go-to search engine is a very personal choice. It's important to consider your needs and preferences when selecting one. While Google certainly dominates the search engine market, its two rivals, Bing and DuckDuckGo, also offer impressive features.

Let's take a closer look at each of the search engines and examine which one is the best.

Search engine giant Google captures 92.6 percent of searches worldwide. With a suite of features and integrated apps, let's take a look at why Google is the world's most preferred search engine.

Search Features

Google offers a wide range of search features. One of its most useful is localized search results based on your current location. Google integrates useful information, such as the locations of businesses from Google Maps, into Google's search results.

For example, a search for “supermarket” returns the locations of supermarkets near a user based on information from Google Maps.

Google also attempts to return search results based on what it thinks the user's intent is. For example, if a user searches for “coffee”, Google will think they're trying to find a coffee shop near them. It'll then return the location of coffee shops nearby at the top of the search results, with informational results underneath.

Google's featured snippets is another useful feature that presents information clearly. Featured snippets show page content relevant to your search on the search results page. This means you can get the information you are searching for directly on Google's page without having to visit a website.

Index Method

Google tries to understand what a webpage is about before deciding whether it should be indexed.

Google will analyze the content of the page, including text, images, and video files embedded, and attempt to understand what the page is trying to convey.

User Privacy

Google has had its share of privacy concerns—it's faced lawsuits over privacy and Incognito Mode. It is no secret that Google collects vast amounts of data on you for its apps and services you use.

Some people might not realize that their Chrome browser activity is linked to their personal Google account.

However, Google maintains that it is committed to abiding by responsible data practices and claims to have never sold users' personal information. Savvy users can limit the personal information that Google saves under account settings.

Related: How Do I Delete Previous Google Searches From History?

User Experience

Google's layout is clean and simple with search results filtered by categories including news, images, videos, and shopping, with related search options and paginated results at the bottom of the main SERP.

Google emphasizes simplicity by providing the most accurate results from a single search. A good example of this is Google's freshness algorithm, where the freshness of the content is factored into Google's algorithm.

For example, searching for the “current President of the United States” requires freshness for the correct search result.

Microsoft's Bing evolved from previous search engines, including MSN Search and Windows Live Search. It does things a little differently to Google, and it's the second most popular search engine in the world.

Bing's most notable feature is its video search feature. Bing's video search results are displayed in a user friendly grid format which makes scanning the video search results easy. Additionally, you can watch a video directly from Bing's search engine results page without navigating to the webpage.

Bing's image search feature also has extensive filters that let users filter images by license type, date posted, whether there are people in the image, type of image, and image dimensions.

Frequent searchers are also rewarded—you can earn points for making searches on Bing. These points can be redeemed for real rewards (just make sure you are logged into the device you are searching from).

Related: Nifty Tips for a Better Bing Image Search

When indexing a webpage, Bing is mainly concerned with its content quality and keywords.

There are three main factors that Bing take into account when assessing the content quality of a webpage; how trustworthy is the webpage; how useful and detailed is the content on the webpage; and how easy-to-read is the webpage from a user perspective.

Related: How Do Search Engines Work?

Microsoft collects data from its users when they use Bing and other Microsoft products. This data is used for targeted advertising and marketing. However, you can change your privacy settings to limit the kind of data Microsoft can collect from you.

Bing's search engine is a visual feast. There is a daily rotating wallpaper on its search engine front page that prompts you to learn more about the daily image if you click.

Additionally, the trending news panel at the bottom of Bing's home search page is useful if you like to stay on top of current events.

Bing's SERP has a clean layout with verticles filtering results by images, videos, maps, news, and shopping. Upon reaching the bottom of the main SERP, the results are paginated for your convenience.

Although not as popular as other search engines, DuckDuckGo's steadily climbing base of users enjoy its privacy-centric approach.

DuckDuckGo's bangs are its standout search feature. Bangs make it easy for users to make searches directly on other websites. For example, if you type in the bang !w, you'll be able to search directly on Wikipedia. DuckDuckGo currently has over 13,000 bangs.

Another nifty search feature in DuckDuckGo is its instant answers . For example, if you search for “alternatives to Facebook”, alternative social media sites similar to Facebook will appear above the search results.

DuckDuckGo's web crawler, DuckDuckBot, crawls over 400 sources from the web for its search results.

Related: What Is a Web Crawler/Spider and How Does It Work?

Its sources include reputable websites like Wikipedia, and even other search engines like Bing (DuckDuckGo makes a point of not using Google as a source).

DuckDuckGo is committed to protecting user privacy . Its privacy policy states that it does not collect or share users' personal information.

That's a stark contrast to other popular search engines. DuckDuckGo even goes as far as blocking other search engines from tracking its users across the web.

DuckDuckGo has a familiar layout that's intuitive and easy to use. Making a search loads webpage search results, as well as verticals that will allow you to filter the search by images, videos, news, maps, and shopping.

Upon reaching the bottom of DuckDuckGo's SERP, it becomes an infinite scroll (rather than paginated), which is slightly faster than opening a new page every time you reach the bottom of the SERP.

The Verdict: Choosing the Right Search Engine

Now that you have a thorough understanding of each browser and what their pros and cons are, you can pick the right search engine for you.

If privacy is your main concern, DuckDuckGo is the obvious choice. However, if you don't mind being tracked and prefer the convenience of localized search results, then Google might be the best choice. Bing's gamification approach to searches with its search and earn rewards system could also be an appealing choice for you.

With all things considered, Google is the best option. Google's search features are second to none, helping users find the answer they are searching for easily and quickly. User experience is enhanced by Google's clean and simple layout.

• Apple Watch
• Accessories
• Digital Magazine – Subscribe
• Digital Magazine – Info
• Smart Answers
• Back To School
• Apple’s Big September
• Apple Watch 2024
• New AirPods
• M4 Mac mini
• 11th-gen iPad
• Best Mac antivirus
• Best Mac VPN

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence .

Which search engine should be crowned king of Mobile Safari?

In the search engine game, it’s all about eyeballs. Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft rake in billions each year from search ads, and now those companies are competing to be the default search engine in Mobile Safari on your iPhone and iPad.

It’s easy to change Safari’s default search engine. 

Until now it’s always been Google, but according to a report in The Information (subscription required), that deal expires in 2015. Its sources say Apple’s Eddy Cue has entertained pitches from both Yahoo and Microsoft, maker of Bing. Currently, Bing actually powers Yahoo’s search in return for a cut of its ad revenue, although Yahoo and Bing do compete to get your eyeballs in the first place. Bing is used by both Siri on iOS and Spotlight on your Mac.

Changing the default

Being the default search engine for millions of iOS devices is a big deal. Most people probably don’t bother changing the default, but it is possible: Open up Settings > Safari, and the very first option is Search Engine. Tap that to switch from Google, the default, to either Yahoo, Bing, or privacy-friendly DuckDuckGo (a new option in iOS 8 ).

You’re still able to navigate to any search engine, of course. The default search engine is what Safari will use when you type your search query directly into the Search/URL bar at the top.

Putting them to the test

To get a sense of how different those search engines actually are, I ran three searches with each. I searched the term “Yosemite,” as well as “San Leandro pizza” for some local interest, and of course “Taylor Swift,” because who can get enough?

Yosemite: Google returned an ad for Apple’s latest OS as the first result, followed by a Maps result for Yosemite National Park. The next three results were also for the park: Its home page , its Wikipedia entry , and the official guide to lodging and activities. Apple’s Yosemite page is next, followed by news results, images, and “in-depth articles” from sources like National Geographic, Outside, and Ars Technica. Pretty comprehensive, and definitely well organized—I especially like how all of these sections can be expanded for more results.

Google showed a handy map, Yahoo wasted too much space with poorly labeled ads, and I loved Bing’s tabbed organization. (Click to zoom.)

Yahoo put Apple’s Yosemite page first, but a tiny dollar-sign icon gives this away as an ad—I nearly had to squint to see it. Next is the site for Evergreen Lodge inside Yosemite National Park, which wasn’t even on Google’s first page of results (it’s shaded like an ad but missing the dollar sign). That’s followed by the National Park Service site, but the Plan Your Visit section, not the more generic landing page that Google returned. Unlike Google, Yahoo didn’t return a map, but did return plenty of photos, and also videos from YouTube and ABC News. (Yes, it’s kind of weird that Yahoo gave me YouTube videos but Google didn’t.)

Bing did a better job of labeling Apple’s Yosemite ad, along with an ad for the actual park. Tabs across the top of the page let you jump from Web to Images, Videos, and News, which is a nice touch. The results were mostly the same as Yahoo’s (which isn’t surprising), but I thought Bing organized them a little better.

I liked DuckDuckGo’s results page (shoutout to Yosemite Sam!), and the unique Products tab. (Click to zoom.)

DuckDuckGo has a neat tabbed design for search results, and I give it bonus points for being the only search engine to recognize the existence of Yosemite Sam. The ads are clearly marked, and I even like the use of favicons next to each URL. The main list of results was just websites (Apple’s Yosemite OS was way down the list, an embarassing 25th, after two results for Yosemite the obscure 2014 movie. Weird. But the tabs let you easily jump to Images, Videos, About, Places, and even Products, which returned a grid of results from Amazon.

San Leandro pizza: I ran these searches near my house in San Leandro, CA (it’s the new Oakland! OK, not really), so I thought this search might be illuminating on how well the different search engines could find local results.

Google did great, telling me where the pizza places were, when they opened, often how much I’d expect to spend (in a basic $ to $$$$ way, not with actual numbers), and a rating based on user reviews. I liked how it presented results three at a time—just enough to fill one screen—and then let me swipe through horizontally to see more.

I like how Google told me when the pizza places were open, but Yahoo’s interactive map is a lot better (and there’s a filter option for “open now” too). 

Searching Yahoo gave me a map of the results right up top, with a horizontally scrolling list of pizza joints, with addresses and Yelp scores. I love how as I scroll through the list, the map updates, highlighting the one I’m looking at. The opening times aren’t listed, but you can filter the results by Best Match, Highest Rated, Distance, and price—and flip the “Open now” switch to show only places ready and waiting to feed you. The next results were ads and Yelp pages.

