Mozilla Firefox is the most popular browser, taking prizes in its category thanks to well-coordinated work, protection and excellent speed. “Fire Fox” - it’s not for nothing that the developers called their product that way: flexibility, speed and caution like a fox.
The web browser has enormous popularity abroad, and expert analysis has shown that the browser shows a minimal percentage of failures compared to its competitors. Official version released for macOS, GNU/Linux and Android, Windows, and unofficial ones for FreeBSD, UNIX-like operating systems, as well as BeOS.
Atom is the latest high-speed Chromium-based browser with a focus on privacy and security.
Mail.ru has created the fastest possible web navigator with optimized loading of popular resources for high-speed opening even with a weak Internet connection and increased security user's personal data.
Google Chrome is a popular browser in RuNet and beyond, whose developers are trying to bring it to a leading position thanks to constant updates. The name Google speaks for itself - employees are focused on perfect browser performance and satisfied users.
Convenient navigation, fast loading pages, an easy interface and high-speed display of queries in a minibox are rightfully considered the main requirements necessary for the user to work smoothly on the network. The difference from its analogues is the creation of Google Drive - a “cloud storage” of your files, which you can share with other users. The privacy of the Internet browser is also not inferior to competitors - cyber attacks, phishing and virus penetration are reduced to a minimum.
Comodo Dragon is a free web browser based on the well-known Chromium core with optimized protection of confidential data.
All browsers developed on the above core have a similar interface, but have improvements and additions. If you download Comodo Dragon for free to your computer, you will receive a web navigator that will create powerful protection for your personal information when surfing the web. Before opening a website, the program carefully scans it for threats.
Opera is one of the most popular web browsers, earning this status due to its reliable performance and ease of use. The simple interface, which does not distract from work, can be modified and supplemented at will.
Opera features two unique tools: Turbo mode, which ensures good loading of web pages even with a slow Internet connection, and Speed Dial which provides quick access to frequently visited pages and browser functions.
Yandex Browser is a high-quality free web browser that combines all the best features of Chrome and Opera: “turbo mode” that saves traffic, a “Chrome” translator and the ability to quickly load pages even with a weak Internet connection.
Elements Browser– free new browser With convenient search and quick access to web resources. Works with all search engines and has all the necessary tools for safe and convenient web surfing.
The web navigator is based on Chromium, and therefore has similar functionality. The software’s functions allow you to quickly and safely “travel” across the Internet, bypass access blocks, save traffic, set up privacy and “incognito”, and block access to unverified sites.
With the development of web technologies, the content displayed using a browser becomes more and more “heavy”. The video bitrate is increasing, caching and storing data requires more and more space, and scripts running on user machines consume a lot of CPU time. Browser developers keep up with trends and try to include support for all new trends in their products. This leads to the fact that the latest versions of popular browsers place increased demands on the system on which they are running. In this article we will talk about which browser to choose for a computer that does not have enough power to use the Big Three browsers and the like.
As part of the article, we will conduct a kind of testing of four browsers - Maxthon Nitro, Pale Moon, Otter Browser, K-Meleon - and compare their behavior with, as the most voracious browser at the time of writing. During the process, we'll look at startup and running speeds, RAM and CPU utilization, and whether there are enough resources left to complete other tasks. Since Chrome provides extensions, we will test both with and without them.
It is worth noting that some results may differ from those you get from such testing. This applies to those parameters that depend on Internet speed, in particular, page loading.
Test configuration
To carry out the test, we actually took weak computer. The initial parameters are:
About browsers
Let's talk briefly about the browsers participating in today's testing - about the engines, features, and so on.
Maxthon Nitro
This browser was created by the Chinese company Maxthon International Limited based on the Blink engine - a reworked WebKit for . Supports everything operating systems, including mobile ones.
Pale Moon
This member is a brother with some modifications and one of them is optimization for Windows systems and only under them. This, according to the developers, makes it possible to significantly increase the speed of work.
Otter Browser
"Otter" was created using the Qt5 engine, which is used by the developers. The data on the official website is very scarce, so there is nothing more to say about the browser.
K-Meleon
This is another browser based on Firefox, but with the most reduced functionality. This move by the creators made it possible to minimize resource consumption and increase speed.
