Long gone are the days when Internet Explorer dominated the web browser market. Now Internet Explorer is defunct and there are several leading browsers competing for the best way to surf the internet.
Whether you want to search for which products are the best ant killers or play online games, here’s a look at the top five browsers on the internet and the pros and cons of each one.
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is often the most-recommended browser on the internet and the strongest competitor against Google Chrome. One of Firefox’s best features is “rapid release,” which quickly gets updates and improvements to users.
Although it’s not the speediest browser out there, Firefox does have a wealth of plug-ins and add-ons in comparison to major competitors like Chrome. This feature lets you totally customize your web-browsing experience. Firefox also has a popular mobile app, and even Mac users seem to prefer it over Safari.
Chrome
Google Chrome is widely regarded as the fastest browser on the market. While Firefox features more plug-ins and add-ons, Chrome has the upperhand when it comes to private browsing and preventing crashes. The security features are also superior to other browsers, with Chrome offering superb malware and fraud protection. Another great perk of Chrome is you can use Google's desktop applications offline.
Opera
Opera is generally used on older computers because it needs less memory to run and loads much faster than flashier browsers like Firefox and Chrome. While Opera doesn't have as many features as top browsers like Firefox and Chrome, it does offer thumbnail previews and stackable tabs to enhance your web-browsing experience. The browser’s mobile version is also well loved by users.
RockMelt
If you’re a social media junkie, you'll absolutely love RockMelt. While most people probably don't need a dedicated social networking browser, those who do love social media will appreciate how updates from Facebook, Twitter and other newsfeeds are integrated into the browser. RockMelt also gives you a “share” button that lets you post updates to all your social networking profiles.
Safari
While many Mac users choose to go with Firefox, many still use Apple’s Safari. It has a fast page-rendering time — very close to Chrome’s — taking about 1.61 seconds to load a webpage. When it comes to CPU usage, which measures how many system resources a browser needs, Safari’s low 4.4 percent is also close to Chrome.
One of the coolest features of Safari’s latest version is Reading List, which lets you save interesting things as you're browsing. Then you can go back and read, shop or watch videos when you have time to kill. And the new HTML5 Canvas feature means even better graphics quality for playing games and running apps.
Guest Blogger Byline: Post written by guest blogger Jennifer Autry who enjoys writing on everything from the best browsers to how to the best ant killers.
