live safari browser

• Cross Browser Testing
• Live Testing
• Visual Testing
• Smart-TV Testing
• Automated App Testing
• Live App Testing
• Codeless Automation
• Documentation

Superfast, Live Cross Browser Testing

Manually control any browser in our cloud from your own browser. Get instant access to real browsers and see how your website looks and behaves across multiple platforms.

Trusted by some of the world's most innovative companies

5100+ browser and device combinations.

All browsers come equipped with native debugging tools.

Adjust the screen-resolution on the fly or resize your browser to do responsive testing.

Run your tests against up-to-date beta and dev builds.

Instant access to any browser on Mac, Linux, Windows and Mobile.

Mobile Testing

Manually test your website on iOS and Android devices, straight from your own browser.

With TestingBot you can test your website on iOS and Android, take screenshots and rotate the device.

Take screenshots, rotate the screen, pinch-to-zoom and access debugging tools like Safari Developer Tools and Chrome DevTools to debug your website on mobile.

Quality through coverage

We provide one-click access to real browsers, running on real macOS, Windows and Linux platforms. From Windows 7 to Windows 11, macOS Sierra to Ventura and the latest Linux Ubuntu - we've got you covered.

Test across IE8 to IE11 and every version of Edge, Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Opera. Copy and paste data from your computer to the remote browser without any plugins.

Identify and fix bugs faster

Share your Live browser session with a co-worker to reproduce bugs and assist in debugging. Use the integrated Developer Tools to inspect your website and identify CSS/JS issues.

Take screenshots for any screen-resolution, platform and browser configuration.

A video and different logs are recorded during your manual testing, which you can download and share.

Test Staged Websites

Use our secure tunnel to quickly and easily test your staging website on all browsers.

Test data and websites from behind your firewall on the TestingBot cloud.

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Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and industry-leading battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power. And with Apple silicon, it’s even faster than ever before. 2

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 2 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome, Edge, and Firefox 4

Up to 17 hours of wireless browsing 4

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 5

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 5

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 5

Web application responsiveness. 5

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 6 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on-device intelligence to help prevent cross-site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click the Privacy Report button in your toolbar for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the new Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages between 18 languages with a single click. You can also translate text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image on the web using functions like copy and paste, lookup, and translate. 7

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. 8 And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Ventura includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

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Shivani Sinha | Posted on November 22, 2021 May 29, 2023 | 2 min Read

Live Cross Browser Testing and Debugging On Safari Browser

Today’s web applications are designed and developed with different trending technologies having complex and sophisticated frontend and backend architecture. With the growing problem of old web browsers having trouble displaying the graphics and rendering the web content as fast as the modern web browsers, there comes a need of Cross Browser Testing . It is a non-functional type of testing that allows you to validate your website performance in different environments be it different browsers, different operating systems, browser versions and different devices itself.

After Chrome, Apple’s Safari is the second most popular browser in the world, holding a market share of 18.69% in the Browser Market Share Worldwide . Since it is the default browser for most if not all Apple devices and is well recognised by its customer base, it has a significant market share. Hence, it is the primary responsibility of every tester to ensure the quality of their web application on all versions of the Safari browser.

Nowadays, the recent version of Safari comes up with in-built SafariDriver whereas the Safari versions below 10 require the installation of Safari WebDriver extension. To follow WebDriver protocol, the online Safari browser uses it’s default safaridriver that is pre-setup in Mac OS now.

Configuring SafariDriver for Test Automation

To run your automated test on a specific browser , you need to have a corresponding WebDriver. For example, ChromeDriver for Chrome, GeckoDriver for Firefox etc. However, with running the automated Safari browser tests online, we earn the advantage of not downloading any driver in Mac OS. For Safari versions 10 and above, the SafariDriver comes up by default with the Safari version pre-installed in Mac OS which means Safari now provides native support for the WebDriver API.

Also, you need to have a Mac machine to run your automated tests on Safari as Apple has discontinued the support of Safari on Windows in 2012. In case if you don’t have a Mac machine to run your selenium/appium based Safari browser online test, you can also opt for a cloud based testing platform like pCloudy where you can run your tests on Safari installed on different Mac OS and on various Apple real devices. 

