The default web browser for most Android phones is good ol' reliable Chrome (opens in new tab). If you frequently use other Google services like YouTube and Google Drive, it's the natural pick. But you do have other options. Here are the best alternatives to Chrome for Android!
The Brave Privacy Browser is all about blocking ads and other online trackers while delivering lightning-quick web browsing with a streamlined UI. Not only does Brave aim to improve your web browsing experience by removing ads, but it also has its own method of supporting your favorite online sites through its Basic Attention Token (BAT) as part of its Brave Rewards program that lets you earn and contribute a digital currency to your favorite creators.
Samsung's default browser for its Galaxy phones is a reliable internet browser that you can download and install on any non-Samsung phone through the Google Play Store. Samsung's browser is so prevalent in part because it's the default browser on every Samsung phone. Also, it's because it's super fast and easy to use with a convenient navigation bar at the bottom. It also includes a host of cool features. You'll find a video assistant that makes watching videos a breeze, a built-in tracking blocker to ensure your browsing is safe and private, and compatibility with third-party ad blockers.
Mozilla Firefox is an iconic web browser for PC and Mac used by hundreds of millions of people around the world. The Android app delivers most of the features that make the desktop version so accessible along with a very familiar look and feel. You get a customizable homepage that lets you immediately jump into your most visited sites along with all the add-ons, including password managers and ad blockers that make Firefox a joy to use.
Opera, for a time, was the darling alternative web browser for many thanks to its sleek design and ease of use. The good news is that it's still pretty great, with a focus on delivering a smart news feed with customizable channels and a built-in VPN for good measure. The interface is light and easy to use features such as built-in ad blocking, and a data-saving mode makes for faster browsing on slower networks. You're always able to zoom in on any page, and Opera will intelligently fit the text to your screen with text wrap.
Emerging from the ashes of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge is the new hotness for web browsing on PC. It's nice having the navigation buttons at the bottom, especially using taller screens, making it much easier to open new tabs and quickly add articles to your reading list. But the biggest perk here comes if you're also using Edge on your PC. Anchoring that navigation bar is is that you can easily switch over between browsing on your phone to your PC
For fans of Chrome who want the latest features, there's a separate app for the beta version of Chrome you can download and use in lieu of the stock version that came with your phone. It's where Google will test out the latest features that might be coming to the official app. It's a reliable option for those who enjoy the beta testing process and the occasional bugs that go along with it.
Always remember you've got options
One of the best parts of owning an Android phone is the ability to customize the default apps to fit your needs, so if you've switched from a Samsung phone to a Google Pixel and miss the streamlined functionality of the Samsung Internet Browser, you can download and set Samsung's browser as your default.
I have switched over to Brave as of late because I appreciate the ad and tracker blocker functionality, and I get a kick out of tallying up BATs using the Brave Rewards program. It's still dubious as to whether they hold actual value or not, and I haven't yet used them to contribute to a site I enjoy, but I love the premise.
Beyond Chrome and Brave, I'd have to recommend the Microsoft Edge browser strongly. Edge for PC, the last time I used it, still wasn't my cup of tea, but Edge for Android works remarkably smoothly and is a solid pick especially if you do use Edge on your computer as there's excellent back and forth integration between the mobile and PC versions.
