The fastest web browser. Browser comparison: which one is better?

Creating a new browser today is easier than ever - there is Chromium, which you can fork and add any functionality. Companies do this according to the same logic by which toolbars were once created - this is just an attempt to hammer their brand into the user and force him to use other company products. But when independent developers do it, the product's goal is to make its mark in a virtually static browser market. Don't get me wrong - I don't believe you'll switch to one of the indie browsers. But it's interesting to see what they offer, isn't it?

To switch or not?

When it seems like everything that can be said in some area has already been said, trying to do something differently is breathtaking: at first you think it’s wild and utopian, but as a result you begin to look at market leaders in a new way. For the same reason, in the December issue ][ we talked about such “strange” mobile OSs as Tizen, Firefox OS or Maemo. Therefore, in my opinion, when talking about alternative browsers, it is incorrect to pose the question bluntly: to switch or not. No, you definitely won't cross over. But you can try to repeat the functionality you are interested in in your favorite browser - for this, in each case, I tried to select the appropriate extensions.

The idea of creating a browser that closely interacts with popular social networks has long been exciting the minds of developers. There were many attempts to create such a combine, but, perhaps, the Rockmelt company did a better job. No wonder they were able to receive serious financial investments.

The project of the same name was launched in 2009 and immediately enlisted the support of one of the founders of Netscape. A year later, the first beta version, built on Chromium sources, was released, and in a short time it managed to gather a decent number of fans. The main feature of Rockmelt is its unobtrusiveness. Integration with Facebook and Twitter was implemented as additional functionality, and not an intrusive addition.

Rockmelt may have had a bright future ahead of it, but in 2012 the developers shut down the desktop version and focused on creating an iOS app. Despite the drastic changes, the mobile application was born quickly and turned out to be quite interesting.

So, we are offered a solution that is interesting primarily because of its interface. Browser control centers around a single input line. It is both an address bar and a navigator for various content groups. For example, you can select a specific topic and immediately receive a pack of thumbnails of new posts corresponding to it. The presence of additional gestures allows you to perform a number of operations (sharing, liking) with one click or swipe.

Thus, together with the browser we get a content generator. At the same time, we have the opportunity to quite easily influence the conditions for issuing materials. You just need to go to any website and click on the “Follow” pimp. The resource is added to the watch list (RSS feed is taken into account), and new materials will appear in the personal news feed.

Extensions:

Content generator. Plugin for Google Chrome Feedly;
New materials by category. Plugin for Google Chrome: StumbleUpon;
Interaction with social networks (publications, sharing, etc.). Plugin for Google Chrome: Buffer.

SRWare Iron

Project audience: conspiracy theory lovers

The first releases of Google Chrome (as well as Chromium) caused a lot of noise. Users paid attention not only to the interesting interface and speed of operation, but also to a couple of clauses in the license agreement that deal a blow to privacy.

After this, a boom in articles on the topic “Big Brother is watching you” began, eventually forcing Google to reconsider its ambitions. Despite this, Chrome still contains several functions that somehow violate the user's privacy.

For example, everyone knows that immediately after installation, Google Chrome generates a unique identifier, which is transmitted to the company’s server. The "suggestions" function works in a similar way. All entered data is sent to Google for the purpose of providing search suggestions. The discussion about other nightmares is in roughly the same vein: the background update service, sending error reports, and so on.

SRWare is ready to solve all the problems raised. In fact, this is the same Google Chrome, but with the language cut off. It does not transmit any information to the Google server, but also brings several nice features:

offline installer;
built-in ad blocker;
ability to change User-Agent.

Verdict: The solution is primarily for conspiracy theorists. The browser has few additional functions, and all of them are implemented using appropriate extensions. As a result, it turns out that all the advantages come down to providing an additional level of privacy.

CoolNovo

Project audience: web developers, enthusiasts

Another project that grew out of a Chromium fork, CoolNovo compares favorably with similar alternatives. Firstly, developers from the Middle Kingdom are setting ambitious goals for themselves, and not just creating another clone with a couple of additional extensions. Secondly, they position their solution as a complete replacement for Google Chrome. The idea of such a solution managed to win the hearts of users, and the browser itself received a number of awards.

One of the most interesting and useful features is IE Tab. My main activity is partly related to the development of web applications, which means testing whether the layout is displayed correctly in browsers that use different rendering engines. IE Tab simplifies the testing process in Internet Explorer. It eliminates the need to launch a separate copy of IE, and allows you to change the rendering engine used for rendering with one click.

Gesture controls also deserve special attention. At one time I got used to using similar functionality in Opera, and I must say that the implementation in CoolNovo is no worse.

The developers share the same views on the inviolability of personal space as the guys from the SRWare Iron project. All secret transfers of information to the company’s servers are cut to the ground.

Other most interesting features worth noting:

instant translation of pages into other languages (using Google Translate);
taking screenshots of a page or selected area;
quick history clearing;
separate sidebar for placing frequently used widgets and extensions;
ad blocker.

Verdict: CoolNovo has long been a leader among alternative Chromium-based builds. Today it continues to hold its position and remains a good solution for users who want to get a beefed-up browser out of the box. The only sad thing is that CoolNovo has been updated less frequently lately. If this continues, sooner or later a competitor in the form of Chrome will throw it out of the race.

Extensions:

Fast and flexible cleaning of history, cookies and other network activity files. Plugin for Google Chrome Click&Clean Click&Clean ;
Link shortener. Plugin for Google Chrome URL Shortener;
Gesture control. Plugin for Google Chrome: CrxMouse or Gestures for Chrome;
Reading mode (without displaying pictures and unnecessary layout elements). Plugin for Google Chrome: iReader or Clearly;
Button for quick RSS subscription. Plugin for Google Chrome: RSS Subscription Extension;
Super drag. Plugin for Google Chrome: Super Drag;
Translator. Plugin for Google Chrome: Google Translate.

