A question I get asked frequently is: What web browser should I use? When Tim Berners-Lee designed the World Wide Web in the early 90s, his general idea was that there would be just one, and you wouldn’t have to choose. Then software companies got involved, and the landscape we see today has multiple options. Which one is the best?
To answer that question you probably need to ask yourself what’s most important to you. Different web browsers prioritize different things, so the choice can get a little complicated. Remember that you can install pretty much any web browser you want; you’re not restricted to what came with your computer.
Let’s start with compatibility. In 2026, the vast majority of web sites work reasonably well with Google Chrome. A little-known fact is that Microsoft Edge, the default browser on Windows 11 computers, is nothing more than Chrome with a different logo. Microsoft decided some years ago that producing its own product (Internet Explorer) was not efficient and has licensed Chrome from Google ever since. So you can expect Edge to work well with most sites as well.
The problem with Chrome and Edge is that your privacy and security take back seats to compatibility. Both browsers, by default, harvest your data (sites visited, links clicked, etc.) and resell that information to the folks who have stuff to hawk. You can turn off most of that behavior, but it’s a multi-faceted process with many steps. Each time the browser updates itself, which can be multiple times a month, you need to check that those settings didn’t get turned back on.
If you use a Mac, Safari (which comes with the Mac) is a decent option for privacy and security. If you really want to move privacy to the forefront, though, you’ll need to get a different browser. A good choice is DuckDuckGo, available for Windows and Mac, as well as iPhone and Android. The creators of DuckDuckGo tout that it blocks trackers, prevents data collection, and avoids targeted advertising. A newer version, Duck.ai, allows limited artificial intelligence in search results, again without collecting private data.
There are other browsers that trumpet their privacy, though in many cases you get ads as a function of this heightened awareness. Brave, Vivaldi and Opera are some of the also-rans.
All web browsers these days include a password manager, and these can mean you no longer need to pay for a third-party password management program. However, if you use multiple browsers (one for compatibility, another for security, say), you’ll find the passwords you’ve stored may need to be manually transferred.
Also frequently asked is what ad-blocking extension is best. Many of these require payment to use all features, but uBlock Origin is a good free add-on. No extension will keep out EVERY ad, but just cutting down on their prevalence is a plus.
Lastly, remember to keep your web software of choice updated. Most browsers have a setting to do this automatically, which I recommend. That way when new security vulnerabilities are uncovered and patched, you can be sure you’re secure.
