macOS users should replace Safari with these 5 browsers

Apple offers many free apps and features in macOS Sequoia, including Safari 18. As a user of some of the best Macs you can buy, Safari is usually my browser of choice. However, there are many reasons why you might want to swap Safari for a third-party browser. Maybe you're looking for an extension or plugin that's not available in Apple's browser, or you frequently use a website that works better in a competing browser. If you're ready to try something new but aren't sure where to start, we've rounded up five of the best Safari replacements for macOS users.

5 Brave

A browser designed for privacy – and light enough for gaming

One of the reasons I love Safari is that it offers a handful of built-in privacy features, such as blocking trackers and weekly privacy reports. If you love Safari's focus on privacy, you'll love Brave. Privacy is taken to the next level with built-in Brave Protection, which automatically blocks trackers and tells you exactly how many trackers a website uses. There is also a built-in (albeit paid) VPN that you can use directly in the browser. Although Brave is known for its focus on privacy, it is also an excellent gaming browser due to its light weight and limited memory usage.

4 bow

A radical vision of what the future of web browsers should look like

Arc, one of the newest browsers on the market, is not for everyone. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Arc isn't for that the most People. Although the browser is based on the Chromium engine – and therefore has many things in common with Chrome, such as: B. Chrome extensions – it does many things differently. The Arc Browser contains namely a mandatory vertical tab layout and treats bookmarks as pinned tabs. The aim is to provide an optimized and refined experience with a clean and compact interface that adds productivity features such as a split view for websites.

So if Arc isn't for everyone, why do I recommend it as an alternative to Safari? Think about why people choose macOS in the first place. They want simplicity, ease of use, productivity features and, in some ways, an operating system that sets new standards. Arc checks all of these boxes and then some.

3 Vivaldi

A comprehensive, feature-rich browser with tons of customization options

Arc is the flashy new browser on the market with a huge following, but what if I told you that Vivaldi can do many of the things Arc is known for – and more? Probably the biggest criticism of Vivaldi is that it is so to Heavy like a browser, and the features make it bigger and slower. However, if you like to customize your browser, Vivaldi is the best option. You can decide exactly where to position your tabs, easily set a browser theme, and block trackers or ads at the browser level. Additionally, there is a useful sidebar that surpasses that of Edge and other browsers.

Vivaldi is more than just a browser, which is why some XDA writers and editors swear by it. For example, there is an integrated email client. The range of customization options that Vivaldi offers is certainly its calling card. You can even remove the forward and back buttons when you don't need them.

2 Google Chrome

A well-known and versatile, if flawed, alternative to Safari

Google Chrome is a simple but reliable alternative browser to Safari. I'm not the biggest fan of Chrome due to its bloated interface and extreme memory usage, but I've also downloaded it on each of my Macs. This is because most websites are designed for Chrome. So if you're having trouble loading a website in Safari or an alternative browser, Google's browser could solve your problems. Additionally, Chrome has a significantly larger pool of available extensions and plugins than Safari.

It is also great for cross-platform use. If you have a Mac and use other devices like Windows PCs or the best Android phones, these third-party products won't let you access saved Safari tabs, bookmarks, passwords, and more. On the contrary, Chrome is available on many platforms. If you use Google's browser, you can use the built-in Chrome password manager and get the same experience on every computer and mobile device you own.

1 Firefox

A lighter, open source alternative to Chrome and Safari

Firefox is like a mix between Chrome and the other Safari alternatives on this list. It's highly customizable with default settings and Firefox extensions, but also reliable and familiar. The entire project is open source and data protection is the focus of Firefox. Especially compared to Chrome, Firefox is a bit lighter and uses less memory on your Mac. If you're not ready to take the plunge and try Arc, Brave, or Vivaldi, Firefox is a great way to get a better browsing experience than Chrome or Safari.

Another key advantage of Firefox is that the browser generally supports older hardware longer than Apple or Google. As your Mac ages and stops receiving new macOS upgrades, you may no longer be able to use the latest versions of Chrome or Safari. In fact, as your Mac gets older, Chrome stops being supported at all. In the meantime, Firefox will continue to exist – you can rely on this browser for the long haul.

Which safari alternative is right for you?

Choosing the right browser is a surprisingly personal decision that really depends on your specific needs. If you are familiar with Google Chrome and want a familiar alternative, this is the one you should choose. However, there are other options, such as the open source Firefox. If you're a power user who wants to dabble in customization, Arc or Vivaldi are your best bet. For those who want a private, secure, and lightweight browser, Brave won't let you down.