Tell me more ×
Ask Different is a question and answer site for power users of Apple hardware and software. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite
1

Can anyone recommend any alternative web-browsers to the Big Three of Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox?

I just want to try something new, because I'm not completely happy with the performance of those three. Maybe there's something better out there that I'm not aware of yet. I need your advice.

share|improve this question
2  
Websites are programmed to work best for the most used browsers. If you use an uncommon browser you might have display and feature issues on certain websites. – jantimon Jan 17 '12 at 12:15
Good luck finding anything (useful) that's faster than Chrome. What is the problem you're experiencing? Perhaps your web browser isn't the real problem. – james.garriss Jan 17 '12 at 14:05
1  
Indeed, if you are looking for different features the below suggestions might suit you, but it is not going to outperform Chrome on the Mac. – Gerry Jan 17 '12 at 16:40
1  
Don't assume speed is the performance factor in this post, it could be security, plugins, development work, we just do not know. Yes Chrome is the fastest, but is also less secure than Opera and Firefox. So it may not be the best performer in the OP's mind. Over to you OP, What performance factors are you looking for specifically? – Graeme Hutchison Jan 18 '12 at 0:16
Do you want a different browser for the sake of being different or because you have real issues with the popular (and best supported, most widely used) browsers? – EmmEff Jan 19 '12 at 2:13
show 1 more comment

7 Answers

up vote 5 down vote

Opera

is the next biggest after the main lot

Opera also has a mobile version, the idea of Opera is to load all of the HTML and files before it displays anything, so it loads full web pages faster than most

The next important thing about Opera is that it has support from webmasters. If you look at Apple source code on their websites it mentions support for recgonsising opera as a browser, alongside the others

The problem with using other browsers is that some websites may not fully function. So it is safer an easier to go with one of these.

share|improve this answer
1  
Well, since this site is devoted to mention IE as one of the most used browsers (unless you're a hardcore oldie that keeps using pre-2006 technologies at all costs). As for Opera, I think, I should give it a try. – Ilya Zhezlov Jan 17 '12 at 10:22
Opera is good, its got a clean UI and works well. It is often seen in code now and suooprted by webmasters,I have added this to my answer – Graeme Hutchison Jan 17 '12 at 10:29
-1 - IE is not one of the main 4 on a Mac. It's nothing. – james.garriss Jan 17 '12 at 14:06
1  
LOL. Um, what website is this? "Ask Different: Answers for your Apple questions." If the OP is looking for help on his Win7 box, he's on the wrong site. – james.garriss Jan 17 '12 at 14:36
1  
Sorry, poor questions by other posters don't really change anything. – james.garriss Jan 17 '12 at 15:04
show 4 more comments
up vote 3 down vote

I'd say Omniweb by the Omnigroup.

share|improve this answer
1  
Omniweb is using the Safari Webkit Engine – jantimon Jan 17 '12 at 12:11
1  
But an engine is different from a browser. Chrome uses Webkit also, but Chrome and Safari aren't the same thing. – Daniel Lawson♦ Jan 17 '12 at 17:19
up vote 1 down vote

OmniWeb

Probably the best alternative to the well known browsers.
Enjoy visual tabs and the ability to block ads.

Opera

Enjoy fast browsing on slow connections, with Opera Turbo.
Build-in support for Bittorrent.

Cruz

View multiple web pages simultaneously in sidebar split views.
Powerful userscript features.

iCab

Highly configurable browser.

Demeter

Cocoa- based browser that has the ability to connect to all of your favorite social networks. Based on Shiira.

Sunrise

Open source browser with multiple language support.
Website snapshot is build-in.

Stainless

A multi-process browser for OS X.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

You should try Raven, it comes with great features. I use as my everyday browser at Home!

I just remembered another one, it its Sleipnir, a very nice browser with suport to gestures and a sleek interface.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

Try Camino, a Mac OS X-native browser built on Mozilla's Gecko rendering engine.

share|improve this answer
Camino has been practically abandoned, since with Firefox 4 Mozilla decided to stop Gecko embedding. That means that Camino will either be stuck with Firefox 3.6 Gecko or they'll have to switch to Webkit (quite lengthy process). – Gio Jan 17 '12 at 8:29
up vote 0 down vote

RockMelt

Billed as the best of Chrome with the best of Social Networking on top of it. Instant access to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, CNN and more. Completely free, Mac only on the desktop, and they have an iPhone app (App Store Link) as well.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

It always depends on what you want to do with your browser. If it is mainly Web 2.0, you're probably best off with one of the popular browsers.

If you're unsatisfied with the performance of the browsers, the fastest browsers I know are text-browsers like links or lynx. Links also offers a graphics mode, which is sufficient for displaying many websites.

I just mentioned those browsers, as you were searching for alternatives you may not be aware off. Links or lynx won't replace your default browser, but are an alternative in certain cases.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.