As discussed, safaridriver is already pre-installed in Mac OS, one can find the safaridriver at the following path: /usr/bin/safaridriver

Safari Web Driver support is initially turned off for developers. Below is the command for enabling WebDriver support in Safari for macOS High Sierra and later:

Note: If you’re upgrading from a previous macOS release, you may need to use sudo.

Below are few steps for enabling WebDriver support in Safari for macOS Sierra and earlier:

Step 1: Enable the Develop mode to get it visible in the menu bar. Choose Safari > Preferences and on the Advanced tab, select “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.

If done correctly, this is how your menu bar should look:

Step 2: Choose Develop > Allow Remote Automation.

Step 3: Authorize safaridriver to launch the XPC service that hosts the local web server. To permit this, manually run /usr/bin/safaridriver once and follow the authentication prompt.

Characteristics of WebDriver for Safari

• Isolated Automation Windows: Test execution is limited to special automation windows that are separate from normal browsing windows, user settings and preferences. An automated browser always starts from a clean state like a private browsing session. It doesn’t have access to Safari’s browsing history, AutoFill data, or other sensitive information available in a normal browsing session. These isolated browser sessions ensure that current automated tests are completely unaffected by a previous test session’s persistent state.

Any stray interactions like mouse action, keyboard action, resizing and so on that could potentially affect the automation window gets easily captured by this glass pane. If a running test gets stuck, you can interrupt it by “breaking” the glass pane and stopping the session.

• Web Inspector and WebDriver: For debugging purposes , you can use web inspector during or after execution of a webdriver test. To launch Web Inspector while a test is running, choose the Develop > Show Web Inspector menu item (shortcut: ⌥⌘I). During the running of WebDriver tests, the web inspector features such as console logging, the Elements tab and the script debugger are fully functional.
• One Session at a Time, to Mimic User Interaction: Only one WebDriver session can be attached at a time and only one Safari browser online instance can be active at any given time. This is to ensure that the simulated behaviour of mouse, keyboard and touch accurately reflects what a user can do in macOS browser environment and also prevents automated tests from competing with each other for window and keyboard focus.

Running Up First Test On Safari Using SafariDriver

Now since we have understood about the SafariDriver, we can now proceed with writing a script to run our automated tests on Safari without downloading the Safari WebDriver specifically. We need to make sure that the steps mentioned above for setting up SafariDriver have been implemented correctly to avoid any kind of failures.

We would be writing a short test script using the Java-TestNG framework. Hence, below would be prerequisites for running the test script:

• IDE i.e. Eclipse or Intellij
• Selenium Client dependency
• TestNG dependency

For writing a test script, let’s consider a simple scenario:

• Launch Safari browser
• Direct to https://www.pcloudy.com/
• Click on Login button to open login page
• Assert the title of login page
• Close the Safari browser

Below is the Java-TestNG test class for above test scenario:

Code Walkthrough:

In test automation, Safari browser is represented by a class named SafariDriver in the org.openqa.selenium.safari package. Like ChromeDriver and FirefoxDriver, we just have to instantiate a SafariDriver class. Since SafariDriver is pre-installed in macOS, we don’t have to specify the driver path.

In the Test annotated method, we have scripted our test case using the above defined scenario. Selenium WebDriver APIs are used for setting up our automated test case. The test case would pass if the expected title of the login page matches the actual title, else the test method would fail.

When the test execution gets completed, through the AfterClass annotated method, we have quit the online Safari browser testing.

Parallel Cross Browser Testing On pCloudy Browser Cloud

pCloudy is a continuous cloud based testing platform for desktop browser testing and mobile app testing . For desktop browser testing, it offers a Selenium Grid where we can run our tests parallely on different environments i..e different browsers, multiple browser versions and different operating systems. Along with cloud based automation testing, it also offers manual testing on different cloud based real Mac and Windows machines where the user can naturally interact with different combinations of OS and browsers to test an application with a human feel.

Running our automated tests on pCloudy Selenium Grid leverages us with web app performance statistics with detailed reporting including logs, screenshots and test video. To perform cross browser testing on different browsers and OS, we can run our test parallely on pCloudy browser cloud which would not only save the execution time but also help us compare the performance statistics of our application running on different environments. 

Considering cross browser testing on Safari, let’s develop a script to run our single test case parallely on different safari versions.

With the above script, we are running our parallel cross browser tests on two different environments. In @BeforeClass annotated method, we have added username and accessKey capability for authorization. As a part of capabilities, we have further defined our testing environment, we have used @Parameter annotation that would grab the testing environment values from TestNG.xml. To capture screenshots and logs of our automated tests, we have used the screenshot and logs capabilities provided by pCloudy. 

