The most popular web browser in the world. Which browser to choose for a weak computer

Many people tend to use the same browser for years, which they once liked due to its convenient interface or appearance. However, there are many browsers, they are updated and improved, so it can be difficult to understand which one is better. Below we will look at 10 good web browsers that work for free.

Note! This list is not ordered in order of preference.

Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS, Chrome OS.

When Google first introduced Chrome in 2009, it quickly gained popularity because it was the fastest web browser at the time. Now he has competitors.

Apart from the basic browser features such as bookmark management, extensions, themes, incognito mode, etc., another feature that deserves attention is profile management. It allows multiple people to use the same browser without receiving browsing history, download history, or other information. For users who are annoyed by advertisements, Google is going to launch an ad filter for Chrome.

Another thing that makes Chrome one of the best apps, is cross-device support. The web browser can easily sync browsing history, tabs, bookmarks, passwords, etc. across all devices if you are signed in to your Google account.

2. Mozilla Firefox

Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS, BSD (unofficial port).

In 2017, Firefox returned to the market with a new version of Firefox 57, called Quantum. The new Firefox is much faster than its predecessors. Firefox's updated user interface and many new features are attracting many users. The built-in tool that allows you to take screenshots from your screen is one of the most convenient unique features.

3. Microsoft Edge

Everyone knows that Microsoft released Edge to maintain the lost respect for its old Internet Explorer browser. Now it seems that Edge is undoubtedly among the best programs for Windows 10, and more recently for Android and iOS.

Of course, few people, after using browsers such as Chrome or Mozilla, will want to switch to a new browser, but Microsoft has something to offer its potential users.

These features include:

• you can set aside tabs to make room for new browser tabs;
• one section provides access to bookmarks, search history, downloads, etc.;
• The built-in Notes extension is quite useful, it allows you to add notes, highlight something, write, and also save a web page on your device.

As for extensions, it could be small drawback. Microsoft Edge only has 76 supported extensions, all of which are available in the Microsoft Store. One of the reasons why it makes sense to switch to Edge is that it integrates with Windows 10 better than any other browser.

Video - The best Internet browsers for Windows

4. Opera

Supported platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, basic phones.

It is well known to those who have used it on push-button mobile phones Java support. It is probably the oldest web browser that is currently actively developed. However, it has improved enough to be found on the list of the best Internet browsers for Windows and others operating systems. It is often considered the best Firefox alternative.

The desktop version of the web browser includes some features that were previously reserved for smartphones, such as a data compression mode and battery saving.

Among other functions of this browser, we cannot fail to mention the following:

You can use Opera to get your daily news fix with the Personal News feature, where you can add news sources of your choice.

5. Chromium - An open source alternative to Chrome

Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, BSD.

In appearance and characteristics, Chromium is the same as Chrome

If you currently use Google Chrome, you will have no problem switching to its open source counterpart, which is also available on Linux systems.

In appearance and characteristics, Chromium is the same as Chrome. You can sign in using your Gooogle account, sync data, download extensions, and more. However, there are differences that can help users make the best choice. For example, this Chrome browser alternative does not support automatic updates, does not come with a built-in player, does not support proprietary audio codecs, etc.

Note! Chromium is being developed as a speed release, which means features are built into new build more often than Chrome, almost daily. This is the reason why an open source browser may crash more often than Chrome.

6. Vivaldi - customizable browser

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Vivaldi is only one year old, but it still ranks among the best web browsers. It was created by Opera Software co-founder John Stevenson von Tetzchner and Tatsuki Tomita. When using Vivaldi, you'll quickly notice its responsive interface, which changes to match the color scheme of the website you're viewing. Being a Chromium-enabled browser, it supports Chrome extensions.

The browser is very similar to Opera, it has the same sidebar on the left side. But the ability to customize the address bar, tab bar, etc. makes Vivaldi the best web browser. Additional customizations include adding custom keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions to suit your taste.

7. Torch Browser - browser for downloading torrent files

Supported platforms: Windows.

It may not be as popular as Chrome, Firefox or Edge, but Torch Browser certainly deserves a place in the list of the 10 best internet browsers. This is because of the features it provides. If you are a fan of the world of BitTorrent, you will love Torch Browser because it comes with a built-in torrent file downloader.