Startup speed
Let's start from the beginning - let's measure the time it takes for the browser to fully launch, that is, you can already open pages, make settings, etc. The goal is to determine which patient comes to a state of combat readiness faster. We will use google.com as the start page. We will take measurements until it is possible to enter text into the search bar.
- Maxthon Nitro – from 10 to 6 seconds;
- Pale Moon – from 6 to 3 seconds;
- Otter Browser – from 9 to 6 seconds;
- K-Meleon – from 4 to 2 seconds;
- Google Chrome (extensions disabled) – from 5 to 3 seconds. With extensions ( , Browsec, ePN CashBack) – 11 seconds.
As we can see, all browsers quite quickly open their window on the desktop and show readiness for work.
Memory consumption
Since we are very limited in the amount of RAM, this indicator is one of the most important. Let's look into "Task Manager" and calculate the total consumption of each experimental subject, having first opened three identical pages - Yandex (main page), YouTube and the website. Measurements will be taken after some waiting.
Let's launch a video on YouTube with a resolution of 480p and see how much the situation changes.
Now let's complicate the task by simulating a real work situation. To do this, we will open 10 tabs in each browser and look at the overall responsiveness of the system, that is, we will check whether it is comfortable to work with the browser and other programs in this mode. As mentioned above, we have Word, Notepad, a calculator running, and we will also try to open Paint. We will also measure page loading speed. The results will be recorded based on subjective feelings.
- In Maxthon Nitro, there are slight delays in switching between browser tabs and when opening running programs. The same thing happens when viewing the contents of folders. In general, the OS behaves quite well with minor lags. The page loading speed is not annoying.
- Pale Moon beats Nitro in terms of tab switching and page loading speed, but the rest of the system is somewhat slower, with longer delays when launching programs and opening folders.
- When using Otter Browser, page rendering speed is quite slow, especially after opening several tabs. The overall responsiveness of the browser also leaves much to be desired. After launching Paint Otter, it stopped responding to our actions for some time, and running applications opened very “tightly”.
- Another thing about K-Meleon is that page loading and the speed of switching between tabs are very high. “Drawing” starts instantly, other programs also respond quite quickly. The system overall responds well.
- Even though Google Chrome tries to unload the contents of unused tabs from memory (when they are activated, they are reloaded), the active use of the page file makes the work completely uncomfortable. This results in constant page reloads and, in some cases, demos. empty field instead of content. Other programs also “don’t like” the proximity to Chrome, as there are high delays and refusals to respond to user actions.
The latest measurements showed the real state of affairs. If under gentle conditions all products produce similar results, then when the load on the system increases, some are left behind.
Since CPU usage may differ in different situations, we will look at the behavior of browsers in idle mode. The same tabs shown above will be opened.
All patients show good results, that is, they do not load the “stone” during the absence of actions within the program.
Watch video
In this step we will enable the video card by setting NVIDIA driver. We will measure the number of frames per second using the program in full screen mode and 720p resolution with 50 FPS. The video will be included on YouTube.
As you can see, not all browsers are capable of fully playing video in HD quality. When using them, you will have to reduce the resolution to 480p or even 360p.
Conclusion
During testing, we identified some important characteristics of our current test subjects. Based on the results obtained, we can draw the following conclusions: K-Meleon is the fastest in operation. It saves maximum resources for other tasks, but is not entirely suitable for watching videos in high quality. Nitro, Pale Moon and Otter are approximately equal in memory consumption, but the latter lags far behind in overall responsiveness under increased load. As for Google Chrome, its use on computers similar in configuration to our test one is completely unacceptable. This is expressed in slowdowns and freezes due to the high load on the paging file, and therefore on the hard drive.
Every year programs for working with the Internet become more and more functional and optimized. The best of them have high speed, the ability to save traffic, protect your computer from viruses and work with popular network protocols. Best Browsers at the end of 2018, they can withstand competition thanks to regular useful updates and stable operation.
Google Chrome
The most common and popular browser for Windows today is Google Chrome. This program is developed on the WebKit engine combined with javascript. It has a number of advantages, including not only stable operation and intuitive clear interface, but also a very rich store with a variety of plugins that make your browser even more functional.
A convenient and fast Internet explorer is installed on 42% of devices worldwide. True, most of them are mobile gadgets.
