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March 13, 2025

6 obscure browsers that are better than Chrome

I've lost count of how many web browsers I've tested and used over the years. From text-based to the weird and wonderful, I've tried them all. Knowing how many web browsers are available, it never ceases to amaze me that some languish in the shadows of obscurity -- even those that are superior to the ones most people use.

I believe that many of those alternative browsers aren't more widely used because most people simply don't know about them.

Also: I speed-tested 11 browsers - and the fastest might surprise you

Let's fix that. Below are five web browsers worth your time to test and compare to your current default.

Let's dig in.


1. Arc




Arc browser has one of the most elegant UIs on the market. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Arc browser should not be obscure. I expect that anyone who tests out this alternative browser will want to make the permanent switch from whatever browser they're using. Yes, Arc is that good. It took me all of five minutes to realize that Arc needed to be my default web browser on MacOS, and I haven't regretted the decision yet.

Also: 5 alternative browsers that might just replace Safari on your Mac

What appeals to me most about the Arc browser is how well it manages tabs with a feature called Spaces. With Spaces, you can create different workspaces for related tabs and easily swipe right or left (on your trackpad) between them. You can also move tabs between Spaces and save Spaces as a folder.

Arc has a beautiful interface that makes other browsers look boring and uninspired. Arc performs as well as any browser on the market and is frequently updated.

Arc browser is available for free on MacOS, Windows, and iOS. Maybe someday, The Browser Company will see fit to create a Linux version of the browser.


2. Colibri




Colibri offers a pared-down UI for a sleek and user-friendly look. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Colibri is a stripped-down browser with an uncluttered UI designed to be light, compact, and fast. Colibri is unique among modern browsers in that it doesn't include tabs. You get one site per window, and that's it. Want to visit a different site? You open a new Colibri window!

With Colibri, you sign up for an account to which you can save links, lists, and feeds. Toggle between the current site you are viewing and your account view to locate the site you want to visit from there. This system keeps the Colibri UI minimal and easy to use. Yes, this is a far cry from what you're accustomed to, but once you get a feel for the flow and see the clean interface, you'll soon appreciate this alternative browser for the fast, uncluttered tool that it is.

Colibri is available for Linux, MacOS, and Windows. You can request a download link for free at the bottom of the main page on the official website.

The Maxthon web browser.

Maxthon is everything you need in a modern web browser.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Maxthon combines several impressive features into a web browser that anyone would enjoy using. These features include text-to-speech, AI chat, reader mode, built-in notepad, pinned tabs, extensions, ad blocking, incognito mode, a free VPN, a built-in password manager, split screen, a video downloader, data cleaning, and a customizable UI with themes.

Also: Too many tabs? Try these browsers with better tab management than Chrome

With the built-in AI chat, you're limited to the number of free queries you get. However, you can select the type of AI you want to use, including chats for technology, writing, well-being, and an alien just for fun. The AI chat feature has two modes: Fast Mode offers daily free uses, and Expert Mode requires diamonds (an in-app purchase) and charges based on the number of conversations.

Maxthon is based on Chromium and can be installed on MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS for free.


The Aloha browser.

If Aloha looks familiar, that's because it's based on Chromium.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Another fork of Chromium, Aloha brings a level of security that Chrome cannot match (at least without serious tweaking).

With Aloha, you get a VPN, ad blocking, passcode or biometric lock, a privacy report, simple data management, third-party security audits, HTTPS everywhere, and Private AI chat. There's also page translation, reading mode, a media player, night mode, a built-in file manager, multi-threaded downloads, locked folders, Wi-Fi file sharing, profiles, themes, and much more.

Aloha also offers Premium access, which gives you a faster VPN (with more locations), auto VPN connect, more customizations, advanced file management, and more. Of all the alternative browsers, Aloha is the one that looks and feels most like Chrome, so if you're someone who doesn't crave change, this is a great option.

Aloha can be downloaded and installed for free on MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. Find out more from the Aloha download page.

The LibreWolf browser.

LibreWolf will look familiar to anyone who's used Firefox.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

If you had to guess which browser LibreWolf was based on, what would you say? If you said Firefox, congratulations! The big difference between LibreWolf and Firefox is that LibreWolf is focused primarily on privacy, security, and freedom. This browser was designed to protect against tracking and fingerprinting, with the addition of a few extra security improvements via patches and settings. LibreWolf also guarantees that it will send no telemetry and offers private searches via DuckDuckGo, Searx, Qwant, and more.

