Best Chrome Alternatives for 2024

The latest study shows that Google Chrome is one of the most used browsers, even in 2024. Google Chrome is the market leader, holding a share of 65.97% in the internet browser market.^[1] This implies that two-thirds of internet users worldwide prefer Google Chrome as their browsing software. 

However, there’s an increasing need for secure browsers that don’t skimp on privacy features or general performance. With the marked increase in cyberthreats, such as phishing, hacking, and malware, users are concerned about their anonymity, privacy, and protection of sensitive data. Although Google Chrome offers a few privacy features, such as Incognito Mode and Safe Browsing, it falls short of other available browsers that provide enhanced privacy and security when surfing the web.

Geekflare has researched, tested, and curated the best Google Chrome alternatives based on features like private browsing, lightweight performance, phishing protection, and anonymity.

• 1. Brave – Best for Privacy and Ad Blocking
• 2. DuckDuckGo – Best for Private Browsing
• 3. Avast Secure Browser – Best for Phishing Protection
• 4. Opera – AI-powered and Inbuilt Messenger
• 5. Polarity – Best for Lightweight Performance
• 6. Tor Browser – Best for Anonymity
• 7. Vivaldi – Best for Tab Management
• 8. Yandex – Best for Russian
• 9. Epic Privacy Browser – Fingerprint Protection
• 10. Firefox – Best for Open-Source Flexibility
• 11. Microsoft Edge Browser – Best for Windows Users and AI-powered
• 12. Safari Browser – Best for Apple Users
• Show moreShow less

1. Brave

Brave is a free, privacy-oriented, open-source web browser launched in 2016 and founded by Brave Software Inc. It blocks on-page ads and other online trackers. The user interface is modernized and works similarly to Google’s browser. However, compared to Chrome, Brave loads quicker, leading to a more efficient browsing experience.

The browser was initially created as a blockchain-focused platform and is tied closely to the Basic Attention Token (BAT). This privacy-centric approach helps users by blocking ads daily and enhancing transparency. Brave is also the first web browser to feature a built-in cryptocurrency wallet.

Brave Pricing

Brave is open-source and free to use.

Try Brave

2. DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a popular privacy-focused browser and search engine with an anti-tracking policy. It doesn’t store user search information and prevents websites from collecting it. Unlike Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo provides email tracking protection, ensuring personal information is not revealed to unwanted parties.

DuckDuckGo’s powerful tracker-blocking feature stops trackers and unwanted ads before they load, increasing website speed. It also offers its users an AI chat option.

The browser provides various unique features, including bangs, tracker blocking, the Duck Player, HTTP to HTTPS encryption, and the Fire Button.

DuckDuckGo Pricing

The DuckDuckGo browser is free to use. However, DuckDuckGo does offer a Privacy Pro subscription service, priced at $9.99/month.

Try DuckDuckGo

3. Avast Secure Browser

Avast Secure Browser is a Chromium-based private browser offering an excellent tab grouping system that helps users keep track of their open tabs. It manages security and privacy in one place, allowing safe online shopping and banking. Avast also claims that its Avast Secure Browser was awarded the top position in an Anti-Phishing comparative test, scoring a 95% block rate.

The browser has a privacy guard feature that uses forward-thinking anti-tracking techniques to stop online companies from monitoring your online interests and habits. Moreover, the Pro version of the Avast Secure Browser includes the IP Hide feature to stop websites and advertisers from tracking your online movements.

Avast Secure Browser Pricing

Avast Secure Browser has both free and paid versions. The paid version, Avast Secure Browser PRO, is available at a starting price of $5.99/month.

Try Avast

4. Opera

Opera provides a complete web experience that other popular browsers, like Safari or Edge, lack. It offers features like a free VPN, ad blocker, battery-saver option, tab grouping, and Flow file sharing.

If the basic Opera browser doesn’t meet your gaming and streaming needs, the Opera GX is a gaming browser offered by Opera. It provides an enhanced gaming experience across desktop and mobile.

Opera also provides intuitive workspaces for its users through the Lucid mode. Moreover, its built-in messenger helps users stay connected to social media with instant access to Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter through the browser itself.

Opera Pricing

Opera browser is free to use. However, its built-in VPN service, Opera VPN Pro, is available at a starting price of $4/month.

Try Opera

5. Polarity

Polarity is a dual-engine browser powered by Trident and Chromium. It focuses on system efficiency by utilizing minimal CPU and RAM resources. The browser can safely encrypt all user-specific data to prevent theft, thanks to its built-in password manager.

Polarity’s features include a built-in adblocker and privacy tools, like Header Masking, which prevent further online tracking.

In terms of compatibility, Polarity only works on Windows and Android devices. It is highly customizable and includes various apps, themes, and extensions from the Polarity Store.

Polarity Pricing

Polarity browser is completely free to use.

Try Polarity

6. Tor Browser

Tor Browser is a free, open-source, modified version of Mozilla Firefox that hides your identity and IP while browsing. Tor stands for The Onion Router, indicating its onion-like layering of privacy features and server relays. It has 7000 relays and can redirect your requests to a minimum of 3 nodes.

Tor uses multi-layered encryption to protect your data. This prevents ISPs, hackers, and government surveillance companies from tracking you. You can download it on different operating systems, including Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and UNIX.

Tor Browser Pricing

Tor Browser is open-source and free to use.

Try Tor Browser

7. Vivaldi 

Vivaldi is a cross-platform, freeware, Chromium-based web browser with built-in privacy features. It was released on January 27, 2015, and developed by Vivaldi Technologies.

