Tip #4: The Best Internet Browsers - Exploring The Internet

 So, Internet Browsers. Who cares right? Just use Chrome or whatever the default is that came with the computer right? Wrong. Let's start with what really matters to us. We just want a browser to be simple: easy to use, quick to get us to where we are going, and not telling anyone what we're doing. 

Well that eliminates Chrome...

 

The Best Internet Browser

Previously, in my article "Your Privacy & Google", I explained why you should never use Google Chrome, so for this article we will pretend it doesn't exist as an option, just to avoid repitition. 

I do need to note that there isa browser called Chromium. This is what Chrome and most other browsers are created from, which why the Chrome Store extensions and themes aften work on more browsers than just Chrome. I'll explain more in the "Chromium" section below. 

First, I'll give a quick rundown of my findings:

Firefox is the best when it comes to add-ons.
Vivaldi is the best when it comes to customization, and in terms of privacy & speed, they're about equal with Firefox.
Brave is the best if you are switching from Chrome, is dedicated to privacy, and seems to be faster than both Firefox and Chrome. 

So those are your best options, download links at the very bottom, but if you don't want to choose, use Firefox. In my opinion it's the best overall, but I could be biased just because of how long I've been using it. 

But as for me personally, I'm actually slowly switching to Vivaldi, and you'll know why in a bit. 

Let's talk detail:

Firefox

Old reliable. Best browser I ever used, at least until recently; competition has been heating up. But against such competition, Firefox still reigns supreme in terms of privacy settings and add-ons. Firefox add-ons are just flat out more powerful than just about every other browser in terms of capabilities and variety.

The Google Store is a strong contender, but their add-ons can only act within a certain limited scope. Firefox add-ons, on the other hand, can mess with stuff they honestly may have no business messing with. 

Probably not a good thing if it happens unintentionally, but the option exists, and at the end of the day, that's what we want: the freedom to choose.

In my opinion, the whole 'best browser' debate is really a contest between Vivaldi and Firefox, and the only reason Vivaldi doesn't win, is because of Firefox's extensions. The only reason I didn't immdediately switch to Vivaldi when I found out about it is because allows Chrome Store extensions rather than Firefox extensions, and there are certain Firefox extensions that I use that I havn't found in the Chrome Store. 

So if you are new to Firefox and are skeptical as to whether you should download it, trust me. It's rated the #1 browser by most for a reason.

Features: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

Want to try it? Check it out: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/download

 

 

 

Chromium 

Notice that logo is different than Google Chrome. Chromium is an open source browser by Google, different from Google Chrome. Because it is open source, anyone can download the source code and do whatever they want with it.

Browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, Epic and a bunch of other browsers (including one called "Ungoogled Chrome"), started as Chromium code that someone then modified into something similar (like Chrome), or something different entirely (like Vivaldi). 

But what most of these modifications have in common is how they handle webpages (usually meaning they are about the same speed), and that Chrome Store apps work on them. This is because the Chrome Store was built for Chromium, not Chrome. 

So yes, you can download a Chrome Store theme or extension or app in the new Microsoft Edge, or Vivaldi, or Opera or Brave.

How? Just Google it. DuckDuckGo it.
...nope, it just doesn't have the same ring to it. 

Also, A quick note. Firefox is not based off Chromium. But, thanks to how powerful Firefox extensions are, there exists an extension to add the Chrome Store to Firefox. 

Vivaldi

So, before I started writing this article, I had never heard of Vivald. But I've been trying it out for the past couple of days and let me just say WOW. Amazing. There are so many options for customization, it almost made my head hurt the first time I saw it. It's easier just to show you. 

Default Look
Look at how small that scroll bar is. Options for days!

 

A quick Custom Theme by me!

 

That beach background is custom too!

I had so much fun customizing settings (because nerd), but there are many more useful features:

You can splitscreen tabs so you don't have to open a separate window (which slowa down the computer for every new window in most browsers).