Bing’s results were topped with ads, then a map of results—the map isn’t as attractive as Yahoo’s, though, and I couldn’t find any filtering options to sort the results by price, distance, or rating, which both Google and Yahoo provided. A banner along the top cajoled me to join Bing Rewards, which incentivizes you to stay signed into your Microsoft account when you search Bing. You’ll earn credits toward gift cards for places like Starbucks, Burger King, and Amazon, or you can donate them to charity.

Bing’s map is pretty ugly, and DuckDuckGo doesn’t bother with a map but did find my two favorites right away, probably because they rank the best on Yelp.

DuckDuckGo defaulted to the Places tab, and offered horizontally scrolling Yelp reviews, sorted by rating—which surfaced my two favorite pizza places immediately. But if you want a map of locations, you’re out of luck. The Images and Videos tabs didn’t return much of interest—who searches for pizza just to look at pictures of pizza? People on diets, maybe?

Taylor Swift: Searching Google for Ms. Swift first brought up news, then her home page, images, and then Listen Now ads for Rhapsody, Google Play, and iTunes. I could also jump to her various social media profiles, or tap one of her album covers to search for more info about that album. Regular results and in-depth articles came later.

Google found more recent Taylor Swift news than Yahoo. 

Yahoo served up Taylor Swift news, then images, Wikipedia, web results, and more YouTube videos. Nothing about her albums or links to stream them on various services. Tapping “More Videos” returned more than a dozen of her music videos on YouTube, which is almost better than a link to a streaming service, since YouTube is free.

Bing led the search results with two giant ads that took up more than half of the screen, followed by videos on Vevo, then news, then regular web results, with images and the Wikipedia entry kind of sprinkled in—you’ll see a couple of websites, then images, then a couple more websites, then Wikipedia, then more websites. It’s kind of a mess, but again, the tabs along the top of the page let you jump to Images, Videos, and News, filtering out the rest of the cruft.

Bing’s ads were too big, and results were pretty jumbled until I filtered them with the tabs. DuckDuckGo’s Lyrics tab has potential, but was ultimately disappointing.

I was initially intrigued about the Lyrics tab on DuckDuckGo’s results for Taylor Swift, but it just picked her song “Red” seemingly at random, and only the first verse was shown, with a link to MetroLyrics to get the rest. The Videos tab is great, though, with results from Vevo and YouTube, along with the view counts for each so you can easily tell the viral hits from the, uh, deeper cuts.

Who should win?

I’m sticking with Google mostly out of habit, but this experiment has made me wish I didn’t need a default, since the search engines each have their own strengths and weaknesses based on what you’re searching for. Instead, I’d like to be able to enter a term and then choose on the fly which search engine to use: DuckDuckGo if I’m shopping (or want to stay private), Google if I’m after images, Yahoo for local business, and so on.

What search engine do you use in Mobile Safari? If Apple changes the default away from Google next year, will you just go in and change it right back? Holler at me (not literally) in the comments.

Author: Susie Ochs , Contributor

Susie has been covering Apple since 2006, and when she isn't glued to her MacBook Air and iPhone, you can find her building sand castles at the beach or snowboarding in the mountains.

Recent stories by Susie Ochs:

• How to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID and iCloud account
• Screen Time in iOS 12 shows how badly the iPad needs user accounts
• iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone X: Which one should you buy?

Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

Microsoft Edge vs Google Chrome: Which browser is best?

Microsoft Edge had its big relaunch back in 2020, now based on Chromium, the same technology behind Google Chrome. As such, there’s not a whole lot to choose between these two browsers. We’ve done the groundwork for you. Here are the key differences.

Chrome and Edge are remarkably similar products in 2023, so beyond an obsession with testing out Bing’s new AI integration within Microsoft’s browser, much of your choice here will come down to familiarity. You likely already have a favourite.

However, we know there’ll be some of you peeking over the fence to see what’s going on with the other browser. Whether you’re tempted by whatever is going on with Microsoft and ChatGPT , keep getting sick of feeling like Google Chrome to hogging all your machine’s power, or really don’t fancy using Edge as your default browser despite its pushy approach, it might just be time to give a rival a go. This is the big match-up, Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge. Here’s what sets them apart.

Save 81% on a VPN with SurfShark

Surfshark has dropped the price of its VPN to £1.94 a month. Head over to Surfshark now to pay a one time price of £46.44 for 24 months of Surfshark and save 81%.

• £1.94 a month

Edge has the edge on performance

If you care about speed, Microsoft Edge wins… but not by much. Internet security specialists Avast ran a series of tests to uncover the speediest web browser, and Edge won out against Chrome. Neither was as fast as Apple’s Safari but that’s for a different browser fight-themed article. So, that’s Edge offers a speedier time for you and your browsing than Chrome.

Microsoft Edge also performs better on the security front. In a test carried out by NSS Labs , an independent company offering cybersecurity guidance, Microsoft Edge blocked a whole bunch more malware downloads and phishing attacks than its Google rival. In a test that lasted 23 days, Edge managed to block 96% of socially-engineered malware attacks thrown at it – from malicious links to pop-ups. Comparatively, Google Chrome blocked 88%. Microsoft Edge wins here if security and performance are key concerns of yours.

Google vs Bing

Right now, Google Search is winning comfortably on sheer popularity. According to Statcounter’s most recent count, Google has around 93% of the market share, compared to just 2.8% for Microsoft Bing. Despite this, the experiences of searching in both are fairly similar. Yes, we know, you’re probably yelling that “Bing is bad” towards us right now but, for your day-to-day searches, you’ll notice little difference beyond an interface that looks a bit different.

As such it might come down to your preferences in terms of integration, like if you’re a fan of Google Maps or YouTube, for which Microsoft has little to compete with.

Microsoft has Vertical Tabs

With both browsers running on Chromium, the general experience is remarkably similar now, and that makes the switch to Microsoft Edge a much less daunting one if you’ve been one of the many long-time Chrome users and are now considering changing.

However, Microsoft has added a feature that might tickle an organisational scratch of yours, and that’s vertical tabs. Vertical tabs are what it says on the tin. Instead of your tabs being crammed, and we mean cramped if you’re tab hoarders like us, they are shifted to the left side in a much neater and clearer list. It takes up a bit of your web page real estate but it’s a smart change-up.

Chrome is way ahead on mobile

Again, popularity doesn’t mean much but Google Chrome has a whopping 64% of market share on mobile, with that big chunk missing due to the behemoth that is Apple. Chrome even overshadows Safari’s 25%. Edge though, it’s relegated to the “Other” section of Statcounter’s current results. That puts it lower than Instabridge – heard of it? – at 0.08%. So, yeah , we’re not using Microsoft Edge on mobile and it seems like many others aren’t either. We haven’t noticed a significant push from Microsoft for it either.

Conversely, Google pays a whole lot of attention to Chrome on mobile, meaning updates and new features are guaranteed frequently and for the long haul. Edge on Mobile does have Bing Chat AI now though.

You might like…

Garmin Fenix 8 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Which fitness tracker should you buy?

Garmin Enduro 3 vs Garmin Enduro 2: Should you upgrade?

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro: Is it time to upgrade?

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro: Time to make the jump?

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Which Android should you buy?

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Which Pro earbuds win?

Adam is the Computing Editor of Trusted Reviews. He joined as a staff writer in 2019 after graduating from Newcastle University with an MA in Multimedia Journalism. After spending two years at WIRED,…

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

Professional conduct

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the best of Trusted Reviews delivered right to your inbox.

Bing vs Google: 2024 Head to Head Comparison

What is the main difference between bing and google, is bing more secure than google.

• How Do Bing's and Google's Market Shares Differ: Overall, By Device, and Region

What’s the Distinction in Bing vs Google Usage For Multimedia Search?

Advertising on bing vs google in 2021—what works better, bing maps vs google maps—which one is more accurate, bing vs google users—what were their top searches as of 2021, how many people use bing vs google, bing vs google usage │the takeaway.

The whole concept of the internet revolves around search engines. Even though Google is absolutely dominant in terms of both market share and popularity among users, other engines have their own benefits and markets where they are especially relevant.

For this reason, we’ve made a detailed guide of the similarities and differences between the top two competitors. The data below will discuss Bing vs Google usage and provide insights to both users and marketers.

Find in This Article:

• What percentage of global search engine market share do Bing and Google hold?
• How do their user demographics and preferences differ?
• What are the main differences in their ranking factors?
• What are the engines’ distinctive features and metrics relevant for advertising?
• What are the most popular search queries?

In a world where customers’ expectations are high, and the competition is fierce, optimization can make or break a business. Optimization is the most important aspect of your brand’s virtual presence, so let’s see what’s the difference between Bing vs Google in 2021?

It’s essential to understand how the metrics differ to adapt your strategy to different algorithm requirements appropriately. Most of the features we’ve just added in Version II have been requested by our existing clients. That’s one of the things that matter in our business—listening and responding to feedback.

By comparing the two most popular search engines, we’ll help you get more from your marketing budget.

So, which browser is your cup of tea?

To get started, we’ll explore the categories that differ between the two and how those differences affect the overall user experience. From their target market and content to technical aspects, priority in ranking factors to revenue growth over the years.

Google takes over 200 unique factors into consideration to rank the organic search results. The developers often update the algorithms, so it can be quite challenging to stay on the first page of Google results, even once you rank in the top 10.

As the engine usage differs, when you type the same query, the results for Bing vs Google users will differ. However, what’s interesting is that, since 2019, both engines have been using the same core algorithm—BERT.

Here are some Google ranking factors:

• Domain name
• Site-levels
• Page-levels
• User interaction
• On-site webspam
• Off-site webspam
• Backlinking
• Brand signals
• Special algorithm rules

Microsoft has a different approach which is why the Bing algorithm operates in a slightly different way. Remember, this goes for Yahoo! searches as well.

Here are some ranking factors of the second most popular engine:

• Credibility and quality
• Page load time
• User engagement

Bing vs Google stats show many SEO experts cite keywords, backlinks, and social media presence as the most significant differentiators . The Bing approach can seem a bit outdated as it allows keyword stuffing. SEO has evolved into a more complex and strategic field, so you won’t get the desired first-page ranking by simply using the main keyword numerous times. Furthermore, Bing doesn’t pay enough attention to backlinks while the category is vital for Google’s SERP. That’s the thing, all the elements matter and need to be in sync these days, not only your on-page content.

