Alternative browsers are web browsers that operate on the basis of popular engines, but have a number of distinctive features. For many years now, four Internet browsers — Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Internet Explorer — have been considered the benchmark in this area.
But despite the widespread popularity, these programs, and at the same time the engines on which they are built, have their drawbacks, and not all users are ready to put up with them. Therefore, some are looking for alternative browsers for Windows, Android, TV set-top boxes and other platforms.
The developers of such software take a specific engine, or in some cases even two or more, as a basis and try to create their own ideal web browser, which is free from the problems faced by ambitious users.
But not all alternative browsers differ in adequate functionality and stable operation. Some programs, on the contrary, only worsen the situation. So the choice of software must be approached with all seriousness. Here you need to consider the features of each platform. If one user wonders which alternative browser is better for Windows 7, then it’s not a fact that the owner of the set-top box, puzzled by the search for a web browser, will be pleased with the choice of the first. Therefore, the scope of use of software also needs to be taken into account.
We will try to determine the best alternative browsers that are very popular and have a large number of positive reviews. All the web browsers described below can be found on the official websites of the developers, so there should not be any difficulties with testing the software.
It’s worth to be warned that we will consider just full-fledged software, and not add-ons or plug-ins, such as an alternative scoreboard for the Yandex browser or functional curtains for Chrome. Let's start with a short educational program and continue with specific software.
Engine and platform
Some say with certainty that one or another alternative Internet browser works, for example, on the Chrome engine. Such a statement is only half true. The fact is that the concepts of “engine” and “platform” need to be distinguished.
If we take the same "Chrome" as an example, then it generally does not have its own engine. As the latter, a modified version of WebKit is used, developed by Apple. But "Chrome" has its own (purchased) platform - Chromium. It is on this basis that the “Chrome-like” alternative browsers are written for Android, Windows, TV set-top boxes, and other devices.
There are three main engines that programmers are actively using today, and with them simple users:
- Webkit.
- Gecko.
- The Trident.
Trident was developed by Microsoft for its Internet Explorer browser. Gecko is the Mozilla engine and the Firefox browser, the company's email client and the SeaMonkey software suite are sitting on it. Webkit, as mentioned above, is the development of Apple, which is used in the Safari brand browser.
Which engine is better?
Alternative browsers just adapt for one (or several) of these engines. It is very difficult to answer the question which of the latter is better. The fact is that each engine has both undeniable advantages and obvious disadvantages.
For example, “Webkit”, thanks to a specific code, has a minimal distribution size and works much faster than others. This is an excellent choice for the Android mobile platform and alternative browsers for Smart TV (Samsung, LG, etc.).
Trident has a number of built-in and for many useful features, such as ActiveX support, which is not available for analogues. This is almost ideal for personal computers and advanced users. But due to such bells and whistles, the software weight of the engine increases markedly. And as an alternative browser for Smart TV (Samsung, LG), as well as for the Android OS, it is of little use, because it will slow down on a good half of devices.
Gecko can be called the most flexible in terms of personalization and other settings. The local interface with plugins and add-ons can be twisted almost any way. For those who want to do their own thing and lovers of pliable "designers" - this is the best option.
Next, consider alternative browsers on these engines.
Webkit
This is the most popular engine on which most web browsers are written. Such an enviable demand is due to the fact that Webkit is a free product and can be used in a variety of developments without any restrictions. In addition, for the programmer to build this engine is much easier than everyone else. Therefore, the software on Webkit is widely used in set-top boxes and other mobile gadgets.
Uc browser
This is the most common alternative browser for the Android platform. With the latest updates, the developers adapted the web browser to personal computers, which greatly expanded the army of fans of this software.
The alternative browser version for Windows 7, 8 and 10, unlike the mobile one, runs on the Chromium platform and is written in Java. This approach added flexibility to the web browser and additional opportunities for synergy with other projects. Installing a product is as simple as the popular Chrome. You can download the entire distribution package from the official website of the developer, or perform an online installation with an executable exe file.
Distinctive features of the browser:
- built-in ad blockers and unnecessary animations;
- variety of themes and visual settings;
- mouse gesture recognition;
- convenient download manager;
- quick call sites and features;
- RSS feed;
- faster downloads on slow internet.
- Support for Chrome extensions.
In addition, an alternative browser for Windows has a convenient and well-structured menu where you can configure almost every element for yourself and the tasks you perform. Judging by user reviews, the web browser has no serious flaws. The original features included by default, such as closing tabs with the right mouse button, are a little confusing, but all this is easily turned off.
The developers also sweated over the resource consumption of the browser. One open tab takes from 50 to 150 MB of RAM, which is more than acceptable for a PC with 4 GB of RAM.
Qupzilla
Another extremely popular alternative browser in Russian from an entire development team. Here we have a kind of hybrid between “Chrome” and “Firefox” with its notable features.
The web browser is written almost from scratch and does not use the ubiquitous Chromium platform. The base is taken by the Qt graphics library. The latter, along with the design, is precisely the visiting card of the browser. The browser looks like old versions of Firefox, but despite this, it works great with new extensions and additions of Chrome.
Distinctive features of the browser:
- built-in ad blocker;
- RSS feed;
- sensible and convenient quick launch bar;
- Excellent user data protection plus a built-in DuckDuckGo search engine;
- anti-tracking requests;
- UserAgent spoofing.