Maxthon

Project audience: All inclusive lovers

Maxthon is one of those projects that has experienced a rebirth. He first saw the light in the early 2000s under the pseudonym MyIE. Back then it was a convenient wrapper for Donkey IE and a number of useful functions. It had a built-in download manager, tabs instead of separate windows, and other useful features.

When Firefox and subsequently Google Chrome boomed, MyIE was forced into obscurity for a major overhaul. The total straightening brought it back with a new name, an updated set of functions and a completely different face.

Today Maxthon is more like a powerful Internet center than just a browser. Under the hood of the adventure game there are already two engines - WebKit and Trident (used in Internet Explorer). Moreover, unlike most similar solutions, Maxthon is able to independently determine pages for which the use of Trident is more preferable (as a rule, these are old sites). I specifically took one old project out of the closet, adapted for viewing in IE, and tried to view it in Maxthon. Without thinking twice, the browser immediately switched the display to retro mode and rendered the page using Trident. In addition to working with two engines simultaneously, Maxthon’s greatest strengths are its own cloud and the availability of versions for mobile platforms (Android, iOS). Your own cloud not only allows you to store various small information such as browsing history, a list of open pages and similar things, but it is also quite suitable for storing files.

For example, I was very pleased with the ability to save files from a web page to the cloud with one click. This function looks most beneficial when working on a mobile phone/tablet. The usefulness of Maxthon does not end there, but rather just begins. Among them:

Gesture support;
SuperDrop function, which simplifies interaction with the browser interface in the absence of a mouse;
ad blocker;
completely redesigned application interface (not another Chrome clone);
simultaneous processing of search results from several search servers;
viewing pages in reading mode (without unnecessary information);
saving videos from YouTube;
mute sound on any page;
simultaneous viewing of several tabs in one window;
download manager;
own extension store;
setting an arbitrary refresh time for open pages;
night surfing mode. When this mode is activated, Maxthon darkens the bright background of pages, thereby reducing eye strain;
increased productivity and much more.

Verdict: Maxthon will appeal to both casual users and hardcore geeks looking for new adventures. The presence of versions for mobile platforms and a full-fledged personal cloud are two key features that allow Maxthon to surpass many competitors. Add to this good performance, numerous victories in tests for compliance with web standards, and we get an almost ideal, but little-known browser.

Extensions:

Retro mode (page rendering using the IE engine). Plugin for Google Chrome: IE Tab ;
Taking screenshots. Plugin for Google Chrome: Webpage ScreenShot;
Night mode. Plugin for Google Chrome: Hacker Vision or Turn Off the Lights for comfortable viewing of videos;
Password storage. Plugin for Google Chrome: LastPass;
Ad blocker. Plugin for Google Chrome: AdBlock;
Built-in notepad with the ability to store notes in the cloud. Plugin for Google Chrome: Memo Notepad;
Resource sniffer. Plugin for Google Chrome: Web Developer.

Project audience: lovers of everything fresh

Chromium became the father of many webkit-based browsers. It forms the foundation of almost every new browser, and it is hardly possible to shake its dominant position.

So, you probably already know that it is on this project that all new products are tested before they get to Google Chrome. Support for new HTML5 features, corrections of terrible bugs, new interface features - all this is primarily received by Chromium users. Unfortunately, the frequency of updates comes at the price of stability. Major problems that prevent you from working normally with the browser are rare, but accurate.

It is quite difficult to single out some original interface features or capabilities, since they are largely the implementation of new HTML5 features and are relevant for web developers, not mere mortals.

Nevertheless, Chromium still has a number of differences that can interest the average user. For example:

no error reporting;
the RLZ identifier is not transferred to the company servers;
there is no Updater hanging in the background;
Only open and free media formats are supported;
productivity is very high.

Verdict: A special version of Google Chrome for enthusiasts and geeks. Everything new appears here, and these user groups will definitely like it. Chromium is unlikely to be suitable for mere mortals, since this is a product primarily for testing. And there are few users eager to be the first to test, say, the Battery API.

Avant Browser

Project audience: web developers

The primary goal of the Avant Browser developers is to provide users with an easy way to combine the work of engines within one application. It would seem that the task is not easy, but looking at Avant Browser, you are convinced of the opposite. The developers were not only able to bring together all the popular engines under one wrapper, but also came up with an easy way to switch between them. Changing the rendering engine is done in a couple of mouse clicks.

This is where the super useful functions end, and what remains are typical for such solutions:

a simple cloud storage capable of storing RSS subscriptions, favorites, passwords and other information;
ad/popup blocker;
creating screenshots of pages;
simple implementation of gesture control;
creating aliases for pages, with which you can quickly navigate to frequently visited sites;
built-in RSS reader;
mail client.

Verdict: Avant Browser cannot be considered as a full-fledged application for everyday use. This is more of a specialized solution that can serve web developers well, but not the average user. There are simply no other interesting features in Avant Browser.

All people have their own preferences and interests. Everyone has their own requirements and wishes and it is very difficult to find the same ones. It is for this reason that the same thing, tested by different people, with rare exceptions, will receive the same or similar characteristics. The same is true with software. One of the most popular programs is a browser and is designed for surfing the Internet.

Therefore, the faster and smoother the browser works, the easier and more comfortable surfing will be. After all, with the help of a browser you will not only browse websites, listen to music, watch movies and even play games.