Google users are aware of the fact that their results are personalized, which can only mean one thing—the company stores and uses the data obtained from their user accounts, queries, and interests. Some even like that their browser history helps them skip a couple of steps in finding what they need.

Bing is less intrusive and takes just a portion of user data when displaying organic results, mostly related to geotagging and language use while browsing. Microsoft states that its engine focuses on helping users make informed decisions instead of navigating them in a certain direction. So, for the case of Bing vs Google privacy, our ruling is that Bing’s approach is definitely more security-centered. That’s how the two differ in a core way of presenting SERP.

With the latest lawsuit in March 2021, the competition seems to have an undisputed leader—Bing. But what was that all about? The issue was Google’s data collection while in incognito mode. While the company disputes all the allegations, claiming they’ve made it clear that private doesn’t mean invisible. The fact that the judges decided that Google has to face the lawsuit makes it enough to raise some valid concerns.

How Do Bing’s and Google’s Market Shares Differ: Overall, By Device, and Region

Let’s check out how the search engine market share looks. As of April 2021, Google holds a whopping 92.18% share of the global search engine market. Bing ranks second with a market share of 2.27%.

For mobile devices only, Google share is even more significant—94.84%, while Bing’s is only 0.42%. However, Bing seems to be more popular on desktop computers, with a 5.53% market share, while Google’s is 87.28%. With our SEO tool, it’s easier than ever to track your ranking by device.

It’s challenging to talk about Bing vs Google revenue because Microsoft and Alphabet report the annual total. For 2020, Microsoft reported a total of $143.015 billion, while Alphabet reached $182.527 billion.

Most of Google desktop traffic comes from the US, 26.79%. Brazil ranks second with 4,72% and the UK third with 4.03%. The report from Statista shows other countries where Google has over 90% share—India, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong, and Australia. With our improved local tracking feature, you can now easily include multiple areas you’re focusing on.

Let’s see how the two rank on the American Consumer Satisfaction Index scale. Considering the ratio of Google vs Bing market share and the massive gap between the two, the ratings don’t even favor Google that much. For 2020, it was 79 vs 71, respectively.

Moreover, Bing is surprisingly more popular in the US, possibly due to being a default browser on Microsoft Windows devices. Just under a third of all its desktop traffic—32.01%, comes from the US. China comes next, accounting for 23.74%. Japan, Germany, and the UK are also in the top five traffic sources for Bing.

This is another category where we can safely say Bing is dominant. Advanced search by image is not only aesthetically pleasing but can prove extremely helpful. If you’re not sure which term to search for, you can easily insert and find relevant results in an image search.

Multiple advanced search options (resolution, length, publication date, etc.) are available for videos. In fact, its filters can be compared with YouTube’s. Google probably doesn’t bother that much because they own YouTube.

We must mention the fact that marketers will appreciate here, SerpWatch has introduced a feature of tracking the results on YouTube as a separate engine.

Paying for advertising space that will show a website on the first page of search results basically works the same on both search engines. Companies can use an abundance of filters to precisely target their desired audience, such as location, age, gender, etc. Unfortunately, this creates a complex, love-hate relationship between most users and their browsers.

For the sake of comparison of the user habits and attitudes towards the two most popular ones, a survey by a market research agency using small business market research tools , Clutch, examined which search engines are users most likely to click on a paid ad. The results for Bing ads vs Google ads were 6% and 63% for PPC , respectively. If you’re advertising on Google, bear in mind that you can import Google Analytics into our SEO tool with just a single click.

Bing is a better choice when it comes to competition. With such a diverse volume of content, a whopping 90.63% doesn’t get any organic traffic from Google.

What’s great about using SerpWatch is that you’ll get a list of the top-ranking pages using the exact keywords, so you can see how your competitors outperform you.

Some of the most important metrics for the advertising segment are CPC and CTR. The average CPC for Google ads is between $1 and $2, while for Bing, it’s $1.54. When it comes to the average CTR, Google has the upper hand once again. Across all industries, the average CTR is 2.83% vs 3.17%.

As in many other aspects, Google maps are more popular, and the ratings are higher. But which parts of the online mapping industry has Google covered better than its competitor?

Their performance is measured through the directions, street view, display, local stores, transportation methods, and miscellaneous category of other widgets available. The first thing to mention is the major drawback of the Microsoft engine—they don’t offer the app. As mobile accounts for more than half of the total internet traffic, it’s an understatement that optimization for mobile matters.

When we break down Bing vs Google stats for travel options, Google wins by having cycling routes. The directions are quite similar, but Google’s data about traffic is more accurate. Local search is another segment in which Google dominates, as Bing’s results can be significantly outdated.

The way of presenting these results also makes Google stand out. The colorful representation of different categories makes it easier for users to navigate and find what they need. The street view is another category Bing has neglected to update, so it’s no wonder Google maps is leading in all recorded countries.

We can make another direct comparison on the basis of what their users are looking up the most. An interesting piece of information is that the top two queries on Bing were Google products.

The top 5 searches by volume were:

• google (40,958,757 queries)
• youtube (35,279,042)
• facebook (28,550,537)
• gmail (15,868,334)
• amazon (7,854,752

Interestingly, 4 out of 5 queries match, but the order is different, and Google’s volume is much greater.

• youtube (1,361,079,416)
• facebook (1,204,988,365)
• google (616,128,363)
• gmail (539,374,260)
• whatsapp web (500,011,833)

In terms of users, there’s no doubt the numbers work in favor of Google, even though specific markets and types of searchers prefer Bing.

So, let’s see how we can estimate the numbers. We’ll start with the number of searches per second. The latest data as of June 2021 points to a stunning 92,655 Google searches in a single second .

As for the second most popular engine, there were 1.034 billion unique visitors in January 2021, which indicates how many people use Bing. That’s the traffic for both mobile and desktop devices. You’ve read that well, over a billion.

The latest stats for user demographics show that Bing users tend to be less tech-savvy and older than those who primarily use Google search. However, Microsoft reports 55% of their engine’s users conducting product research and 38% use it for brand discovery. That’s why marketers shouldn’t easily dismiss Bing’s value, especially the US-based ones.

The availability of languages these engines offer also plays a significant role in their popularity. Let’s take Bing vs Google usage of translators, for example. People rely on those services, especially while traveling. Their language processing systems are different, but Google wins the race in terms of numbers by offering 108 language options. For Bing, the number is 88, but there are certain advantages over Google translate. Users favor it for language learning and conversational purposes, especially its handy Phrasebook.

Both translators offer an option to download language packs in offline mode. It seems Google aimed for quantity here, while Bing chose quality. Each has its own perks, so the answer to which one is better depends heavily on the user’s needs at the moment.

Now, how many people use Google? The company doesn’t publicly disclose such data, but we can tell you the number is around 4 billion. And how did we estimate that number? The answer is—by examining the latest Global Digital Overview Report by We Are Social and Hootsuite. As of January 2021, there have been 4.66 billion active internet users. Considering that Google has the lion’s share of the market, our conclusion is a safe bet. The total number can translate to 59.5% of the world population. That would further imply around 50% are using the most popular search engine.

Your company’s presence in digital cyberspace is critical for success in a modern world driven by technology. Investing in optimization for the search engine of your choice is the only way to stay ahead of the curve.

We hope this article will help you do the right job on the two most popular search engines across the globe. We’re not favoring either, just presenting the facts—check out how your pages rank on both by signing up for a free trial on SerpWatch . The real-time data accuracy SerpWatch provides can significantly boost your revenue, increase your traffic, raise the awareness of your brand, and so much more.

ACSI , Ahrefs , Ahrefs , Ahrefs , Backlinko , Britannica , Britannica , CNBC , CS Monitor , Digital Report 2021 , Freeway Insurance , Google , HelpDesk Geek , Internet Live Stats , Lifewire , Macrotrends , Macrotrends , Microsoft , Microsoft , Microsoft Bing Blog , NBC News , Search Engine Journal , Search Engine Journal , Search Engine Journal , Search Engine Land , Similar Tech , SimilarWeb , SimilarWeb , StatCounter , StatCounter , StatCounter , Statista , Statista , Statista , The Microsoft Club , The Verge , WebFX , WebFX , Wired , Wired

I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.

I know myself I have tried Bing as well as DuckDuckGo. The results I get are not always relevant compared to Google search. I think the sheer number of searches Google search has does help its analytics. I wouldn't say Bing is bad, I just think most users still find Google better. I do tend to use more than one search engine when researching something. Always good to have another web crawler providing results.

Related posts

Looking Beyond Google: Best Alternative Search Engines in 2024

Search Engine Ranking Factors: Top 10 Essential Signals in 2024

What’s New in SerpWatch? Local Tracking & More

A Rank Tracker With a Difference: What Sets SerpWatch Apart from the Competition

SerpWatch Rank Tracker: The Secrets of Data Accuracy

What is Schema Markup? An In-Depth User Guide - 2024

A Definitive Guide to Google SERP Features - 2024

Please leave your comment.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

• Privacy Policy
• Advertise with Us

Google vs. Bing vs. DuckDuckGo: Which Is Best?

Since most of us heavily rely on search engines, it can be frustrating if it does not provide the results we hope for. However, deciding on a search engine is a highly personal choice. As it stands today, Google is the most popular, Bing is playing catchup, and DuckDuckGo is trying a privacy-centric approach. So how do you know which one is right for you? Let’s compare Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo and see where each search giant succeeds and where they fall behind the competition.

Search Results

Unique features, homepage design, other considerations, frequently asked questions.

Also read: How to Use Google Search Like a Power User

Obviously, the most important aspect of any search engine is the accuracy of the results it provides based on the data you input. So, let’s see how each of the three search engines perform.

Asking a Question

For the question “Who invented the computer?”:

With Google, the results are very clear showing Charles Babbage’s name clearly along with a link to Encyclopedia Britannica. It also populates other common search results before showing you the top sources online that answer this question.

Bing doesn’t make the answer nearly as obvious as Google, even when using Microsoft’s browser. However, you can see from the bold text in the first two results that the answer is Charles Babbage. You also get results of related people under the Wikipedia post about the computer on the right hand side of the screen.

DuckDuckGo users do not get Charles Babbage’s name right away. Instead you need to read through the snippets for the first two results to get any sort of answer. That being said, it does provide the same top two results as Bing, even if the answer is a little less obvious.

Also read: Search Engine and Homepage Keep Changing? Here’s How to Fix Them

Searching for a Place

Next, let’s search for a place like “sushi restaurants in Chicago.”