Also: My 5 favorite web browsers - and what each is ideal for

LibreWolf is configured to delete cookies and website data automatically on closing, features uBlockOrigin out of the box, strips tracking elements from all URLs, and so much more. You can read all about the privacy and security enhancements added to LibreWolf here. LibreWolf is for those who like the Firefox UI but want to get serious about web security.

LibreWolf can be installed for free on Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

The ZDNET site rendered on the Ulaa browser.

The Ulaa browser is the fastest browser I've ever tested.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Recently, I discovered another obscure browser that I felt belonged on this list. That browser is Ulaa and is created by the makers of the Zoho suite of tools. Ulaa focuses on privacy, security, and speed. With Ulaa, you get anonymized statistics, a 24-hour security patch policy, protection against high-risk security threats, auto updates on all platforms, auto reset of browser IDs, geographical data isolation, zero data sent to third parties, no push client channel updates, no metrics reported, no motion sensors, no third-party account integration, no network time tracker, and much more. 

Also: I found the most private and secure way to browse the web - and it isn't incognito mode

Consider Ulaa a Chrome clone with considerably more security. You can also run the browser in different modes, such as Work, Personal, Developer, Kids, Open Season, and Incognito. Another thing that sets Ulaa apart from many Chrome clones is that it's insanely fast. I don't think I've seen a browser render the ZDNET page faster. The page render speed is beyond any browser I've used to date.

Ulaa can be installed on Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS.

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/work-life/6-obscure-browsers-that-are-better-than-chrome/








March 4, 2025

You will Switch from CHROME to EDGE After watching this!

 

Browser market share: The most popular browsers of 2025

Browser market share: The most popular browsers of 2024 https://soax.com/research/browser-market-share

Browser market share worldwide

  • Chrome is the most popular browser with a 67.08% share, which is almost 4 times as much as the next competitor
  • Safari is in second place with an 18.35% share. It's way behind Chrome but still much more popular than other browsers
  • Edge is the third most popular browser, with only 5.19% of the market. 
  • Firefox has a 2.91% share, making it the fourth most popular browser. However, it's used a lot less than Edge
  • Samsung Internet and Opera have similar market shares, with 2.61% and 2.43% respectively
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Safari, and Edge) together make up 88.70% of the market. This leaves all the other browsers to fight over the remaining 11.30% of the global share
BrowserMarket share
Chrome65.16%
Safari18.35%
Edge5.19%
Firefox2.91%
Samsung Internet2.61%
Opera2.43%
UC Browser0.89%
Android0.53%
QQ Browser0.43%
360 Safe Browser0.39%
Other1.11%

Market share by device

Desktop browser market share

  • Chrome remains the dominant desktop browser in 2024 with a 65.14% market share
  • Edge is the second most popular desktop browser with a 13.06% share, significantly higher than its share in the overall market. This could be due to being the default browser on Windows
  • Safari holds the third position on desktops with 8.78%, reflecting its solid user base, particularly among Apple users
  • Firefox ranks fourth with a 6.89% share, showing it still maintains a loyal user base despite fierce competition
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Edge, and Safari) together account for 86.98% of the desktop market, leaving the remaining browsers to compete for just 13.02% of the share
BrowserMarket share
Chrome65.14%
Edge13.06%
Safari8.78%
Firefox6.89%
Opera3.04%
360 Safe Browser1.02%
Yandex Browser0.60%
QQ Browser0.45%
IE0.42%
Coc Coc0.14%
Other0.46%

Mobile browser market share

  • Chrome is the dominant browser on smartphones with a 65.84% market share
  • Safari holds the second position with a 23.80% share, primarily due to its integration with iPhones
  • Samsung Internet ranks third with a 4.36% share
  • Opera has a 2.10% share
  • Edge has a 0.34% share, showing it is less favored on smartphones compared to its desktop usage
BrowserMarket share
Chrome65.84%
Safari23.80%
Samsung Internet4.36%
Opera2.10%
UC Browser1.47%
Firefox0.50%
QQ Browser0.44%
Android0.38%
Edge0.34%
Yandex Browser0.20%
Other0.57%

