There is no doubt that Google Chrome is the most popular browser. According to reliable browser market share statistics, the browser enjoys a market share of 60%. The remaining 40% is shared among other browsers. Of course, there are solid reasons behind the massive popularity of Google Chrome. However, this does not mean that there are no alternatives. Some of them are equally as good as Google Chrome.
Best Google Alternatives
Here are Google alternatives for you to have better browser on both your desktop and mobile.
1. Vivaldi
Are you keen on the looks? Here is an alternative browser that you can use instead of Google Chrome. Vivaldi is a browser that will allow you to play around with its user interface. It has a customizable UI which allows users to change the themes any time they want.
The sidebar of Vivaldi is easily editable and you can place it anywhere you want. You can also add your favorite social media pages, web apps, new sites, and other websites to this browser so that you can access them with total ease. You can also stack the tabs and view them later on without having to reload them.
In terms of security, Vivaldi scores pretty well. It does not collect data from the users. It also encrypts personal data when syncing with different devices.
2. Torch
Media lovers may embrace the Torch browser, which places multimedia at the top of its priorities. Torch touts a “Media Grabber” feature, enabling you to download media from the web with a single click.
Additionally, the browser touts a built-in torrent manager, Torch Torrent. Plus, impatient media viewers can watch videos before they finish downloading, courtesy of Torch Player.
Torch offers ample options for media lovers, though those who use the web for lighter experiences, like reading and sending emails, may find the browser’s abundance of features overbearing. Some users also report stability issues when installing.
As Torch is based off of Chromium, it will look familiar to Chrome users and is compatible with extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
3. Ungoogled Chromium
Chrome is based on the open-source Chromium project, which several other browsers are based on. If you like Chrome but don’t like how it forces you to incorporate privacy-violating Google into your life, this is the browser for you. Ungoogled Chromium’s motto is: “Bringing back the ‘Don’t’ in “Don’t be evil.” Perfect, right?
Ungoogled Chromium removes all of the Google-centric features and under-the-hood tracking in Chrome. For example, the powerful Chrome omnibox is no longer a search box for Google, it uses DuckDuckGo by default. But the bigger changes are behind the scenes, where the browser won’t communicate with Google servers constantly, telling them about your browsing patterns.
When you actually use the browser, it feels remarkably a lot like Google Chrome. All your favorite Chrome extensions work perfectly too. The only thing you’ll miss is syncing between your mobile and desktop browsers since Ungoogled Chromium isn’t available for phones.
4. Opera Neon
Opera Neon strives to provide a peek at future browsing, with a futuristic and sharp interface complementing features like responsive tabs and improved visual functions, like a split-screen mode, video pop-out, a built-in snap-to-gallery tool and a newly built Omnibox.
The browser is still in its early stages, and is therefore more unstable, though its features offer an exciting look at the potential of future web browsers.
5. Yandex Browser
Yandex is basically the Russian version of Google Chrome. It has everything that is available in Google Chrome only that it comes with numerous security features.
Yandex uses DNSCrypt technology for encrypting DNS traffic between servers and computers. It also has a built-in antivirus tool.
6. Keep Safe Browser
Keepsafe has earned a few fans for its privacy-focused apps, like Keepsafe Vault to hide or store pictures privately. It has a new app now, Keepsafe Browser, to similarly protect what you do on the internet.
The biggest privacy protection measure is a simple PIN password lock. So even if you let someone borrow your phone, they can’t snoop on your browsing history. It also disallows screenshots while the app is open. Apart from that, Keepsafe Browser has the basic privacy-protecting features you expect, like blocking trackers, an incognito mode (which is called “Secret Tabs” here), and basic ad-blocking for malicious ads.
Keepsafe Browser also has a Pro mode, starting at $10 per month for VPN support and the ability to use Keepsafe Vault. I don’t think that is worth it though. You’re better off getting one of the best VPN services instead, which works across platforms.
