Google Chrome vs Apple Safari: Which Browser is Better for Your Mac?

If you are a Mac user, you might be wondering which browser is the best choice for your browsing needs. Should you stick with the default Safari browser, or switch to the popular Google Chrome? Both browsers have their pros and cons, and the answer may depend on your personal preferences and priorities. In this blog post, we will compare Safari and Chrome on four main aspects: performance, features, privacy, and extensions. By the end of this post, you should have a better idea of which browser suits you better.

Performance

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a browser is how fast and smooth it runs on your Mac. Performance can affect your browsing experience, your productivity, and your battery life. To measure performance, we will look at : JetStream 2 and Speedometer 2.0. JetStream 2 tests how quickly a browser can start and execute code, which affects how fast web pages load and run. Speedometer 2.0 tests how responsive a browser is when running web applications, such as online games, social media, and email.

According to the latest results, Chrome came out on top in JetStream 2 testing. This means that Chrome is slightly faster than Safari in loading and running web pages. However, the difference is not very significant, and both browsers performed well.

On the other hand, Safari was the fastest in Speedometer 2.0 testing. This means that Safari is more responsive than Chrome when running web applications. Again, the difference is not very large, and both browsers performed well.

Based on these benchmarks tests, we can conclude that both Safari and Chrome are fast and reliable browsers, and the performance gap between them is not very noticeable. However, if you value speed over responsiveness, you might prefer Chrome, and if you value responsiveness over speed, you might prefer Safari.

Another aspect of performance to consider is how much battery and memory a browser consumes on your Mac. According to study, Safari is more energy-efficient and less taxing on your system than Chrome. Safari uses less CPU and RAM than Chrome, which means it can run longer and smoother on your Mac, especially if you have multiple tabs open. Chrome, on the other hand, tends to use more CPU and RAM than Safari, which means it can drain your battery faster and slow down your Mac, especially if you have multiple tabs open.

Based on this aspect, we can conclude that Safari is more efficient and lightweight than Chrome, and the difference can be noticeable. If you value battery life and system performance, you might prefer Safari, and if you don’t mind sacrificing some battery life and system performance, you might prefer Chrome.

Features

Another factor to consider when choosing a browser is what features it offers to enhance your browsing experience. Features can include things like user interface, integration, customization, security, and accessibility. To compare features, we will look at some of the unique and useful features that Safari and Chrome offer.

One of the features that Safari offers is its integration with Apple’s ecosystem. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, you can sync your bookmarks, history, passwords, tabs, and preferences across your devices using iCloud. You can also use features like Handoff, AirDrop, and Continuity Camera to seamlessly switch between your devices and share files and photos. Moreover, you can use features like Touch ID and Face ID to securely log in to websites and confirm online purchases.

Another feature that Safari offers is its Reader mode, which lets you customize your reading experience on any web page. You can change the background color, font size, and text style to suit your preferences. You can also remove ads, pop-ups, and other distractions from the web page, and focus on the content you want to read.

One of the features that Chrome offers is its versatility and customization. Chrome has a wide range of extensions that you can install to add functionality and personalization to your browser. Extensions can help you do things like block ads, manage passwords, translate languages, take screenshots, and more. You can also customize your browser’s appearance, settings, and shortcuts to suit your needs.

Another feature that Chrome offers is its integration with Google’s ecosystem. If you use Google apps and services, such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Translate, and more, you can access them easily from your browser. You can also sync your bookmarks, history, passwords, tabs, and preferences across your devices using your Google account. Moreover, you can use features like Chromecast, Google Assistant, and Google Lens to stream content, get answers, and scan images from your browser.

Based on these features, we can conclude that both Safari and Chrome offer useful and unique features to enhance your browsing experience. However, if you value seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, strong privacy protection, and optimized performance, you might prefer Safari. On the other hand, if you value versatility and customization, a wide range of extensions, and additional features, you might prefer Chrome.

Privacy

Another factor to consider when choosing a browser is how well it protects your privacy and security online. Privacy and security can affect how much of your personal data and browsing activity is exposed to third parties, such as advertisers, hackers, and government agencies. To compare privacy and security, we will look at some of the measures that Safari and Chrome take to safeguard your online privacy and security.