Google brings up a quick and easy map with the top results for sushi and clearly identifies where to click to find “More places.” Scrolling down a bit brings you to the web search results, with top results focusing on relevant articles regarding the best sushi places in Chicago.

This is another strong result for Bing with scrollable restaurant results shown at the top with ratings as well as a way to separate the results by price, hours, rating, etc. Immediately under these results is Open Table’s list of top sushi restaurants in Chicago.

DuckDuckGo does an okay job searching for sushi restaurants in Chicago. It first provides links to Open Table and Groupon, then shows a map with options. While it doesn’t place the map and list as close to the top as other search engines, it still isn’t all that bad.

Also read: How to Change the Default Search Engine on Your Android Phone

Finding a Person

Let’s try asking the question “Who is George Washington?”

It immediately recognized that he was a founding father and the first president of the United States. Those facts are front and center on the results page, and Google highlights facts about Washington on the right side of the search results.

Bing’s heavier emphasis on visuals comes through again as well with multiple photos of Washington. Bing also pulls in data from Wikipedia to provide basic facts about the founding father. The result is something of a toss-up between Google and Bing on this search thanks to Bing’s heavy focus on images.

Don’t count out DuckDuckGo on this search, as it, too, adds the Wikipedia entry as one of the first results. DuckDuckGo also offers a quick snippet on the right side of the screen, and History.com is the third top result.

Also read: How to Make Facebook Private

While Google has made strides in enhancing the privacy of its search engine experience, it is still not its topmost priority. Google relies on your search history to serve you personalized results, ads, etc. If you would prefer to keep your search history private, Google should not be your first choice.

Like Google, Bing also keeps a record of your search history. Also like Google, Bing captures your IP address, your cookies, and personalizes your search results. Microsoft has made plenty of noise about focusing more on user privacy, something it’s showing with its Edge browser. That said, Bing still has a long way to go to bring itself up to par with the likes of DuckDuckGo.

In a battle for privacy, DuckDuckGo wins by leaps and bounds over Google and Bing. DDG does not attach your search inquiries to any persistent identifier, so it cannot build a picture of what kind of results you like or dislike. There are no cookies turned on by default. DuckDuckGo cannot identify unique users. Ads are targeted based on the keyword search rather than a user’s individual search history. No personal information like IP addresses or user agent strings are attached to any search results. In the battle for search engine user privacy, it’s DuckDuckGo for the win.

Also read: DuckDuckGo’s Email Protection Service Explained

Everything from its frequent and sometimes playable Google Doodles , package tracking, traffic checks, movie times and more make it super useful . Want to know the weather outside? Just type “weather” in the search bar, and it will show you local weather. Try typing in a math equation into the search bar, and Google quite literally does the math for you. There are almost too many unique features to name.

One of the best and most unique aspects of Bing is that it will pay you to search. Better known as Microsoft Rewards, Bing rewards each search from mobile or desktop with points. These points can later be cashed in for gift cards or for discounts on Microsoft product purchases. Every day there are also quizzes and challenges to earn double or triple points to shorten the amount of time necessary to earn a reward.

Bing also adds its “Timeline” feature where key events in the lifetime of influential/famous people show up in a search result. Whereas Google only gives you four autocomplete suggestions, Bing offers eight suggestions and also makes it easier to nail down your exact search. While Google offers lots of extras, it’s hard to say no to free stuff, so Microsoft wins this round but only by a little.

The single best feature of DuckDuckGo, and likely the most popular, is !Bangs. Essentially, !Bangs let you directly search other websites from DuckDuckGo. In the DDG search bar, type “!Amazon” before any search term, and you will be able to search Amazon without navigating to Amazon.com first. It’s worth noting that these !Bangs are not private searches, as you are passing through to a website that can track you, like Amazon in this case.

Still, !Bangs are incredibly convenient and are the single best reason to use DuckDuckGo as your home page. Separately, type “Is It Raining” in DDG, and it will tell you if it’s raining out. Want some alternatives to Google Drive? Type in “alternatives to Google Drive,” and DDG will show you alternative services at the top of the screen. It’s a neat way of seeing different results without having to navigate to another website.

Also read: 11 of the Best Dark Websites Google Won’t Let You Find

Not likely to be the biggest factor in determining which search engine to use, Google’s homepage has rarely changed over the years. It’s barren, full of white space and is often filled with its Google Doodles. However, there’s not much going on besides that.

Bing is the big winner in this space, as its homepage is full of beautiful imagery that changes daily, if not hourly. There are trending news stories in thumbnails at the bottom of the screen, and everything is customizable. Where Google prefers getting right to the point, Bing helps you locate other interesting subjects before your main search. That said, the search bar is front and center, making it easy to ignore the rest of the page and get right down to business.

Also read: How to Set Daily Bing Wallpaper as Your Windows Desktop Background

Outside of offering a few color themes to choose from, DuckDuckGo offers a similar look to Google. Dark mode is a favorite of many computer users these days, so that’s a popular option. The search bar is, of course, the focal point, and you can find it without any extraneous looking around.

There was a time when speed was once a big factor in choosing a search engine. How long it took from the time you hit “enter” to when search results actually showed up. Those days appear to be behind us, as the difference is now calculated in microseconds, and the average Internet user cannot tell the difference.

On the other hand, Google search and the way it ties into the rest of its plethora of Google apps and services are worth considering. Searching for a restaurant in the search engine will also let you send the address right to your mobile device and Google Maps. Bing does something similar with its own map services, but it rarely functions as seamless. However, there are a few things that Bing does better than Google . DuckDuckGo is entirely reliant on third parties.

Each of these browsers offers visual searches for images, videos, news, products and more. Want to flip a metaphorical coin? Google and DuckDuckGo can do this. Want to see details of an upcoming flight? Google and Bing can display it directly in a search result if you know the flight number, whereas DuckDuckGo sends you to a flight-tracking website. DuckDuckGo also allows you to search the dark web. Needless to say, these are the kind of miscellaneous features that can determine which is better.

In this three-way battle between Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo, here are the results:

• If you are concerned about privacy, use DuckDuckGo. (Check out a few more privacy-centric search engines .)
• If you are looking for the best results and the convenience of useful features, use Google.
• For everything in between, use Bing.

Also read: The 14 Best Deep Web Search Engines to Find What Google Can’t

How do I set a default search engine?

Most browsers allow you to set a search engine of your choice as the default. For example, on Chrome, you have to navigate to “Settings -> Search Engine” to select which search engine is used in your address bar.

What is the most commonly used search engine?

Google is currently the most commonly used search engine, with over 85 percent of internet users opting for Google.

Can I remove my personal information from a search engine?

Mostly, yes, but the process can be challenging and tedious. To begin with, remove information you have volunteered in your public profiles on social media sites. Change your settings on such sites to make your account private, and where possible, choose to prevent your data from being crawled by search engines.

Also, raise a request to remove your information from people finder websites , and request Google to remove personally identifiable information . Use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool to delete your information from search results for pages that have already been changed or removed from the web.

Image credit: EVG Kowalievska via Pexels

Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox

Megan Glosson is a freelance technology writer based in Nashville, TN. She has extensive experience working with everything from printers to smart home systems, and serves as the go-to “tech guru” for a small business that sells digital products. Megan has created thousands of articles for online publications and company blogs, including How-To Geek, Clean Email, and Review Geek. When she’s not writing, you will probably find Megan playing board games with her partner and two children or swimming in the pool. You can check out Megan’s entire portfolio on her website, https://www.meganglosson.com/.

Online Security

• Safari vs Chrome in 2024: Performance, Speed and Features Compared

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 .

Safari and Chrome are two of the biggest players in the browser world. While Safari comes ready-to-go on Apple devices, that doesn’t mean it’s the best option — especially as Chrome is often touted as the best browser out there. See who wins in our Safari vs Chrome comparison.

Last Updated: 01 Feb'24 2024-02-01T09:54:22+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

It’s that time of year again where we put two of the most famous browsers in our virtual boxing ring for the battle of Safari vs Chrome. All Mac users will be familiar with Safari; it’s the default browser for Mac devices and iPhones. 

However, just because Safari comes pre-installed by default, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best. With applications available for the Google Chrome browser on both Apple desktops and iOS, you might be wondering if you should make the switch.

Key Takeaways:

• While Safari and Chrome are both decent browsers, Chrome’s vast library of extensions and customization capabilities means it’s a slightly better choice
• In the battle of performance, Chrome also comes up tops, offering better speed and graphics execution
• The only round where Chrome lags a little is privacy and browsing data collection, which is why we advise using this browser in conjunction with a VPN

To help you decide, we’ve done a bit of research for you, comparing Safari and Google Chrome across Mac and iOS to see which one is better. If you’re not a Mac user, then this article won’t be one for you, so we suggest you check out our Microsoft Edge vs Chrome review for Windows devices instead.

Cloudwards completed a fresh comparison of Safari vs Chrome. Since our last review, Chrome and Safari have remained relatively unchanged, making for a neck-and-neck race. 

Safari vs Chrome: Rounds & Criteria

Our showdown between Safari and Google Chrome will take the form of five rounds, each focused on a different strength: features, ease of use, performance, security and privacy.

Check out our online security courses and grab a limited-time offer. Enrollment available now!

At the end of each round, one browser will come up tops and earn a point. Whichever of the two browsers scores three points overall will be the final winner. Is Chrome better than Safari? Let’s find out. 

1. Features

First up in our Google Chrome vs Safari showdown, we’ll explore each of the browser’s features. It’s fair to say that Safari and Google both cover the basics of a good browsing experience pretty well but, in this day and age, most of us want more than basic functionality. Native tools, customization and extensions were all things we considered in this round.

Customization

Safari is pretty minimalist in design and functionality. While you can customize the look and feel of the browser on Mac, your options are limited. For example, you can change the background of the Safari home screen, but not the overarching color and theme of the desktop.

By contrast, Google Chrome gives you a lot more options. You can choose from over 24 color themes, or even customize your background with an image of your choice. It’s a similar story over on the mobile applications for both.

Safari’s home screen feels minimalist and static, while the Google Chrome mobile device app offers higher levels of customization. You can, for example, set your homepage to show you the latest trending news from Google News.