There is a media capture tool that you can use to download streaming video and audio files from web pages. It appears that this premier web browser, which also includes a download accelerator, is aimed primarily at users who download stuff every day. The browser can also play partially downloaded videos and torrents.

8. Maxthon Cloud Browser

Supported platforms: Windows, MacOS Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone.

Maxthon, which has been around since 2002, was developed primarily as a web browser for Windows, but later versions appeared for other platforms. The developers are promoting Maxthon as a cloud browser. However, the PR stunt no longer seems exclusive, as almost all browsers now support data synchronization with the cloud.

The free web browser has many useful tools:

• to capture video from web pages;
• built-in Adblock Plus;
• night mode;
• mail client;
• password manager;
• note-taking tool, etc.

It also provides access to common Windows tools such as Notepad, Calculator, etc.

9. Safari - Made for Apple fans

Supported platforms: MacOS, iOS.

This can be a good alternative to Google Chrome and Firefox. Safari was previously available for Windows, but Apple bought it out a few years ago. This web browser can now only be used by MacOS and iOS users.

The web browser includes a customizable toolbar, tab search, reading view, iCloud syncing, and more. Like the Share button in Edge, Safari users can share their content using AirDrop without ever leaving the web browser .

10. UC Browser - fast browser made in China

Supported platforms: Windows, Android, iOS, basic phones.

UC Browser is already considered one of the best web browsers for Android. The appearance of the PC version of the UC browser is as attractive as other famous browsers that we see in the market. UC Browser has a built-in password manager and features cloud synchronization with other devices. Many users are attracted by the built-in VPN.

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 full 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 was for a long time leader among alternative builds based on Chromium. 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 by major renovation. 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;
• a 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 go 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.

Good day, friends! Sorry that there have been no updates on the blog for a long time, I promise to improve and delight you with articles more often. Today I have prepared for you ranking of the best browsers of 2018 for Windows 10. I use this particular operating system, so I will focus on it, but there is no particular difference for users previous versions Windows won't.

On the eve of last year I did. Now the situation has changed a little, which I will tell you about in this article. I will be glad to see your comments and remarks. Go!

Best browsers 2018: ranking for Windows

I don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone if I say that more than 90% of the population uses the Windows operating system on their computers. The most popular version remains, which is understandable due to the huge list of advantages (but more on that in another article). I literally switched to it a couple of months ago and therefore this article will be especially relevant for Tens users.

1st place - Google Chrome

Google Chrome is once again the leader among browsers. It is quite powerful and efficient, just perfect for owners modern computers. According to open LiveInternet statistics, you can see that almost 56% of users prefer Chrome. And the number of his fans is growing every month:

Share of Google Chrome usage among users

I don't know what you think, but I think almost 108 million visitors can't be wrong! Now let’s look at the advantages of Chrome and reveal the secret of its truly wild popularity.

Tip: always download programs only from the manufacturer’s official website!

Advantages of Google Chrome

• Speed. This is perhaps the main reason why users give their preference to it. I found an interesting speed test different browsers. Well done guys, they did quite a lot of work, but the results are quite expected: Google Chrome is the leader in speed among its competitors. In addition, Chrome has the ability to preload the page, thereby making the work speed even faster.
• Convenience. The interface is thought out to the smallest detail. There is nothing superfluous, the principle is implemented: “open and work”. Chrome was one of the first to implement shortcut functionality. The address bar works in conjunction with the search engine selected in the settings, which saves the user a few more seconds.
• Stability. In my memory, only a couple of times Chrome stopped working and reported a failure, and even then the cause was viruses on the computer. This reliability of operation is ensured by the separation of processes: if one of them is stopped, the others are still running.
• Safety. Google Chome has its own regularly updated database of malicious resources, and the browser also requires additional confirmation to download executable files.
• Incognito mode. This is especially true for those who do not want to leave traces of visiting certain sites, and have no time to clear their history and cookies.
• Task Manager. A very convenient feature that I use regularly. It can be found in the More Tools menu. Using such a tool, you can track which tab or extension requires a lot of resources and complete the process to get rid of the “brakes”.

• Extensions. There are a huge number of different free plugins, extensions and themes for Google Chrome. Accordingly, you can literally make your own browser assembly that will meet exactly your needs. A list of available extensions can be found at this link.