Of course, compiling ratings is not a rewarding task, because everyone has their own opinion and preference, but still highlight the best browsers based on their functionality and the opportunities that they provide to their users.

The basis is taken from browsers that work reliably in the operating systems Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. Their advantages, as well as their disadvantages, will be brought to your attention. Let's hope that thanks to our rating, you will choose the browser that satisfies your needs, if not 100, then certainly 90%.

1st place - Google Chrome browser

What kind of browser is this? First of all, it differs in that it is the most common and is even included in many programs. Of course, this is one of the fastest browsers running on the Windows operating system.

Google Chrome appeared in 2008, based on the Safari browser, which was very popular at that time, running on the WebKit engine. The prototype of this browser appeared after connecting the V8 javascript engine and was called Chromium. It was only later that the newly formed browser was processed and developed in such large companies as Google, Opera Software and Yandex. One of the first manufacturers to release their brainchild based on Chromium was Google. Quite quickly it spread across the Internet, rapidly gaining popularity. Needless to say, almost all smartphones have the Google Chrome browser pre-installed out of the box.

Main advantages of Google Chrome:

Google Chrome is desperate for high speed. In this indicator, it is significantly superior to its competitors. For greater convenience, users have access to such a convenient function as preloading pages, which has significantly increased loading speed.
Google Chrome is one of the safe browsers. This is achieved thanks to the latest technologies, including an updated database of phishing and other malicious resources. In addition, downloading files with a “.bat”, “.exe” or “.dll” permission will require additional user confirmation, which can significantly reduce the threat of virus infection.
Google Chrome allows its users to use Incognito mode, which is very useful for those users who need to browse a lot of sites without leaving traces of their visit on their computer.
Google Chrome uses a simple and well-designed interface to provide its users with a seamless experience and the absence of less important elements. It was in this browser that the quick access panel was first used, thanks to which users were able to quickly find the sites they needed. For the convenience of users, the address bar began to serve not only for entering addresses of sites and resources, but also as a search engine. It was from Google Chrome that this ability migrated to other browsers.
Google Chrome is stable and reliable. And this is exactly so, because unlike other browsers, Google Chrome does not generate a critical error and does not slow down. If this happens, then first of all you should look for viruses in the system and only then start blaming your Chrome.
Google Chrome has its own task manager, which is a “More tools” menu, which allows you to track how much system resources an entire tab or a separate running plugin takes up. Using this, you can identify the braking element and neutralize it in time.
Google Chrome offers its users a fairly extensive list of all kinds of extensions, most of which are free. In addition, there are own plugins and themes for design. The user gets the opportunity to adjust the browser to his needs and wishes, which makes it very convenient to use.
Google Chrome has its own built-in translator, thanks to which you can translate entire pages from different languages.
Google Chrome updates automatically and most often the user simply does not notice it.
It is possible to create search queries using voice using the “OK, Google” service.

The main disadvantages of Google Chrome:

In Google Chrome, as of version 42.0, NPAPI plugins have ceased to be supported, including Flash Player, which is popular among users.
For Google Chrome to work without distortion and slowdowns, your computer must have at least 2 GB of RAM.
There are very few Russian-language extensions and plugins in Google Chrome.
Using the Google Chrome browser puts a significant strain on the hardware, which ultimately leads to reduced battery life on laptops and smartphones.
Most of Google Chrome user data is stored on American servers. However, today, some of them are transferred to Russian servers.

Conclusion:

During the operation of Google Chrome, it showed itself to be one of the most stable and fairly fast browsers. It will be convenient and practical to have various services from Google integrated into the system. At the same time, one account allows you to quickly connect both a computer and a mobile device. In addition, it is possible to organize synchronization of these two devices.

2nd place Yandex.Browser

Yandex.Browser has a very short history. It was born in 2012, developed on the Chromium engine. In a short time it gained popularity throughout almost the entire territory of Russia and the CIS countries. It has full integration with all Yandex services, which makes its use very convenient. Naturally, the Yandex system is used as the default search engine.

Yandex.Browser has an original interface; it has its own quick launch panel, made in a tile style, which allows the user to use up to 20 tiles.

Yandex.Browser is equipped with the “Smart String” function, which not only transmits the entered phrase to the search engine, but also automatically helps the user select the site necessary for his request, taking into account the coincidence of the name. It is worth saying that this function can only work with large resources. There is support for mouse manipulation to improve browsing of website pages.

The main advantages of Yandex.Browser:

Yandex Browser has a fairly high level of security. This is achieved due to the fact that the browser system has its own antivirus, which will check files, links and sites for harmful viruses and Trojans. It has its own updated database of fraudulent and phishing sites.
The presence of Yandex.Browser's own ad blocker allows you to automatically close all pop-up banners. It is possible to disable all flash advertising and videos, which can significantly increase the speed at which pages open.
There is a built-in system that allows you to view documents of various formats, including books.
There is a built-in translator developed by the Yandex system.
There is a version especially for smartphones that already has built-in “quick link” services, as well as the ability to make calls.
The presence of the “Turbo 2.0” mode allows you to significantly increase the speed at which website pages will load, while significantly saving traffic.
Yandex Browser compresses online video, which also saves traffic.
There is its own mobile version of Yandex.Browser.

The main disadvantages of Yandex Browser:

Despite the original interface, not everyone will like it, as it takes time to get used to.
The fact that Yandex.Browser is tied to Yandex services, as a result of which, in their absence, the browser loses most of its advantages.
Although rare, problems do arise during the transfer of settings and history.