7. Tor
Tor or the Onion Router is a browsing tool used to surf the web anonymously. Generally, by using our IP addresses, websites can track our location and use identifying information to target advertising and collect data about our browsing habits.
However, this is not the case with Tor. The Tor network, yet, is made up of many nodes, which pass your data along using layers of encryption hence the onion metaphor.
Thus, the anonymity granted by Tor is used by journalists who are reaching out to sources, activists who live in countries that censor or block internet usage and even law enforcement officers for undercover operations.
8. Ghost Browser
Ghost Browser presents an interesting approach for those seeking to separate their online browsing experiences. For example, you can have separate tabs for your work account and personal account, helping reduce distractions.
Tabbed projects are also available, which is very useful when you’re working on a project and want to bring up all relevant bookmarks in a single click. Plus, Ghost Browser is a Chromium browser, so it’s compatible with the Chrome Web Store.
Although Ghost Browser has a free version, its options limit users to three sessions at a time and do not include an incognito mode, so the $10- to $20-per-month cost for the upgrade may deter some users.
9. Falkon
QupZilla, one of the best open source browsers you can find, is no more. It has been turned into a new project, Falkon, which will improve on the classic KDE browser.
Falkon’s claim-to-fame is that it is light and fast. Install and fire it up, and you’ll know why in a second. It feels much faster than any other browser you have used, especially in the interface. These days, page loading speeds are almost the same in every browser, so that doesn’t matter. And Falkon is lightweight, which is a major respite from Chrome’s persistent RAM problems.
Right now, there is no macOS version and the developers suggest that due to a few problems, it won’t be coming for some time.
10. Otter
One of the best alternatives to Chrome is Opera, especially after all the changes that Opera has had in the recent past. But if you like the old version of Opera more, Otter is looking to recreate that.
Otter actually looks and feels a little dated, but that’s the point. If you’re missing classic Opera features, you’ll love it. For example, you can get the view you see in the screenshot above, where multiple tabs become their own windows inside the browser. You can also get vertical tabs in Otter’s sidebar.
There’s a lot to like about Otter and its QtWebkit rendering engine. It might not be for everyone, but old-school users will love the nostalgic feel.
11. DuckDuckGo
Non-tracking search engine DuckDuckGo has denied a claim made in a forum post suggesting it’s using browser fingerprinting as “absolutely false”. The post has been shared on social medium by some security professionals.
Browser fingerprinting is a common but controversial technique. Many websites — and their advertisers — try to track you by collecting as much information about your browser. It includes its plugins and extensions, and your device, such as its make, model, and screen resolution, to create a “fingerprint” that’s unique to you.
That fingerprint is used to track you across websites to figure out which sites you visit and which targeted ads to serve up.
DuckDuckGo USP is simple. It doesn’t collect, store, or pass on any personal information about its users. It’s a logical choice if you want a search experience which is free from ad targeting and if potential data storage about your search activities makes you feel uneasy.
While the service doesn’t target users with ads or suggestions based on search history, it is not free from ads altogether. The ads it does deliver are syndicated via Bing.
12. Epic Browser
Epic browser is optimized for the privacy and security of users. It is ideal for users who are worried about the intrusive nature of Google Chrome. Based on Chromium, the browser has built-in features that can offer protection against data tracking, crypto-mining, anti-malware among others.
Epic browser does not save your history. It also has a one-click encryption tool that is capable of hiding your IP address.
Conclusion
Although Google Chrome seems to be the best browser, all its features come at a cost. The browser tracks your personal data. The browsers that we have mentioned here are the best alternatives to Google Chrome. They perform well in terms of speed, safety, and privacy. You are free to install and use any of the listed browsers.
A multitude of browsers exist beyond Chrome and Firefox, all offering different emphases that may be a great fit for your browsing preferences.
Try these browsers as a starting point, or branch out and see what else you can find on your own. Share either your findings or your favorite browser with us in the comment section below.
