What types of browsers are there for a computer? Browsers for Windows Current browsers

As part of my job, I have to maintain several very advanced computers in working order. In terms of hardware, this is not difficult - fortunately, cars produced 10 years ago are often assembled (soldered) to a higher quality than modern consumer goods. But in terms of software, the task is more difficult. The biggest headache for me is antiviruses and browsers. Both of them are very hungry for RAM, which, alas, is in short supply (for the last 1.5 years, the budget for upgrading computers at school has been approaching zero, and a small upgrade can only be done if the old hardware completely fails). Meanwhile, it is highly advisable to update both the antivirus and the browser periodically. We'll talk about choosing an antivirus some other time, but today I'll try to find the fastest browser for old computers.

First, a little background. Until recently, I installed the old Opera 12 on all old computers. But, alas, one fine day, this once wonderful browser began to display crookedly a vital site - an electronic magazine. Well, I had to say goodbye to the old Opera and look for alternatives.

First of all, of course, I checked how the fresh Opera would behave on old machines. Alas, as expected, Opera 30 (this version was current at the time of my experiment) behaved like a typical Chromium browser: it consumed a lot of memory, forcing the computer to swap heavily (IDE disk, heh...). Things were a little better with other standard chrome clones (Yandex.Browser, Chrome itself). The latest Firefox 40 behaves relatively well, but it has obvious problems with interface rendering (it slows down) and memory consumption is still quite high (especially when opening 2-3 tabs). Well, since the browsers known to everyone cannot cope with the task, let’s try different exotic ones.

Part 1. Looking for a fast browser in the Chromium camp

I was pleasantly surprised in terms of speed. Being an add-on to Internet Explorer, it works very quickly and does not eat up too much memory. But, alas, all this happiness is available only on Windows 7, and my weakest machines run Windows XP. No, the mentioned SlimBrowser works great under Windows XP, but the IE8 engine, alas, is hopelessly outdated and is not much different in rendering quality from the same Opera 12-.

Next, I decided to try out “unusual” variations on the Chromium theme. There were as many as three candidates. The first of them is . It is positioned by the developers as a light and fast browser. In general, this statement is true - for a chromo clone, Midori is really quite light and fast. But, unfortunately, on computers with 1 gigabyte of RAM (and even more so with 512 megabytes) it is not light enough.
The second candidate is Chinese. The younger brother of the well-known Maxthon was born about a year ago. In essence, it is Chromium stripped to the limit. It really works quite quickly, but it still consumes a lot of memory. I would recommend it rather as an addition to the main browser on normal machines (when you need to quickly read something without waiting for the main browser to load - Nitro loads almost instantly). But this browser is not suitable for older computers.

Finally, the last Chrome in my experiment is the OpenSource project. The developer positions it as the successor to the good old Opera, but on a modern engine (guess which one?). True, from a technical point of view, this browser is built a little differently - it does not create a separate process for each sneeze. This feature allows Otter (and this is how the name of the browser is translated from English) to save memory quite well. In terms of speed and functionality, Otter is also doing pretty well. But, alas, it is still very crude and not stable enough for everyday use. And the interface, to be honest, leaves much to be desired... Besides, Otter is essentially a one-man show (in the sense of a developer) and, alas, there is almost no hope for quickly bringing the project to a digestible state.

Otter Browser. In the depths of the tundra Otter in spats...

Part 2. Looking for a fast browser in the Gecko camp

Well, since the Chrome community can’t please us with anything in terms of speed, let’s try to turn to the second opposing side and look at browsers based on the Gecko engine. This engine is no less popular among developers, although it has its own specifics. While browsers based on Chromium (and Blink) are mainly built by various commercial companies (Otter is a rare exception), Gecko is more popular among the OpenSource community. Unfortunately, this community, for the most part, is busy changing the basic functionality of Firefox, as a result of which clones of Ognelis (or Firepanda - as you prefer) with different sets of functions are born. Against this background, several projects stand out that make optimized assemblies for certain platforms. Among them, only two focus their efforts on improving the speed of Firefox. The first project is . Within its framework, they make assemblies that work (according to the developers) 25% faster than the original FF. Until recently, the PaleMoon project even had a separate assembly optimized for Windows XP, but due to the cessation of official support for this OS, its release was discontinued. However, to this day there is a separate build for weak Atom-based machines, which can be used on any old computers.
In terms of speed, I was very pleased with PaleMoon - the subjective speed of launching the browser and loading pages on a computer with 1 GB of RAM is even higher than when working with Opera 12 (although it uses a little more memory). The interface, by the way, is rendered noticeably faster than that of its ancestor in the face of FF (the cut Australis has an effect). True, to make the work more convenient, the “lunar” browser will have to be modified a little (in particular, it will have to be turned on in the settings). In general, the impressions from this browser are the most pleasant. Among other things, PaleMoon supports extensions from FireFox, which means expanding its functionality will be quite simple.