Google Chrome is the most popular browser
Pros of Google Chrome:
- fast loading of Internet pages and high quality recognition and processing of web elements;
- a convenient quick access and bookmarks panel that allows you to save your favorite sites for instant access to them;
- high data security, saving passwords and increased confidentiality “Incognito” mode;
- an extension store with many interesting browser add-ons, including news feeds, ad blockers, photo and video downloaders and much more;
- regular updates and user support.
Browser disadvantages:
- the browser is demanding on computer resources and reserves at least 2 GB of free RAM for stable operation;
- not all plugins are from the official one Google store Chrome translated into Russian;
- After update 42.0, the program suspended support for many plugins, including Flash Player.
The browser from Yandex was released in 2012 and was developed on the WebKit and javascript engine, which was later called Chromium. Explorer aims to connect Internet surfing with Yandex services. The program’s interface turned out to be convenient and original: although the design does not look like a breakthrough, the ease of use of the tiles from the “Scoreboard” curtain is not inferior to bookmarks in Chrome. The developers took care of the user’s safety on the Internet by embedding anti-virus plugins Antishock, Adguard and Web Trust into the browser.
Pros of Yandex Browser:
- fast website processing speed and instant page loading;
- smart search through the Yandex system;
- customization of bookmarks, the ability to add up to 20 tiles to quick access;
- increased security when surfing the Internet, active antivirus protection and blocking shock advertising;
- turbo mode and traffic saving.
Disadvantages of Yandex Browser:
- intrusive operation of services from Yandex;
- each new bookmark consumes a considerable amount of RAM;
- Although an ad blocker and an antivirus protect your computer from Internet threats, they sometimes slow down the program.
Mozilla Firefox
This browser is built on the lightweight Gecko engine, which has open source, so everyone can take part in its improvement. Mozilla has a unique style and stable operation, but does not always cope with serious loads: with a large number of open tabs the program starts to freeze a little, and CPU with RAM are loaded more than usual.
In the USA and Europe, Mozilla Firefox is used by users much more often than in Russia and neighboring countries
Pros of Mozilla Firefox:
- The browser's store of extensions and add-ons is simply huge. There are more than 100 thousand names of various plugins;
- fast interface operation at low loads;
- increased security of user personal data;
- synchronization between browsers various devices for sharing bookmarks and passwords;
- minimalistic interface without unnecessary details.
Cons of Mozilla Firefox:
- Some features of Mozilla Firefox are hidden from users. To access additional functions you must enter “about:config” in the address bar;
- unstable work with scripts and flash player, due to which some sites may not be displayed correctly;
- low performance, slowdown of the interface when there are a large number of open tabs.
Opera
The history of the browser stretches back to 1994. Until 2013, Opera worked on its own engine, but then switched to Webkit+V8, following the example of Google Chrome. The program has established itself as one of best apps to save traffic and quickly access pages. Turbo mode in Opera works stably, compressing pictures and videos when loading the site. The extension store is inferior to competitors, but all the plugins necessary for comfortable Internet use are available for free.
In Russia, the percentage of Opera browser users is twice as high as the world average
Pros of Opera:
- fast speed of transition to new pages;
- convenient “Turbo” mode, which saves traffic and allows pages to load faster. Data compression works on graphic elements, saving more than 20% of your Internet traffic;
- one of the most convenient express panels among all modern browsers. Possibility of unlimited adding of new tiles, editing their addresses and names;
- built-in picture-in-picture function - the ability to watch videos, adjust volume and rewind even when the application is minimized;
- Convenient synchronization of bookmarks and passwords using the Opera Link function. If you use Opera on your phone and computer at the same time, your data will be synced across both devices.
Cons of Opera:
- increased consumption of RAM even with a small number of open bookmarks;
- high power consumption on gadgets powered by their own battery;
- long browser startup compared to similar browsers;
- weak customization with a small number of settings.
Safari
Apple's browser is popular on Mac OS and iOS; it appears much less frequently on Windows. However, throughout the world this program takes an honorable fourth place in the overall list of popularity among similar applications. Safari is fast, provides high security for user data, and official tests prove that it is optimized better than many other Internet explorers. True, the program has not received global updates for a long time.
Safari updates for Windows users haven't been released since 2014
Safari Pros:
- high speed of loading Internet pages;
- low load on RAM and the device processor.