In a @Test annotated method, we have written a short test case to verify the visibility of the pCloudy login page. Once the test case gets executed, the @AfterMethod annotated method quits the online safari browser testing.

The TestNG.xml file is created to configure the execution of our test suite with different suite attributes and with a different testing environment. Since we are running 2 tests parallely, we have passed thread-count as 2 and parallel as “tests” in suite tag. In each test tag, we have defined the parameter values that would be supplied to our java test class to run our test case in the required environment. 

Using TestNG.xml, we are running single test case parallely on below two environments:

• Mac-Catalina-Safari-14
• Mac-Mojave-Safari-13

pCloudy Output:

To view the current running status of your tests, direct to pCloudy device page and click on Reports-> My Active Sessions:

To view the all the tests executed till date, direct to pCloudy device page and click on Reports-> All Reports:

To view the logs and snapshots of a specific test, direct to pCloudy device page and click on Reports-> All Reports and take a action on particular session name for which logs and screenshots are required:

Shivani Sinha

She is a Product Marketer with over 9 years of diversified experience across content, branding, and product marketing. Her experience ranges from global brands to nimble startups. She is a custodian of Brand & Content, telling stories about the brand that delights customers and provides compelling business value.

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What to expect ?

Virtual Browser by Browserling

What is a virtual browser.

A virtual browser is a web browser that runs in a virtual machine. Compared to a browser that's installed on your own system, a virtual browser is physically separated from your system. The biggest advantage of a virtual browser is that it's not linked to your usual browsing activities and all cookies, files, local storage, browser history, and extensions stay in the virtual machine. This way, your virtual browsing profile is isolated from your primary browsing profile.

What can you do with virtual browsers?

Primarily, virtual browsers are used by web developers and security professionals. Web developers use virtual browsers to access multiple versions of the same browser for cross-browser testing purposes. For example, a website that works in Chrome 90 and uses the latest browser features may not work in earlier Chrome versions that don't have these features, so it has to be tested in multiple browser versions. Security professionals use virtual browsers to keep their data safe from browser-based attacks. As a virtual browser runs in a virtual environment, they are protected from cyber-attacks data leaks. A new use case for a virtual browser is to bypass content firewalls. Often, employees and students who are behind a corporate firewall can't watch YouTube videos or access their private emails, so by combining a virtual browser with an online browser , they get an online virtual browser that can access web pages that are blocked by network administrators.

Try a virtual browser!

Below, you can try a virtual browser. We have pre-selected the latest Firefox version 88 but you can select any other browser and browser version. Click the test button to start a virtual browser test.

The free test allows you to use one virtual browser for three minutes but to get unlimited access to all browsers without a time limit, you'll have to buy the developer or team plan .

Virtual Browser FAQ

What virtual browsers do you support.

We support all the browsers! We have virtual Chrome , virtual Firefox , virtual Opera , virtual Safari , virtual Internet Explorer , and virtual Edge . We keep all browser versions updated, so you always have access to the latest version of each browser.

What virtual operating systems do you support?

Each of the virtual browsers (listed above) can also run in different virtual operating systems. We have installed all virtual Windows versions (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10) as well as all virtual Android versions (KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat). For example, you can get a virtual Opera 80 running in virtual Windows 7 or virtual Windows 10.

Do you offer virtual Android browsers, too?

Yes, as we run Androids in virtual machines and you can access the virtual version of the default Android browser as well as the virtual Android Chrome version.

Is there an API for virtual browsers?

Yes, there's the Live API that you can use to access a virtual browser from your own webapp.

Any other questions about virtual browsers?

Please contact us at [email protected] or use our contact form . Thank you!

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Best Internet Browsers for Streaming

See which browser is the best for streaming Netflix, Hulu, and other popular services.

• Streams 4K Netflix content
• Adds web apps

• Supports extensions

• Includes a battery saver mode
• Has built-in social apps

Our pick: Which browser is best?

The best internet browser for streaming depends on the platform. Microsoft Edge is the only browser on Windows that can stream Netflix in Ultra HD (4K). Safari is your best bet on an Apple Mac with Big Sur (version 11) or newer, as it’s the only browser that can stream Netflix in 4K.

