The Fastest Browsers for Your PC or Mobile Device

Web browsers are crucial for finding answers to your questions and searching for information. A slow browser may be frustrating, making speedy ones the superior choices. Even so, you might not know which ones are the fastest.

Below, you’ll find an extensive list of the fastest browsers for the four major operating systems, including computers and mobile devices. They’re all safe to use and will make web browsing effortless. Read to the end for all the details.

The Fastest Browsers for Windows 11

These browsers are free to use on Windows 11 and older operating systems. The word “fast” can be applied to various categories, but we’re primarily focusing on how responsive the browser is and how quickly things are loaded. It’s still essential to remember that your internet speed will slow down even the fastest browsers on the planet.

For all of our categories, you should assume your device is connected to a speedy network and has more than enough RAM to handle processes. It’s fairer to measure how fast browsers are this way.

Google Chrome

It’s no surprise Google Chrome is at the top of this list, as many people find this browser lightning quick. Regarding pure speed in loading times and responsiveness, Chrome is usually the victor in tests. Chrome is based on Google’s open-source Chromium browser project, meaning Google knows how to optimize the source code better than anyone else.

Google Chrome can load on-screen graphics and JavaScript apps quickly. It also boasts short response times, preventing you from feeling the lag. However, the reports of Chrome consuming too much RAM are accurate.

If your computer doesn’t have enough RAM, opening too many tabs on Chrome can slow it down. This problem plagues even powerful PCs, but most people don’t have too many tabs open at once. For standard use cases, this browser is potent.

Besides speed, Chrome is a well-rounded product in practically all aspects. It has the most extensive library of extensions and many helpful features by default. When the sync feature is enabled, you can pick up where you left off on a different device.

Microsoft Edge

Edge has been the default Windows browser since 2015, replacing Internet Explorer. It’s also a Chromium-based browser, an upgrade that makes it almost as fast as Google Chrome. Both are equals in pretty much all areas.

As a Chromium-based browser, Edge can use Chrome extensions without modification. This is handy if you love specific extensions but are apprehensive about migrating.

Other Edge features include a collections tool and context menu. While it’s not too different in this regard, all Windows computers already have it installed. Therefore, you can launch it and immediately start browsing if you own a Windows PC.

Opera

While Opera was once a rather niche browser, it has recently gained traction among users who aren’t fans of Chrome or Edge. Opera isn’t the fastest browser available, but that doesn’t mean it’s slow. In terms of rendering graphics, though, it falls behind.

In tests, Opera loaded websites slower than the browsers above. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad browser. Where Opera shines is its convenience and features.

There’s a built-in social media and communication bar so you can access them in several clicks. You don’t need to bookmark these apps and sites. They’re on the screen at all times.

Since you won’t need extensions or only a few, Opera performs faster than browsers with too many installed. This is a good case for minimalist browser users.

In addition, Opera has a VPN and even a cryptocurrency wallet. These are privacy-centered features, meaning Opera values keeping your information safe.

The Fastest Browsers for a Mac

Chrome and Edge are some of the fastest browsers available, but there are other choices for Mac users too. Therefore, we won’t repeat browser choices unless necessary.

Safari

Safari is Apple’s default macOS browser and is designed to work with Apple’s hardware. As the most optimized choice, you can rest assured of speedy JavaScript loading times and more. Safari is even designed to be power-efficient on Macs, allowing you to surf the internet outside for more extended periods.

As Safari is included with all Macs and Apple mobile devices, it’s ready to use immediately. The magic happens when you sign in with an Apple ID across all devices.

With Handoff, you can pass what you were doing on Mac to an iPhone and vice versa, making simultaneous viewing of the same tabs on two different devices possible.

Safari has several built-in security and privacy features. Your passwords are stored securely with WebAuthn. When using Apple Pay, your transactions are hidden from prying eyes.

The Picture in picture mode allows users to multitask efficiently. When you watch a video, you can shrink it into a smaller window. After that, the small picture will stay on the screen as you switch tabs.

Brave

While Brave is known to keep users private and anonymous, it’s a fast browser too. It’s not as fast as Chrome, Edge, or Opera, but it outperforms competitors like Firefox and Vivaldi. Brave scores excellent marks in running JavaScript and overall responsiveness.

Even with higher loads, Brave doesn’t slow down or show latency. It uses less RAM than Chrome, which is a huge plus if you prefer multitasking.

By default, the Brave browser blocks trackers, ads, and cookies. This feature keeps your browsing habits and preferences private. However, it’s customizable according to your needs because some websites require pop-ups to function.

Additionally, some of Brave’s features are only available as extensions on other browsers, like the built-in crypto wallet and Tor browser. For users unfamiliar with the latter, Tor is an anonymous browser that masks your identity as you use the internet.

As a Chromium-based browser, Brave is compatible with many Chrome extensions. However, you might only need a few extensions with active ad-blockers and tracker blockers. This decision helps prevent excessive resource usage.

Firefox

Even though Firefox hasn’t kept up with the fastest browsers well over the years, it remains a solid product with extensive customization opportunities. To some users, appearance matters more than performance, but Firefox combines both more brilliantly. The slick interface makes it a fantastic browser to use.

In the past, Firefox used to be much slower, as back then, only Chrome had fast JavaScript rendering. However, nowadays, Firefox can outperform other browsers in that department. The browser also has excellent scores when testing for graphics response, only losing to Edge and Chrome in some instances.