Cons of Safari:
- browser support on Windows platform stopped back in 2014, so you shouldn’t expect global updates;
- not the best optimization for devices on Windows based. With developments from Apple program works more stable and faster.
Other browsers
Apart from the most popular browsers mentioned above, there are many other programs worth considering.
Internet Explorer
Built in Windows standard browser Internet Explorer most often becomes an object of ridicule rather than a program for constant use. Many people see the application only as a client for downloading a better explorer. However, today the program ranks fifth in Russia and second in the world in terms of the share of users. In 2018, the application was launched by 8% of Internet visitors. True, the speed of working with pages and the lack of support for many plugins makes Internet Explorer not the most best choice for the role of a regular browser.
Internet Explorer 11 - latest browser in the Internet Explorer family
Tor
The Tor program runs through the system anonymous network, allowing the user to visit any sites of interest and remain incognito. The browser uses numerous VPNs and proxy servers, which allows free access to the entire Internet, but slows down the application. Low performance and long download times make Tor not the best solution for listening to music and watching videos on the global network.
Tor is free and open software for anonymous exchange of information online
Choosing a browser for personal use is not so difficult: the main thing is to decide what goals you are pursuing by using global network. The best Internet explorers have different sets of features and plugins, competing in page loading speed, optimization and security.
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Browser (as it is also called a web navigator, web browser) – special program, created to display information from the Internet on the screen of a computer or smartphone. This application software allows you to browse various websites, search for necessary information, open web documents and process queries.
In an era of active competitiveness in the browser industry, it is quite difficult to surprise the demanding user and satisfy his needs. Therefore, versions of web navigators are constantly updated, optimizing already implemented functions and creating new ones. There are many worthy and convenient programs for every taste and needs of the user, and our article will help you decide on the optimal choice.
Programs |
Russian language |
License |
Add-ons |
Rating |
Ad blocking |
VPN |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 6 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 5 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 5 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 7 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 5 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 5 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 7 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 5 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 5 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 6 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 6 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 7 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Plugin | Plugin | |
| Yes | Free | Partially | 10 | Plugin | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | Plugin |
Browser usage statistics
Stable, reliable and fast web navigator. The interface does not “pressure” the user and can be modified depending on the user’s wishes. Optimized Turbo and Speed Dial tools allow you to increase browser speed and quickly access popular pages. Privacy, spelling, downloader, password manager and spam blocker are the main advantages of the web browser.
A world-famous web browser that creates comfortable and secure conditions for the user on the Internet. The software allows you to create your own file storage database - Google Drive. The possibility of various types of cyber attacks and penetration of “pests” is minimized. Smart omnibox, personalization, saving web surfing activity, translator, synchronization with mobile devices– the main, but not all, features of the utility.
World-famous web browser, winner of various ratings and tests, “favorite” of millions of users. The probability of failures is reduced to a minimum percentage, and the flexibility and speed of work in the utility is amazing. The wide functionality of the software will surprise even the most demanding user, since the Fire Fox not only optimized the operation of tabs, spelling, and history saving, but also made it possible to view PDF files, parental control of children’s visits to “forbidden” sites, 3D support and spam blocking. 
A popular web browser that deservedly ranks fourth among software in this category in terms of the number of fans. A convenient search engine allows you to use various search services, the “memory” function opens previously closed sites, convenient work with tabs and an RSS feed are some of the main advantages of the browser. 
An experimental development by Opera, amazingly realistic in the browser and the “come to life” of tabs when you touch the cursor. The developers have introduced a split-screen function, where you can work in several tabs at the same time. Pop-up video window can be moved around the screen home page while simultaneously working and watching multimedia. The tab's splash screen visually looks like a website, which makes it easier to find the desired web page. The screenshot taken from the screen can be instantly sent to social networks or by mail to a friend. 
It combines the best features of Opera and Chrome and is popular and in demand among users. Loading pages on a weak network, automatic page translator, and Turbo mode are some of the main functionality of the web navigator. Web surfing through this utility is protected by the work of Kaspersky Lab, and the creators of the software synchronized its work with Yandex services and work with Yandex disk. 
An easy-to-use browser that works even on older computers. Can accept the interface of popular web browsers Chrome, Opera, Mozilla, Internet Explorer and Yandex Browser. Cyber attacks through the utility are minimized, since they are not registered in the system due to the “age” of the browser. 