Do you have the speeds you need to stream 4K content?

Enter your zip code below to find a faster plan in your area.

Jump to :  Best for Windows | Best for Mac | What to look for | Best browser features | Our verdict |  FAQ

• Best for Windows
• Best for Mac
• What to look for
• Best browser features
• Our verdict

The 5 best browsers for streaming

• Best for Windows: Microsoft Edge
• Best for Mac: Safari
• Best for battery life: Opera
• Best for location-restricted content: UR Browser
• Best alternative browser: Chrome

Compare browser availability and features

What should you look for in a browser for streaming.

You want a browser that’s fast. It needs to load quickly, react to input instantly, and display a fluid framerate. You don’t want a browser that turns your stream into a boring slideshow.

Second, a browser needs to support HTML5 video. That means the browser shouldn’t require risky plugins or extensions to stream media. Instead, it should rely on server-side code to create a safer “web app” that’s not installed as intrusive software on your device.

Best for Windows—Microsoft Edge

• Streams Netflix in 4K on desktop
• Uses Microsoft PlayReady DRM on desktop
• Supports dark modes and themes

Availability

• Desktop: Windows, macOS
• Mobile: iOS, iPadOS, Android

Data this browser collects from you

• Browsing history
• Diagnostics

We already know Microsoft Edge is one of the fastest browsers for Windows-based PCs . It ran neck-and-neck with Chrome in our testing, and it outranked Google’s browser in just one out of four tests. But Microsoft has one ace up its sleeve that Google doesn’t: Netflix in 4K.

Microsoft Edge is the only browser for Windows that streams Ultra HD (4K) content from Netflix. The media service signed a deal in 2010 to use Microsoft’s PlayReady DRM as its primary DRM technology .

The Chromium version of Microsoft Edge ships with Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you haven’t updated Windows in a long while and you’re still using the legacy version of Edge, upgrade Windows with the latest feature update or download the Microsoft Edge installer .

• Streams Netflix in 4K
• Includes a built-in PDF viewer
• Tests slower than Chrome in some cases
• Doesn’t have a Linux version

Best for Mac—Safari

• Uses Apple FairPlay DRM
• Supports browser extensions
• Desktop: macOS
• Mobile: iOS, iPadOS
• Nitro, WebKit

Safari is the best browser for Apple Macs, hands down. It outranked Chrome in two out of four browser benchmark tests , but it really blew away the competition in the MotionMark 1.2 test. It’s a graphics benchmark that showed just how tuned-in the browser was to our MacBook’s integrated graphics.

But like Microsoft Edge, Safari has an ace up its sleeve: support for Ultra HD (4K) streaming from Netflix. According to Netflix , Safari is the only browser on a Mac that can do so, while 4K streaming is locked to Microsoft Edge on Windows. However, you must have macOS Big Sur (Safari 14) or newer installed and a specific Mac with a T2 security chip to stream Netflix in 4K.

• Streams Netflix in 4K on some Macs
• Has the fastest speeds on Mac
• Lacks Windows and Android versions
• Offers limited extensions

Best for battery life—Opera

• Uses Google’s WideVine DRM on desktop
• Provides built-in social tools
• Includes a built-in battery saver mode
• Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux

While we like to flaunt Opera as the coolest browser for built-in social features, it’s not the fastest browser on the planet. In our tests on Windows , it generally stayed in 3rd place while its performance fluctuated on our MacBook. However, Opera is probably best known for dialing itself back to conserve battery power.

Opera doesn’t hog resources like Chrome: it may use 400MB of memory versus Chrome’s 2GB with identical tabs open. It also includes a Battery Saver mode that can extend your laptop’s battery life on a single charge by up to 50%. This mode changes the JavaScript schedule so the CPU has less work, stops animations, reduces background tab activity, and makes adjustments to video playback.

You can switch this feature on by opening Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac), selecting Advanced listed on the left, selecting Features , and selecting the toggle next to Enable Battery Saver .

• Has a battery saving mode
• Packs built-in social apps
• Lacks Netflix 4K support
• Performs slower than Chrome

Best for location-restricted content—UR Browser

• Uses Google’s Widevine DRM on desktop
• Presents a minimal interface
• Includes a built-in VPN

The big selling point for streaming with UR Browser is its built-in VPN component. Opera has one too, but we already chose it as our favorite browser to stream on a battery. VPNs are ideal for online anonymity, preventing your internet provider and other third parties from tracking your online activities.

