What if Google was forced to sell Chrome ? Here are the 7 best alternatives

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In an unprecedented legal context, Google is facing a potential major restructuring after being found guilty of abusing its dominant position in the search engine market. The tech giant could be forced to divest Chrome, its flagship browser that dominates the global market.

This historic decision, if it comes to fruition, could reshape the digital landscape and offer users new perspectives. Get ahead of this potential change by discovering 8 powerful alternatives that could take over from Chrome.

Firefox

Developed and distributed by the Mozilla Foundation, this is certainly one of the most popular alternatives to Google Chrome. Committed to privacy, Firefox offers enhanced privacy features that block trackers and harmful scripts by default, making it a smart choice for users concerned about their online security.

In addition, its customization options are extensive, with access to thousands of extensions and themes. Open source, it is compatible with multiple platforms and syncs seamlessly between different devices. Its open nature also means it evolves extremely quickly, with new features constantly being added.

Microsoft Edge

This is the browser developed by one of Google's fiercest rivals: Microsoft. The successor to Microsoft Explorer is the complete opposite of its predecessor, with fast performance and improved security features, such as tracking prevention and built-in phishing protection.

Its strong point: interoperability with the entire Microsoft ecosystem, such as OneDrive and Office services. Enough to improve the productivity of fans of the Redmond firm. In addition, Edge offers other very useful tools such as Collections to organize web content and PDF tools to annotate documents.

For several months, generative artificial intelligence has been gradually integrated into the browser, in order to further optimize the user experience. For example, it integrates Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot.

A slight downside is that some users regret the clutter of the Edge interface, an opinion that remains subjective, however.

Safari

And now, here is the ideal solution for avid users of Apple products. The platform straight out of Cupertino is unsurprisingly pre-installed on the devices of the brand with the apple, and now occupies the second place among the most used browsers in the world.

One of the main assets of Safari is its speed and performance: it is known for its ultra-fast browsing capabilities, which considerably improve the user experience by reducing loading times thanks to advanced caching techniques.

Another notable aspect is that Apple's browser prioritizes privacy, with features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which blocks cross-site tracking and provides a safer browsing environment. It integrates seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem, synchronizing bookmarks, passwords, and browsing sessions across devices.

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However, we can regret Safari's relatively limited library of extensions, which drastically limits customization compared to Chrome or Firefox.

Brave

Brave stands out for the importance it gives to privacy and security, offering users a unique browsing experience. One of its main advantages is the built-in ad and tracker blocking, which improves user protection by default.

The platform also features the HTTPS Everywhere protocol, which guarantees secure connections and offers protection against fingerprinting. In concrete terms, this prevents websites from tracking Internet users based on unique identifiers. The browser also stands out for its solidarity approach: it offers to pay Internet users who choose to watch advertising. The money collected in cryptocurrencies can then be used to make donations to the sites that the user wishes to support.

It should be noted, however, that strict privacy settings may cause compatibility issues with some sites that rely on ads or tracking for their functionality. Additionally, users have reported that the browser can be resource-intensive due to its security features, which can lead to increased CPU and memory usage, especially on older devices.

Opera

With a lightweight and efficient design, Opera provides fast browsing while consuming fewer resources than some competitors. Likewise, it excels in privacy and security, with built-in malware protection, phishing safeguards, and a free VPN, a rarity among mainstream browsers.

Opera is also deeply committed to AI adoption, with increasingly impressive capabilities. Its native solution, Aria, accessible via command line or sidebar, combines free access to GPT-based tools and real-time web data, boosting productivity and creativity.

Vivaldi

Vivaldi stands out for its exceptional customization capabilities. Its highly flexible interface allows users to change everything from tab placement to color scheme, making it an ideal tool for tech-savvy individuals.

The browser includes robust productivity tools, a powerful sidebar, and advanced tab management features that help multitask efficiently. Unfortunately, it sometimes suffers from stability issues with unexpected crashes.

Arc

It’s the new kid on the browser scene. Launched in 2023, Arc takes a completely new approach to browsing the internet. It offers a unique blend of features that prioritize productivity and user experience. Its vertical sidebar interface offers an intuitive tab management system, making it less cluttered and easier to switch between tasks. Its lightweight architecture also ensures fast performance and smooth operation, even with many tabs open.

One of the most notable features of Arc is the integration of artificial intelligence capabilities. For example, the browser includes Arc Max, a suite of AI-powered tools that improve browsing efficiency. Ask on Page lets you ask questions directly about the content of web pages.

Arc is also developing an AI agent that can browse the web on behalf of users. However, its availability is currently limited to macOS, iOS, and Windows 11, with Android and Windows 10 versions still under development. Also, some users may find the learning curve of its unique interface difficult, especially if they are used to traditional tabbed browsing.

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