Introduction
The selection of web browsers has become more bewildering due to the proliferation of browsers and the increased frequency of browser updates. What will make it easier to choose between them is to be aware of four conditions: popularity, web engines, key features and performance. Read more about these conditions on how to select a browser at the end of this page.
Your final choice will probably be decided by which one you prefer subjectively rather than by objectively comparing feature by feature. It is relatively easy to switch web browsers provided that you are not dependent upon unique features or specific add-ons. I suggest that you install more than one web browser so you have an alternative if you strike any problems with your preferred browser.
This page covers Mega Browsers. You might want to check out our reviews on Lightweight Browsers and Specialised Browsers.
Rated Products

Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] | iOS | Linux | Mac OS | Windows (Desktop) |
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware
Our Rating: 5/5 |
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Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] | iOS | Linux | Mac OS | Windows (Desktop) |
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware
Our Rating: 4.5/5 |
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Platforms/Download: Windows (Desktop) |
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware
Our Rating: 4/5 |
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Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] | iOS | Linux | Mac OS | Windows (App) | Windows (Desktop) |
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware
Our Rating: 3.5/5 |
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Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] | iOS | Linux | Mac OS | Windows (App) | Windows (Desktop) |
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware
Our Rating: 3/5 |
Read more...
How to Select a Browser
Most Popular Browsers
The most popular browsers globally are Google Chrome, Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera with about 95% of the online market share and Chrome has half of that. StatCounter's graph of the top five desktop and tablet web browsers for the last five years or so illustrates the decline of IE and the rise of Chrome.
Chrome and Firefox tend to lead the pack technically for two main reasons: strong application support and compatibility with many platforms (Windows, Apple OS and iOS, Linux and other Unix-like operating systems including Android). These browsers also have a range of variations built on the same engines. For Google Chrome this can be quite confusing because the web browser code which Chrome is based on is called Chromium. You will see that there are several other browsers built from the Chromium code-base.
Most Popular Web Engines
Most web browsers create web pages by using software called a web engine. Many of these web engines or layout and rendering engines, as they are also named, are used by more than one browser. This software combines the mark-up content (HTML, XML, SVG, JPEG, PNG, etc.), the formatting (CSS, XSL, etc.), and the scripting (JavaScript) to display it on your screen. Typically a web engine uses a JavaScript engine to process JavaScript instructions. Taking the WebKit engine as an example, it has two components: the WebCore layout engine and the JavaSciptCore engine.
If you are having problems with the engines in your web browser then one way to resolve this can be to choose another web browser that uses different engines.
The four main web browser layout engines being actively developed are displayed in Table 1 in order of age. I have omitted the fifth major web engine in use, Presto which is used by older versions of Opera. You can also view a more detailed time-line graphic.
Mega Browsers |
Lightweight Browsers |
Specialised Browsers |
Trident
|
Gecko
|
WebKit
|
Blink1
|
Microsoft Windows | |||
Internet Explorer Chrome + IE Tab Mozilla Firefox + IE Tab Maxthon SlimBrowser Avant Ultimate Avant Lite Lunascape Sleipnir (v.4+) SeaMonkey + IE Tab K-Meleon + IE Tab |
Mozilla Firefox Waterfox Comodo IceDragon Avant Ultimate Lunascape PaleMoon SeaMonkey K-Meleon |
Chrome (to v.27) Maxthon Comodo DragonC TorchC SlimBoat Avant Ultimate Lunascape Sleipnir (v.3.5+) Konqueror (v.4+) EpicC SRWare IronC Midori QtWeb QupZilla rekonq xombrero |
Chrome (v.28+) Opera2 (v.15+) Sleipnir (v.4.3+) |
Apple OS
— |
Mozilla Firefox Avant Browser Classilla |
Safari3 Chrome (to v.27) Maxthon Torch OmniWeb QtWeb iCab |
Chrome (v.28+) Opera2 (v.15+) |
Linux
— |
Mozilla Firefox IceWeasel (Debian) GNU IceCat TOR Browser Classilla Gnuzilla IceApe (Debian) |
Chrome (to v.27) Maxthon QtWeb Qupzilla surf Uzbl Web xombrero |
Chrome (v.28+) |
Notes:
Engines: T = Trident; G=Gecko; W = WebKit; B = Blink.