3 Place Mozilla Firefox

Today, the Mozilla Firefox browser is one of the most popular foreign browsers. At the same time, according to polls in Russia, it takes an honorable third place. It first appeared in 2004. After that, a lot has changed. The application uses Gecko as an engine, which is freely available, but continues to be modernized thanks to the efforts of the developers. At one time, it was the first browser that had a large base of extensions and worked stably long before the advent of Chrome. The Mozilla Firefox browser was among the first to use the maximum privacy mode, which was later used in the Google browser.

The main advantages of Mozilla Firefox:

Mozilla Firefox has a simple and user-friendly interface, devoid of everything that interferes with normal work on the Internet.
The browser has a convenient system of settings, using which you can customize it for yourself, making it more convenient.
Mozilla Firefox has a large number of built-in plugins - more than 100,000.
The browser is famous for its cross-platform compatibility. It can be used on any operating system.
Mozilla Firefox is famous for its reliability. It will work even when other browsers freeze.
The browser guarantees the maximum degree of security, as well as the privacy of users' personal data.
Mozilla Firefox has a convenient bookmarks bar.
If necessary, you can give the task not to leave information about yourself on various sites. It is possible to use private browsing of website pages. There is such a useful function as “Password Master”, thanks to which you can protect all your records.
There is a convenient feature that allows you to update the browser in the background without requiring user intervention.

Main disadvantages of Mozilla Firefox:

Mozilla Firefox, compared to Google Chrome, is inferior in terms of stability and speed.
Despite constant updates, the browser's performance remains at an average level.
Mozilla Firefox lacks support for a number of scripts, as a result of which information may not be displayed correctly on some sites.
For normal operation, Mozilla Firefox will require a lot of RAM.

4th place Opera

The history of the Opera browser began back in 1994. If until 2013 the Opera browser worked on its own engine, now it has started using the Webkit+V8 engine, just like Google Chrome. Since 2010, the company launched a mobile version of the program. In Russia it ranks fourth in popularity, and in the world it is sixth.

Opera's main advantages:

The Opera browser has a fairly high speed and displays pages well.
There is a “turbo” mode, thanks to which you can significantly increase the loading speed of website pages using cloud technologies. This allows you not only to save traffic when working in the mobile version of this application.
There is a very convenient express panel that allows you to save bookmarks. This modified tool called Speed Dial, preserved from previous versions of the Opera browser.
Using Opera Link technology allows you to synchronize different devices.
The Opera browser has many hotkeys that greatly simplify control.
There is an Internet browser Opera Unite, with which you can turn your browser into an analogue of a server. For example, you can access various files that are located on your computer. It is possible to exchange SMS notifications and even photographs.

Opera's main disadvantages:

Opera is a memory-intensive application. Therefore, if several tabs are open, then the slowdown begins. At the same time, the use of the new and reliable Google Chrome engine does not help him.
Some scripts may not work correctly in the Opera browser. In addition, there are complaints about working with WML.
The Opera browser is not the most stable; crashes and freezes are quite common.
And although the Opera browser has its own bookmarking system, called “Piggy Bank,” it was very poorly implemented.

I use Opera only as an additional browser. The "Turbo" function is useful when working with a modem, because in this case it combines high page display speed and savings in traffic consumption.

5th place K-Meleon

The K-Meleon browser is one of the relatives of the Mozilla Firefox browser. Both use the same engine. K-Meleon allows you to become a lightweight browser for Windows systems. It was supposed to provide an opportunity to demonstrate all the capabilities of the new engine. However, the result is a browser that allows you to save the consumption of your computer’s resources.

This browser is ideal for weak computers. Moreover, when working on modern systems, this browser will work even better, since in a number of parameters it allows it to outperform its competitors.

Main advantages of K-Meleon:

The K-Meleon browser allows you to economically use computer resources and its RAM.
The K-Meleon browser uses the native Windows interface, which saves time and resources that programs spend on their interface.
Provides fairly high speed.
There are excellent options for user personalization. It’s worth saying that you don’t have to use various extensions for this. The maximum effect is achieved using macros. Of course, for a beginner it will be somewhat difficult, but if you have a little free time, you can get the hang of it.
Several assembly options are available to users, allowing them to choose the one that suits best.
Supports multiple profiles for use by different users.

The main disadvantages of K-Meleon:

Users note the clumsy execution of the interface. Unlike the leaders, this browser has a very simple design.
The K-Meleon browser may have problems when working with Cyrillic. However, recent updates have partially corrected the situation.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a free browser. It is found in all versions of Windows from 1995 to the present day. It was popular in Russia for quite a long time, at least before the advent of Google Chrome. Now he has lost his position. As a result, Microsoft stopped development and a new free Spartan browser appeared in Windows 10. Of course, this browser was never considered the best. It always had many “holes” through which viruses penetrated. The situation was somewhat corrected by Internet Explorer 10, which was part of Windows 8. They tried to fix all the “holes” in this browser, but its time has already passed.

Internet Explorer 11 came with Windows 8.1. What can you say about him? Only that in terms of speed, it is not inferior to other browsers. It has a privacy mode, supports caching and much more. Most often, Internet Explorer is used by developers of various software, but it is still not worth using Internet Explorer to surf the Internet.

Safari

In the world rankings, the Safari browser is in 4th place. It was developed by Apple. Often integrated into iOS. It is the company's proprietary browser. Later it was adapted for Windows. However, since 2012, Apple has stopped development and all download links have been erased from the official website. According to tests, Safari shows quite good results. The only negative is the lack of updates. For this reason alone, it should not be used.