Reliable web browser with powerful protection confidential information from the famous Komodo company. The “portability” function reproduces all settings, saved tabs and history on other computers, and the “invisible” mode will hide your web surfing from prying eyes.
Interface copy of Google Chrome. Has its own eponymous search engine, the ability to restore an interrupted session, its own file downloader and work with several social network accounts at the same time.
Compact browser with fast data loading and stable operation. Built-in useful plugins and a translator will make visiting web pages much easier and save time. A powerful built-in downloader and an annoying spam blocker are other advantages of this web navigator. 
Similar to Internet Explorer, but with enhanced and optimized operation and data protection. Auto-fill forms and a pop-up blocker greatly facilitate the user's work in the web browser. Using the “G” button you can configure specific commands for quick access to them. 
It is similar to Mozilla, but with abbreviations functionality and increased productivity. The ability to transfer all data from the Fire Fox to the Pale Moon has been improved. Start page is replete with popular web services, and bookmarking visited sites makes it possible to quickly navigate to them. 
A browser specially designed for a 64-bit system. It is a copy of Firefox, but with improved functionality and fast web surfing speed. Built-in players and downloaders allow you to listen to and download your favorite content. 
A browser that has its own cloud storage and is created on two engines, Webkit and Trident. The “isolated window” option allows the user to log into the site under different accounts. The ability to create a screenshot of the entire web navigator window or a selected area, create your own “cloud” and various modes for high-quality surfing in the browser - these are the main features of the utility. 
The browser developed by Mail.Ru allows you to synchronize with social networks and perform continuous work on the Internet. The built-in player allows you to create your own playlist of your favorite songs, search and play multimedia content from social networks. 
Interface similar to Internet Explorer and functionally Opera. Important feature browser is blocking from annoying spam and flash animations that interfere normal operation online. You can completely switch work in the web navigator to the mouse by pre-configuring its gestures with the necessary buttons. “Protected browsing”, “smart” address bar and screen capture are important advantages of this software. 
It will be indispensable for children’s work on the Internet and for parents to control their safe web surfing. The Stalker and Advertising Tools recognize malicious content and block various types of spam. The browser has its own search of the same name and can open previously viewed sites in the absence of the Internet. 
Interface reminds Opera browser up to version 15, but has a number of improved options. When opening a large number of tabs, the web navigator automatically groups them by topic, saving space on the working page. The user can leave notes directly on the site pages and use the integrated mail client. The background of the web browser is automatically colored to match the color of the open site. 
A browser similar to Google Chrome, but with social media integration. The built-in chat allows you to communicate on social networks while surfing the web in parallel, and sidebar will notify you of new messages from VK, Facebook and Odnoklassniki. The player allows you to listen to music directly from VKontakte. You can import bookmarks from other web browsers. 
In this section, everyone can choose an application to their liking and download it for free for use on Windows XP.
Opera is a free browser that is suitable for almost all users, from beginners to professionals. Opera SoftWare, which is the developer of the browser, is constantly improving and updating it to the delight of users.
Google Chrome is a free Internet browser created by Google, which has recently become very popular among Internet users, despite the fact that it was invented only recently. Google designed this browser from scratch, based on the Chromium browser and the Blink engine (until 2013 it was on the Webkit engine).
Finally followed by Internet Explorer 7 new version programs, already 8 in a row. Its release is due to the inaccessibility of many web pages due to the large number of users. This version has many features for website development professionals. The browser interface itself has not changed much. Although new features have appeared, such as Activities, which provides
Mozilla Firefox 35 for Windows XP is a version of the famous browser from Mazilla, which has a number of undeniable advantages. This browser offers fast speed, enhanced security, and unmatched extensibility. The browser is free, which is probably one of the important reasons for its popularity: every fourth Internet user
Yandex browser is free browser, with open source code, which was created quite recently (in 2012). The developer of the browser is Yandex, which created it based on Chromium from scratch, and that is why it is so different from older versions. It ranks second in popularity in Russia.
Internet Explorer is perhaps one of the most popular web browsers. At least it is also well known along with Google and Yandex. Let’s say right away that you can download Internet Explorer 11 for free, the Russian version for Windows XP, from the link below.
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