C = Chromium project which is the base browser which Chrome is built on top of. You can compile the Chromium source code to build your own Chromium browser.
1 Blink engine is a fork of the WebKit engine. Chromium-based browsers are gradually moving to Blink.
2 Opera also runs on Linux before version 15 but uses the now discontinued Presto engine which is not included in this table.
3 Safari is only available on Apple systems so it is not included in this article.
4 Non-English browsers not included: Chinese - BaiduTW, GreenBrowserT; Russian - AmigoW, UranCW, YandexB
5 Text-based browsers not included: ELinks, Links, Lynx. Minimalistic browsers not included: Dillo.
Key Features
Due to modern advances and competitiveness, all of the major web browsers share similar, and what I would call, essential features. Examples of these features are; tabbed browsing, privacy browsing, password manager, download manager, searchable address bar, and cross application syncing. The individual browsers may use different names for their respective features but the functions are basically the same. The reviews will attempt to highlight the key elements of each browser to help you decide which browser may be best for you.
Wiki Comparison of Web Browsers compares web browsers in several categories. For a web browser to be classified as Mega, it must compare to IE, Chrome and Firefox in all similar categories.
Performance
There are two aspects of performance: compliance with web standards and speed of processing. There are standard tests for benchmarking the performance of your web browser. The best known are benchmarks like html5test, acidtests and Octane but there are several others. They primarily test the compliance of the browser's HTML layout and the processing speed of the JavaScript engine.
You can use these tests yourself but be aware that they won't tell you how well the browser suits the way that you work. That is why I recommend that you select your browser based on the features that you use because there is not as much difference between the performance of the main browsers. If you decide to test browsers yourself then be aware that your particular combination of hardware, software and browser configuration will affect performance. So your results may be wildly different to other people's benchmark results.
If your hardware is very limited then you should refer to the lightweight web browsers which require less resources.
Related Products and Links
You might want to check out these articles too:
- Best Free Lightweight Web Browsers
- Best Free Specialised Web Browsers
- Best Free Web Browser for Android
- Best Free Web Browser for iOS
- Best Free Browser Protection Utility
- Best Internet Safety Check Freeware
Editor
This software category is in need of an editor. If you would like to give something back to the freeware community by taking it over, check out this page for more details. You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here.
You are welcome to join the discussion in our web and networking forum.
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Comments
The new Edge isn't bad...at least so far... But I need a browser that will multi-row tabs before I let go of Cyberfox
Hi,Everyone,
just discovered qualities of 2 browsers, which didn't want try before- AOL Shield and Secure Browser, and was pleasantly surprised :
easily installed ( Acer , Win 7 ), imported all bookmarks from my default ( Slimjet ) and started working without a hitch. Try'em, You just might enjoy.
ARaa.
There is not much information about AOL Shield on its site.
And I couldn't even find the link for Secure Browser via search.
Hi, Anupam,
info on AOL Shield can be found thru Google Search , link for Secure Browser can be found on Softpedia.
ARaa.
What's the use when I have to find out about a browser through a search, when its own site cannot provide the details?
I wouldn't go for such a software.
Right. However, both browsers work just fine for me, so far, and if they make money - let'em . ARaa.
You can add Slimjet to Blink Engine browsers. It is a nice browser on chromium and way faster and better than many browsers listed here.
It has best of the features and does not really annoys you like Chrome crashes or Firefox for that matter.
Secure and in built Ad blocker, Download accelerator..
nice one really!
http://www.slimjet.com
I have tried the W10 Edge browser.
I cannot for the life of me, find how to show menus.
Can anyone help ?
Rob
PS I am not a fan of minimalistic browsers such as Chrome
PPS For general browsing I only feel safe, when using FF with NoScript
PPPS For those frustrated with the need to click "allow scripts" a few times, I have found the setting that can reduce it to a single click.
Hi, Everyone, and here is my latest discovery- 7star browser.
Yes, it is chinese product, which some won't use (being afraid of spying-for one of reasons), but..