• Built-in page translator. An extremely useful function for those who like to surf the Internet in a foreign language, but have absolutely no knowledge foreign languages. Translation of pages is carried out automatically using Google Translator.
• Regular updates. Google carefully monitors the quality of its products, so the browser updates automatically and you won’t even notice it (unlike updates in Firefox, for example).
• Okay Google. Google Chrome has a voice search feature.
• Synchronization. Let’s say you decide to reinstall Windows or buy a new computer, but you’ve already forgotten half of your passwords. Google Chrome gives you the opportunity to not think about it at all: when you sign in, all your settings and passwords will be imported to your new device.
• Ad blocking. I wrote a separate article about this.

Disadvantages of Google Chrome

But everything can’t be so rosy and wonderful, you ask? Of course, there is also a “fly in the ointment”. The main disadvantage of Google Chrome can be called it "weight". If you have an old computer with very modest performance resources, it is better to stop using Chrome and consider other browser options. The minimum amount of RAM for Chrome to work correctly should be 2 GB. There are other negative features of this browser, but the average user is unlikely to be interested in them.

2nd place - Opera

One of the oldest browsers, which has recently begun to revive. The heyday of its popularity was in times of limited and slow Internet (remember Opera Mini on Simbian devices?). But even now Opera has its own “trick” that none of its competitors have. But we will talk about this below.

Advantages of Opera

• Speed. There is a magical function of Opera Turbo that can significantly increase the loading speed of sites. In addition, Opera is perfectly optimized for working on slow computers with weak technical characteristics, thus becoming an excellent alternative to Google Chrome.
• Saving. Very relevant for Internet owners with restrictions on traffic volume. Opera not only increases page loading speed, but also significantly reduces the amount of traffic received and transmitted.
• Information content. Opera may warn you that the site you want to visit is unsafe. Various icons will help you understand what is happening and what the browser is currently using:

• Express bookmarks bar. Not an innovation, of course, but still a very convenient feature of this browser. There are also hot keys for instant access to browser control directly from the keyboard.
• Built-in ad blocking. In other browsers, blocking endless ad blocks and intrusive pop-ups is implemented using third-party plugins. Opera developers took this into account and built ad blocking into the browser itself. At the same time, the speed of work increases by 3 times! If necessary, this feature can be disabled in the settings.
• Power Saving Mode. Opera allows you to save up to 50% of the battery power of your tablet or laptop.

• Built-in VPN . In the era of the Yarovaya Law and the heyday of Roskomnadzor, there is nothing better than a browser with a free built-in VPN server. With its help, you can easily access prohibited sites, or you can watch films that are blocked in your country at the request of the copyright holder. It is because of this incredible useful function I use Opera all the time.
• Extensions. Like Google Chrome, Opera boasts a large number (more than 1000+) of different extensions and themes.

Disadvantages of Opera

• Safety. According to the results of some tests and studies, the Opera browser is not safe; it often does not see a potentially dangerous site and does not save you from scammers. Therefore, you use it at your own risk.
• May not work on older computers, high system requirements.

3rd place - Mozilla Firefox

A rather strange, but still popular choice of many users is the browser Mozilla Firefox(known as "The Fox"). In Russia, it is in third place in popularity among PC browsers. I won’t judge anyone’s choice; I myself used it for quite a long time until I switched to Google Chrome.

Any product has its fans and haters, Firefox is no exception. Objectively, it certainly has its merits, I will consider them in more detail.

Advantages of Mozilla Firefox

• Speed. Quite a controversial indicator for the Fox. This browser is quite fast until you install a few plugins. After this, your desire to use Firefox will disappear for a certain period of time.
• Side panel. Many fans note that the sidebar (quick access Ctrl+B) is an incredibly convenient thing. Almost instant access to bookmarks with the ability to edit them.
• Fine tuning. The ability to make the browser absolutely unique, to “tailor” it to your needs. Access them through about:config in the address bar.
• Extensions. A huge number of different plugins and add-ons. But, as I already wrote above, the more of them are installed, the more the browser slows down.

Firefox Disadvantages

• Tor-mo-za . This is exactly why a huge number of users abandoned using Fox and preferred any other browser (most often Google Chrome). It slows down terribly, to the point where I had to wait for a new empty tab to open.