Vivaldi has a minimalist user interface optimized for efficient and quick browsing. However, its color scheme can easily change depending on the design and background of the visited web pages. There are also plenty of customization options for users who want a personalized browsing experience.

It comes with a built-in pop-up, email client, and ad and tracker blocker. While its privacy features are decent, it doesn’t offer the same level of protection provided by browsers like Tor. Due to this, Vivaldi is better suited for everyday browsing than accessing data-sensitive websites.

Vivaldi Pricing

Vivaldi browser is available for free.

Try Vivaldi

8. Yandex

Yandex is a free web browser developed by a Russian technology corporation of the same name. Its Incognito mode offers the utmost privacy, preventing tracking of your search queries, history, or passwords. It has an active security system, known as Protect, that hides your data, even on public Wi-Fi, and keeps you away from malicious sites.

With the Yandex browser, users can customize their browsers with various appealing backgrounds from the wallpaper library.

A standout feature of Yandex is that it automatically translates your web pages into 9 different languages. However, it is optimized for the Russian language.

With its voiceover and video translation feature, users can watch French, English, Spanish, German, or Chinese videos with Russian voice-overs.

Yandex Pricing

Yandex browser is free to use on all devices.

Try Yandex

9. Epic Privacy Browser

Epic privacy browser is an Indian proprietary privacy-centric web browser released on July 15, 2010. It was developed by Hidden Reflex and uses Chromium’s source code. The browser’s default configuration removes session data like history, cookies, and cache upon closing the browser. It includes a proxy service that can be enabled both manually or automatically, depending on the user’s preferences.

Epic Privacy Browser prefers SSL connections and sends a Do Not Track header. It blocks ads and even user activity trackers to keep your browsing secure. Moreover, the browser offers fingerprint protection that blocks access to font canvas, image canvas, etc.

By default, the browser blocks WebRTC IP address leaks. Its Epic Proxy service can easily relay connections through the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

Epic Privacy Browser Pricing

The Epic Privacy Browser is available for free.

Try Epic Privacy Browser

10. Firefox

Mozilla Firefox, or Firefox, is a widely used free and open-source web browser. It was developed by the Mozilla Foundation and the Mozilla Corporation in 2004.

Firefox is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. It can also be used on iOS and Android mobile devices. Compared to Chrome, Firefox uses less memory and loads most websites faster on average.

Firefox’s default privacy settings are much stronger than those of Chrome. It offers impressive privacy features like enhanced tracking protection and blocking malicious websites, social media trackers, crypto miners, etc. It protects your privacy by erasing your browsing history and cookies when you close the browser.

Firefox Pricing

Firefox is free to use and does not feature in-app purchases.

Try Firefox

11. Microsoft Edge Browser

Microsoft Edge is a proprietary cross-platform web browser developed by Microsoft. It was released in 2015, along with Xbox One and Windows 10. It was initially developed with EdgeHTML and Microsoft’s Chakra JavaScript engine, before being ported to iOS and Android.

With Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, Edge can help identify suspicious downloads and sites. It also organizes information from various websites into collections that users can access later or even export.

The browser’s update cycle is also frequent, resulting in better mobility, security, and functionality.

Microsoft Edge Pricing

Microsoft Edge is free to use.

Try Microsoft Edge

12. Safari Browser

Safari is an efficient web browser developed by Apple. It is built into Apple’s operating systems, including iOS, macOS, visionOS, and iPadOS. The browser uses Apple’s open-source browser kit, WebKit.

It includes advanced privacy features, such as Intelligent Tracking Prevention, Passkeys, Password Monitoring, and Fingerprinting defence. These features significantly reduce browsing data collection and even block cookies from third-party trackers.

Safari can monitor your passwords and even notify you if they are compromised. It uses less RAM than many other popular browsers and includes a reader mode, allowing users to read online articles without distractions.

Safari Pricing

Safari is available for free on all Apple devices.

Try Safari

Best Chrome Alternatives Comparison

The table below compares the best Chrome alternatives on this list based on their privacy features, performance, unique features, and extension support.

Why Consider Chrome Alternatives?

Although Google Chrome is a popular browser, it has privacy and resource usage concerns. Multiple Chrome alternatives, like Brave and Opera, are available online and worth considering based on your needs. A few reasons for considering these Chrome alternatives are provided below.

Privacy Concerns

Chrome collects extensive user data, such as browsing history and location, which constitutes a privacy breach. However, a few browsers, like Opera, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox, have built-in privacy features. These features protect your browsing history and data to supplement your online privacy. 

Performance Issues

Though Google Chrome offers excellent browsing speed, it is resource-intensive with both CPU and RAM usage. Browsers like Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox use fewer resources without compromising speed or performance.

Feature Needs

Users require proxy browsers to mask their IP with features like enhanced privacy, built-in VPN, and advanced customization options. These are features that Google Chrome lacks. Browsers like Epic Privacy Browser and Brave are ideal if you need privacy and customization features. Brave’s browser easily blocks third-party trackers and ads by default, and Epic Privacy Browser offers extensive VPN options that can protect your overall browsing experience. 

Diverse Preferences

Everyone has different requirements when it comes to a secure browser. Though Google Chrome is used by many around the globe, it does not fit every use case. For instance, some users prefer a private browser that reduces data tracking. For this case, the Tor Browser or Firefox Browser are decent choices. For customization, Opera and Vivaldi are better choices than Google Chrome.

More Resources on Browsers

• 
  Best Mobile Private Browsers
• 
  Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
• 
  Chrome vs Chromium

References