“On a recent test run of all three services, Text Free was the fastest, most reliable and easiest to use.' The New York Times 'I have been using Text Free for nearly a decade. The browser debate is pretty heated on all platforms, but we love Chrome on the Mac. It's fast, easy to use, has a great developer community, and even handles failure with grace. The Opera browser includes everything you need for private, safe, and efficient browsing, along with a variety of unique features to enhance your capabilities online. The Opera browser for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers maximizes your privacy, content enjoyment, and productivity. Lynxlet, Lynx for Mac OS X. Lynxlet is an application for launching the text web browser Lynx in a Terminal window. Lynxlet is a Termlet - a class of applications designed to make Terminal based programs easy to use. Lynx is developed and maintained by the Lynx-Dev Group.
Touted as #1 VPN in the world, ExpressVPN is now offering 49% off & an additional 3-months of service on its annual plans.ExpressVPN is widely known as the fastest and most secure VPN in the industry. With over 3,000 servers in 90+ countries, it is capable to unblock all geo-blocked services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO+, and BBC iPlayer.
ExpressVPN app is available for nearly all the devices including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, browsers, Firestick, and gaming consoles.
Ever wondered which is the best web browser for Mac? Gone are the days when there were only a few web browsers. There are hundreds if not thousands of Mac web browsers. For qualifying as the best browser for Mac, the browser should be fast and have a sleek design. I took time pondering over that question and my research revealed the following 10 best Mac web browsers.
Best Browsers for Mac
1. Google Chrome
It is no secret that Google Chrome is the best internet browser not only for Mac but also Windows PC. Chrome is the most popular internet browser. One of the features that make this browser one of the best is the wide range of useful Chrome extensions. The browser is clutter free and can open multiple tabs smoothly. Its default search engine is the reputable Google.
2. Opera
Opera is more popular on mobile devices than computers. But this giant browser has slowly taken over the Mac OS. The browser is often updated to give the latest browser features and get rid of bugs. The user-friendly interface and fast web page loading are the key features of this browser and make it one of the best browser for Mac. Opera now also comes with free VPN.
3. Mozilla Firefox
You cannot think of the best web browser for Mac and fail to think of Mozilla Firefox. This software has been in the market for ages. It is reputable for its powerful built-in features that benefit web developers in performing tweaks and web customization. Firefox for Mac allows effective management of bookmarks, blocks malware and allows pop-ups blockage.
4. Apple Safari
Apple’s Safari is the default browser for Mac. The fact that it is the default browser means that it has a set of powerful features. The browser is subject to frequent updates. Each new version comes with an improved user interface. Apple Safari is the best browser for Apple devices that run iOS. The browser lacks some features on the Mac OS. Nevertheless, the lack of clutter and incredible visual balance are incomparable to any other Mac web browser.
Check Also: How to clear history on Safari
5. OmniWeb
OmniWeb is the best browser for mac with regard to design. Another amazing feature of this web browser is the advanced ad-blocking. Omniweb handles RSS news feeds with precision. The most unique of its features is the ‘Sidebar Tabs’. Sidebar tabs allow the user to have a small visual preview of the open tabs. This feature is helpful in finding hidden tabs when there are multiple tabs open.
6. Camino
Camino browser is exclusive to Mac users. It has a unique design and superb speed. The fact that it is specifically designed for Mac users means that its user interface and design are top notch. The browser has been in the market since 2005. The support for the browser was discontinued three years ago. However, you can still download the latest version of the browser on the official website.
7. RocketMelt
Another best browser for Mac is RocketMelt. RocketMelt is popular for its powerful Facebook integration. You have to sign in with Facebook to enjoy all the features of this browser. The browser allows you to enjoy Facebook without having to visit the site. You can pin your favorite friends, Facebook pages, social networks and blogs on the sidebar. You will receive updates on the pinned sites without having to open the pages.
8. Maxthon
Maxthon is the best internet browser for Mac when cloud browsing is the factor under consideration. Maxthon is a cross-platform browser. It allows syncing of browsing data across all your devices including smartphones, Windows, and Linux PC. Once you have installed Maxthon on all your devices you can access open tabs, bookmarks, and passwords across all your devices. What more could define the best browser?