4th place - Yandex.Browser

A fairly young and modern browser from the Russian search engine Yandex. In February 2017, this browser for PC took second place in popularity after Chrome. Personally, I use it very rarely; it’s difficult for me to trust a program that is trying to deceive me at any cost and almost force me to install itself on my computer. Plus, sometimes it replaces other browsers when downloading from non-official sites.

Nevertheless, this is a completely worthy product, trusted by 8% of users (according to LiveInternet statistics). And according to Wikipedia - 21% of users. Let's look at the main advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Yandex.Browser

• Close integration with other Yandex products. If you regularly use Yandex.Mail or, then Yandex.Browser will be a real godsend for you. You will essentially get a complete analogue of Google Chrome, only ideally tailored for another search engine - the Russian Yandex.
• Turbo mode. Like many other Russian developers, Yandex likes to sneak ideas from its competitors. I wrote about the magical function of Opera Turbo above, it’s essentially the same here, I won’t repeat it.
• Yandex.Zen. Your personal recommendations: various articles, news, reviews, videos and much more right on the start page. We opened a new tab and... woke up 2 hours later :) In principle, the same thing is available with the Visual Bookmarks extension from Yandex for other browsers.

• Synchronization. There is nothing surprising in this function - when reinstalling Windows, all your settings and bookmarks will be saved in the browser.
• Smart line. A really useful tool is answering questions directly in the search bar, without having to go to the search results and search on other pages.

• Safety. Yandex has its own technology - Protect, which warns the user about visiting a potentially dangerous resource. Protect includes several independent protection modes against various network threats: encryption of data transmitted over WiFi, password protection and anti-virus technologies.
• Settings appearance . Choose from a huge number of ready-made backgrounds or the ability to upload your own picture.
• Quick Mouse Gestures. Managing the browser has become even easier: just hold down the right mouse button and perform a specific action to obtain the desired operation:

• Yandex.Tableau. It is also a very convenient tool - on the start page there will be 20 bookmarks of the sites you most visit. The tile panel for these sites can be customized as you wish.

As you can see, this is a truly complete modern tool for browsing web pages. I think that its share in the browser market will constantly grow, and the product itself will continue to develop.

Disadvantages of Yandex Browser

• Obsessiveness. No matter what program I try to install, no matter what service I access, there it is: Yandex.Browser. He follows right on his heels and whines: “Set me up.” Constantly wants to change the start page. And he wants a lot more. He looks like my wife :) At some point it starts to infuriate.
• Speed. Many users complain about the speed of opening new tabs, which even eclipses the infamous glory of Mozilla Firefox. This is especially true for weak computers.
• No flexible settings. Unlike Google Chrome or Opera, Yandex.Browser does not have wide adaptation capabilities to suit your own individual needs.

5th place - Microsoft Edge

The youngest modern browser, was launched by Microsoft in March 2015. This browser replaced Internet Explorer, which was hated by many (which is quite strange, since according to statistics, IE is the safest browser!). I started using Edge from the moment I installed Ten, that is, quite recently, but I already had my own idea about it.

Microsoft Edge has rapidly burst into the browser market and its share is growing every day

Advantages of Microsoft Edge

• Full integration with Windows 10. This is perhaps Edge's strongest trait. It runs as a full-fledged application and uses all the capabilities of the most modern operating system.
• Safety. Edge has taken over from its “big brother” IE the strongest features, including safe web surfing.
• Speed. In terms of speed, I can put it in third place after Google Chrome and Opera, but its performance is still very good. The browser is not annoying, pages open quickly and load in a couple of seconds.
• Reading mode. I most often use this function on mobile devices, but perhaps someone will find it useful in the PC version.
• Cortana voice assistant. To be honest, I haven’t used it yet, but rumor has it that it’s significantly inferior to “Okay Google” and Siri.
• Notes. Microsoft Edge includes handwriting and note-taking functionality. Interesting thing, I must tell you. Here's what it looks like in reality:

Create a note in Microsoft Edge. Step 1.

Create a note in Microsoft Edge. Step 2.

Disadvantages of Microsoft Edge

• Windows 10 only. This browser is available only to owners of the latest version of the Windows operating system - “tens”.
• Sometimes it's dull. For me it happens like this: you enter the page URL (or make a transition), a tab opens and the user sees a white screen until the page is completely loaded. Personally, this bothers me.
• Incorrect display. The browser is quite new and some old sites “float” in it.
• Poor context menu. It looks like this:

• Lack of personalization. Unlike other browsers, Edge will be difficult to customize for specific needs and tasks.

