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Which browser do you use and why?
- Thread starter VitoBotta
- Start date
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Firefox.....I'd like to use Safari more, but won't because we haven't been able to use uBlock Origin adblocker on Safari for quite a while now, right (can't remember)? I might give Brave a try.
I use Safari whenever I can. It feels the most native to my Mac (and that makes sense since it's made by the same folks who made the OS). My usage needs are very simple (my only extension is 1Password) so I weight simplicity and aesthetics quite heavily in my choice. That said, my workplace uses Google Chat and that requires Chrome for full use of its features, so I use that every day too. But I don't love it.
I’ve spent hours comparing the filtering between AdGuard and uBlock Origin on Chrome and they are more or less the same thing. uBlock even has AdGuard filters incorporated into their UI if you select them. If you get the AdGuard extension (not standalone app) for Safari it works very similar if not identical to it’s Chrome counterpart and is seemingly the only adblocker that has been updated within the last year on the app store ha.
My current browser on desktop and mobile is Brave. Second choice would be Opera. I forget what the Opera ad blocker was like, but Brave's is a winner for me. When ad and tracker blocker is set to 'aggressive' it not only blocks the standards like YouTube ads etc. but also blocks those on music streaming and tv catchup sites. If I was using a browser that didn't have a decent ad block I normally use AdBlockPlus. Privacy is a big plus for me as well which would be main reason for using Brave. I did like Opera's left side toolbar option - it made it feel a bit unique. Plus the home page tiles where you could pin favourite websites, I miss that with Brave. And oh yeah, I always use the dark mode on browsers... 
On both Windows 11 and Mac Chrome is the universal browser. It runs all web pages. It runs business sites where FF (for example) will miss entire statements.
I avoid it whenever possible because Google is stealing all my personal information.
Brave is also based on chromium and works almost as well as Chrome but there are some limitations (I can't categorize them, though, but logins fail on some subscriptions sites with FF or Brave). I do agree that Brave has built in protection of personal data.
Edge works great on Windows. I don't think Microsoft is in the business of stealing information. Although I use FF and Brave on Windows, I have had to resort to Chrome there also. I am dragging a bit on switching to Edge. I need to try it out to see if it can work through the need to use Chrome. There are a lot privacy extensions for Chrome which will mitigate some of the data risks.
All these browsers us a Facebook block extension.
I agree that Duck Duck Go is a safe search engine, though Google still outperforms it on searches.
I avoid it whenever possible because Google is stealing all my personal information.
Brave is also based on chromium and works almost as well as Chrome but there are some limitations (I can't categorize them, though, but logins fail on some subscriptions sites with FF or Brave). I do agree that Brave has built in protection of personal data.
Edge works great on Windows. I don't think Microsoft is in the business of stealing information. Although I use FF and Brave on Windows, I have had to resort to Chrome there also. I am dragging a bit on switching to Edge. I need to try it out to see if it can work through the need to use Chrome. There are a lot privacy extensions for Chrome which will mitigate some of the data risks.
All these browsers us a Facebook block extension.
I agree that Duck Duck Go is a safe search engine, though Google still outperforms it on searches.
Chrome, because I've been with it forever and it feels familiar. Also, it shows, unlike Safari, the favicon on the links menu across the top and I can just do away with the name of the site, just rely on the favicon. Safari is just too bland, too minimalist, I like "colour hints" when I look for features/links/tabs/etc.
Edge primary on mac, safari secondary on mac to keep keychain passwords in sync with iphone & ipad.
used to use chrome years ago, switched to firefox, then to edge, then to safari, but safari was slow & laggy, back to edge. ublock origin & browser responsiveness on edge will always make it better than safari.
safari is noticeably slower & less responsive in browsing vs edge. edge feels light & springy. safari feels like i have 2 GB ram & dial up internet.
used to use chrome years ago, switched to firefox, then to edge, then to safari, but safari was slow & laggy, back to edge. ublock origin & browser responsiveness on edge will always make it better than safari.
safari is noticeably slower & less responsive in browsing vs edge. edge feels light & springy. safari feels like i have 2 GB ram & dial up internet.
Safari on Mac. It is the fastest browser anecdotally (on the websites I frequent), I trust apple with my data more than M$, Google, FFX, Brave. Very battery efficient.
Firefox on PC. Its a tower so power efficiency is a secondary concern. Mostly same reasons as above.
Would never use:
Brave: has marketed themselves as the "good guy" but they are very not. Youve been had, dear irate reader.
Chrome: runs like butt, is less web-standard compliant than fox, telemetry to google.
Edge: its chrome but telemetry to google AND Microsoft. Plus Microsoft pushing it so hard makes me want to spite them.
Would consider:
Chromium: chrome is broadly used, and for work (web dev) it is nice to be able to test on the target.
Opera: I know nothing about opera.
Vivaldi: I know nothing about Vivaldi.
Cant wait for:
Duck duck go: I wonder if it will be V8 or webkit or gecko or whatever. I hope its webkit but thats a "probably not".
Edit:
Oh! You know what! Browsing patterns might interest you:
20% YouTube/Netflix. <- Safari shines here particularly brightly.
20% GitHub.
10% reddit. <- Safari struggles here.
10% monitoring tools for work.
10% jira. <- every browser struggles here. f*** jira.
10% news (mostly hacker news, I hate the name. https://news.ycombinator.com).
5% twitter (tryna quit haha).
5% utility (groceries, delivery, recipes, reservations, maps, paying utilities, checking order statuses)
10% etc.
HEAVY use of little snitch. Trackers aint got jack on me, jack.
Firefox on PC. Its a tower so power efficiency is a secondary concern. Mostly same reasons as above.
Would never use:
Brave: has marketed themselves as the "good guy" but they are very not. Youve been had, dear irate reader.