They have "Tab Stacks", as in put tabs within other tabs... Yeah, what? Imagine you are writing a research paper; you have all your research links open in 3 tabs: Tab 1, Tab 2, Tab 3. But now you need to do some extra research about that one thing in Tab 1. "Tab Stacks", so you don't lose track of what you are doing.

Tabs 1, 2, & 3. Notice Tab 1 looks different. Thats because there's more Tabs in that one!

When you click it, your other tabs appear! Within Tab 1, more tabs are open!

I hadn't heard of that either. But there it is, on Vivaldi, as well as much more. It also comes with its own ad-blocker, so you don't even have to worry about installing one, as is the case in Firefox and other browsers. 

ALSO, something I discovered like an hour ago, you can put Youtube (or any other site!) as a "Web Panel", and have it playing in the background while you browse, again without it taking up the same resources as a whole new window.

 

This might just be the best browser ever for a college student, aka full-time amateur researcher, and that's why I'll be switching.

All Features: https://vivaldi.com/features
How does vivaldi make money?: https://vivaldi.com/blog/vivaldi-business-model
Check it out: https://vivaldi.com/download

 

Brave

You might have heard about the Brave browser if you ever searched up "Best browsers for privacy", as one normally does..., but probably not. Let's just say at this point it's in everyone's top 5, behind Tor and Firefox. 

If you like Chrome, or you are really used to Chrome, then Brave is probably going to be your favorite new browser. But honestly... I don't care for it because it reminds me to much of Chrome, and I never liked how it looked to begin with, but that's obviously just me. The reason it looks so much like Chrome, again, is because it is based off of Chromium, and I guess they liked the design.

So Brave is essentially Chrome but better, because it is specificlly built for privacy. It was made by Brave Software Inc, who's team also includes a Co-founder of Mozilla (creators of Firefox!), & the inventor of JavaScript.
Read more: https://brave.com/about

Also, they have their own search engine, "The Brave Engine", so there's that too. 

But what really makes brave stand out, is how they do advertisements. Many companies today make their money from people clicking or viewing ads. But Brave comes with its own ad-blocker, just like Vivaldi, so how do they make money? Well, they made their own Cryptocurrency, and even give some to their users.
Read more:
How does Brave make money?: https://browserpulse.com/how-does-brave-make-money/

Brave Cryptocurrency?: https://brave.com/brave-rewards

Check out Brave: https://brave.com/download

 

 

Safari

I don't have a mac, so I don't use it all that often, but from what I've heard it's quite good in just about all categories. It is also one of the more secure browsers out there as apple has been taking privacy and security a lot more seriously in recent years after a few scandals. 

The only thing I will say about Safari is, because you are utilizing an apple browser through your apple account, on an apple computer... if someone gains access to one, they gain access to all.Whereas if you were using any other browser and someone got your password, they couldn't suddenly lock you out of your computer. This is what could happen if you log into Safari on a public computer, or a friend's computer. 

Just something to think about...

Microsoft Edge

I added Edge just to say, somebody rated Microsoft Edge the number one browser. Rated it above Chrome, above safari, Epic, Brave, Vivaldi, Tor, Firefox... and I just want to say, they're crazy. Just because they copied Chromium so they're faster now doesn't mean they get a spot on the list, let alone the number one spot. 

Summary:

To sum up everything again:

Firefox is the best when it comes to add-ons, & has been #1 for years. Crazy powerful browser.

Vivaldi is the best when it comes to customization, is perfect for doing online research, and in terms of privacy and speed, they're about equal with Firefox.

Brave is the best if you are switching from Chrome, is dedicated to privacy, and seems to be faster than both Firefox and Chrome, and has some potential money making options if you are up for it with that Cryptocurrency. 

There you have it, but if you don't want to choose, use Firefox.   

If you happen to be feeling adventurous, or have research to organize, use Vivaldi.

If you really want to stick with Chrome, but you're concerned about trusting them, use Brave.

 

Download Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/download

Download Vivaldi: https://vivaldi.com/download/

Download Brave: https://brave.com/download/

 

 

 

 

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