9. Torch
Do you know what makes Chrome the best web browser for Mac? Like chrome, Torch is based on Chromium project. The browser comes with an array of features, add-ons, and extensions. The built-in features are quite impressive. They include; media grabber, Torch Player, Torch Games, Torch Torrent and Torch Music. Torch Browser is a Mac Browser that was designed with all browser needs in mind.
10. Flock Web Browser
Flock Web Browser is the perfect alternative for Mozilla Firefox. The browser uses the Firefox 3 technology. The browser was designed to ease your interaction with RSS feed, blogs, and social media sites. The spate toolbar in the browser allows quick sharing of pages and links with your social media followers and blog subscribers.
Final thoughts
Speed, design, safety and security define the best browser for Mac. All the Mac web browsers highlighted above have these features. Whichever you choose to download has good features and will suit your browsing needs. Do you know any other Mac web browser that deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the comments section.
Get all best apps via Setapp
Since most of your working (or even entertainment) time today is spent in your web browser window, it's likely the most important app on your computer. Without a doubt, there are lots of web browsers for Mac, but not all of them were created equal. So you might be wondering what is the best web browser for Mac.
After all, not everyone's needs are the same. You might be striving for speed or safety, or alternative ways of surfing online. And with Microsoft Edge set to appear on Mac shortly, the competition to become the top browser for Mac is getting fierce — but there's no need to try them all.
Use Setapp for better Internet browsing
Have the fastest and strongest browser with Setapp, a toolkit of Mac apps that speed up and improve your browsing experience.
The browser comparison below will outline all strengths and weaknesses of all the contenders on the market today to reveal the best browser for Mac you need.
What Makes The Best Web Browser
Depending on how exactly you use your Mac browser, you might require different features and specialties. Generally, there are four broad categories that make people sway one way or another.
Familiarity: Use something regularly for a while and you'll develop muscle memory, which makes it extremely hard to switch to anything else. This is the main reason most people keep using the first web browser they've tried. But it’s important to realize that experimenting with alternative browsers is not hard and might present you with much better options in no time.
Speed: Slow speed might quickly kill even the best web browser for Mac. If you think about it, no one has ever asked for their webpage to take more time to load.
Text Browser For Mac Shortcut
Security: A lucky few might have never been the target of a hack or malware with a potential to disrupt or in some cases destroy a computer. But there's no such thing as being too careful. While some browsers are optimized for ease of use, there are safe browsers too that are secure from the ground up.
Bells and whistles: For some, it's the little things that matter most. Looking for Chromecast support? Configurable shortcuts? Extension libraries? All best internet browsers try to differentiate themselves in various ways to tailor to particular audiences.
The top browser for Mac out of the box: Safari
It could be that the best browser for Mac is the one that comes with every Mac already. Apple's proprietary web browser for Mac, Safari, is preinstalled on all Apple devices and is generally a good choice. No shame here for not bothering to explore alternative browsers at all.
Safari is good because Apple doesn't do things by half measures. Benchmarks suggest that when it comes to Safari vs Firefox, Safari loads HTML twice as fast, and four times as fast for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Makes sense — no one knows Apple hardware better than Apple, so they have all the trump cards for near-perfect speed optimization. Safari might well be the fastest browser for Mac.
In terms of extras, Safari has a decent support for third-party plugins and integrates perfectly with your iOS and watchOS devices.
What’s great:
- Blazing-fast speed
- Already installed on your Mac
Not so great:
- Lacks Chromecast support and some other plugins
The most popular web browser: Chrome
Chrome is by far the top browser for Mac and other operating systems when it comes to popularity — some reports suggest that 70% of people on the web use it. But does that mean it’s the best web browser for Mac?
It could be. First of all, Chrome is generally one of the fastest web browsers. Second, it uses Google's proprietary Sandbox security technology, so you're completely safe running all kinds of websites on it. Third, Chrome's extension library is the largest on the market, allowing you to transform the browser into the tool for all your needs.
Download Browser For Mac
Even better, when you sign into your Google account on any Chrome browser anywhere, it'll load your bookmarks and logins right away. So if you're constantly using different computers, Chrome is a great choice (just remember to log out if you're using public ones).