SRWare Iron

This browser is a good alternative for Google Chrome fans who want to try something similar. This browser does not have built-in services from Google, with the exception of the search engine. The Chromium database was taken as a basis, but the browser does not include a copy identifier, which sends data to the server after installation and continues to monitor search queries. Since error statistics are not sent to the server, it will be difficult to fix them. But there is a completely reliable ad blocker. This browser does not have automatic updates and all updates will have to be installed manually. But this will be a minor disadvantage, since system resources are saved.

SlimJet

The SlimJet browser is another version of Google Chrome. Of course, it is based on the Chromium platform. However, it is not linked to Google services. The main features of this browser are, first of all, a practical password manager, and integration with FaceBook allows you to quickly use this social network. In addition, it has its own photo editor that allows you to compress photos. Security is guaranteed by our own antivirus and phishing protection. The speed of work is also quite real, in addition, there are automatic updates. SlimJet is an excellent option for those who want to change Google Chrome without losing their usual speed.

Tor Browser

The Tor Browser program is similar in its properties to the Mozilla Firefox browser. However, the main difference is that it has a system that ensures the anonymity of the Tor network. Thanks to this, you can visit even the most blocked Internet projects. Today, the popularity of this browser is very high and continues to gain momentum. Blocking torrent sites helps him with this. Tor Browser easily obtains proxy access to almost all resources around the world, allowing the user to bypass the blocking. Using Tor Browser, the user surfs sites in complete anonymity without saving browsing history. However, it does not have flash, cookies, or even a cache. The main disadvantages of this browser are its slow performance. In addition, it only allows you to surf. However, you cannot watch movies or listen to music. You should only use Tor Browser when you want to remain anonymous or visit a private site.

Amigo

This browser was developed by the Russian company Mail.ru Group. It is presented as one of the best browsers, specially designed for social networks. However, this is still the same standard Chromium, which has built-in services from the Mail.ru company. The only convenience of this browser is the built-in module that makes it convenient to communicate on social networks without visiting them. However, the Amigo browser received anti-advertising primarily due to its intrusive distribution method. You can get it in addition by downloading the program. And the main question that can most often be found on computer forums is how to erase (get rid of) the Amigo browser. At the same time, only one search engine is used as a working one, which cannot be replaced. In general, Amigo is inferior to its competitors in a number of parameters.

Comet

The Comet browser is a free program with a commercial focus. It's worth saying. that the developer of this browser remains unknown. Most often used in conjunction with a browser is a search engine, which is not particularly convenient. It is worth saying that Comet is distributed in the same way as Amigo - intrusively and not always honestly. However, it is very difficult to remove it. This browser also has the ability to work with social networks. Along the way, they use an advertising module, which after certain moments displays simply huge advertising banners. This interferes with normal operation.

Today, there are a large number of different browsers, many of them are not included in this rating. Only the best browsers were listed here, but as you know, every sandpiper praises his swamp. All browsers presented in the review can be installed on your computer completely free of charge and used without any restrictions. If you can suggest your TOP 5 browsers, then leave your rating in the comments.

When choosing a program to work on the World Wide Web, many are mainly interested in what is the fastest browser for Windows 7 today.

Although there are simply a huge number of other criteria for choosing a browser.

Today you can find and download many “homemade” browsers, that is, those that were developed by novice programmers, and not by teams of professionals.

So, their main drawback is the speed of work.

There is no talk about data security and safety.

In any case, today we will look at all the main characteristics that will help you choose a program for accessing the Internet, and the main one will be the speed of operation.

As for how this very speed will be tested, a very simple method will be chosen, which consists of launching a browser or performing other operations with a stopwatch on it.

In particular, the speed will be tested on such operations as launching the browser itself, opening a website, logging into a Google email account, launching a video and installation speed.

The tests will not be conducted on a new computer.

This choice is due to the fact that one wants to achieve maximum objectivity of the research.

Yes, usually “clean” machines are used in such tests, but we all don’t have the opportunity to reinstall the operating system every month.

This would make it possible to turn a used computer into a completely “clean” machine.

In general, the conditions will not be as close to reality as possible; they will be quite real. Go!

Opera

This browser was released in 1994. Until 2013, I worked on my own engine, then I switched to Webkit+V8, which is familiar to many developers, which, by the way, is also used a little in Google Chrome.

According to research by some sites, it is the fifth most popular browser in the world. Users like the mobile version, which is called Opera Mini.

The main advantage of this program is its excellent ability to save traffic. This allows many users to pay less for the Internet.

You can download this browser absolutely free of charge on the official website www.opera.com/ru.

This site has one large “Download Now” button, which allows you to start downloading.

For our tests, we will use the latest version downloaded from the official website.

Speed tests yielded the following results:

Browser launch time – 3 s;
Website opening time – 2 s;
Video start time – 2 s;
Installation time – 1.3 minutes (from launching the installer program to closing it).

By the way, the design of the installation window for this program is very beautiful, but at the same time minimalistic.

The installation process itself takes very little time.

The user only needs to press one button and nothing else - he does not select a path, does not read a bunch of license conditions, does not watch presentations, and so on.

On the one hand, this is, of course, good, because a simple user does not need all this.

But some will say that this is bad, because “who knows what they write in the license.”

But since we evaluate the speed of work, Opera performs excellently in this regard.

Other advantages and disadvantages of Opera

In addition to speed when choosing a program for Internet access, it will also be useful to know about the following advantages of Opera:

Traffic savings. A signature feature of this browser.
The presence of a Turbo mode, which allows you to work even faster on slow computers and still save traffic.
Its own express panel with bookmarks. In other browsers, this function must be installed additionally. Yes, there are bookmark bars, but they are not as functional.
Hot control keys. In fact, this browser can be operated without a mouse.
Ease of use. Opera is not loaded with plugins for privacy and other similar functions, so it can work many times faster.