One of the measures that Safari takes is its Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which blocks third-party cookies and trackers from following you across websites. This prevents advertisers and websites from collecting your browsing data and showing you targeted ads. Safari also has a Privacy Report feature, which shows you how many trackers Safari has blocked on each website you visit.

Another measure that Safari takes is its encryption and sandboxing, which protect your data and device from malicious attacks. Safari uses end-to-end encryption to secure your data when you use features like iCloud, Apple Pay, and FaceTime. Safari also uses sandboxing to isolate each tab and website from each other and from your system, preventing malware and viruses from spreading or accessing your data.

One of the measures that Chrome takes is its Safe Browsing, which warns you of dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions. Chrome checks each website you visit against a list of known malicious sites, and alerts you if it detects any phishing, malware, or unwanted software. Chrome also scans each file you download and each extension you install for viruses and malware, and blocks them if they are harmful.

Another measure that Chrome takes is its password manager and autofill, which help you create and store strong passwords and personal information. Chrome can generate and save complex passwords for each website you sign up for, and autofill them when you log in. Chrome can also save and autofill your name, address, phone number, and credit card information when you fill out online forms. Chrome encrypts and syncs your passwords and personal information across your devices using your Google account.

Based on these measures, we can conclude that both Safari and Chrome take steps to protect your privacy and security online. However, if you value more control over your data and less exposure to third-party trackers and ads, you might prefer Safari. On the other hand, if you value more convenience and ease of use, and don’t mind sharing some data with Google and other third parties, you might prefer Chrome.

Extensions

Another factor to consider when choosing a browser is what extensions it supports to add functionality and personalization to your browser. Extensions are small programs that you can install to your browser to do things like block ads, manage passwords, translate languages, take screenshots, and more. To compare extensions, we will look at the availability and quality of extensions for Safari and Chrome.

One of the drawbacks of Safari is its limited availability and variety of extensions. Safari has fewer extensions than Chrome, and most of them are not as popular or well-known. Safari also has stricter requirements and guidelines for developers to create and publish extensions, which may limit the innovation and diversity of extensions. Moreover, Safari does not support some of the most popular and useful extensions that are available for Chrome.

One of the advantages of Chrome is its wide availability and variety of extensions. Chrome has thousands of extensions that you can choose from, and most of them are free and easy to install. Chrome also has more relaxed requirements and guidelines for developers to create and publish extensions, which may encourage the innovation and diversity of extensions. Moreover, Chrome supports some of the most popular and useful extensions that are available for other browsers, such as LastPass, Grammarly, and Evernote.

Based on this comparison, we can conclude that Chrome has a clear edge over Safari in terms of extensions. If you value having more options and flexibility to customize your browser and enhance its functionality, you might prefer Chrome. On the other hand, if you don’t use or need many extensions, or if you value having more security and stability, you might prefer Safari.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Safari and Chrome are excellent browsers for your Mac, and the best choice may depend on your personal preferences and priorities. Here is a summary of the main pros and cons of each browser:

• Safari–
  • Pros: More energy-efficient and less taxing on your system; More integrated with the Apple ecosystem; Strong privacy protection and optimized performance; Reader mode to customize your reading experience.
    • Cons: Limited availability and variety of extensions; Slightly slower and less responsive than Chrome; Stricter requirements and guidelines for developers.
• Chrome-
  • Pros: Wide availability and variety of extensions; Slightly faster and more responsive than Safari; More relaxed requirements and guidelines for developers; Versatility and customization; Integration with Google’s ecosystem.
  • Cons: Less energy-efficient and more taxing on your system; Less control over your data and more exposure to third-party trackers and ads; No reader mode to customize your reading experience.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. You can try both browsers and see which one you like better, or you can use both browsers for different purposes. For example, you can use Safari for your personal browsing and Chrome for your work browsing, or vice versa. You can also switch between browsers depending on your mood, needs, or preferences. The important thing is to enjoy your browsing experience and stay safe online.