For most people, browsing the internet is as natural as waking up, having breakfast, going to work and enjoying the rest of the day. Choosing the right mobile browser for the task is essential for several reasons: security, browsing speed, compatibility, interface, battery saving, etc.

Most of the time, people just use the default browsers because they are working as they should. That doesn't mean that other possibilities can't be considered, right? 

It turns out that there are dozens of options available for both Android and iOS: which one should you install on your device and make it default? 

Check out the list below and make your online experience safer and more enjoyable!

1 – Firefox

Image: Mozilla

Launched on September 23, 2002 by Mozilla, Firefox is one of the oldest and most popular browsers in the world. Initially released for PC, it also has an incredibly efficient and versatile mobile version.

It's important to note that, unlike most of its competitors, Firefox is not based on Chromium: it uses its own rendering engine (GeckoView). It offers a very smooth browsing experience and an address bar at the bottom of the screen – which is particularly good for smartphones with large screens.

Much of what you do on your mobile device can be synced with the PC version of the app. In addition, Firefox offers a great range of extensions to make life easier for its users. 

Firefox is, without a doubt, one of the best options among mobile browsers available on both Google Play and the App Store.

2 – Google Chrome

Image: TudoCelular

This is the most popular mobile browser in the world, and for two good reasons: it comes installed by default on most Android devices and receives constant updates that keep it always fast and secure.

Many people don't know this, but Google Chrome has an interesting feature for switching between tabs: just drag the address bar to the right or left. In addition, you can also force Dark Mode on websites when the system has Dark Mode enabled – a good way to save your eyes at night. 

However, a curious disadvantage of this browser is that it does not have native support for extensions. Its PC version, on the other hand, is known for the huge variety of extensions available.

Apart from this unfortunate limitation, it is a solid, fast and quite stable mobile browser.

3 – DuckDuckGo Private Browser

Image: Canaltech

If you want to browse the web with a little more privacy, DuckDuckGo might be a great option. Launched in 2018, DuckDuckGo has some pretty cool features for those who want to browse the web discreetly.

In addition to the Private Browsing mode (called “Incognito Mode” in most browsers), which does not retain browsing history, cookies and passwords, the mobile browser also has tracking blockers, blocked ad redirects and a private search mode, which does not allow the tracking of searches made by the user.

It also supports some extensions from Google Play or the App Store, but with some limitations. Navigation is, in general, quite fluid and natural – as any browser should be.

Unfortunately, it is not as popular as it should be: it is an effective, secure software with several features that divert the insatiable eyes of the hidden telemetry services of operating systems.

4 – Microsoft Edge

Image: GeekWire

For many years, Microsoft was the butt of jokes because of the now-defunct Internet Explorer. And there was no shortage of reasons for that: it was heavy, slow to load pages, and full of compatibility issues with web pages. However, the game has changed and Microsoft Edge is one of the best options available today.

Based on Chromium, Edge has some important differences: it collects much less user data than Google Chrome, is recognized by experts for its security and has quite satisfactory support for Chrome plugins (which, ironically, are not available for Google Chrome for mobile).

The mobile browser uses Windows Defender SmartScreen to protect the user against malware. It is important to note that this is not as effective as a good antivirus, but it is something that not all other competitors provide by default. Better than nothing, at least.

If you haven't tried Microsoft Edge for mobile yet, now might be a good time to do so!

5 – Vivaldi

Image: vivaldi.com

Do you like more minimalist and lightweight applications? Vivaldi was conceived by former developers of the Opera browser, one of the oldest and most popular in the world, on April 6, 2016.

Based on Chromium, it focuses on productivity and customization: modify almost the entire interface however you want, including the taskbar, side panel and menu.

Furthermore, its tab manager is different from the others: you can separate them into groups and classify them in order of importance. Other gadgets incorporated into the software, such as an audio recorder, integrated PDF file reader and note manager, are worth mentioning.

Vivaldi also supports extensions from the Chrome Web Store, making it a really viable option when it comes to replacing your default mobile browser.

Which mobile browser to choose?

The answer to this question depends on your profile and what you're looking for in a browser: do you prefer more private browsing? A more customizable interface? Greater compatibility? A democratic mix of all these factors, perhaps?

While Chrome (Android) and Safari (iOS) are excellent default options for their respective systems, other solutions may offer more comprehensive features: why not give the competition a chance?

What is your favorite mobile browser? Why? Have you tried any of these on this list? Share your experience in the comments: it might help other people make the best decision!