Safari vs. Chrome: Which Is Better and How Do They Compare?

Chrome and Safari are two of the most popular web browsers in use today. They have a lot in common and have both been the choice of many people over the years, but which one is better? Safari is Apple’s browser, which comes pre-installed on every Mac and iOS device, while Chrome is Google’s web browser, used primarily on their Android platform and Mac OS X / Windows / Linux operating systems. Choosing the best browser can make your web browsing experience more efficient and secure. In this Safari vs. Chrome guide, we will give you an in-depth look at the browsers and help you decide if it’s worth switching from one browser to another.

Safari vs. Chrome: Side-by-Side Comparison

Safari vs. Chrome: Ten Must-Know Facts

• Safari has been around since 2003, while Chrome was first released in 2008 as an open-source web browser.
• Chrome’s extensive library of extensions and customization options make it more customizable than Safari.
• Safari can be customized to your liking with extensions; however, theme support is lacking.
• Chrome has an incognito mode that allows you to browse privately without sharing personal information. Nonetheless, there are some instances where data can be collected.
• By 2021, an estimated 3.2 billion internet users worldwide were using Chrome as their primary browser. The second most popular internet browser worldwide was Safari, with slightly more than 576 million users, highlighting the significant difference in the number of internet users between Chrome and Safari.
• Safari has good tab management and does not lag or slow down when using multiple tabs.
• Safari is only available for iOS, macOS, and iPad, while Google Chrome is available on most devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
• The programming languages used for Safari development are Swift, Objective C, and C++.
• The programming languages used for Chrome development are C++ and Python.
• Safari does not support third-party plugin integration.

What is Apple Safari?

Safari is the default web browser for the iPhone, iPad, and macOS. It was first released by Apple in 2003 and was briefly available on Windows from 2007 to 2012. The Safari browser’s popularity skyrocketed with the release of the iPhone and iPad, and it now accounts for approximately 54% of mobile browser usage in the United States.

Safari is similar to any other popular browser in most ways. Users can browse websites, bookmark favorite sites, and open multiple sites in separate tabs. Safari, which was built with the WebKit engine, was one of the first web browsers to support the new HTML 5 standard. It was also one of the first browsers to disable Adobe Flash support by default, with mobile versions of Safari never supporting Flash.

At the time of writing, the current version of Safari for Mac OS is 15, which includes an upgrade to Intelligent Tracking Prevention. This feature prevents a specific website from tracking pages visited on other websites, a practice known as “cross-site tracking.” Safari on iOS is the same as the iOS version.

Safari Features

• Reader view: Allows you to read websites and documents in a simple, distraction-free view.
• iCloud Tab Browsing: Automatically loads the next tab when you switch between pages in Safari.
• Auto-fill: Saves you time by quickly filling out web forms without having to type your information repeatedly.
• Sharing: Share websites, articles, and more with others using your favorite social networks, email addresses, and more.
• Intelligent Tracking Prevention: Blocks cookies that track your browsing habits across sites so that they can’t be used to tailor ads on other sites.
• Speed and battery optimization: Apple claims to have the world’s fastest desktop browser and a lightning-fast JavaScript engine. Apple also claims that when used on macOS, Safari will extend your battery life compared to other browsers.
• Sandboxing: Each tab in Safari is completely isolated from the others, preventing malicious code from affecting other tabs or applications outside of Safari. The code would be unable to perform its intended function, resulting in the tab crashing or the system alerting users that the page is executing an action.

What is Google Chrome?

Google Chrome is a web browser based on the open-source Chromium project. It was developed by the Google Chrome division of Google for Windows, Mac, Linux, and other operating systems. The first stable version of the browser was released in 2008.

It’s designed to be fast, simple, and secure. One of its most appealing features is the ability to sync your browsing history across multiple devices. It features built-in synchronization with your Google account, allowing you to open up a new tab from any computer or mobile device you’ve logged into with the same extensions installed.

The website works fast, with almost no lag or delays when loading pages or scrolling through content. If you need to adjust settings or change any information on the page, there are plenty of buttons and options available for doing so. When opening up a new tab, Google Chrome displays a search bar in the upper-right corner that auto-completes as you type. From there, if you type in weather, it will list different forecasts based on what city and state you’re currently in.