Google Extensions vs the Apple Ecosystem

Google Chrome also leads when it comes to extensions. Like Firefox, the Chrome extensions library is huge, varied and offers lots of applications for free. Read our Chrome vs Firefox review here . 

Safari’s library of extensions, in comparison, feels relatively limited. While you can access big names like Honey and 1Password, you’ll also find that a lot of applications aren’t compatible with Safari.

This is especially true for VPNs. Right now, none of the top VPN providers offer a browser extension for the latest version of Safari, but they do for Google Chrome. In essence, Chrome offers much more expandability and customization than Safari. 

Syncing 

Both web browsers offer solid syncing features. We like how Safari works in conjunction with a range of Apple features to offer a seamless browsing experience across all Apple products.

Combined with iCloud sync and Apple’s iCloud keychain software, you can move from your iPhone to your iPad to your Mac laptop without your browsing experience being interrupted, and your browsing history will also save automatically. Here’s the lowdown on how to get started with iCloud .

Safari also integrates into Mac’s other applications by default. So, if you use Mac apps like Apple Mail, Apple Calendar and iMessage, you’ll experience excellent continuity. We also like how, with compatible websites, you can use Apple Pay to pay for online shopping.

Google Chrome, though, also performs well on the continuity front. If you have a Google account, you can also sync your browsing experience across your other devices. While Google Chrome doesn’t enable Apple Pay, it has its own option — Google Pay — which you can enable for a faster payment experience.

So, Google Chrome and Safari are pretty much neck and neck when it comes to features but, with its greater levels of customization and vast library of web extensions, Google Chrome takes the lead in this round.

2. Ease of Use

Both Safari and Google Chrome are straightforward to use on desktop and mobile devices, so in this round, we analyzed which user interface felt more pleasant to use. Across iPhone and Mac, Chrome takes a slight lead here. 

Safari’s user interface is minimalist and easy to get your head around. The search bar is at the top of the screen on both desktop and mobile. The home screen is then decorated with widgets showing frequently visited websites, favorite websites and suggested reading based on your browsing experience. 

The experience is satisfactory and we also like how, if you open multiple tabs, you can click the four-square icon in the top right-hand corner of the browser to zoom out of all your open web pages, so it’s easy to find what you need.

Chrome is also really easy to use. The homepage — unless you change it — features the famous Google search bar, along with frequently visited websites below it. There’s also widgets in the top right-hand corner of the page, which give you quick access to Google applications like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Translate and YouTube. 

In terms of finding bookmarks, Google Chrome’s bookmarks are more seamlessly integrated into the browser, showing as small widgets below the search bar at the top of the page. To show bookmarks in Safari, you have to either manually click the bookmark tab in the control panel or enable the bookmark pane, which is quite big and invasive. 

Overall, while both are easy to use, the Google Chrome browser feels a bit more dynamic and user-friendly than Apple’s browser. 

3. Performance

We’ve come to what is arguably the most important round: the Safari vs Chrome speed test. We performed a benchmark test using Speedometer 2.0, JetStream 2 and MotionMark to compare Safari vs Chrome performance. 

We used a MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 CPU running at 2 GHz to run these tests. 

Benchmark Test Results

When it comes to speed, Chrome is the clear winner, reading 122.5 compared to 113.8 on Safari. While both are respectable scores, Chrome is undoubtedly the faster option. 

On JetStream, the tables turned. Safari’s reading was 125.705, putting it in the lead as Chrome’s score was 118.675. JetStream tests a browser’s ability to deal with complex JavaScript workloads. This indicates that Safari will perform better when executing complex applications — but only marginally. 

The last test we performed was MotionMark, which analyzes how the browser handles complex graphics. Chrome really shone in this test, coming in at 403.6 to Safari’s 356.31. This means that Chrome’s user experience and responsiveness outperforms Safari. 

One thing worth noting is that Safari is a more lightweight browser than Chrome. While it might not be as quick, Safari is more economical for iOS and Mac performance than Chrome in terms of battery life, especially with multiple tabs open. 

Despite this, with Chrome winning on two out of three of these mini rounds in the Safari vs Chrome benchmark test, it’s fair to say that Chrome is the overall winner when it comes to performance. 

4. Security

Both Safari and Chrome use Google’s Safe Browsing database to keep users safe from phishing and malware. They also both offer password management functionality.

If you use Google’s password manager or Safari’s iCloud keychain, you’ll also benefit from dark web monitoring, a feature that uses data analytics to alert you to the exposure of your passwords and email addresses in data leaks and breaches. 

Despite these similarities, Chrome slightly takes the lead in terms of security features. We like that Google sends out frequent browser updates for Chrome, ensuring regular patching from potential vulnerabilities. Safari’s updates, by contrast, are much more infrequent. 

Over the last few years, Google has gotten in trouble with data privacy regulators numerous times for its use of cookies and improper collection of personal data. Apple, by contrast, has managed to stay out of the headlines for these reasons. 

We’ve taken an in-depth look at the best browsers for your privacy , which you can take a look at here. 

While Google appears to have learned from its mistakes and is taking steps to bolster user privacy, Apple takes the lead in this round. We like that Safari features a dedicated “privacy report” feature, which shows how the browser is protecting you from online profiling and cross-site tracking through its intelligent tracking prevention software.

Chrome also offers a “privacy checkup” function, but it’s far less granular than Safari. Also, by default, your privacy isn’t prioritized. Google automatically enables personalized ads, as opposed to blocking them. Incognito mode, as always, doesn’t do much do actually protect your privacy.

This makes sense, as advertising is such a huge part of Google’s business model, but it means that you should probably use a VPN in conjunction with Chrome. For this reason, Safari wins this round. 

The Verdict

Ultimately, Safari and Chrome are both solid browser choices. For iPhone, iPad and Mac users looking for simplicity and deep integration across the Apple ecosystem, Safari is a good choice — and comes ready to go. 

However, it’s also well worth downloading Chrome and setting up a Google account if you haven’t already. Chrome is a leading browser for a reason. It’s fast, easy to use and comes with unparalleled customization options. 

Because of this, Chrome is our ultimate winner, but we do recommend you use it in conjunction with a VPN to ensure your online privacy. 

What are your thoughts on the battle between Chrome vs Safari? Do you agree that Chrome is the better browser overall, and why or why not? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading! 

Both Safari and Chrome are good browser choices for Apple users. However, Chrome takes the lead over Safari in terms of performance, ease of use and customization, making it a better all-round browser choice.

Safari and Chrome are both secure, and Safari actually uses Google’s Safe Browsing database. They are pretty much neck and neck when it comes to privacy and security, but if you’re concerned about your online privacy, we’d advise using a VPN.

Probably not. If you’re using Chrome, then Safari won’t offer you anything that you haven’t got already.

Great comparison, and I agree chrome wins in most everything. Review is missing a critical comparison, power consumption.

You mean on mobile?

I have win but I haven’t received any thing

I am pretty sure he means you didn’t include power consumption for desktop and mobile.

I use Safari because of the battery life and performance being pretty good. It does lack a robust extension store and isn’t cross platform outside of Apple’s OS ecosystem. Chrome has a significant market share on Mac OS because its cross platform and updates better if security is a priority for you. Safari lags in updates due to being tied to OS updates. WebKit is open sourced but mostly developed by Apple and is a fork of Chromium/Blink which Google and most other browsers use. Firefox is an option as well, but its always been slow and battery hungry as well.

Blink is actually a fork of WebKit, not the other way around.

fyi chrome uses safari’s rendering engine on iOS (as they’re not allowed to do otherwise) so speed is the same on iOS.

Firefox is much better nowadays in terms of performance and battery consumption (on MacBooks).

I Think Chrome is the browser with more day to day security and updates, for years I was a fan of Google Apps, but the fact that all of its apps are so resources’ hungry is annoying, I recently upgraded to 12GB RAM on my MacBook and the more RAM I add to my system the more RAM it uses, it’s incredibly annoying, when Safari handles everything faster with its simpler yet powerful and tidy design, using about 1/4 or less of the RAM used by Chrome, using the same websites, and the same amount of tabs open at the same time. Once I finish transferring my files from Google Drive I’ll switch everything to iCloud, it’s the way to go on a MacOS System.

Antonio, Please explain your like of Icloud. It’s the biggest annoyance.

It’s syncs seamlessly across all your devices – you can access them anywhere you can connect to the internet. It’s smart and even anticipates your needs, based on your file/folder usage behaviour.

If you’re finding it a massive annoyance then I imagine you’re *expecting* it to behave like Dropbox or Google Drive when that’s not what it was ever designed for.

Most people who find it frustrating do so because they don’t understand its purpose – I admit I fell in this camp for several years myself!

Took me years to realise that if you’re a Mac user, it’s pointless paying for eg 2TB of iCloud storage, if you don’t have 2TB of storage locally on your Mac. It’s not a storage extender like an external HD. It essentially replicates what’s on your Mac.

Not an ad, and am no way connected to him, but the ‘MacMost’ YT channel is an excellent free resource for both newcomers to Mac and experienced hands. Gary, the chap who runs it, has been around forever and watching his tutorial videos is like being taught by a friendly uncle. He has a rich, searchable back catalogue (with several on understanding iCloud!)

Regarding Chrome, I still love it – chiefly because of the vast library of extensions. I have 105 installed, but I’ve become far stricter about not keeping them all switched on all the time. I generally have about 12-15 on constantly; the rest I toggle on and off just when I need them. Seems the best of both worlds to me.

Chrome on iOS is more performant by safari. That is because, if you can choose safari, you have iOS. On iOS, chrome is always faster because it uses the same browser engine, webkit, with its own code to make it faster.

If you are on an Android phone with Google sync all across Google & Android products, Chrome is the winner!

The security on safari seems a little more liable other wise both are best but customisation wise chrome is a bit good

Liable to whom, and for what exactly? Or do you mean reliable? I’m unsure… Liable means legally responsible – do you mean Safari is run in a more legally compliant way? Please can you elaborate? Thanks

I reverted to Safari after I found that I couldn’t get a reader mode with Chrome for my iPhone and iPad.

Can’t use chrome extensions on iPad. It’s dumb.