I'm working with it for a few days now and found it to be fast ( it's base- Chrome ), reliable (it gives me foreign radiotranslations and videos, which some browsers refuse to do, and plenty of functions; also, it has another engine- Internet Explorer ( which isn't all that exciting these days ) and auto or manual switching - depending of which site you want to open.
Try it, boys and girls, I'm quite sure You'll be glad You did. ARaa.
"... Cent Browser is an enhanced version of the Chromium web browser that bundles many useful features, such as scrollable tab bar, automatic memory optimization, lazy session loading, mouse gesture, super drag and a lot of tab options.It makes your web surfing easier, more comfortable and more secure ...:"
http://www.centbrowser.com/
Opaque browser:
http://opaquebrowser.com/
Two complaints (just mumbles) -
1) Cannot find much info about it on the web (nor on their home page)
2) Compatible with Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10
Still using XP,
Rob
"... Iridium is a free, open, and libre browser modification of the Chromium code base, with privacy being enhanced in several key areas. Automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords, metrics to central services inhibited and only occurs with consent. In addition, all our builds are reproducible, and modifications are auditable, setting the project ahead of other secure browser providers ...":
https://iridiumbrowser.de/
Yes it is very good.
It is FF, but usually a couple of versions behind.
They have trimmed it slightly, and you can enable their extra security (ensure web site that you try to go to, are safe).
Also you can have (multiple) portable versions, by simply ticking a checkbox on the 'installer' screen.
I have many for different categories of browsing.
The one proviso is, I never have two of them running at the same time (just in case they interfere with each others settings)
Rob
PS For all those Chrome lovers out there, I wish I could find a cure for you.
If you have a weak/old PC, you can occasionally find your computer running so slow, you will think it has a virus. But you will find it is Google's updater running in the background.
For those that love Chrome, and wish to avoid Google's disregard for Windows conventions, you can Get Comodo Dragon (No 'Ice'), and 'Install' it as portable.
I have done that, and it runs fine (but I still hate Chrome).
That failure would likely be MS fault, NOT Comodo
MS decided to be the 'Nanny' in W7, and limit our powers in many locations.
Create a Folder C:\PGMS
And create a sub folder called IceDragon
Tick the checkbox and browse to that location.
I would bet my left family jewel that it will 'Install' there.
Don't run it at the completion of the 'Install'
Go to the folder, and drill down the sub folders that have appeared, and copy the files etc from the lowest level to the top level, and delete the left over empty sub folders.
Then run it.
Let me know if I will have to sing in a higher key,
Rob
I'm not quite as computer-savvy as most of you here, but I could really use some help in figuring out all these different browsers.
I recently had some trouble with Silverlight playing Netflix through Firefox. Digital Rights Management errors keep coming up and I tried uninstalling/reinstalling Silverlight, which didn't work, and the troubleshooting articles I found didn't help either as there are some features missing on my system that are necessary to do the fix. Sooo, I called Netflix and they suggested downloading Chrome as the browser to use for Netflix. I was reluctant because I don't like anything to do with Google, but if this was the only way to get Netflix to play, then I had to.
Something really weird keeps happening when I open Chrome. I get an initial tab for Astromenda. I don't know what that is (search engine?), and I don't want it. While I was on the phone with Netflix, I found that in my list of programs and I deleted it, but it still keeps coming up when I open Chrome. What is this thing and how do I get rid of it?? It seems to be a default in Chrome.
Also, in streaming videos through Netflix (through Chrome), the audio and video is crappy. It crackles, skips, stutters. It's very annoying, to say the least. Sometimes it freezes completely and I need to click the pause and start button again. I really miss watching Netflix through Firefox - it was easy and played well (most of the time).
Are any of the other browsers any better with regard to playing Netflix, and are not reliant on Silverlight? My operating system is XP, so MS doesn't support that anymore, so I can't ask them why Silverlight suddenly doesn't work for me anymore. Anyway, any help/insight you all could share with me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Phyllis
Oops, sorry about that. I didn't realize that. Will check that out when I get a chance. Thanks for letting me know.
There is another great alternative out there called Polarity Browser. It is light on resources and very fast.
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