Tablet browser market share

  • Chrome is the leading browser on tablets with a 47.25% market share
  • Safari holds a significant share of 35.79%, making it the second most popular browser for tablet users, largely due to its integration with Apple devices
  • Android browser ranks third with a 14.29% share
  • Opera has a minor presence on tablets with a 0.81% share
  • Edge also has a small share of 0.71%, significantly less compared to its desktop share
  • Firefox has a minimal presence on tablets with a 0.08% share, significantly lower than its desktop usage
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Safari, and Android) together account for 97.33% of the tablet market, leaving only 2.67% for all other browsers combined
BrowserMarket share
Chrome47.25%
Safari35.79%
Android14.29%
Opera0.81%
Edge0.71%
Puffin0.32%
Yandex Browser0.24%
UC Browser0.18%
Firefox0.08%
Silk0.05%
Other0.28%

The most popular browsers by region

The most popular browsers in Africa

  • Chrome is the overwhelmingly dominant browser in Africa with a 75.41% market share, indicating its widespread usage across the continent
  • Opera holds the second position with a 7.98% share, showcasing its significant popularity in Africa
  • Safari closely follows Opera with a 7.91% share, reflecting its strong user base, likely among Apple device users
  • Samsung Internet has a 3.46% share, showing moderate usage among Samsung smartphone users in Africa
  • Edge has a 2.77% share, indicating some presence but much lower than the top browsers
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Opera, and Safari) together account for 91.30% of the market share in Africa, leaving only 8.70% for all other browsers combined
BrowserMarket share
Chrome75.41%
Opera7.98%
Safari7.91%
Samsung Internet3.46%
Edge2.77%
Firefox1.38%
UC Browser0.36%
Android0.32%
Yandex Browser0.07%
IE0.05%
Other0.29%

The most popular browsers in Asia

  • Chrome is the leading browser in Asia with a 71.34% market share
  • Safari holds the second position with a 13.52% share, showing significant use among Apple users
  • Edge ranks third with a 3.72% share
  • Samsung Internet has a 2.61% share, showing reasonable use among Samsung smartphone users
  • Firefox holds a 1.54% share, maintaining a smaller yet dedicated user base in Asia
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Safari, and Edge) together account for 88.58% of the market share in Asia, leaving only 11.42% for all other browsers combined
BrowserMarket share
Chrome71.34%
Safari13.52%
Edge3.72%
Samsung Internet2.61%
Opera1.85%
UC Browser1.82%
Firefox1.54%
QQ Browser0.93%
360 Safe Browser0.83%
Android0.55%
Other1.29%

The most popular browsers in North America

  • Chrome remains the most popular browser in North America with a 51.93% market share, which is lower than its share in Europe (61.46%), Africa (75.41%), and Asia (71.34%).
  • Safari holds a significant 31.79% share, reflecting the strong presence of Apple devices in North America. This is notably higher compared to its shares in Europe (19.00%), Africa (7.91%), and Asia (13.52%)
  • Edge ranks third with a 7.63% share
  • Firefox has a 4.28% share, slightly lower than in Europe (4.97%), but higher than in Africa (1.38%) and Asia (1.54%)
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Safari, and Edge) together account for 91.35% of the market share in North America, leaving only 8.65% for all other browsers combined
BrowserMarket share
Chrome61.46%
Safari19.00%
Edge6.47%
Firefox4.97%
Samsung Internet3.34%
Opera2.83%
Yandex Browser0.97%
Android0.37%
UC Browser0.12%
IE0.10%
Other0.37%

The most popular browsers in Oceania

  • Chrome is the leading browser in Oceania with a 55.98% market share, lower than its share in Africa (75.41%), Asia (71.34%), but comparable to North America (51.93%)
  • Safari holds a 28.29% share, higher than in Europe (19.00%), Africa (7.91%), and Asia (13.52%), but slightly lower than in North America (31.79%)
  • Edge ranks third with an 8.20% share, the highest of all regions
  • Firefox has a 2.94% share
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Safari, and Edge) together account for 92.47% of the market share in Oceania, leaving only 7.53% for all other browsers combined
BrowserMarket share
Chrome55.98%
Safari28.29%
Edge8.20%
Firefox2.94%
Samsung Internet2.80%
Opera1.12%
Android0.17%
360 Safe Browser0.11%
IE0.06%
UC Browser0.06%
Other0.27%