What browser do you use? I'm waiting for your options in the comments. If you have any questions, ask, I will answer as best I can!

Nowadays, no one can be surprised by the statement about the importance of the Internet both for entertainment and for serious work. It should be noted that the productivity of the work process largely depends not so much on the connection speed, but on the convenience and thoughtfulness of the browser used.

If you don’t know what browsers are and how they differ from each other, this article is especially for you. So let's get started! What kind of browsers are there? The list can be very long, but let’s list the main “players” in this market:

• Internet Explorer.
• Opera.
• Firefox.
• Google Chrome and all its derivatives.

We will now talk about all these “characters” in more detail.

Internet Explorer

This is a real legend. Whether it’s deserved or not, everyone decides for themselves, but no one will dispute the fact that the overwhelming majority of experienced users started with it. In 2001, when the Internet in our country was almost in its infancy, and even in large cities Dial Up ruled, the sixth “donkey” was the only association with the word “browser”.

Of course, someone knew about the Opera project, very few geeks in the vastness of our country used Netscape, but the palm definitely belonged to IE, since there were simply no worthy alternatives at that time. For information, the history of Firefox began only in 2004, and the word “chrome” was perceived only as a name chemical element up until 2008! Yes, yes, the Google Chrome browser appeared relatively recently!

It must be admitted that Internet Explorer was good for those years, and many of its features were completely unique. Thus, IE 6 became the world's first browser that had on board the P3P platform tools, which provided an advanced (in those years) level of user security when working on the network.

It is not surprising that due to its widespread use and presence by default in the Windows family of operating systems, it is “donkey” that has become the de facto standard for almost all government agencies in our country. And to this day normal operation with the websites of government agencies, Sberbank, as well as all similar structures is possible only from this browser. This is largely due to its use of ActiveX structures, which greatly simplify the creation of software components for this type of resource.

Disadvantages of a “living legend”

It is no coincidence that we constantly used the phrase “at that time.” In 2001, IE was rightfully the leader, but... Its creators completely forgot that the browser should be updated from time to time. Until 2006, when Vista and IE7 appeared on the scene, there were basically no updates.

Competitors were not asleep; by that time they had already appeared: the legendary Opera 9, which is still revered by many as the best browser, Firefox 2, as well as several add-on browsers that used the IE engine (Maxthon, Avant Browser). All of them were more convenient, more functional and much safer than the hopelessly outdated Internet Explorer. The appearance of the seventh version did not save the situation, since IE7 was in many ways the same sixth “donkey”. Of the visible changes, one could notice only a slightly “refreshed” interface, and support for tabs, which Opera has had since the seventh version (2005).

Add to this terrible compatibility with HTML standards, disgusting page rendering and terribly slow loading speed. It is not surprising that only IE 9 finally “became like a browser,” as many publications wrote about it. Currently the latest is the eleventh version, which is really quite good.

The problem is that there are a huge number of old releases (IE6 somehow got rid of them), errors (!) from which had to be ported to the new Explorer. This was done so that old versions of sites created specifically for the “donkey” would be adequately displayed in Internet Explorer 11. This approach does not add either popularity or trust to the Microsoft product.

Alas, when working with state and municipal websites, you will not have any special alternatives. However, there are exceptions: several years ago, the German government officially encouraged municipal workers to use Firefox, since IE “does not respond modern requirements security." So what other browsers are there?

Opera

Since we have mentioned this product several times, we will continue the story about it. It all started in Norway in 1994. Until 2005, versions were produced that were not particularly popular. Everything changed in 2006, when Opera 9 was released. At that time, it was ideal. Judge for yourself:

• excellent work with tabs;
• built-in email client;
• bit-torrent client, also built into the browser;
• work with most HTML standards;
• mouse gesture support;
• the widest possibilities for customization;
• the ability to block ads without using third-party utilities.

And all this in a 2006 browser! In addition, we forgot to mention one more “killer” feature of Opera. We are talking about the “Turbo” mode. What is the essence of this option? It's simple. When activated, all traffic to the user’s computer passed through Opera Software’s servers and was compressed several times along the way. In some cases, it was possible to save up to 80% of all traffic!

