Just because an app is popular doesn’t mean that it’s exceptional. The Safari and Chrome browsers appear on most smartphones by default and, as such, are used by the majority of cell phone users. But both of these browser apps have plenty of issues, from Safari's finicky performance to Chrome's ongoing security issues. The good news is that there are alternatives, and we rooted through them to bring you the three best.
We’ve been covering technology since 2008 and tracking the best new apps on the market. Along the way, we’ve become experts at distinguishing between an excellent app and an unhelpful data-drainer. For this guide, we searched through the Apple and Android app stores to gather the best Safari and Chrome alternative apps, including the privacy-minded Brave, the creatively inclined Maxthon, and the sleekly designed Vivaldi.
How we rated the best alternatives to Safari and Chrome
WhistleOut searches for Android and iPhone apps that are easy to use and affordable. We evaluate apps through hands-on testing and rate them on a five-star scale based on the following criteria:
- User experience: We search for apps that enhance the user experience, improving the power of your phone and making your life less complicated. The apps we recommend are intuitive, allowing users to put them to use as soon as they open them.
- Price & value: We select apps that charge minimal download fees and tend to favor apps that don't charge anything. We do include some apps that charge fees, though we guarantee that they're worth the price tag.
- Efficacy: App developers like to talk a big game; we test their products to see if they deliver on their promises.
- Practicality: Your phone has a limited amount of storage, so you don't want to clog it with single-use apps that don't improve your day-to-day life. We reward apps that are worth their weight in data.
- Privacy & security: We evaluate the permissions an app requests, sussing out the legitimate from the suspect. We also scour user reviews on relevant app stores to see if customers are reporting security concerns and investigate the veracity of those complaints.
Best Safari and Chrome
alternative apps
1. Brave
A Chrome clone that’s all about security
If you’re accustomed to Chrome’s sleek design, switching to Brave will be an easy transition. The browser looks markedly similar to Google’s, with a clean interface and the ability to seamlessly move between multiple tabs. Unlike Chrome, though, Brave allows even the most tech-addled users to protect themselves against data mining, pop-ups, and what they cheekily refer to as “other creepy things.” All it takes is a simple flip of a switch: users can toggle their Brave Shields on, and the app will block trackers, scripts, and fingerprinting while you’re browsing.
Image: Kevin Kearney
Users can also customize the app for additional security features, like blocking all cookies, or develop healthier browsing habits for themselves or their families by enabling a screen time setting that tracks and limits their usage. Brave also offers an in-app virtual private network (VPN), which allows you to access the internet without providing any identifying information about you or your internet connection. Brave’s app is free, though adding on their VPN costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year.
In our testing, we found Brave to be the best alternative to Chrome and Safari. It was fast, easy to navigate, and capable of doing just about anything those default browsers can do. It was an added bonus that it could do all of that with added layers of protection against the internet’s more malicious elements.
What about Opera?
One of the more popular alternatives to Chrome and Safari is Opera, the Chromium-based browser that offers a free VPN, ad blocking, and a crypto wallet. While we like the interface of Opera, we’re concerned with its security snafus, the deceptive labeling of its VPN (it’s actually a browser proxy), and its parent company’s predatory business practices.
We don’t recommend Opera, especially because Brave and Vivaldi offer so many more benefits without so many risks.
2. Maxthon
The minimalist browser with a creative streak
Maxthon is another suitable replacement for Chrome or Safari. Its simple, minimalist interface allows the webpage to take center stage, and its password manager, Passkeeper, allows you to store login information in the same way as Chrome and Safari. The most interesting thing about Maxthon, though, is Maxnote, an in-app feature that’s part Evernote and part Bookmark. You can quickly add content from any webpage to your Maxnote, an ongoing document of things to read, interesting images, or thought-provoking quotes.
Image: Kevin Kearney
Right now, I email myself interesting things I encounter while browsing on my phone, but that’s a highly ineffective process, with images getting broken in transit and messages getting lost in the inbox. Maxnote is more effective because it doesn’t rely on links: it grabs the information from the web and formats it for the note, allowing you to read articles like the RSS feeds of the past. With Maxthon, I’ll finally catch up on all the reading I’ve been putting off.
3. Vivaldi
Chrome’s desktop interface in the palm of your hand
Like Brave, this browser provides solid security measures, with an in-app password manager and default settings that block malicious trackers and ads across the internet. Vivaldi also looks a lot like Chrome, though its mimicry is of the familiar desktop version of Google’s browser, placing your open tabs at the top of the screen (or the bottom, depending on your preference) so they’re always visible.
Image: Kevin Kearney
While Vivaldi is a safe option overall, it has a few minor downsides. Unlike Brave, the app doesn’t include a VPN, meaning you’ll need to shop elsewhere if you’d like that added level of security. Vivaldi’s security measures are also oversimplified and, as a result, a bit deceptive; when you investigate further by tapping through to “Manage Ad Blocking Sources,” you’ll see that “Allow ads from our partners (support Vivaldi)” is turned on as a default. This means that Vivaldi’s ad blocking only works against advertisers who haven’t become partners with Vivaldi. We suggest toggling that switch off, so you can have protection from all malicious activity, not just those sites that haven’t forked over cash.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts scour the app stores every month, looking for the best new apps for Android and iPhone. Before recommending an app, we use the app for at least one full workday, testing its basic functionality and evaluating whether or not it delivers on its promises. From there, we weigh the app's pros and cons, and then determine whether or not it's a worthwhile download for basic cell phone users.
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Easy to use
Great apps simplify your phone. We selected the tools that don't require a complicated instructional manual. -
Affordability
The internet is filled with expensive price tags, but we're not buying what they're selling. We leaned into inexpensive, quality apps. Extra points if they're free! -
Hands-on testing
We played around with these before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your download.
From there, we weigh the app's pros and cons and then determine whether or not it's a worthwhile download for the wider population of cell phone users.
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