Is Safari a Good Browser?
When people ask, âIs Safari a good browser?â the answer depends entirely on your needs. Safari, Appleâs default browser for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, is clean, private, and efficientâespecially within the Apple ecosystem. But once you compare it directly with browsers like Chrome and Brave, weaknesses become clear. If speed, privacy, compatibility, and customization matter to you, itâs worth looking deeper.
The Pros of Safari
Letâs be fairâSafari has its strengths. Its minimalist design appeals to users who prefer simplicity. With fewer distractions, the browsing experience feels clean and focused.
One major plus is deep Apple integration. If you’re using a MacBook, iPhone, and iPad together, Safari makes syncing bookmarks, history, and open tabs easy via iCloud. Itâs efficient and battery-friendly on Apple devices, often using less energy than Chrome or Firefox.
Safari is also marketed as a privacy-first browser. Features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention help block cross-site trackers by defaultâgiving users a sense of security without needing third-party extensions.
The Performance Puzzle
Still, many usersâmyself includedâfind themselves frustrated with Safariâs performance. When opening complex websites or web-based applications, Safari often struggles where Chrome and Brave succeed. Pages load slower, scripts can fail, and the experience feels inconsistent.
Compatibility is another issue. Safari occasionally fails to render websites correctly or support certain web-based features. Developers often test their applications first on Chromium-based browsers, making Safari the odd one out.
Privacy vs Usability
Safariâs privacy tools are great in theory, but they sometimes get in the way. Its aggressive cookie-blocking can break websites or limit personalized content. Want your favorite site to remember your preferences? Safari may not allow it.
Brave offers a more balanced approachâblocking trackers and fingerprinting by default, but with flexible settings. Brave even includes a private browsing mode powered by Tor for extra anonymity. If you’re wondering, âIs Safari a good browser for privacy?ââthe answer is yes, but Brave is better.
Extensions and Customization
Safari falls short in this area. Its extension library is limited, and many useful toolsâGrammarly, advanced ad blockers, and productivity aidsâare simply not available or lag behind updates found on Chrome.
Chrome, by contrast, has the largest extension ecosystem on the web. Brave, built on Chromium, supports most of the same extensions while offering better default privacy. If you value customization, Safari doesnât offer much beyond changing your homepage and font size.
Syncing That Isnât Always Seamless
Safari should excel at syncingâbut even that can be hit-or-miss. There have been times when tabs opened on my Mac didnât appear on my iPhone, or history didnât sync at all. And of course, if you use a Windows or Android device, Safari isnât even an option.
Chrome and Brave sync effortlessly across platforms, letting you take your browsing session anywhere. So if cross-device compatibility matters, Safari is not your best bet.
Browser Comparison Table
| Feature | Safari | Chrome | Brave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast on Apple devices but lags with heavy sites | Very fast and highly optimized | Extremely fast thanks to built-in ad/tracker blocking |
| Privacy | Good defaults, limited control | Basic privacy, needs extensions | Best-in-class privacy out of the box |
| Extension Support | Small and restricted | Largest library of extensions | Supports Chrome extensions |
| Customization | Minimal | Highly customizable | Similar to Chrome, with privacy-focused defaults |
| Cross-Device Syncing | Only works well with Apple devices | Excellent syncing across all platforms | Syncs bookmarks, tabs, and history |
| Battery Usage | Excellent on Macs | Resource-heavy | Efficient, more so than Chrome |
What Browser Should You Use Instead?
If youâre finding Safari limiting or frustrating, here are better options to consider:
- Brave: My personal favorite. Itâs blazing fast, privacy-respecting, and doesnât require plugins to block ads or trackers. It even rewards you with BAT tokens for viewing privacy-preserving ads.
- Chrome: The industry standard. It has excellent compatibility, speed, and extension supportâthough it comes at the cost of higher resource use and limited built-in privacy.
- Firefox: A strong open-source alternative. It offers solid privacy, flexibility, and customization. Great for users who like control.
All three outperform Safari in at least one key area: speed, privacy, or customization.
Final Verdict: Is Safari a Good Browser?
If youâre deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and only use Apple products, Safari might be a decent fit. Itâs energy-efficient, secure by default, and integrated smoothly with other Apple services. But ask yourself againâis Safari a good browser when you consider speed, compatibility, extensions, and syncing?
For most people in 2025, the answer is no. Safari is okayâbut Chrome, Brave, and Firefox offer a better all-around experience. Brave in particular delivers the speed of Chrome with superior privacy and efficiency.
Looking to make the switch? Try Brave here and experience a faster, smarter, and more private web.