Taking into account the fact that in those years there was no normal high-speed and unlimited Internet even in large cities, this technology was a royal gift for users of our country and the entire former CIS. It is not surprising that in some regions the real market share of this browser was confidently approaching 50%, while in the world this figure rarely exceeded 3-4%.

In addition, Opera Mini appeared in 2009, which made normal Internet surfing possible even for owners of old phones. By the way, the phrase “free browsers” can only make modern users smile, while Opera for smartphones was paid for a long time, and for desktops (up to Opera 5) this browser was distributed on a fee basis.

Sunset

After the release of version 10.6, strange things began to happen to the company: constant reorganizations forced most of the old developers to leave, and users began to complain about the poor performance of their favorite browser. In 2013, a rather ridiculous event happened. The new management of the company announced a complete transition to the Blink engine, which is a product developed by Google, as well as the linking of Opera to the Chromium project.

It’s not hard to guess what emotions all this evoked among users. They said that almost all new browsers are already clones of Chrome, so the appearance of another player from the same series did not inspire anyone. In addition, the enormous dissatisfaction of both ordinary users and professionals was caused by the simple fact that from the old “Opera”, in fact, only the name remained.

No mouse gestures, no usual options for customization... and not even bookmarks in new version did not have! The developers swear that everything will be fixed “in the near future,” but this has been going on for two years now, and there has been no particular progress. The company lost a huge number of users, some of whom switched to Chrome, while others started using Firefox.

Almost everyone agrees that the Opera project no longer exists: even if the developers return some of the old functionality to the browser (it won’t be possible to “screw in” everything due to the features of the new engine), the entire cycle of creating the program will be tied to Chromium and Google itself. By the way, what browsers are there based on the Google product? We'll talk about this below.

Google Chrome and its derivatives

The history of this browser, as we have already mentioned, began in 2008. The very news that Google is going to create its own browser has caused a lot of controversy on the Internet. Some rejoiced, some experts were more cautious in their forecasts, but the fact remains that the event was clearly extraordinary. Today, the Chrome browser claims to be the “number 1 browser”, displacing not only IE, but even Firefox in this position. How did this happen?

When the new Internet browser first came out, everyone loved its incredible speed. Many people liked the ascetic and simple interface, which did not distract from work. However, the “first approximation” was not very successful, since almost all experienced users noted the complete absence of useful plugins, due to which the browser could not resist advertising, and poor integration with third party applications(antiviruses, download managers, etc.).

The beginning of success

For someone else, this might be a failure, but not for Google! The company’s incredible capabilities and aggressive marketing policy did their job: at first, when using the company’s search engine, a suggestion was given to “try a new browser,” and today Chrome checkboxes are available in almost every second shareware application (included in the installation kit).

Soon this particular browser was on the computer of almost every second user, and professionals increasingly began to use it. The proactive policy of Google again played a role, which very soon achieved full integration of its product. In addition, using a Google account, users gained access to Google projects such as Drive, Mail, Documents and many others.

To be fair, it is worth noting that Google (the browser) is a very safe product: the process separation policy bears fruit. It is difficult for malicious code to penetrate from the virtual sandbox into the production system. Among other things, Chrome now has plugins for blocking ads and Flash content, integration systems with the most popular downloaders, and so on. In 2014, the official x64 version appeared, which became even safer and faster.

Flaws

Alas, there are enough of them. Firstly, those same fans of the old Opera really miss the ability to change the browser “to suit themselves”. The maximum that the WebKit engine gives is to apply a color scheme. All. A simple user is not entitled to anything more. Of course, you can use the Flag argument and “surf” the browser from the inside, but you can’t do anything special even from there.

Secondly, there are serious concerns about the privacy of user information. In general, Google has never hidden the fact that all your data can be viewed for the presence of child pornography and information that could be classified as a “terrorist threat,” but this does not make it any easier for suspicious individuals. The browser extensively collects information about your search preferences and frequently visited pages, generating targeted advertising based on this data. However, all modern free browsers often suffer from this.

It is shown not only on the pages themselves, but even in GMail mail. The latter, by the way, is extremely disliked in large companies; sometimes employees are directly prohibited from using it. Of course, there is not a single proven fact of leakage of any corporate data, but this measure is not superfluous...