The most popular browsers in South America

  • Chrome dominates the browser market in South America with a 78.25% share, the highest compared to other regions
  • Safari holds a 7.66% share, the lowest of all regions
  • Edge ranks third with a 4.17% share
  • The top three browsers (Chrome, Safari, and Edge) together account for 90.08% of the market share in South America, leaving only 9.92% for all other browsers combined.
BrowserMarket share
Chrome78.25%
Safari7.66%
Edge4.17%
Opera3.60%
Samsung Internet2.22%
Firefox2.04%
Yandex Browser1.03%
Android0.35%
IE0.24%
Instabridge0.19%
Other0.25%

Market Share by browser

Chrome market share

  • In 2024, Chrome's global market share increased to 65.16%, marking a 2.02% rise from 2023
  • From 2011 to 2012, Chrome experienced its highest annual growth rate, with market share jumping by 48.05%
  • In 2010, Chrome's market share was just 9.95%, but it achieved an extraordinary growth rate of 208.05% from the previous year, 2009
  • The market share of Chrome has consistently grown year-on-year except for minor declines in 2021 and 2023
  • South America has the highest Chrome market share at 78.25%
  • Chrome’s market share in South America and Africa is significantly higher compared to other regions, suggesting that users in these regions may have a stronger preference for Chrome or fewer competing alternatives
  • The relatively lower market share in North America and Oceania could be due to stronger competition from browsers like Safari and Edge
  • North America has the lowest share at 51.93%, but Chrome still leads the market

Chrome market charge per region

RegionChrome market share
North America51.93%
Europe61.46%
Africa75.41%
Asia71.34%
Oceania55.98%
South America78.25%

Chrome market share by year

DateChrome Market ShareChange
202465.16%↑ 2.02%
202363.87%↓ -1.4%
202264.78%↑ 0.51%
202164.45%↓ -0.23%
202064.60%↑ 2.04%
201963.31%↑ 7.09%
201859.12%↑ 9.56%
201753.96%↑ 9.94%
201649.08%↑ 9.38%
201544.87%↑ 15.23%
201438.94%↑ 12.32%
201334.67%↑ 18.33%
201229.30%↑ 48.05%
201119.79%↑ 98.89%
20109.95%↑ 208.05%
20093.23%

Safari market share

  • In 2024, Safari's global market share declined to 18.35%, a 7.23% decrease from 2023
  • Despite the growth in 2023, Safari's market share saw a 7.23% drop in 2024
  • Comparing 2009 to 2024, Safari's market share increased by 14.94 percentage points
  • Safari experienced its highest annual growth rate between 2009 and 2010, with an increase of 44.57%
  • The highest market share for Safari is in North America (31.79%), while the lowest is in South America (7.66%)
  • Safari is the second most popular browser in most regions with the exception of Africa

Safari market charge per region

RegionSafari Market Share
North America31.79%
Europe19%
Africa7.91%
Asia13.52%
Oceania28.29%
South America7.66%

Safari market share by year

DateSafari Market ShareChange
202418.35%↓ -7.23%
202319.78%↑ 4.49%
202218.93%↑ 0.16%
202118.90%↑ 5.94%
202017.84%↑ 12.48%
201915.86%↑ 9.91%
201814.43%↓ -0.55%
201714.51%↑ 9.02%
201613.31%↑ 1.91%
201513.06%↓ -5.16%
201413.77%↑ 25.87%
201310.94%↑ 21.02%
20129.04%↑ 42.14%
20116.36%↑ 29.01%
20104.93%↑ 44.57%
20093.41%

Opera market share

  • In 2024, Opera's global market share dropped to 2.43%, a significant 11.31% decline from 2023
  • Over the last decade, Opera's market share fell from 4.00% in 2014 to 2.43% in 2024, a decrease of 1.57 percentage points
  • The highest annual growth for Opera occurred in 2015, with a significant increase of 25%
  • Despite some growth spurts, Opera's overall market share trend from 2009 to 2024 shows a decrease from 2.85% to 2.43%
  • Africa stands out with a 7.98% share, significantly higher than in any other region
  • North America and Oceania have the lowest shares at 1.32% and 1.12% respectively

Opera market charge per region

RegionOpera Market Share (%)
North America1.32%
Europe2.83%
Africa7.98%
Asia1.85%
Oceania1.12%
South America3.6%

