How We Tested? All web browsers were run with default configurations on our test computer powered by the Intel i5 processor with 8 GB of RAM. Windows 10 was the operating system.
The primary benchmarks used to measure browser speed were:
WebXPRT – Makes use of HTML5 and JavaScript-based scenarios created to mirror everyday tasks. It can compare and benchmark the performance of almost any web-enabled device.
Speedometer – It measures the responsiveness of web applications. Uses demo web apps to simulate user actions and provide an average score.
JetStream 2 – It combines several JavaScript benchmarks to report a single score that balances them using geometric mean.
OS Compatibility – Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
1. Brave
In a short span of time, the Brave browser has earned itself a good reputation. Created by JavaScript creator Brendan Eich himself, this open-source browser tops the chart for the fastest Windows web browser.
Brave was the top scorer in the JetStream benchmark test.
It also had the best score in the Speedometer test we conducted. Further, Brave scored reasonably well in the WebXPRT tests too.
It’s amazing how fast a page loads when you strip away everything but the real content.
Brave does this by blocking trackers and intrusive ads, which usually slow down the web.
The increased speed is even more noticeable for slower connections, where every bit counts, or on older systems with fewer resources to go around.
Brave is a Chromium-based web browser, which means that its usability and web compatibility are very similar to other browsers based on Chromium.
The user interface is very simple, and its design makes for a distraction-free browsing experience. Interestingly, Brave pays you for browsing the Internet.
By blocking all ads, Brave might kill the free Internet in the long run. Fewer browsing extensions are available for now.
Powered by a new, cutting-edge engine, Firefox has doubled its speed from last year. It is one of the most popular non-Chromium web browsers on this list, thanks to its stability, speed, and compatibility with the primary web standards.
Looking at the JetStream benchmark, Firefox convincingly won top marks. Even better than Brave and Chrome.
It ranked decently well in the WebXPRT and Speedometer tests too.
The stress test performed with 17 tabs open revealed that Firefox only consumed 9% CPU and 57% RAM.
Firefox has always performed at a satisfactory level, but the Quantum engine, introduced in 2017, took the platform to the next level.
The latest version comes with useful features like better recommendations, syncing, enhanced tab management, new task manager, a deep catalog of extensions & more.
Privacy is something that’s been the focus of Firefox. More recent updates include better privacy protections with anti-tracker support.
Mozilla has been taking real strides in making its browser a truly modern way to surf the Internet.
Vivaldi is only a few years old but is definitely one of the fastest Internet browsers for Windows PC. This browser is all about customization, and you can tweak pretty much everything from the way navigation works to how the user interface looks.
Vivaldi is fast! It is visible right from your very first moments with it.
This browser is so unique that no two Vivaldi users will have the same setup on their PC.
In the JetStream and Speedometer tests, Vivaldi did score pretty well along with Chrome and Firefox.
The scores were in the mid-range with respect to the WebXPRT benchmark test.
It is built on the same Chromium-based engine that powers Google Chrome. So, you can install almost any extension from the Chrome Web Store.
This fast Windows browser offers custom shortcuts, mouse gestures, tab stacks, in-built notes, split-screen view, and a plethora of privacy features. But, it hogs up a lot of system memory.
Vivaldi is fantastic for power users who know exactly what they want and how they want it to work.
If you’re looking for something a bit more experimental than Chrome or Firefox, just fire up the Edge Chromium and see what it can do. It feels like Microsoft has merged some of the best features of the previous Edge browser with that of Google Chrome.
Microsoft Edge, which recently switched to using Google’s open-source Chromium web browser, performed modestly on the various benchmark tests.
It was comfortably sitting in the middle when tested with WebXPRT and JetStream. However, it did perform very well in the Speedometer tests.
The performance of Edge is on par with Chrome, and it also has similar functionality.
Of course, that means access to thousands of extensions from the Chrome Web Store, but not by default.
Edge can sync open tabs, bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history across multiple devices. The new Collections feature is pretty impressive.
An exciting feature worth highlighting is the Immersive Reader mode. Not only does this offer distraction-free web article reading, but it can also read webpage text aloud using life-like voices.
Fewer browsing extensions are available. Changing the search engine requires effort. It can improve more aspects of user personalization.
So far, Microsoft’s decision to switch to Chromium is looking like a wise one.
Opera is really one of the more under-rated browsers around. It is the only major browser that comes with a built-in unlimited VPN that is pretty good at protecting your privacy. With a simple interface and plenty of features, Opera today runs faster than previous versions.
In terms of speed, it is only marginally behind Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. However, it is bang up to date with cutting edge technology.
It did put a good show in our benchmark tests, but the other browsers in this fastest web browsers list are damn good.
Having said that, if you are someone using a lot of graphic-intensive applications via a web browser, Opera might be your best bet.
Being a Chromium-based browser, Opera is fully compatible with the numerous Chrome extensions.
It features a speed-dial menu that puts all your most frequently visited pages in one place. There is even a wallet for all of you crypto enthusiasts out there.
Opera allows you to chat and browse at the same time with built-in messengers on the edge of your browser. There’s no need to keep juggling tabs and apps.
The Battery Saver feature extends your laptop’s battery life while unplugged, making it a relatively right choice for laptop users.
It can disband a few fancy features to further improve speed.
For spending hours online, browsing social networks or ordering items from Amazon, checking your emails, or just perpetually streaming cat videos on YouTube — a fast browser is something we all need.
Also, it is not necessary to limit yourself to only one browser. Use several ones and find the ideal option that suits your style.
What’s your favorite fast browser on Windows? Do let us know.
Author:Nik is an experienced author with 14 years in software and tech, holding an IT Engineering degree and a Data Science Master's from Liverpool University. Disclaimer: This website's content is created by humans and refined by AI for better grammar, flow, and clarity.
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