Finally, the last contender for the title of “fastest browser for older computers” is the . This project, which appeared at the dawn of the popularity of Firefox, was in hibernation for many years and only recently began to be revived. Essentially, this is a very distant relative of Firefox, taking only the Gecko engine from its ancestor. Due to its close relationship, K-Meleon does not support extensions from the original Firefox and does not inherit all its problems (working speed in particular). As a result, we have a very fast and quite functional browser. In terms of operating speed today, K-Meleon is the leader. The only thing that prevents us from definitely recommending it for use is the clumsy interface and the fact that it is overloaded with not all the necessary functions.

K-Meleon 74. The fastest browser…

As a conclusion. Based on the results of many days of testing (including on real users), I personally chose PaleMoon (more precisely, its assembly for Atom). In conditions of severe lack of RAM, it works noticeably faster than all other browsers. On computers with 512 megabytes of RAM, K-Meleon showed the best results in terms of memory consumption, but users in almost 100% of cases complain about its inconvenient interface (read: unusual appearance and non-standard arrangement of controls). In theory, all this can be solved by fine-tuning the interface (fortunately, K-Meleon provides such an opportunity), but in practice the difference in the speed of working with PaleMoon is not so great. The final decision, however, is yours.

Updated March 18, 2016
I tested a couple more programs that claim to be the “fastest browser for an old computer.” My impressions are in .

Updated February 19, 2019
It turns out that enthusiasts continue to make PaleMoon builds that work on older computers. Here, in particular, (you need to download the file mypal-28.3.1.win32.installer.exe).

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.

The popular Google Chrome browser was developed by the giant Google in 2008. It is the simplest and fastest due to the absence of many functions. This browser has a built-in Flash player, which eliminates the need to download videos to watch. The second most popular place is occupied by the free browser Mozilla Firefox. It has a convenient menu and can work with Linux, Windows, Ubuntu. This is the simplest and most flexible browser that allows you to manage a large number of plugins. With a lot of new innovations and stable operation, Mozilla Firefox is the best option for beginners.

Internet Explorer is included with the Windows operating system. The latest versions are more advanced, but it is still a slow and unstable browser. Supports security policies, which is why it is installed in many large companies.

The Opera browser, produced by Opera Software, is very simple, stable, functional and fast. This browser is the founder of many innovations that have become the standard for other browsers.

Apple Safari, included with iOS and Mac OS X, was developed by Apple. It ranks fourth in terms of the number of users and is free for all Windows operating systems. The fastest, most modern browser when processing requests and launching. Has a wide range of options and settings.

Third-party developers began to release various modifications of browsers based on common engines: Webkit, Trident, Gecko. Here are a few less common but equally fast browsers: Waterfox, Pale Moon, SeaMonkey, Avant Browser, Lunascape, Chromium, Comodo Dragon.

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 its 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 far as extensions go, this may be a slight downside. 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 that support Java. It is probably the oldest web browser that is currently actively developed. However, it has improved enough to find it on the list of the best internet browsers for Windows and other 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.

Functions	Chrome	Chromium
Updates	Chrome uses GoogleUpdate for Windows to automatically update to the latest version	It is not available for Chromium. You will have to update your browser manually
Usage tracking and crash reports	Chrome sends data to Google servers. This includes general data such as information about your device and OS, Chrome settings, malware sites you visit, search queries, etc.	Also this feature is missing
Sandbox	Chrome and Chromium have Sandbox support. It is always enabled in case of Google Chrome	For Chromium, some Linux distributions may disable the Sandbox feature
Adobe Flash plugin	Google Chrome supports a version of the Adobe Pepper API that is automatically updated by Chrome	Chromium doesn't support it, due to open source

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 a better 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 developed as a rapid release, which means that features are built into a 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 on 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 also attractive, just like other famous browsers that we see in the market. UC Browser has a built-in password manager and cloud synchronization capabilities with other devices. Many users are attracted by the built-in VPN.