Opera market share by year

DateOpera Market ShareChange
20242.43%↓ -11.31%
20232.74%↑ 22.87%
20222.23%↓ -0.45%
20212.24%↑ 12.56%
20201.99%↓ -22.57%
20192.57%↓ -26.99%
20183.52%↓ -8.33%
20173.84%↓ -29.8%
20165.47%↑ 9.4%
20155.00%↑ 25%
20144.00%↑ 8.7%
20133.68%↑ 0.27%
20123.67%↑ 19.16%
20113.08%↑ 18.46%
20102.60%↓ -8.77%
20092.85%

Microsoft Edge market share

  • In 2024, Edge's global market share increased to 5.19%, marking a 3.18% rise from the previous year
  • Edge has shown consistent growth since its introduction, with a significant increase of 20.33% in 2023 and 16.43% in 2022
  • From its introduction in 2019 to 2024, Edge's market share grew to 5.19%
  • Oceania leads with an 8.20% share
  • Africa has the lowest share at 2.77%, suggesting that Edge is less popular compared to other regions.

Edge market charge per region

RegionEdge Market Share (%)
North America7.63%
Europe6.47%
Africa2.77%
Asia3.72%
Oceania8.2%
South America4.17%

Edge market share by year

DateEdgeChange
20245.19%↑ 3.18%
20235.03%↑ 20.33%
20224.18%↑ 16.43%
20213.59%↑ 147.59%
20201.45%
20190.00%
20180.00%
20170.00%
20160.00%
20150.00%
20140.00%
20130.00%
20120.00%
20110.00%
20100.00%
20090.00%

Internet Explorer market share

  • Internet Explorer has experienced a continuous decline, with its market share dropping from 59.10% in 2009 to 0.16% in 2024
  • The most substantial yearly decline for Internet Explorer occurred between 2020 and 2021, with a 54.07% drop in market share
  • Internet Explorer has the highest market share in South America (0.24%), indicating some continued despite Microsoft retiring Internet Explorer in favor of Edge
  • Africa and Asia both have the lowest shares at 0.05%, showing that Internet Explorer is almost phased out in these regions

IE market charge per region

RegionIE Market Share
North America0.18%
Europe0.1%
Africa0.05%
Asia0.05%
Oceania0.06%
South America0.24%

IE market share by year

DateInternet Explorer Market ShareChange
20240.16%↓ -23.81%
20230.21%↓ -43.24%
20220.37%↓ -40.32%
20210.62%↓ -54.07%
20201.35%↓ -39.73%
20192.24%↓ -25.33%
20183.00%↓ -24.05%
20173.95%↓ -36.8%
20166.25%↓ -44.4%
201511.24%↓ -27.3%
201415.46%↓ -33.22%
201323.15%↓ -21.95%
201229.66%↓ -26.42%
201140.31%↓ -19.27%
201049.93%↓ -15.52%
200959.10%

Firefox market share

  • In 2024, Firefox's global market share declined to 2.91%, a 1.36% decrease from 2023
  • Firefox has experienced a continuous decline in market share since 2009, when it held 30.17%, dropping to 2.91% in 2024
  • The most substantial annual decline for Firefox occurred between 2016 and 2017, with a 22.33% drop in market share
    .
  • Europe leads with a 4.97% share, reflecting a solid user base and possibly stronger privacy and open-source preferences among European users
  • North America follows with a 4.28% share, showing substantial usage and a dedicated user base
  • Africa has the lowest share at 1.38%, indicating that Firefox is less popular compared to other regions

Firefox market charge per region

RegionFirefox Market Share
North America4.28%
Europe4.97%
Africa1.38%
Asia1.54%
Oceania2.94%
South America2.04%

Firefox market share by year

DateFirefoxChange
20242.91%↓ -1.36%
20232.95%↓ -12.72%
20223.38%↓ -6.63%
20213.62%↓ -14.22%
20204.22%↓ -7.66%
20194.57%↓ -12.28%
20185.21%↓ -15.83%
20176.19%↓ -22.33%
20167.97%↓ -24.17%
201510.51%↓ -20.2%
201413.17%↓ -20.42%
201316.55%↓ -22.19%
201221.27%↓ -19.71%
201126.49%↓ -12.72%
201030.35%↑ 0.6%
200930.17%