Chrome: runs like butt, is less web-standard compliant than fox, telemetry to google.
Edge: its chrome but telemetry to google AND Microsoft. Plus Microsoft pushing it so hard makes me want to spite them.
Would consider:
Chromium: chrome is broadly used, and for work (web dev) it is nice to be able to test on the target.
Opera: I know nothing about opera.
Vivaldi: I know nothing about Vivaldi.
Cant wait for:
Duck duck go: I wonder if it will be V8 or webkit or gecko or whatever. I hope its webkit but thats a "probably not".
Edit:
Oh! You know what! Browsing patterns might interest you:
20% YouTube/Netflix. <- Safari shines here particularly brightly.
20% GitHub.
10% reddit. <- Safari struggles here.
10% monitoring tools for work.
10% jira. <- every browser struggles here. f*** jira.
10% news (mostly hacker news, I hate the name. https://news.ycombinator.com).
5% twitter (tryna quit haha).
5% utility (groceries, delivery, recipes, reservations, maps, paying utilities, checking order statuses)
10% etc.
HEAVY use of little snitch. Trackers aint got jack on me, jack.
Last edited:
iam using every browser on mac and windows. simply for the reason and a Web Developer and i need to test my projects in all browsers
Safari on Mac, iOS, and iPad - it's built-in, it's lightweight, it does most of what I need it to do.
Firefox for Windows, and as a secondary browser for Mac - in case there is something that doesn't play nicely with Safari or needs more fine-tuned extensions to work properly.
Firefox for Windows, and as a secondary browser for Mac - in case there is something that doesn't play nicely with Safari or needs more fine-tuned extensions to work properly.
At work, I use Firefox because of the Multi Container tabs feature, which allows for different browser profiles in each tab. This is super helpful in that I don't have to have a separate window open for every Google account I use at work. I use the strict tracking protection built in to Firefox, as well as uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger.
At home on desktop, I use Safari, although it's been frustrating me a lot lately. I use Wipr for ad blocking, though that may be part of my problem, I'm not sure. Contemplating a switch to Firefox there as well, although I'd be bummed to lose iCloud bookmarks.
At home on mobile, I use Safari. It's the most intuitive for me.
At home on desktop, I use Safari, although it's been frustrating me a lot lately. I use Wipr for ad blocking, though that may be part of my problem, I'm not sure. Contemplating a switch to Firefox there as well, although I'd be bummed to lose iCloud bookmarks.
At home on mobile, I use Safari. It's the most intuitive for me.
Safari on Mac although I find that important pages don't work. The pluses for me are Key Chain and being able to use Apple Pay on for purchases. This is a problem if an email has a link that opens a page that doesn't work. I set Chrome as my default for that reason although I don't use it unless needed. I am typing this on the DuckDuckGo Beta. Although it is stripped down, it works well enough. It runs on WebKit and is very fast.
I can give it a go!
Technologically speaking:
Brave is chromium with stuff on top. If you want brave, you can download chromium. It is open-source, accepts extensions, etc. You can make-yourself-a-brave by downloading chromium and clicking some extensions.
I do not love another chromium browser, but I honestly have no problems with this aspect.
Subjectively speaking:
Brave has branded itself as the privacy browser since day 0, and some of its features certainly appeal. See more here: https://brave.com/privacy-features/
I take issue with their claims. Mostly because theyre in almost every browser to some degree, but in particular
"Brave phones home less." - Oh? So it DOES phone home.
https://github.com/brave/brave-brow...move)#services-we-proxy-through-brave-servers - Oh? So youre proxying traffic through your own servers?
One wonders WHY. Why is brave so keen on making you un-traceable by online third parties and ad services? Altruism?
No. Because they can then monopolize your ads.
Brave's business model, is to dark-pattern their way into being an ad-serving monopoly while pretending to be the "good" guys. What even is the "good guys"?
I love this headline: https://gizmodo.com/brave-wants-to-destroy-the-ad-business-by-paying-you-to-1834283860
Ok u_int16, you are nitpicking:
I dont think I am. I by no means claim you cant make money from things, but Brave consistently pretends they are on your side and then do sneaky shady things to make money in violation of those promises.
Brave Privacy Browser Caught Automatically Adding Affiliate Links to Cryptocurrency URLs - CPO Magazine
Brave privacy browser may have violated FTC and GDPR regulations for automatically redirecting users to affiliate links after they entered the name or URL of cryptocurrency sites.
www.cpomagazine.com
Brave browser is collecting donations on your behalf — did you know?
The Brave web browser is collecting money in the form of BAT (basic attention tokens) on your behalf! Surprise! Free money doesn’t sound too bad. But the
Even if brave is "the most private by default", I wouldn't trust these scumbags with my shoes, let alone my browser. At least google is OBVIOUSLY using me for ads, and they don't lie about it.
IMO the closest "browser good guy" is Firefox. If you want Brave just get chromium and put origin on it. If you want the best browser but to contribute to "bad" because its closed source, stick with Safari. Brave feels like a trap, and one day it will spring.
For all the anti-big 3 browser folks here’s a good article. Nothing is private or free regardless of browser.
www.computerworld.com
The Brave browser basics: what it does, how it differs from rivals
The web browser from Brave Software relies on an unusual business model: it strips out ads from websites, replaces them with its own ads, then allows users to send money to sites they like.
www.computerworld.com
Using Firefox on both Windows 11 and Macs. Reason? I have gotten so used to Firefox that every time I try to learn Safari, I get more frustrated with it. The learning curve, for me, on Safari is just to steep to make it worthwhile. Meanwhile, over on Firefox it works well with every website I have ever visited.
So basically I'm old and happy with Firefox and see no need to learn any other browser.
So basically I'm old and happy with Firefox and see no need to learn any other browser.