The browser is flexible in terms of program settings, but personalization of appearance is limited to just a few topics that differ in color and nothing more. Another significant plus is the availability of both a local and a portable version. Both the first and the second are installed without problems and in a matter of minutes, like ordinary software.
Judging by the reviews, this alternative browser appealed to the users of the old school, who “Chrome” seems too simple and straightforward. But for those who, on the contrary, love to simplify everything and cannot live without animating an interface with an abundance of topics, they will have to look for another option.
As for the resource intensity, QupZilla was more voracious than the previous browser. One open tab takes about 150-200 MB of RAM.
Gecko
This is the oldest and time-tested engine, which is also successfully used to create alternative browsers. Over the entire period of its existence, it has improved and to this day is actively developing, although it stands in the shadow of Webkit. The most famous browser on this engine is Firefox from Mozilla.
Pale moon
A quite worthy alternative to the famous Firefox is Pale Moon. It may seem that it is not much different from the "Fox": almost the same settings, functionality, layout of the working area and more. Beginners in this business sometimes do not notice the difference at all. But it is still very substantial.
For advanced users, Pale Moon is a real find. The browser allows you to configure everything that is possible, starting from the information in the status bar and ending with the appearance of the icons and the position of the tabs.
In addition, this web browser received a chic set of tools for developers along with the ability to install all the add-ons for Firefox. Judging by the reviews, the browser showed itself perfectly in a professional environment, and its only fly in the ointment is gluttony in relation to system resources. One open tab takes up more than 200 MB of RAM, so this web browser is not for weak machines.
Tor browser
If you need a browser with perfect tracking protection, then you should pay attention to this option. Despite attempts by lawmakers to ban the use of the Torah, many connoisseurs of the “free Internet” are “sitting” on it.
The main feature of the browser is an indirect connection to Internet resources. As an alternative to VPN, this web browser uses its own TOR network. It encrypts transmissions on the same principle, but it is almost impossible to track it even for professionals. Thor is the perfect browser for hackers and those who don’t accept even a hint of web surveillance.
In addition to its own virtual network, the browser has built-in tools to protect against any scripts. The browser always works in portable mode and as such does not require installation. It is enough to run the executable exe file and immediately get to work.
In all other respects, Thor is the good old Firefox with support for all the extensions and additions of the original web browser. Calculating the resource consumption of the browser is quite difficult due to the peculiarities of connecting via a virtual network. One open tab can take away both 100 MB and all 300 MB of RAM.
Trident Engine
This is the most cursed engine in the history of web browsers created by Microsoft. Behind all the unpleasant epithets is the work of the old versions of Internet Explorer - 5, 6, and 7. The company for a long time and stubbornly did not want to fix the errors pointed out by users, so such a bad reputation was attached to the engine.
Starting with version 9 of the Explorer from Microsoft, the situation began to change and the software acquired a modern and human look. The proprietary Edge browser that comes with Windows 10 proved to be extremely positive and began to return the faith of users to the company's web browsers.
Greenbrowser
The Green Browser is a pretty good likeness of Chrome, only based on the Trident engine. The interface and functionality of the web browser for some will seem outdated, but what it is definitely attractive for is stability. There are no serious bugs, crashes or freezes here.
Those whom Microsoft did not want to listen to themselves “dopped” the engine and made their improved version of the “Internet Explorer”. Moreover, all plugins and additions to the latter work fine on this alternative browser.
Installs the web browser as a regular desktop application. He does not need any specific and rare libraries, because everything you need is in the distribution package. The user can choose the coordinates of the installation and place beacons for the selective installation of add-ons.
Web Browser Features:
- mouse gesture support;
- shortcut menu for sites and features;
- thoughtful autofill of forms;
- multi-window interface;
- built-in ad blockers and dangerous scripts;
- anti-boss function;
- full compatibility with software for Internet Explorer.
Judging by the reviews, this browser found itself in the hands of professional users - web developers and layout designers. Ordinary consumers lack the now-fashionable visual chips plus scares off the branchy menu and sophisticated functionality.
Resource intensity of the browser is average. One open tab takes approximately 120 MB of RAM.
Avant browser
Considering some problems of the Trident engine, the developers of the Avant web browser took a bold step and assembled a kind of hybrid, where the base from Microsoft was taken as the basis, and the Gecko and Webkit were hung from above.
The result is a universal browser for layout designers. In the case of Avant, you can see on it how the site will work on all three engines, both together and separately. The benefit of an advanced system with variable windows can be done without any problems.
The web browser is installed as normal desktop software, but in the case of Windows, all Visual C ++ libraries must be installed, starting with the 2005 edition. Otherwise, the program simply does not start.
Distinctive features of the browser:
- the presence of a built-in ad blocker and dangerous scripts;
- thought-out system of autofill forms;
- integration with cloud services;
- RSS feed;
- the ability to install add-ons from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome.
Judging by the reviews, the web browser can not be called gluttonous. One open tab takes about 100 MB of RAM. The speed of the browser is also at a very decent level. A fly in the ointment is the meager design of the web browser. There are no full-fledged topics here, and the choice of colors is not very happy. So for ordinary users, accustomed to all kinds of decorations, it will not work.