The disadvantages of Opera include the following:

On old machines it may not work at all. On the other hand, nothing from the modern standard user set already works for them. And who uses such old computers now?
Incorrect operation of some scripts. In defense of Opera, we can also say that not all scripts that exist today work on other browsers.
Complaints about instability - it restarts, throws out, and so on. It also doesn’t happen very often - if you’re unlucky, you’ll have to restart.

Google Chrome

This browser was released in 2008 - relatively recently.

Its direct ancestor is the Safari browser, which was then also tried to be adapted for Windows, but these attempts were unsuccessful - it turned out to be too slow, and was often restarted.

Safari was originally designed for Mac computers. Google Chrome runs on its own engine called Chrominium.

Last year, this browser was first in many polls in RuNet.

You can download Google Chrome on the official website - www.google.ru/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html (a very non-standard link that could be shortened).

There is also a single button that you need to press.

By the way, here on the download site you can read the license agreement, as well as set Google Chrome as the default browser and check the box to send work reports to Google.

By the way, many people refuse the latter.

To do this, you just need to uncheck the box highlighted in green in Figure 4.

Testing the speed of this browser gave the following results:

Browser launch time – 4 s;
Website opening time – 5 s;
Authorization time for a Google email account is 1 s;
Video start time – 1 s;
Installation time – 1.5 minutes.

When installing here, by the way, some additional content is downloaded, which makes the whole process a little longer.

Otherwise, Google Chrome performs really well, but still a little worse than Opera.

And this despite the fact that many authors of similar articles call this browser the fastest.

As you can see, tests in real conditions gave a different result.

Advantages and disadvantages of Google Chrome

It will also be very useful for users who choose a program to access the Internet to know about the following advantages of Google Chrome:

Safety. Great attention is paid to this here. Google Chrome has a huge number of additional programs and scripts that protect against various types of attacks and viruses. In addition, this browser has its own database with these same viruses and malicious sites.
“Incognito” mode, which allows you to be unnoticed on various sites. This means that the site will not leave cookies or any other information about the stay of the user working in Incognito mode.
Work stability. It is very rare to hear about Google Chrome that it reloads or cannot handle a large number of sites.
Your own “Task Manager”, which makes it possible to see how many resources a particular site consumes, as well as a plugin.
Normal work with extensions. It is also very rare to hear complaints about this.
Voice control search.

The disadvantages include the following:

Lack of support for NPAPI plugins starting from version 42.0. A lot of modern plugins work on this platform. And users are faced with difficulties in installing them or even with the inability to complete this task.

Otherwise, Google Chrome performs just fine.

As you can see, its operating speed is not too much inferior to Opera, therefore, taking into account all the other advantages, it is not surprising that this particular browser is called the best today.

Mozilla Firefox

In 2014, this browser took a strong first place in all foreign surveys. But then the two programs described above took the leading positions from Mozilla Firefox.

Still, the contribution that the “sly fox,” as many users call him, made to the development of browsers as a whole deserves respect.

The fact is that Mozilla Firefox became the first browser in the world that had its own extension base. It was for him that the first extensions and plugins began to be written.

It is not surprising that as of 2017, Mozilla Firefox has the largest extension base.

In addition, it was in this browser that the privacy mode first appeared.

Today this idea is actively used by Google specialists, including in the development of the aforementioned Google Chrome.

The first version of this program was released in 2004 on the Gecko engine. To this day, nothing has changed in terms of the engine.

But this does not prevent the program from constantly improving and gaining new positions in the market.

Although, of course, since 2014, Mozilla Firefox has lost a lot in popularity.

It is also most convenient to download this browser on the official page - www.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/new/.

According to good tradition, the site has one large “Download for free” button.

There are no longer any license agreements on the site. And in general, the download occurs automatically and this process is not delayed by anything.

In the installer window you can use additional settings. The settings window is shown in Figure 6.

As you can see, you can specify where program shortcuts should be installed, the installation path, and whether this browser should be made the main one.

Advice: When installing, be sure to use the advanced settings window, because otherwise, program shortcuts will appear on the taskbar, on the desktop and in the Start menu, which is often not needed by users! In addition, installation information will be sent to Mozilla specialists, and the browser itself will become the default browser.

To open this very window of additional settings at startup, you should click the “Settings” button highlighted in Figure No. 7.

The installation itself also begins with downloading additional files. This, of course, makes the process longer.

Mozilla Firefox runtime tests yielded the following results:

Browser launch time – 5 s;
Website opening time – 3 s;
Authorization time for a Google email account is 1 s;
Video start time – 2 s;
Installation time – 1.35 minutes.

Advantages and disadvantages of Mozilla Firefox

The benefits of Mozilla Firefox are as follows:

Reliability in operation. There are plugins that can “kill” absolutely all browsers except Mozilla Firefox.
Security and privacy at the highest level. This is the only browser of its kind that can block the collection of information about a particular user by sites, including Google. This makes it possible not to see annoying advertising that is generated based on the requests of this user.
Version updates occur in the background.
In addition, this also includes the widest base of plugins and extensions mentioned above.

The disadvantages of Mozilla Firefox are:

Immunity of some modern scripts.
Frequent complaints about slow operation, especially under high loads.

From all this we can conclude that Mozilla Firefox clearly cannot be considered the fastest browser for Windows 7.

Yandex browser

This is the youngest modern browser of those used by several million people. Users first heard about this browser in 2012.

Now, in 2017, Yandex is actively promoting its product using contextual advertising. Here, of course, everything is aimed at working directly with Yandex services.

So, by default, this browser already has mail, a translator, disk, money and everything else that the most popular Russian search engine offers.