• How to Use Surfshark in 2024: Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
• Kape Technologies Buys ExpressVPN: What You Need to Know in 2024
• 2024 VPN Speed Comparison: 7 VPNs Tested for Upload, Download and Latency
• What Is ExpressVPN Aircove Router & How Does It Work in 2024?
• 10 Reasons Why Parental Control Is Important in 2024 and Reasonable Ways to Guard Your Child’s Online Activity
• The 7 Best Parental Control App Options for 2024

• svg]:fill-accent-900">

Google vs. DuckDuckGo vs. Bing—is it time to switch your search engine?

By David Nield

Posted on Sep 2, 2021 8:00 PM EDT

8 minute read

This post has been updated. It was originally posted on February 15, 2019.

Is your search engine of choice pulling its weight? It’s perhaps a choice you’ve stopped thinking about, settling for whatever default option appears in your browser or on your phone—but as with most tech choices, you’ve got options.

[Related: 9 Google alternatives to test out ]

Google has come to dominate search to the extent that it’s become a verb in itself, but here we’re going to check how Google search stacks up against two of its biggest rivals including Microsoft’s Bing and the privacy-focused site known as DuckDuckGo.

Search results

We don’t know what you’re searching for, and without running thousands of searches across several months we can’t really present you with a comprehensive comparison of how well these search engines scour the web. What we can do is tell you how these services performed on a few sample searches.

First we tried “Abraham Lincoln”: All three search engines returned the Wikipedia page first, the History Channel site second, and Britannica third. DuckDuckGo listed Abraham Lincoln news above the search results, even though the 16th President of the United States hasn’t really been in the news lately.

As we wrote this article a few days after the 2019 Super Bowl, we tried “Super Bowl score” next, and all three search engines produced the right result in a box out above the search results. DuckDuckGo followed this with the official NFL site then some sports news sites, while Bing had a sports news site first and the NFL second. Google listed the score, then Super Bowl news, then some relevant tweets, and then other results.

Next we tried a question, specifically “how many days until Christmas?”, to see how our search engines fared. Only Google presented the right answer front and center as part of its own interface, with DuckDuckGo and Bing returning links to Christmas countdown sites instead (though Bing did put “Wednesday December 25” right at the top).

For something a little more obscure we tried “Empire of the Sun” (both a 1987 Steven Spielberg movie and a music duo). Google returned the Wikipedia sites for the film then the band at the top, Bing returned the Wikipedia page for the movie then the band’s official site, and DuckDuckGo returned the IMDB page for the Empire of the Sun film then the band’s official site.

These are slight differences really, and the “best” one really depends on your personal preference (do you want to see Twitter results, or not?). All three sites are obviously very competent with basic searches, but Google obviously has the edge when it comes to finding content besides web pages, as well as answering questions directly (no doubt thanks to all that Google Assistant technology behind the scenes).

Search features

Speaking of Google Assistant, one of the advantages of Google is of course the way it ties into all the other Google apps and services: You can search for places on Google Maps, or bring up images in Google Photos, or query your Google Calendar, right from the Google homepage (as long as you’re signed in). Try Googling “my trips” for example to see bookings stored in your Gmail account.

All three of these search engines feature filters for images, videos, news, and products; Bing and Google include a Maps option as well. You can dig in further on all three sites as well—filtering images by size or by color, for example. Google and Bing let you save searches to come back to later, whereas DuckDuckGo doesn’t (see the separate section on privacy below).

Besides from basic searches, Google and DuckDuckGo do very well on extras: Unlike Bing, they can toss a coin, roll a die, or start a timer right there on the results screen, no more clicking required. Meanwhile, both Google and Bing can display details of a flight in a pop-up box outside the search results, whereas DuckDuckGo directs you to flight-tracking websites instead.

All three of our search engines can limit results to pages that have been published recently, but Google and Bing have a “custom date” search option (say 1980-1990, for example) that isn’t available on DuckDuckGo. Google and Bing let you search by region too, whereas DuckDuckGo doesn’t.

Appearance may not be number one in your list of priorities, but Bing presents its search box on top of an appealing full-screen wallpaper image, with links to news stories and other interesting articles underneath. It’s more appealing visually than Google or DuckDuckGo, though Google has its doodles and DuckDuckGo has a few different color schemes to pick from.

As you can see, Google can do just about everything—it has been in the search engine game for a long time, after all. Bing and DuckDuckGo are able to match Google on some features, but not all, which makes it hard to switch from unless you have a specific reason to… and that brings us neatly on to the issue of user privacy.

User privacy

This is the big feature that DuckDuckGo sells itself on: As we’ve noted above, it doesn’t log what you’re searching for, and only puts up occasional advertising, which isn’t personalized and can be disabled. If you’re tired of the big tech firms hoovering up data on you, DuckDuckGo will appeal.

What’s more, the sites you visit don’t know the search terms you used to find them—something they can otherwise do by piecing together different clues from your browsing behavior and the data that your computer broadcasts publicly. DuckDuckGo also attaches to encrypted versions of site by default.

Cookies aren’t saved by DuckDuckGo either, those little files that sit locally on your computer and tell websites when you’ve visited before. Data like your IP address (your router’s address on the web) and the browser you’re using gets wiped by default too. You’re effectively searching anonymously.

There’s no doubt that both Google and Microsoft promise to protect your privacy and use the data they have on you responsibly—you can read their respective privacy policies here and here . However, it’s also true that they collect much more data on you and what you’re doing, so it’s up to you whether you trust Google and Microsoft to use it wisely.

Google knowing a lot about you does have its advantages—it’ll know when you search for “dolphins” whether you want the NFL team or the aquatic mammals, for example—so it’s up to you where you draw the line and accept the privacy trade-off. Bing and Microsoft are more or less the same in terms of data collection, though Microsoft doesn’t have the sheer range of apps and services that Google does.

The Google service is also the most likely to save you an extra click through to another website. If you want to know the lyrics to a song, for instance, they will appear above Google’s search results in most cases, where as Bing and DuckDuckGo will make you click through.

Maybe you’re happy enough to have this data collected and to see a few adverts related to what you’ve just been searching for in return for all the extra bells and whistles that Google offers, or maybe you’re much more interested in locking down how much other firms know about you as you travel the web. Whatever your requirements though, there’s a search engine to match.

Latest in Tech Hacks

How to spot when your hard drive will fail before it does how to spot when your hard drive will fail before it does, the do’s and don’ts of using ai to plan your travel the do’s and don’ts of using ai to plan your travel.

🔥 Get our iOS 17 eBook for FREE!

Safari vs. Chrome: Which browser is better for iPhone and Mac?

Updated on:

Choosing the right web browser for our devices is essential for productivity and efficiency. Safari and Chrome are two popular choices on Apple devices, each with strengths and weaknesses. In this blog, I will compare Safari vs. Chrome to help you decide which browser is better for your iPhone and Mac. Let’s dive into the differences!

Safari vs. Chrome – User Interface

Safari is designed to blend seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem. Its sleek and intuitive user interface ensures a clutter-free browsing experience. Besides, it offers group tabs management for organizing your browsing. So you can easily focus on the content.

Chrome’s UI is user-friendly, with a familiar interface across devices. It lets you personalize your browsing experience with various themes, extensions, and add-ons. Nonetheless, this added flexibility might come at the cost of a more cluttered than Safari. 

Therefore, both Safari and Chrome have strong UI aspects. But the winner depends on your preference for minimalism (Safari) or customization options (Chrome). 

Safari vs. Chrome – Ease of use 

Safari is the default browser on Apple devices. So, it offers seamless integration and synchronization with other Apple services. The intuitive gestures make it easy to navigate and use the browser effortlessly. With Smart Search, you get more relevant results without going through multiple websites. Additionally, you can quickly autofill your passwords and verification codes, saving time and effort.

With its widespread popularity, Chrome ensures a consistent experience across different platforms. The synchronization with Google accounts, bookmarks, and history is convenient for users already within the Google ecosystem. 

If you own both Apple, Android, and Windows systems, Chrome will be your go-to browser. However, I only have Apple devices, so I prefer Safari to take up the work where I left it. Also, Safari allows me to create profiles to keep my personal and professional browsing separate.

Safari vs. Chrome – Performance and speed 

As Apple optimizes Safari for its devices, it often outperforms Chrome regarding speed and battery efficiency. Safari’s performance is particularly notable on iPhones and Mac devices. I have experienced smoother browsing and longer battery life using Safari. 

Chrome has made significant improvements in performance over time. However, it can still be resource-intensive, especially on older devices. While it performs well on Mac, it might not be as efficient on iPhones as Safari. 

Safari vs. Chrome – Security 

Apple strongly emphasizes user privacy and security. So Safari has built-in Intelligent Tracking Prevention and strong sandboxing. It also warns against unsafe websites, ensuring a secure browsing environment. Moreover, you may hide your IP address for data protection. With iOS 17, Safari automatically removes tracking parameters from URLs .

Google’s Chrome also focuses on security, with features like Safe Browsing and automatic updates. Besides, you may save your passwords securely and access them on any device using Chrome Password Manager . However, its ties to Google’s services raise data collection and privacy concerns. 

Safari vs. Chrome – Privacy

As mentioned earlier, Safari prioritizes user privacy by blocking cross-site tracking and preventing advertisers from collecting user data. It also includes a “ Privacy Report ” feature to get insights into trackers blocked on visited websites. Besides, you can lock your incognito tabs for more privacy.

You can  use Hide My Email  to create unique, random email addresses that will forward messages to your inbox without revealing your actual email address. Also, you may create or delete as many addresses as needed to enjoy greater control over who can contact you.

While Chrome offers some privacy controls, it cannot match Safari’s level of privacy protection. As part of Google’s business model, Chrome collects user data to improve its services, raising concerns for privacy-conscious users. 

Safari vs. Chrome – Customization 

Safari’s customization options are relatively limited compared to Chrome. You can only customize the Safari start page and a few website settings. While you can install some Safari extensions , the selection is not as extensive as in Chrome’s Web Store. 

Chrome’s extensive Web Store offers a vast collection of extensions, themes, and add-ons that allow users to tailor their browsing experience to their preferences. 

Additional features 

Safari offers Reading List, Listen to Page, PiP mode , and Handoff features to enhance the browsing experience. Also, it has a built-in PDF conversion tool to convert any webpage into a PDF. This is pretty convenient to save web pages. Besides, you can quickly share your password with family members without explicitly sharing them.

Chrome’s additional features include Google Assistant integration, cross-device synchronization with non-Apple devices, and easy access to Google Workspace. Another standout feature is the feature to do a reverse Google search on any image instantly.

