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5 Top Browsers for 2022

The best web browsers to ensure the internet is a breeze to use. They offer an simple route for accessing the internet's limitless content or information, without ever feeling overwhelming. Google Chrome is the very popular choice, but they have given the number one spot to Microsoft's Edge browser. Both are built on Chromium, but Edge is ever so slightly faster than Google's browser. They share many of the same features so you won't miss out on anything here, but you will benefit from some enhanced efficiency.

If you've got the time to try out a few different options, that could be a good idea. For everyone else though, read on while we guide you through what we think are the best of the bunch. But whether you’re browsing on your home computer (opens in new tab), laptop (opens in new tab), smart-phone and tablet, here are our picks for the best web browsers in 2022.

1. Google Chrome: Best browser for Gmail users

Google Chrome has reigned supreme in the world of web browsers for some time, but it has since slipped to the second spot in our list. Chrome features an extensive library of extensions to help customize your browser experience and has a sleek, minimalist style that carries all the information and functionality you need without getting in the way and looking ugly.

It is also compatible with just about every device under the sun and you can carry your preferred settings between devices using your Google account. For instance, that your smartphone (opens in new tab) will remember the bookmarks you saved on your laptop.

It has become small resource-hungry though, devouring your system RAM if you have too many web pages opens at once. It isn’t great when it comes to privacy settings and uses a highly controversial method of sorting users called FLOC, if you are concerned about big tech snooping on you; maybe try Edge or Firefox instead.

2. Microsoft Edge: Best web browser overall

Some year ago, fumbling the ball with Internet Explorer and a rather inauspicious start for itself, Microsoft finally has a winning formula on the other hands with Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge takes the winning formula of Chrome and adds some unique features to differentiate itself from its competitors, namely a lower resource drain that means it won’t set your computer ablaze if you open too various tabs. They could be condescending of the fact that it managed this by basing its new web browser off Google Chrome, which used to be our favorite browser, but honestly, who cares.

Edge also comes with a much more robust set of privacy features to help keep snooping websites out of your personal data and signed up to FLOC like Chrome. Microsoft Edge used to be below Chrome in the rankings, but with each update it's getting better and now, it sits at the top of the pile. It is simply switch to Edge from Chrome and you can do so in a matter of seconds.

3. Opera: Good all-rounder

Opera feels similar to Google Chrome because it uses the same base program. But Opera is unique because it features a sidebar where you can pin links to your favorite websites, sort of like a bookmark and shortcuts to email and chat windows. You can adjust the settings to hide the sidebar or use more traditional menus or toolbars like other internet browser programs. 

Opera is decently fast, about on par with Firefox and Chrome when it comes to initial startup, site navigation and page loading. It is compatible with both Windows or Mac computers and works on Android and iOS mobile devices. The URL bar doubles as a search bar and it has stacking, which means you can drag and drop open tabs in the order you want them.

Opera is blocked by various websites that are not familiar with this web browser, especially very old and out-of-date websites that have not been updated to the most recent browser standards. Also, Opera does not have any form of web blocking or parental controls by default, but you can add these via add-ons.

4. Mozilla Firefox: Best web browser for privacy

In previously, q bit of slump due to its addiction to eating your entire computer’s RAM, Mozilla Firefox is back in the big leagues. This revitalized version of Firefox now has a lighter impact on your system while still offering all the functionality you did expect from a web browser.

Firefox also offers one of the most comprehensive security or privacy feature sets of any web browser that means it is the safest web browser to use if you want to keep your personal information secure when you are online.

The only thing letting Firefox down at the moment is the lack of extensions when compared to Chrome and Edge, which share the same vast library. Firefox is unique architecture means it needs bespoke extensions, the library is not quite as deep as we’d like.

5. Safari: Best web browser for casual Mac users

Safari is the default browser that comes preinstalled on Apple devices, including both MacOS laptops and home computers, along with its smartphones in the iPhone range. It has all the basic features that you’d expect from a web browser and will do a serviceable job if you’re a casual user. It runs quickly and doesn’t drain your PC’s performance much, but the lack of customization options and poor range of extensions mean that it struggles to stack up against other options like Chrome or Firefox.

There’s also no Windows version, which is an issue when it comes to keeping all your preferences and settings unified across multiple devices. With chrome you can share settings between your Windows PC and iOS iPhone, but you can’t do that with Safari. It’s fine, but there are better options out there.