By the way, the engine in Yandex Browser is the same Chromium. Many users say that this program has its own quick launch panel, which is called “Tableboard”.

This is considered a feature of Yandex.Browser, but for the average person it is practically the same bookmarks bar that is in Opera.

True, there it is much more functional.

You can host 20 different sites on Tablo.

An interesting feature of this browser is its work with mouse gestures.

This means that there is a certain set of gestures that are formed by certain cursor movements and perform certain functions.

There are also a huge number of extensions and plugins, most of which are taken from the already beloved Google Chrome.

This is due to the fact that these two browsers run on the same Chromium engine.

You can download Yandex Browser on the official website - browser.yandex.ru.

Although, if you visit the website yandex.ru several times, you will definitely see an advertisement for this browser and can follow the link to download it.

This site also has a nice big “Download” button.

The results of testing the speed of this browser gave the following results:

Browser launch time – 11 s;
The website opening time is 4 seconds (the first launch, by the way, gave the result in 24 seconds);
Authorization time for a Google email account is 4 s;
Video start time – 2 s;
Installation time – 2.10 min.

During installation, it is also possible to make Yandex.Browser the default browser and make it possible to send data to Yandex specialists.

To do this, you need to check the boxes highlighted in green in Figure 9.

Most users prefer to uncheck these boxes, which is not at all surprising.

As you can see, in terms of speed, Yandex Browser is clearly inferior to Mozilla Firefox.

Advantages and disadvantages of Yandex.Browser

The advantages of Yandex.Browser are as follows:

Developers pay great attention to security. So the program automatically checks a particular site for suspicion. It has its own criteria for suspicion (Web of Trust), as well as programs installed by default to block phishing attacks and advertising.
Its own system for viewing documents in formats such as .pdf, .doc and others.
Your own translator.
Turbo mode, like in Opera.

The disadvantages include the following:

Imposing Yandex services, which many users do not like. Although, on the other hand, this is exactly what this browser was created for.
Many people don't like the interface.
Difficulty setting up. Many functions that are available in Opera or Mozilla are simply not available here in Yandex Browser.

In general, from all this we can draw a conclusion, which is that Yandex.Browser is far from the fastest and most optimized browser.

Maxthon

Now let's move on to some somewhat exotic browsers that are not as popular as Yandex.Browser, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome.

One of the rather promising browsers in this direction is Maxthon.

Its main feature is the combination of two engines at once - Webkit and Trident. Some parts of the first are used in Yandex Browser, Opera and Google Chrome.

And the second was used to create the very first browser in history, Internet Explorer. Thanks to this combination, in fact, it was possible to achieve very high speed.

At least, this is what the developers of this program say.

In principle, people write on forums that in some cases it works even faster than the vaunted Google Chrome.

But to check this, there is only one way, which we will use now.

The Maxthon speed test readings look like this:

Browser launch time – 0.7 s;
Website opening time – 1 s;
Authorization time for a Google email account is 0.6 s;
Video start time – 0.8 s;
Installation time – 1.17 minutes.

As you can see, Maxthon really shows phenomenal results! But speed is not the only advantage of this browser.

Advantages and disadvantages of Maxthon

The advantages of the Maxthon browser are:

Working with cloud storage - all personal settings, records and authorization data are saved not on the hard drive, but in the cloud. This prevents the user from losing it all.
The browser requires few resources to operate.
It is possible to remove ads without additional plugins.
A huge number of extensions.
It has its own security system, which, judging by the reviews, works quite well.
Notepad for notes.
Night browsing mode, which optimizes those pages that have a dark background, too many ads, or other nuances that make reading information inconvenient.

In general, we can say that Maxthon is a very, very multifunctional thing.

On the side there is a toolbar on which the same notepad, a download manager, a tool for working with RSS, as well as several Yandex services are located.

Its only disadvantage is that it also promotes these same Yandex services. But Yandex.Browser is still very far from Maxthon!

So every user should definitely try using Maxthon in their work.

No. 11. Maxthon browser appearance

To ensure that access to the Internet is not associated with discomfort and negative emotions, you need to take care of choosing the most suitable software. The most important software for web surfing is the browser, which helps you find the required information and media content on the Internet in a matter of moments.

And if the technology developers have already made the choice for the owners of Apple equipment, giving preference to their own brainchild - Safari, then few Windows users are content with the basic Microsoft solution in the form of Internet Explorer. Our material today is dedicated to finding a candidate for the title of best browser of 2018-2019.

#10 – Comet

This browser is distributed using a method that is quite annoying to every user of personal computers - it is bundled with the installation of other programs. Removing it is much more difficult than installing it, and during operation Comet has an unpleasant habit of displaying huge advertising banners on the screen once every certain period of time, however, many domestic users use this not the most convenient browser on an ongoing basis.

Despite the fact that the search engine of this software leaves much to be desired, especially compared to such monsters as Yandex and Google, a number of users note a fairly convenient interface for working on social networks and the relatively high speed of the program.

No. 9 – Amigo

A browser from the domestic giant Mail.ru Group, which also comes with other software. De facto, we see standard Chromium, equipped with integrated Mail.ru services. There is a built-in module for communication on social networks, but its convenience is highly debatable.
Reviews about its work are mostly negative, but this does not prevent it from being among the most popular browsers among Russian users for several years. Seriously inferior to its competitors in many components, thanks to its intrusive distribution it has still found its place in the sun and, if for some reason you do not want to work with the most popular solutions, you can try Amigo.