Which browser is better for iPhone and Mac?

Choosing the better browser between Safari and Chrome for your iPhone and Mac depends on your priorities and preferences. Safari is ideal if you value seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, strong privacy protection, and optimized performance. However, Safari is only limited to Apple devices.

On the other hand, you may prefer Chrome if customization options, a wide range of extensions, and additional features are more important to you. Therefore, if you want to use Chrome on your Apple devices, you may  change it on your iPhone  and  Mac .

Ultimately, whatever you choose, both browsers will provide a satisfying browsing experience on your Apple devices. Which browser is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

Explore more…

• Best web browsers for Mac
• 40+ Safari tips and tricks for iPhone
• Safari crashing on Mac? Easy ways to fix it!  

Want to read more like this?

Join 15,000+ Apple enthusiast to get the latest news and tips from iGeeksBlog+.

We won’t spam, and you will always be able to unsubscribe.

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.

Similar posts you might also like

How to fix AirPods static noise quickly

How to fix ghost touch on iPhone: Causes and fixes

iOS 18 Music Haptics: What is it and how to use it on your iPhone?

Editorial Guide

Review Policy

© 2024 iGeeks Media Private LTD. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy

Microsoft Edge vs Safari: What’s Best on iOS

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.

Safari is an outstanding web browser on iOS. It’s tailor-made for the iPhone and iPad , supports ad-blocking, and integrates well into the Apple ecosystem. And needless to say, that alone makes Safari pretty formidable in the eyes of its competitors. So, what has Microsoft Edge got up its sleeve to even think of going neck-to-neck with this beast of a browser?

Apple imposes its WebKit rendering engine on all third-party browsers. So it’s practically impossible to gain an advantage in terms of performance over Safari. Thus to excel, Microsoft Edge really has to offer quite a lot to stand a chance against Safari. So how does it fare? Well, you are going to find out.

Download Microsoft Edge

User Interface and Navigation

Both web browsers feature crisp user interfaces albeit with slightly different aesthetics. It all depends on what you prefer — Safari’s slightly rounded curves to Edge’s hard edges (no pun intended).

Navigation controls are conveniently located at the bottom of the screen on both browsers, with finely positioned tab switchers to allow ready access to shifting in-between tabs.

When it comes to accessing your bookmarks, reading list, and history, Safari provides the option to get there with a simple tap to the book-shaped icon located right next to the tab switcher. Oddly enough, Edge places it at the upper-right corner of the screen, which may pose problems when surfing single-handed. That’s a bit weird since Microsoft could always place it a bit lower.

This is where things get interesting — Edge also has a dedicated browser menu. And rather than having to rely on the tab switcher solely like on Safari, it presents a super-easy way to open both new and InPrivate tabs. Also, the ability to bookmark sites, add pages to the reading list, and access the Settings panel require little effort compared to Apple’s browser.

Ad blocking

iOS provides native support for ad blocking on Safari, which is a far cry from what Google does with Chrome on Android. However, you need to download a third-party content blocker separately — while there are many on the App Store, the entire procedure can be rather confusing.

Further, Apple has much restricted ad blockers for third-party browsers on the App Store. That means you’ve got to rely on various workarounds to stop ads on browsers such as Chrome for iOS. But not with Edge.

Microsoft has been smart enough to circumvent Apple’s restrictions by integrating ad blocking functionality directly onto the browser itself. And it’s none other than Adblock Plus, which is one of the top ad blockers in town.

No more having to mess around with third-parties since all it takes is a brief visit to the Edge Settings screen to start blocking ads. The browser also lets you whitelist your favorite sites, which is a neat feature to have around.

Vying for the dark mode to come to Safari? Inverting the color scheme on iOS is an option, though it doesn’t work as expected and results in horrible artifacts most of the time. Not to mention that you have to endure system-wide color-inversion to boot.

With Edge, however, expect a full-fledged dark theme that you can readily switch to whenever you want. From the looks of it, Microsoft has really gone the distance by applying the theme evenly across all nooks and crannies of the browser. Well done!

Managing Browsing Data

Accidentally browsed something personal on a regular tab? Or are you facing specific issues with a site due to an outdated web cache? On Safari, you need to wade through various menus within the Settings app. Its poor implementation distracts you from your browsing experience.

But with Edge, you have everything built directly into the browser itself. A brief visit to the Settings panel through the Edge menu should let you easily get rid of your browsing data in a jiffy.

Handoff vs. Continue on PC

Safari is pretty great if you own a Mac for you can easily continue your browsing activity on the big screen with Handoff. But that feature doesn’t work outside of Apple’s ecosystem.

If you use a PC, then Edge offers the upper hand. It includes a built-in Continue on PC feature that allows seamless continuation on PC. And to make things even better, you can do that with a simple tap to the Continue on PC icon featured directly within the user interface itself.

That’s not to say you can’t continue your browsing on PC via Safari — download the Continue on PC app from the App Store, and you can you do that from pretty much any web browser. However, Edge requires no such additions, which is a definite boon.

Supported Platforms and Devices

While you can easily sync your browsing history and personal data with other Apple devices, Edge takes the forefront due to the large number of platforms that it supports.

Safari only works on macOS and iOS. Compared to that, Edge supports Windows 10, iOS, and Android. If you want that extra convenience of signing in and continue browsing from pretty much anywhere, then Edge provides the most chances of making that happen. After all, you can find a Windows 10 or Android device pretty much anywhere, right?

Now only if Edge also supported macOS. That would’ve made the decision much easier.

Available Search Engines

By default, Safari provides three search engines for use — Google, Bing, and Yahoo, with the first being the standard default. Compare that with Edge, which seemingly provides only Bing at first glance — however, you can also find Google listed under Others on the Set Search Engine screen.

Both browsers don’t feature any built-in means to add fresh search engines manually. Safari is the default browser on iOS which means chances of integrating privacy-oriented engines such as DuckDuckGo are more likely.

In short, Safari supports more search engines and uses Google to generate superior search results straight off the bat.

Loading Sites in Desktop Mode

Hate restrictive mobile websites? Both browsers feature the ability to load a desktop version of a site. But what if you always want that to be the case?

While Safari offers no way, Microsoft Edge lets you configure the default user agent to make that happen easily. If you use an iPad or iPad Pro, this functionality should come in mighty useful on the larger mobile screen.

QR-Code Scanning

QR codes are everywhere. Scan one, and you get to visit the websites coded into those codes. Safari requires you to use the Camera app for the actual scanning. With Edge, you can do that directly inside the browser itself.

See that QR Code icon on the New Tab search bar? Just tap it, and you gain access to a built-in QR scanner. Quite nice of Microsoft to have this small, yet useful feature, just a tap away.

So, Who Wins?

Well, it depends. If you are already deep into the Apple ecosystem, then you obviously would find Safari more convenient. Syncing stuff between devices are vital for a seamless experience, and sticking around supported devices make sense.

However, Microsoft has really hit out at multiple Safari weak-points — a dedicated dark mode, the ability to manage browsing data directly, and a better user interface navigation-wise is no laughing matter. Already using Edge on a PC or Android? Then consider giving it a go — you may end up falling in love.

Next up: Also wondering how Microsoft Edge holds its feet next to the behemoth Chrome on Android? Click on the link below to read all about that.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 03 February, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

DID YOU KNOW

Dilum Senevirathne

More in internet and social.

How to Delete WhatsApp Photos from iPhone and Android

4 Fixes for Spotify Not Syncing Between Mobile and Desktop

Join the newsletter.

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

'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 .

The best secure browsers for privacy: Expert tested

Why you can trust ZDNET

33 years of experience 30 hands-on product reviewers 10,000 square feet of lab space

What to Consider

Services and software cover a variety of categories. Make sure the one you purchase has the features you're looking for.

Check any up-front as well as ongoing monthly costs before you make a decision. Some services have one price for a set amount of time that goes up later, while others may automatically renew you at a higher rate.

Read the privacy policy to ensure these companies are adequately protecting your user data.

Web browsers have become flooded with ad-sponsored content, making browsers a key battleground for end-user privacy. While Chrome is the most widely used browser in the world, there are alternative browsers and ways to improve your security available to help you stay anonymous online.

Data is one of today's key ingredients for generating revenue. Online advertising companies can use web browsing histories to fingerprint individual browsers over time, creating shadow user profiles to reveal information including a user's interests, product searches, and more -- which can lead to targeted advertising. When you look for a privacy-focused browser, you will want to investigate how advertising trackers and cookies are managed, whether or not search histories are stored or shared, and whether or not the browser developer has a transparent privacy policy in place. 

Also:   The best VPN services (and why you need one to protect your privacy)

What is the best secure browser for privacy in 2024?

ZDNET experts have kept a finger on the pulse of the secure browser market for decades and many of us have tried and tested different options throughout the years. Brave is our top pick for the best browser for privacy based on its approach to user privacy, ad tracking prevention, privacy settings, usability, and speed. 

Below, you will find other recommendations for secure browsers that can protect your privacy -- not only from cyberattacks but also from businesses that scrape, store, and sell your data. 

Best secure browsers for privacy in 2024

• Not in the traditional online ad business
• Privacy-focused by default
• Chromium challenger
• Some users report compute resource issues

Best browser for privacy overall

Brave is a Chromium-based browser that blocks ads, fingerprinting, and ad trackers by default.

Brave supports millions of users worldwide. The organization's business model relies on privacy-protecting ads that pay publishers and users when users pay attention to ads. The company is transparent about this revenue stream, and it is optional. Users are rewarded in crypto tokens if they opt into ad viewing.

Brave has several privacy-enhancing settings, including blocking third-party ad trackers, upgrading unsecured HTTPS connections, and blocking cookies and fingerprinting. Disabling invasive ads and trackers, the company says, improves loading times on desktop and mobile.

Also: The best web hosting services for building your dream website

Brave  removed Google code  from its Chromium to improve user privacy, including some account integration, background sync, and inline extensions. A "Tor mode" is also available, providing anonymized onion network routing. 

The browser developer also offers a VPN and firewall service that protects sessions, even outside the browser, and recently introduced a "secure" AI-based search engine.

Many users say the browser exceeds expectations, although others find some functionality, such as VPN connectivity, could use improvement. 