Where Firefox surpasses Edge is in Unity WebGL benchmark tests. Like Chrome, Firefox can render game-level visuals for websites.

Surprisingly, Firefox requires only around 50% of Chrome’s RAM usage. Macs don’t always come with plenty of RAM, making it a compelling choice.

With the Do Not Track system, users can prevent websites from gathering personal data. While the feature is decent, users should consider pairing it with other privacy extensions.

If you wish to change the browser’s appearance, click the “Customize” button. A whole range of possibilities will pop up and allow for extensive customization.

The Fastest Browsers for Android

Many of the browsers mentioned above have Android or even iOS equivalents. With Android devices, an overwhelming majority of them already come with Google Chrome. The only notable exceptions are Huawei devices and other phones made for the Chinese market.

Here are some different browsers you can consider aside from Chrome and Edge.

DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser

While DuckDuckGo is available as a search engine, there’s a browser. The Android app isn’t very feature-rich, but what it does have tends to be geared toward security and privacy. A minimal interface makes it highly responsive, and it only takes one tap to wipe all the current session’s browsing data.

The mobile app is only 35MB or so, making it a lightweight browser for which you don’t need to delete apps.

DuckDuckGo’s app forces HTTPS encryption, which is how your information should be handled. The extra protection makes it harder for hackers to steal information.

All trackers are blocked when you go to websites that have them. If you want to enable them, there’s the option to whitelist a site.

When you visit any page, the browser compiles a security report ranging from A to F. An F shows how dangerous the site is.

Lynket

Previously known as Chromer, Lynket is a minimalist open-source browser that doesn’t hog your phone’s RAM. Conserving RAM is essential in a world where mobile devices don’t come with much RAM unless you buy a gaming phone or premium product. However, you don’t have to worry about that with this browser.

With Lynket, you can set up several bubbles and load a different link in all of them. Switching between them is effortless.

The app even lets you choose from various rendering engines or browsers to load pages. These include Chrome, Edge, Brave, and many more. When you pick one, the page takes on some of the browser’s features, such as privacy for Brave.

Lynket is designed for speed on smartphones and tablets as a mobile-first browser. It may not be the fastest browser, but you can still enjoy quick loading times even on slower networks.

When using different apps, you can toggle settings for them individually. This flexibility is unparalleled.

Opera Mini

Opera Mini is designed to provide lightning-fast browsing speeds on a smartphone. The company implements many data-saving innovations so that web pages load faster. One such feature is the Turbo mode, which speeds up the browser further.

The flat design and rendering engine make Opera Mini responsive and easy to access. There’s no need to navigate through confusing windows.

There are four data-saving modes on Opera Mini. You can conserve mobile data and only view the bare essentials when enabled.

• Off
• High
• Extreme
• Automatic

Extreme will prevent images from loading on the browser, so the text is the only thing you see. While good for many tasks, you lose access to some sites that rely on graphics more than text.

With all these features, Opera Mini can reduce data usage if you have a monthly cap. It prevents you from watching videos when you have a high data-saving mode active, but that may not be a deal breaker for some users.

Dolphin Browser

Dolphin is actually one of the oldest smartphone browsers. It’s known for being feature-rich while allowing for speedy browsing. The Jetpack mode makes pages load even faster compared to standard browser times.

There are functions like gestures, voice searching, and even Flash compatibility. Flash support is rare on mobile browsers, making Dolphin one of few with such a function.

For those who hate pop-ups, the Dolphin browser has a blocker. It prevents slowdowns as ads can eat up processing power.

Dolphin has many themes and wallpaper choices. This is fun for users who want to inject some personality into their browsers.

The presence of tabbed browsing helps Dolphin resemble desktop browsing. Some people prefer the traditional layout, so Dolphin can satisfy the itch you may never know was there.

For extra functions, download some add-ons. Take care not to use too many, as it can slow the browser down.

The Fastest Browsers for the iPhone

All iPhones come with Safari as the default browser. You can download others such as Chrome and Firefox too. In late 2020, iOS 14 introduced custom default browsers, allowing users to ditch Safari if they wanted.

Consider this alternative instead of Safari and Chrome.

Maxthon

Maxthon is a promising Safari alternative that users have praised for a long time. It has a straightforward UI and layout for zero distractions. The browser is also hardware-friendly so that you can multitask without worry.

Security is vital for Maxthon, and you get a password manager when you install this browser on your iPhone. Keep all your credentials safe from others even if you lose your phone. The password manager has a password generator too.

In addition, you can get rid of the pop-ups is easy via the built-in blocker. Without ads, you can find what you’re looking for sooner.

If you want to save something, Maxthon has your back. It allows you to save more than URLs, keeping them in the same place as text and images. Not many browsers can do this.

For more features, Maxthon has 700 extension options. You can access them through the Extension Center.

Thanks to its Trident and WebKit browser engines, Maxthon is a fast browser you can rely on anywhere you go.

No Slowdowns Allowed

There’s not a single browser you can genuinely call “the fastest” since all browsers specialize in different areas. One may load images faster, while another is better with JavaScript. Nevertheless, there are many choices for everyone.

Do you have a particular favorite mentioned above? Which browser option is a new one for you? Let us know in the comments section below.