No. 8 – SlimJet

Another Chromium-based browser, but much more powerful and less annoying. Among the advantages, it is worth noting an excellent password manager, integration with the number one social network - Facebook, a built-in photo editor and basic protection against malware.
If you are tired of classic Chrome, but you don’t want to lose the advantages of its speed and comfort, this browser looks like one of the most promising solutions. At least try and if the result is unsatisfactory, removing it is much easier than the same Amigo.

#7 – SRWare Iron

The next representative of our top 10 browsers of 2018-2019 is again an interpretation of Chromium, beloved by millions of users around the world, and this time, perhaps, the best. Among Google services, only search is integrated here, but unlike standard Chrome, it does not keep a record of your requests, which will appeal to those who are worried about the privacy of their actions on the Internet.
Among the disadvantages, it is worth mentioning the lack of automatic updates, and therefore you will have to monitor the release of new versions and install them manually, but most users do not need this, and once you install SRWare Iron, you can use it until its functionality seems insufficient to you.

#6 – Safari

In Russia, this solution is not as popular as in the rest of the world, which is probably due to the less widespread distribution of Apple technology in our country. However, Safari can also be installed on Windows, but do not forget that its work has been optimized specifically for iPhones and MacBooks.
Older versions of this browser often showed significantly better results in tests than Chrome, which had seemingly long since seized the palm, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and the developers of the American company have done everything possible to ensure that this strategy ceases to exist on personal computers running Windows. be rational in nature.

No. 5 – K-Meleon

The first five top browsers are opened by a little-known relative of the legendary Mozilla Firefox, which has the same engine as its older brother. Despite a lot of common features, the browsers have differences, for example, K-Meleon is the lightest browser for Windows, which will appeal to owners of not the most powerful home computers, whose resource consumption by the browser must be treated carefully and carefully.
For a domestic user, the problem may be displaying the Cyrillic alphabet in this browser, but with each update this problem becomes more and more a thing of the past. Another drawback is that the design is too cheesy; aesthetes obviously won’t like it. But the rich possibilities for personalization and interface customization will appeal to those who like to stand out from the crowd.

No. 4 – Opera

The oldest columnist, dating back to 1994. Previously, this legendary browser had its own engine, but since Google Chrome supplanted its competitors, Opera followed suit and switched to Webkit+V8. In Russia, this software ranks fourth in popularity, which is higher than the global figure.
Obvious advantages include solid operating speed - pages are displayed much faster than Internet Explorer, and the built-in Turbo mode allows you to further increase this figure and save traffic. By the way, in this mode you can bypass the Roskomnadzor bans that are so annoying to domestic users. An express panel with easy-to-set up bookmarks and a huge number of shortcut keys allow advanced users to create the interface in the most convenient way for themselves.

But there are some drawbacks - Opera is quite voracious in terms of PC RAM, and therefore it is impossible to open many tabs without losing the quality of work. Another nuance is that this browser is not highly stable, and therefore various crashes and freezes are a constant companion for its users.

#3 – Mozilla Firefox

In our list of the best we have reached the “Fire Fox” itself. In the world, this browser continues to hold a leading position, and in the Russian Federation it is slightly ahead of Opera in popularity. A big plus of Mozilla is free access to its Gecko engine, and therefore many enthusiasts around the world are busy every day perfecting all its parameters. Appearing in 2004, which is quite recent compared to Opera, Firefox has changed beyond recognition over the years thanks to its community.
In terms of interface simplicity, this browser can only be rivaled by Google Chrome, and more than one browser has such a convenient settings system. A wide selection of plugins and cross-platform functionality make Mozilla an incredibly versatile solution, and in tandem with the highest reliability and network security, for many it is absolutely the best software for web surfing.

The main disadvantage is the increased requirements for free RAM, and therefore you can rest assured that many open tabs and windows will seriously affect the performance of the software for the worse.

No. 2 – Yandex.Browser

It's nice to see a domestic product in such a high and honorable place. It appeared quite recently - in 2012, but in Russia it predictably immediately gained enormous popularity. Integration with Yandex services, many of which we use almost daily, gives it a big head start in the fight against competitors. Despite the fact that Chromium was taken as the basis for the development of the engine, the Yandex.Browser interface is distinctive and original.
The developers deserve gratitude for at least the level of security that was implemented in the browser - it is much more difficult to pick up a virus in it than in similar programs. The built-in ad blocker and dictionary show the caring attitude towards users from the creators of the browser. The presence of a mobile version and Turbo mode will help hardened Opera fans switch to a more modern solution for Internet surfing.

But the advantages of the application do not seem so to everyone, and therefore a number of users, on the contrary, speak negatively about the integration with Yandex services and the uniqueness of the interface. Everyone must decide for themselves with what sign they relate to such aspects.

#1 – Google Chrome

Our current ranking of PC browsers for 2018-2019 is quite predictably headed by the legendary Chrome. It appeared in 2008, but quickly established itself as the fastest and most reliable browser. Today, almost half of personal computers and mobile gadgets are equipped with this browser as the main tool for searching the Internet.

The pros can be listed endlessly, so let’s talk about the cons, and, unfortunately, we couldn’t do without them. Firstly, old systems with 2 gigabytes of RAM or less simply will not provide the search engine with the necessary resources for high-quality and high-speed work. Secondly, such a load on hardware has a very negative impact on the battery charge of laptops and mobile devices, so if your smartphone does not already have an impressive battery, then Chrome is unlikely to be the best solution for it. Well, Russian users are unlikely to like the fact that most of the plugins are not available in their native language.

But even such serious shortcomings cannot cover up the countless set of undeniable advantages: speed, reliability, security, convenience - in each of these parameters it is almost impossible to compete with Chrome. Deserved first place in our ranking.

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