Retained the status of the most widespread browser in the whole world - the Google product is installed on 59.66% of computers. This means that Chrome is installed by default on almost 6 out of 10 computers worldwide. With Windows being the leading operating system for the desktop platform, it is clear that most users are replacing the standard Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer browser with Google Chrome.

Microsoft Edge still lags significantly behind its competitors in terms of functionality and third-party support. Additionally, Microsoft's new Windows 10 update system means users have to wait 6 months to get new features and improvements.

Microsoft has often come under fire for its aggressive marketing strategy for its Edge browser. At one time, Redmond even launched separate notifications that tried to convince users to try the company's new browser and ditch Chrome.

However, statistical figures show that this strategy did not work. Google Chrome is a very serious competitor with a large market share and regular updates.

The next major update to Microsoft Edge will be available this month with the release of Windows 10 (1803) Spring Creators Update.

StatCounter

NetMarketShare data is confirmed by statistics from another service - StatCounter. Here Chrome is also the undisputed leader with a total share of 66.93%, and the closest pursuer Firefox with a market share of 11.6%.

However, in the final StatCounter table Edge takes only 5th place with a market share of 4.18%, and 4th place goes to Safari - the audience of Apple's browser is 5.37%.

In Russia, Google Chrome is installed on every second computer - its share is 55.37%. Yandex.Browser is also very popular - it is preferred by 15.16% of users. On the 3rd and 4th lines of the table are Firefox and Opera with 9.89% and 8.91%.

Choosing a browser is simple: just download any of the most popular ones and, sooner or later, you will definitely get used to it. But in order for the process of learning and further use to be as comfortable as possible, you must know what to look for and count on. Here is a list of the most famous free browsers for Windows 7/8/10. Downloading them and trying them yourself is the best option, but don’t be lazy to read the entire text and save time.

Google Chrome - the forefront of web technologies

Google Chrome is the most popular browser today, installed on almost every computer. At first, Chrome gained popularity for its speed and flexibility in settings, including through the installation of browser extensions. Now this is not the fastest browser, but the most functional with support for all innovations in web technologies. A truly huge library of add-ons allows you to get any functionality.

Chrome has the Chromium engine under its hood, which has become the standard for modern browsers. Most popular browsers are made using the Chromium engine. The engine is responsible for rendering the code of pages and scripts -> into a visible page on the monitor screen.

Browser advantages:

• All kinds of extensions that can replace standard programs
• Failure control allows you to keep your browser working even if there is an error in one of the open windows
• Warning the user about visiting malicious sites
• Import settings from any browser
• Multilingual interface
• Automatic updates
• There is a developer toolbar
• with a Google account
• The built-in task manager allows you to assess which tabs are consuming a lot of processor and memory resources

• Bookmarks are not very convenient, there are no built-in visual bookmarks, but there are
• Works poorly with many open tabs, and eats up a lot of memory, but frees it up the fastest after closing them.

Currently, Google Chrome is considered the best browser for Windows 7 and Windows 8/10. But to each his own. For example, I don’t like the uninformative download manager when opening many tabs. True, there is an extension called The Great Suspender, which, after a specified time, frees memory from unused tabs. But Chrome doesn’t close them, and to see these pages again, you just need to refresh them.

Chrome launches the fastest in Windows 7, but in Windows 7 and 10 things are bad - the loading time increases up to two times!

Opera is the best choice

There is perhaps no browser that is clearer, more understandable and easier to learn for a beginner than Opera. Although Opera now runs on the Chromium engine, it has everything you need for surfing without installing additional extensions.

I used to use Opera because of its convenient visual bookmarks (tiles with the most necessary sites on an empty tab) and the file download manager. Here it is done very conveniently and clearly. Opera is the best browser for working with many open tabs, and in general. You can keep several dozen sites open, and this will not particularly affect the speed of work.

Particularly useful in today's realities, built-in and unlimited traffic. And plus there is a “Turbo” function for compressing transmitted data for . But here you need to experiment. Sometimes, on a slow connection, the opposite effect occurs - the speed decreases even more.