Chrome Features

• Data Saver: The Data Saver feature can help you save on data usage by turning off a lot of the things you’re not using in your browsing sessions.
• Remote Desktop: With Remote Desktop, you can connect to any computer or device running Chrome. Once connected, you can work on it in real-time—just like if you were sitting next to it!
• Customization: Customization allows you to personalize your browser by changing the theme, font size, and more. You’ll be able to choose between light and dark themes and standard and condensed fonts.
• Trex Minigame: Trex is a fun new game that challenges players to navigate an obstacle course while trying not to get caught by any traps along the way! You can play it when not connected to the internet.
• Chrome Task Manager: You can use this tool to see all open tabs and manage your memory usage.

Safari vs. Chrome: What’s the Difference?

The Safari and Chrome browsers are two of the most popular browsers used on computers today. Both are full-featured, but there are some differences between them. If you’re considering using either of these browsers, here’s what you need to know about them.

Ease of Use

Both Safari and Chrome are unquestionably beautiful and simple to use. Their differences are primarily due to their respective ecosystems.

Safari naturally integrates better with macOS and can provide unique UI tweaks such as top bar semi-transparency. It’s also more minimalist, allowing you to remove almost all browser elements.

Google Chrome is intended to be the hub of ChromeOS, handling more tasks in general. It performs better with multiple tabs open and can manage a large number of bookmarks efficiently. In fact, you can quickly switch between your work and home profiles (or others in your household), and all preferences will be adjusted automatically.

Speed and Performance

You’ve probably heard that Safari’s strong suit is performance, and it’s true—it works flawlessly on a Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Furthermore, Safari consumes less RAM than Chrome, which is a real power hog. 

Chrome runs as fast on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The issue arises when you have a large number of tabs open or are viewing graphically intensive websites. It depletes the RAM on the Mac, slowing down the system. As a result, it is not a good choice for power users.

Security and Privacy

Chrome and Safari take different approaches to cybersecurity, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. First, they view users differently, which defines the level of security you can anticipate from these browsers. Their respective business models determine the type of browser security.

Google’s revenue comes from advertising. Although you can adjust your privacy settings, Google continues to use your information to push content from its advertisers; however, Chrome has robust phishing and malware protection and provides weekly security updates.

Safari, on the other hand, implements stricter privacy policies with newer operating systems. Updates to it are less frequent than Chrome, though.

Safari also features Intelligent Tracking Prevention 2 to prevent websites from tracking your web activity and identifying you based on previous visits.

Extensions

Even though browsers come pre-installed with everything you need, you can extend their functionality with thousands of add-ons that can do anything from remembering your passwords to checking your grammar.

Google Chrome is the extension game’s clear winner. In fact, this is one of the most valuable features of this browser, and a significant number of people use Chrome solely due to its extensions ecosystem.

Safari includes necessary extensions, but not to the extent of Chrome.

Regarding extensions, you should be aware that each one consumes additional system resources and requires you to grant specific permissions.

If you have numerous browser extensions to manage, update, and periodically delete, CleanMyMac X is the best way to keep track of them.

CleanMyMac X is the leading Mac optimization software in the world. It can speed up your processes, clear your RAM, and easily manage all of your extensions. Simply open the Extensions tab and remove any items you do not use or require.

Safari vs. Chrome: Which one is Better?

So, which web browser should you choose between Safari vs Chrome? Both Safari and Chrome offer users significant features that make their browsing experience enjoyable. Apple Safari has been known to have privacy protection features and the fastest browsing speeds. Google Chrome, however, has found ways to catch up by improving the browsing speed for even the most heavy-duty websites. With each browser having its own strengths, it really just comes down to personal preference. If you’re looking for a streamlined experience with enhanced security, go with Apple Safari. If you want an interface with abundant features at your fingertips (such as syncing across all devices), then go with Google Chrome.

Up Next…

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• How to See All Your Google Activity And Delete It Forever: Although large tech companies seem to be able to peer into everyone’s private lives, you have a measure of control. Find out how to exert it here