03-30-2020 , 12:32 PM
This thread is intended to give a short overview of current web browsers for windows.
Mainline browsers
Google chrome - https://www.google.com/chrome/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: most commonly used browser, best website compatibility, many extensions, many functions send your data to google services
Mozilla Firefox - https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/
Engine: Quantum, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: the most successful number 2 after Chrome, many extensions
Microsoft Edge (new version) - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: quite new development, now based on chromium with some additional features
Common alternative browsers
Opera - https://www.opera.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: based on chromium with many additional features like speeddial, integrated VPN, etc.
Vivaldi - https://www.vivaldi.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: from the makers of the old Opera browser, highly customizable and many additional features like speeddial and integrated adblocker
Niche product alternatives
SeaMonkey - http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
Engine: Gecko, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Complete internet application suite like the old Netscape, based on the Gecko engine from Firefox
Waterfox - https://www.waterfox.net/
Engine: Gecko, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Based on the classic Firefox (ESR) with a focus on privacy (i.e. disabling sending of telemetry data)
Pale Moon - https://www.palemoon.org/
Engine: Goanna, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Goanna is based on the classic Firefox Gecko engine
Otter browser - https://otter-browser.org/
Engine: Qt/Blink, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Otter aims to recreate the user interface of the old Opera browser
Maxthon browser - https://www.maxthon.com/
Engine: Trident/WebKit, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Dual engine browser with a focus on privacy
Torch browser - https://torchbrowser.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Based on Chromium with an integrated BitTorrent-client and media grabber
Avant browser - http://avantbrowser.com/
Engine: Trident/Gecko, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: The browser is available in two editions, one is using the Trident engine, the other is using Gecko
Yandex browser - https://browser.yandex.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: Focuses on privacy and a minimalistic user interface
Legacy browsers
Microsoft Edge (old version) - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deploye...s-old-edge
Engine: EdgeHTML, Price: free (integrated in Windows 10), Updates: probably not
Internet Explorer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help...-downloads
Engine: Trident, Price: free, Updates: no
Opera (old version) - https://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1218/int/
Engine: Presto, Price: free, Updates: no
Mainline browsers
Google chrome - https://www.google.com/chrome/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: most commonly used browser, best website compatibility, many extensions, many functions send your data to google services
Mozilla Firefox - https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/
Engine: Quantum, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: the most successful number 2 after Chrome, many extensions
Microsoft Edge (new version) - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: quite new development, now based on chromium with some additional features
Common alternative browsers
Opera - https://www.opera.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: based on chromium with many additional features like speeddial, integrated VPN, etc.
Vivaldi - https://www.vivaldi.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: from the makers of the old Opera browser, highly customizable and many additional features like speeddial and integrated adblocker
Niche product alternatives
SeaMonkey - http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
Engine: Gecko, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Complete internet application suite like the old Netscape, based on the Gecko engine from Firefox
Waterfox - https://www.waterfox.net/
Engine: Gecko, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Based on the classic Firefox (ESR) with a focus on privacy (i.e. disabling sending of telemetry data)
Pale Moon - https://www.palemoon.org/
Engine: Goanna, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Goanna is based on the classic Firefox Gecko engine
Otter browser - https://otter-browser.org/
Engine: Qt/Blink, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Otter aims to recreate the user interface of the old Opera browser
Maxthon browser - https://www.maxthon.com/
Engine: Trident/WebKit, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Dual engine browser with a focus on privacy
Torch browser - https://torchbrowser.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: Based on Chromium with an integrated BitTorrent-client and media grabber
Avant browser - http://avantbrowser.com/
Engine: Trident/Gecko, Price: free, Updates: slow
Notes: The browser is available in two editions, one is using the Trident engine, the other is using Gecko
Yandex browser - https://browser.yandex.com/
Engine: Blink, Price: free, Updates: regularly
Notes: Focuses on privacy and a minimalistic user interface
Legacy browsers
Microsoft Edge (old version) - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deploye...s-old-edge
Engine: EdgeHTML, Price: free (integrated in Windows 10), Updates: probably not
Internet Explorer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help...-downloads
Engine: Trident, Price: free, Updates: no
Opera (old version) - https://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1218/int/
Engine: Presto, Price: free, Updates: no