As for the “exorbitant” speed, today we can name Google browser Chrome won't be fast anymore. With installed plugins and a connected user account, the application (especially on older machines) does not launch quickly.

Chromium

After the scandal with the Chrome licensing agreement, in which the developers allowed themselves to have rather frivolous clauses about user privacy (they were subsequently removed or changed), the Chromium project appeared. Unlike its “big brother,” this browser is based on open source software that anyone can change at their own discretion. In terms of functionality, it is not much different from the parent application, with the exception of the ease of creating your own plug-ins.

It was on its basis that a huge mass of “chrome-like” programs appeared, which we will now talk about. In general, almost all new browsers that appear recently are just that in 90% of cases. This is due to the ease of adapting the code to your needs, and you don’t have to worry about updating “your” product, since all the work will fall on the shoulders of Google programmers.

"Yandex browser)

Today it is the most successful fork (branch). The creator is the “domestic-Dutch” search engine Yandex. The first versions of Yandex (browser) differed from Chrome only in a different search engine and a slightly changed design, but today the situation has changed radically. Thus, there appeared: support for mouse gestures, intelligent search menus and other “goodies”, which gave many users reason to call this browser “the successor of the old Opera”. This fact in itself is surprising, especially considering the biased attitude of professionals towards any Chrome fork. Thus, the free Yandex browser has very good prospects.

"Amigo"

This is the exact opposite of the project discussed above. Also a product of a domestic company, but this time the authorship belongs to the Mail.ru corporation. Alas, there are no “breakthrough” opportunities. Among the features is only close integration with all existing social networks, but it is quite difficult to consider this circumstance as a special advantage. In addition, Amigo (browser) also collects a bunch of advertising information, which is then shown in abundance to the user.

There's nothing special about it anymore. In addition, there are also such varieties of “Chrome”:

• “Internet” (from the same Mail.ru, somewhat similar to “Yandex”).
• "Uranus" (from Ucoz).
• Dragon (from Comodo).
• "Nichrome" (from "Rambler").
• Iron (German development, originally created to profit from the developers' blog).

And many, many similar products. What browsers are there besides this “variegated” family?

Firefox

Appeared in 2004 (as mentioned above). It was developed on the basis of the mortal “ashes” of Netscape. The first versions were simply terrible, they constantly hung and were terribly slow. Of course, the collapse of the program was the most common occurrence. Time passed. In 2006, there was already Firefox 2, which had good qualities, and the third version was among the Guinness record holders (several million people downloaded it in the first 24 hours).

Why is this browser so attractive to users from all over the world? First of all, its “omnivorousness”. While some developers relied on functionality (Opera), others on beauty (Safari), and Microsoft did nothing at all, the Mozilla Foundation team collected all HTML standards, at least theoretically found on the Internet. As a result, their browser is a kind of “standard”. If a site does not open normally in Fox, then it is unlikely to open anywhere else.

In addition, numerous plugins were the reason for its success. With their help, you can turn your browser into a multifunctional “harvester”, with capabilities almost superior to the operating system! In particular, the Tor browser, created on its basis, largely uses the capabilities of various extensions designed to improve the level of user anonymity on the Internet.

In addition, even with a dozen or two extensions, Mozilla starts very quickly even on older machines, which is not what you can expect from Chrome.

Finally, this browser, unlike almost all existing solutions on the market, can be flexibly customized to suit your needs, and the available themes will help you bring the interface closer to the old versions of Opera, Chrome or even the old IE6. It is precisely because of the latter circumstance that experienced users often strive to install the Firefox browser.

Flaws

These include the not very high security of the native (without installed extensions) application. However, without installed extensions, Firefox is generally a very average browser without any special features. Beginners do not always know which plugin to install and for what purpose. In addition, such add-ons are not always good in terms of software, and therefore often cause memory leaks and even crashes of the browser itself.

These are the main browsers. This list is far from complete, but in the article we present the most common types of programs of this kind. Of course, we haven't talked about Safari (which is used in Apple's OS), as well as many other browsers, many of which occupy leading positions in Asian markets, but these products are quite specific. In any case, they are used quite rarely; in our country you are unlikely to find a user on whose computer they would be installed.

No user can do without one of the most important computer programs - a browser. It is a kind of conductor between the user and the World Wide Web and allows access to information. Their list is not limited only to well-known names. There are several dozen more interesting web browsers.