When it comes to Safari vs Chrome, Safari wins as the best browser for Mac, whereas Chrome takes the crown if you find yourself jumping between operating systems.
What’s great:
- Fast and secure
- The best third-party support for browser extensions
- Travels well by signing into Chrome from anywhere
- Fully integrated with Chromecast
Not so great:
Best Browsers For Mac
- Not as fast as Safari
The underdogfox web browser: Mozilla Firefox for Mac
Though it's not as commonly used as Safari or Chrome, Firefox is not without its share of devoted fans. It's been a mainstay in the browser wars for many years now and is maybe the most recognized one of the alternative browsers for people who would rather not support megalithic companies like Apple or Google. So do you want to download Firefox for Mac?
Unfortunately, sometimes the underdog is the underdog for a reason. Firefox is quite a bit slower when it comes to loading webpages. And while you can sign into your Firefox account for bookmarks just like in Google Chrome, the fact that it’s not a standard option on most computers in the way Chrome is makes this feature less useful.
Add to that a busy design that looks at odds with macOS, and when it comes to Safari vs Firefox as the best browser for Mac, Safari is the clear winner.
What’s great:
- Open-source development
- Long-established user base
- Firefox account to sync bookmarks across computers
Not so great:
- Slow by modern web standards
- Busy design
The 'could be a contender' browser: Opera for Mac
Opera has been around for years, but it's always been the 'also-ran' of the alternative browsers. But things could be different now: Opera today comes with a free VPN, ad-block, and built-in messenger client support right out of the box. The free VPN alone makes this browser worth downloading and checking out.
In the backend, Opera usings the same Blink Engine that powers Chrome, so you can be sure of its speed. Add to that integrated phishing and malware lists and you have a fast and secure browser. Some could argue that given recent Opera innovations it might have surpassed Firefox as the third-best web browser. It also might now be the best new browser for Mac, depending on what you’re looking for.
What’s great:
- Free VPN
- Just as fast as Chrome
- Great default ad and malware blocking
Not so great:
- Less third-party support compared to Chrome
- Low adoption
How to change default browser on Mac
So now that you have so many options to try — explore their websites and download the ones that you like. Just remind yourself that you're not yet fully committed to any single one.
But once you decide which one is your favorite, you need to know how to change default browser on Mac:
- Click on the Apple menu ➙ System Preferences
- Navigate to the General tab
- Find a dropdown menu marked 'Default web browser' and click on it to choose from the browsers you've installed
The top browser for Mac is what you make of it
In the end, it doesn't matter too much which browser is the best — if you like it and feel like it does what you need it to do, then everybody's happy. What matters the most is whether or not you can customize the browser to your needs. That means downloading extensions that make the most of your internet experience.
If you've ever been watching a YouTube video and thought, 'I wish there was a safe and easy way to download this video,' then you absolutely need to check out Downie.
Capture video from any browser
Try a seamless video downloader that works with any browser. With Downie, you’ll be able to instantly save videos from 1000+ sites.
Downie is an app for your Mac that lets you drag and drop videos from any website onto your computer. It works like magic:
- Copy a link from Vimeo or YouTube or anywhere else
- Open Downie and hit ⌘ + V to paste the link
- The download will start automatically
Even for times when you can't find a song anywhere but streaming video, use Downie to simply download the audio file. Brilliant!
Want to edit or format that file? Downie blends seamlessly with Permute, which lets you combine videos, edit them down, or convert the file type:
- Drag and drop a video onto Permute
- Choose to work with Audio or Video
- Use the dropdown to choose the file format to convert to
- Click Start
Yet another great app to completely unlock your browser is Inboard. Designed to easily capture screenshots from your screen so that you can create collages and moodboards, Inboard lets you cut and paste images from your Mac browser, and even make a Pinterest-style inspiration board from all your captured pictures.
Best of all, Downie, Permute, and Inboard are all available to try absolutely free for seven days when you sign up for Setapp, an app subscription services that gives you over 150 different apps for every possible use case. Now that’s a Mac browser transformed!
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up