Modern smartphones have taken a lot of the pressure off of web browsers, especially with the incredible variety of apps we have that will let services run natively.
But that doesn’t mean the web browser is useless. In fact, it’s still probably the most important and most used app on your phone, even if you’re browsing Twitter through an app instead of the website. And like anything else, there’s no shortage of new web browsers on the Google Play Store.
Some of them are great, and offer unique features and a better experience than you might get out of the box. Some of them aren’t so good, however, but we’re here to help you out. We’ve picked out the best browsers for Android phones on the Play Store and put them into one list, so you don’t have to dig through the worst to find your next browser.
Google Chrome
You know when you’re talking about web browsers, Google Chrome is going to show up at some point in the conversation. For many Android phones, this one’s also one of the default browsers installed on your phone, if not the only one preloaded.
Stock apps aren’t always great, but Chrome checks all the boxes that most people are going to need. It’s fully featured enough that Google basically uses its browser as a full operating system for Chromebooks, after all, and the mobile version is no joke. Not only is it broadly compatible with basically every site on the internet (seriously, good lucking finding any site that doesn’t work with Chrome) but it sports Lite modes, desktop browsing, and fully featured notifications that integrate with Android.
At that point it can almost create its own apps out of websites. You can add those sites as pseudo apps to your home screen, get notifications from them, and have them easily accessible and running almost as well as a native app without having to fully install another app. Instant Apps are another feature that let you hop into very lightweight apps from within Chrome.
Top all this off with Chrome’s ability to sync with your Google account on other devices and computers, shared tabs and bookmarks, and constant updates, and you’ve got a solid option for your default browser.
Microsoft Edge
Gone are the days where Microsoft’s web browser was the running joke of the internet. Don’t get me wrong, Internet Explorer still sucks and no one should be using it, but Microsoft Edge is an entirely different story.
The latest versions of the browser are actually built off of Chromium, like Google Chrome, so you get all the same compatibility as you do with Chrome itself. But you’re getting all of Microsoft’s tweaks and integrations, which might make it a little more useful for some users depending on their ecosystem preference.
You’re trading the Google account syncing for Microsoft account syncing, which keeps the browser and its bookmarks and passwords tied together with your Windows machines, or anywhere else you’re using Edge. Microsoft also integrates their browser with things like MSN news on new tab pages, Microsoft Rewards, and quick shortcuts to sending websites to your desktop or laptop. Plus, it does a better job of blocking trackers and ads than Google Chrome.
If you can live without the Google syncing or you’re already invested in Microsoft’s Windows/Xbox ecosystem, definitely give this one a shot.
Firefox
Firefox finishes up the trinity of web browsers that have defined the modern browsing experience, alongside Chrome and whatever Microsoft is offering. Mozilla’s browser stands alone as one of the last major browsers that isn’t built off of Chromium, too, which might interest someone that wants to keep Google from picking up too much market share in the browser space.
As a smaller, independent company, Mozilla makes Firefox focus more on speed and privacy. It blocks trackers by default, and its Gecko browser engine is built for speed. Firefox promises to load web pages quicker, all while keeping trackers from snooping your browser habits and selling ads to your eyeballs.
Additionally, the mobile version of Firefox is one of the only big browsers that supports extensions, including add-ons like ad blockers, dark mode tweaks, and more. Plus you can still keep your webpages and bookmarks synced with a Mozilla account and Firefox across all of your devices.
Brave Browser
If that privacy focus of Firefox piqued your interest, then Brave might be worth checking out. The browser originally launched entirely focused on making internet a more private and secure experience, and the Brave mobile browser comes set up out of the box to do this.
You’re getting ad-blocking, script blocking, and enforced HTTPS everywhere, and Brave has a unique rewards system that gives you tokens for browsing and viewing their own private ads. You’ll occasionally see ads from Brave, but these ads are not personalized or tracked across your viewing habits; each time you view one, you get rewarded with BAT, or Brave Attention Tokens. You can use those tokens to donate to partnered content creators, who can turn them into currency. It’s an odd system, but designed to reward attention and time without being privacy invasive.
Another cool set of features Brave offers is metric tracking that shows you how many ads and trackers the browser has blocked during your sessions, plus how much time that saves you since it doesn’t have to load up all that stuff. It’s interesting, and makes a good choice for someone more concerned with privacy than features.
Opera GX
Opera GX is a gaming browser, and yes, once you’re done laughing, hear us out. There are some perks here.
Opera is a fairly old and established browser, and even if it’s not always quite strong enough to compete with the Chromes and Firefoxes of the world, it stands out in other ways. The GX version of the browser offers some gaming-focused features, like integration with Twitch and Discord, that are actually kind of unique.
It’s got a very strong gamer-y aesthetic with red and black accents everywhere, although it does have a couple themes on mobile to pick from. There’s an included ad-blocker, and using Opera’s Flow feature you can quickly share links and files between your phone and desktop if you’re using the same browser. You also get a few small features like upcoming game release calendars, trailers, and deals, which isn’t groundbreaking but is pretty nice if that really clicks into your hobby.