Brave also offers a feature called " Off the Record " (OTR) for users who may be victims of intimate partner violence. The browser developer says the feature "aims to help people who need to hide their browsing behavior from others who have access to their computer or phone."

Brave f eatures:  Chromium-based | Blocks third-party ad trackers | Blocks cookies | Incognito windows | Onion routing | VPN | Off the record browsing

• Enhanced tracking prevention
• Focus on accessibility
• Trusted by millions of users
• Strict tracking protection may break websites
• May require heavy PC resources

Mozilla Firefox

Most secure browser for tracking protection.

Firefox is a must-have for individual browser privacy across multiple devices. 

One of Firefox's most important privacy features is enhanced tracking protection. Mozilla has borrowed Tor techniques to block browser fingerprinting, and Firefox developers are constantly seeking to improve tracking-prevention features.

Firefox is rich with choices to customize the browser for privacy. It blocks social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, tracking in private windows, crypto miners, and fingerprinting scripts. There is a "strict" mode, too, that might break some sites when trackers are hidden in content -- but there are ways to allow enhanced tracking protection for trusted sites. Furthermore, the introduction of Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) has recently improved.

Users enjoy Firefox's privacy focus but note that it can be a resource hog.

Another option for Firefox fans is Firefox Focus , a privacy-focused browser for iOS and Android that blocks trackers and has a built-in ad blocker. Mozilla continues to work on productivity boosters and improvements to speed and performance.

Mozilla also offers a VPN  ($4.99/month), with the option to connect up to five devices to over 500 servers in 30 countries.

Mozilla Firefox f eatures:  Enhanced tracking protection | Firefox Focus for mobile | Strict privacy standards |   DNS queries sent to a secure resolver service | Focus on accessibility | Encrypted Client Hello

• High levels of anonymity
• DuckDuckGo integration
• Constant updates and improvements
• Learning curve to use
• Can be slow

The Tor browser

Best for anonymous browsing.

Another excellent choice for improving your privacy on the web is the Tor browser, a non-profit project focused on anonymizing users online.

Its proprietary web browser disguises a user's IP address and activity by relaying it through a network of servers (nodes) run by volunteers. Bouncing your information around makes tracking exceptionally difficult, which is excellent if you don't want your ISP or anyone else spying on your online activity. 

Tor can be crucial for whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and people avoiding censorship. The Tor browser is also a popular choice for accessing the deep web: A collection of websites and pages inaccessible through traditional means, like search engines, in what is known as the "clear" web. 

Also:  How to use Tor browser (and why you should)

The Tor browser's default search engine is DuckDuckGo, which will not log or store your search queries.

While it isn't a mainstream choice, the Tor browser is well-regarded for people who don't want to be tracked across the web. The Tor Project updates it frequently, and the browser is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Users applaud the network's uncompromising approach to privacy but note slow speeds and occasional problems with Captchas.

Due to the architecture of the Tor network, page loads in the Tor browser can be slower, and some sites might not work well. Nonetheless, the Tor browser is a privacy-preserving browser worthy of consideration.

The Tor browser f eatures : High levels of security and anonymization | Onion routing | DuckDuckGo integration | Access to websites outside of the clear web

• Available across different operating systems
• Solid commitment to user privacy
• Email protection settings
• Bland browser design

Best browser for private searches

When it comes to DuckDuckGo, user privacy comes first. 

The privacy-focused search engine and browser is a vocal supporter of consumer privacy rights and now handles millions of user search queries daily.

There is a growing appetite for privacy-focused alternatives to tech giants like Facebook and Google. DuckDuckGo's Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome , Firefox , and Microsoft's Edge  has also proven popular. Its reputation is built on the idea that it does not collect user data but can provide the same search results as those that do. 

DuckDuckGo used to be a search engine rather than a full browser, but then released a mobile-friendly browser app and, now, a desktop version. The organization's browser provides a private search, website protection and blockers, web encryption, and more.

DuckDuckGo is experimenting with AI-assisted technologies to improve the search experience and has recently upgraded its browser . Users appreciate the firm's privacy focus, although some complain of censorship -- a concept DuckDuckGo staunchly denies . 

A new offering is Privacy Pro , a paid subscription. Users happy to pay $9.99/month (or $99.99 per year) will have access to a VPN, online personal information removal services, and identity theft restoration. 

DuckDuckGo f eatures:  Chrome and Firefox supported | Mobile and desktop private browser | Does not collect user data | AI experiments | No search engine query trackers | Data removal, identity restoration services

• Two heavyweight privacy developers
• Fingerprint, tracker blocks
• Tor-based privacy features
• New, so less thoroughly tested

Mullvad Browser

Best for use with a vpn.

Not to be confused with the Tor browser, the Mullvad Browser is marketed as the "Tor Browser without the Tor network." The Tor Project team built the browser, which is distributed by Mullvad, a respected Swedish virtual private network provider. 

The browser's idea is to emulate the Tor network by creating a similar fingerprint for all users, improving anonymity. Furthermore, the browser comes with a private mode out of the box, tracking and cookies are blocked, and online functions used to extract information from visitors—such as device identifiers—are prevented.

The Mullvad Browser is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, or as a Firefox extension.

You can use the browser as a standalone product or combine it with Mullvad VPN . Users have generally given positive reviews, although you may find yourself signing up for the VPN for the best setup -- and it's not the cheapest on the market.

However, you should remember that Mullvad was  subject to a search warrant by the National Operations Department (NOA) of the Swedish Police in 2023. Mullvad staff said that as the customer data did not exist, law enforcement was left with nothing (and no customer information). 

Mullvad Browser f eatures : Fingerprint masking approach | Removes online identifiers | Private mode enabled by default | Blocks trackers, cookies

What is the best browser for privacy?

Brave is our top pick for the best browser for privacy based on its approach to user privacy, ad tracking prevention, the wide range of privacy settings on offer, usability, and speed. However, no browser is perfect, so you must decide which option suits you best.

Which is the right browser for privacy for you?

There is no one size fits all, so refer to the table below to better understand which browser suits your use case.

Factors to consider when choosing a secure browser

When you are switching to a more secure browser, there are some important factors to consider:

• Online identifiers : You should check if the browser tracks your activities, visits, or search queries. This data can be used to create profiles for targeted advertising and may be used to track you across different websites.
• Audits : The best secure browsers will conduct frequent security audits and have consistent patch releases to fix vulnerabilities and bugs that could expose users to risk. 
• Speed vs. security : Some browsers will route your traffic through a number of servers to vastly reduce the likelihood of you being tracked. However, you will need to decide how slow you're willing the connections and browsing to be.
• VPN : If you want to use a VPN, consider whether or not the browser works well with one -- or if the browser offers a built-in solution.
• Mobile support : Not every secure browser has a mobile-ready app, and this needs to be kept in mind if you want to stick with just one browser. 

How did we choose these browsers for privacy?

While investigating the best browsers for privacy in 2024, we compared each of these browsers and extensions to determine what makes them different and which is best for different use cases. 

• Balance : The balance between managing user privacy and funding a business can be a tricky one for companies to manage, but as we've shown, many developers are willing to wave the security flag on behalf of users over potential opportunities to generate more revenue.
• User experience : We reviewed customer feedback to ensure that the majority of users find the browsers easy to install and use.
• Features : We like to see additional privacy-enhancing features, like onion routing. We chose providers who offer more than standard browsing experiences. 
• Platform support : We selected browsers offering a range of support for different operating systems and platforms, as well as mobile coverage. 

How does a privacy browser work?

A privacy browser works by automatically erasing your browsing and search history and cookies. It also may limit web tracking, and some even help hide your location (IP address). Privacy-focused browsers may also promote virtual private network (VPN) usage and may include features designed to bypass censorship blocks and keep users as anonymous as possible, such as access to onion routing and refusing to log site visits or web searches.

Do I need a privacy browser?

If you are concerned about your online privacy, you should install a privacy browser or at least an extension. We have to take responsibility for our own privacy online these days, and you can't rely on companies to do the job for you. 

Also:  How to delete yourself from internet search results and hide your identity online

We can recommend a few basic steps to take: Download one of the privacy-first browsers listed above that doesn't log your queries and activities, install a VPN, and use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption. 

Does using a private browsing window hide my IP address?

Private browsing sessions do not tend to mask your IP address. For example, an incognito window doesn't hide your IP address if you're using Chrome. It simply doesn't store your browser history, the information you've entered into forms, or what permissions you've given to sites you've visited. 

Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Opera all use a similar form of "anonymous" web window for browsing, but they aren't truly hiding your online identity. 

Also:   The best VPN services (and whether it's worth trying free VPNs)

If you want to block your IP address from being viewed or tracked, you can download a VPN , which masks your IP address so your service provider (or anyone else, for that matter) can't see what you're doing.

What is the most common personal web security risk?

Honestly? Putting your personal or contact information on social media. If you have your full name, phone number, address, or place of work anywhere on your social media, someone can use it to wreak havoc on your personal accounts. 

To prevent this, avoid using your real name online where possible, turn off location tracking, and don't post about your place of work if you can help it. All it takes is a single piece of personal information for someone with very bad intentions to get ahold of your entire online presence -- and so if you're posting photos of you away from home and on holiday, for example, you're letting people know your home is vulnerable.

Also:  The best security keys

Those innocent-looking name generator memes are another big issue; the ones that have you type out your first pet's name and your childhood street name (or something similar) to tell you your fortune or personality type. These are answers to common password recovery questions, so by letting the world know that your pet was called Fluffy, you could be handing over all of your personal accounts to internet criminals. 

Is DuckDuckGo actually private?

DuckDuckGo started out as a search engine that did not log your queries or allow advertisers to track you. The search engine is still there, but it is now bolstered by a browser -- a feature that fans have been requesting for years. 

Like other secure and private browsers on the market, DuckDuckGo isn't perfect, but the company behind the service has been an advocate for consumer rights and privacy since its inception and offers one of the most private browsing experiences out there. 

It's a project swiftly implementing various privacy-focused policies and technologies, and I could see it becoming an extremely popular browser in years to come. 

Are there other browsers worth considering?

Online privacy and security are hot topics today. The amount of data quietly collected on each and every one of us is staggering -- and beyond targeted advertisements, you may not realize it. 

The browsers we've recommended above can help tighten up your defenses against tracking and online monitoring, but as no browser is a perfect solution, you may also want to consider the alternatives below:

ZDNET Recommends