What this means to you is that your physical location is unknown. UR Browser sends your streaming request to a remote server, which in turn removes your information before transmitting the data to the destination. This anonymity allows you to stream previously unobtainable content locked to locations outside the US.

• Focuses on security
• Provides a built-in VPN
• Doesn’t have a mobile version

Opera vs. UR’s VPN: is there a difference?

Opera’s VPN is a proxy service . It encrypts only the transmission between the browser and Opera-owned SurfEasy’s servers, not your data or your internet connection. In contrast, UR Browser includes a full VPN client provided by OVPN, which protects your entire internet connection, not just the data going to and from the browser. However, UR’s VPN requires a subscription.

Best alternative browser—Chrome

• Uses Google Widevine DRM on desktop
• Synchronizes data across devices
• Supports a large extensions library
• Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS

And more (see App Privacy )

Chrome was the fastest browser on Windows in three out of four performance benchmarks, beating second-place contender Microsoft Edge. On Mac, it outperformed Safari in two out of four tests, making it a great alternative in terms of speed. It’s certainly not the best browser on a battery, so keep that in mind.

Unfortunately, Chrome streams Netflix in only 720p to prevent users from capturing and uploading high-quality copies to file-sharing sites—1080p if you’re on a Chromebook. Chrome uses Google’s software-based Widevine DRM , making it vulnerable to screen recording. In contrast, Windows and macOS Big Sur use hardware-based DRM that’s harder to crack, enabling higher resolutions.

• Has the fastest speeds
• Supports Google services natively
• Uses a lot of memory on desktop
• Collects lots of user data

Browser specs and features

Here are a few ingredients you need to keep in mind when you’re shopping for the best browser to stream Netflix, Hulu, Max, and other services.

You want a web browser that loads pages fast, is highly responsive, and doesn’t use too much system memory, which can slow your device to a crawl.

Presentation

A web browser should be easier to navigate—not overly clunky. For example, when we sit down on the couch and watch movies on a widescreen TV, we don’t want a distracting, flashy frame pulling our eyes away from the on-screen action. A web browser’s border should be just as invisible as the thin, boring bezels we have framing our favorite screens.

Your personal security should always be a priority, so choose a web browser that updates regularly. There will always be holes in the code, and you want developers to patch those holes before hackers take notice. If a developer hasn’t updated its browser in months to a year, you probably shouldn’t use it.

Google releases a new version of Chrome every four weeks but distributes multiple “maintenance” fixes and tweaks in between.

Compatibility

A good rule of thumb is to use a browser that supports HTML5 video and audio. Most modern browsers do, so it’s not really a feature you need to hunt down when choosing the best browser for streaming. Instead, you need to think in terms of performance and a plugin-free experience.

Our verdict: use Microsoft Edge or Safari

While Netflix may not be your preferred streaming service, knowing which browser supports its 4K content is ideal—especially if you’re on the edge of your seat waiting for the next season of Stranger Things to arrive. In that case, Microsoft Edge for Windows and Safari for macOS Big Sur (and newer) are your only portals to Eleven and the gang in beautiful 4K.

Chrome is your runner-up in terms of speed. It’s currently the most popular browser on the planet, but we’re not keen on all the information Google collects. Streaming at 4K is presumably reserved for Chromecast Ultra devices to prevent viewers from distributing recorded content illegally.

Related content

• Best Internet Browsers for Security
• What Is Incognito Mode and How Does It Work?
• 12 Ways to Speed Up Your Internet without Paying a Dime

FAQ about browsers for streaming

What is a virtual private network (vpn).

A virtual private network is a service that creates an encrypted connection between you and the network’s private servers. Software on your device encrypts your data, establishes an encrypted connection, and sends your data to the remote server. In turn, the server decrypts and relays your data to the destination, but without any information that can identify you, like your IP address and geological location. Check out our suggestions of the best VPNs .

What is a proxy service?

A proxy service is a service that uses remote servers to mask your IP address. When you visit a website, your browser sends the request to a remote server. The remote server then removes all data that links back to you and passes the browser request to the destination. The remote server receives the destination’s response and forwards the data to your web browser.

However, a proxy service encrypts only the path between the browser and the remote server—it does not encrypt the actual data. In contrast, a VPN encrypts your device’s internet connection, not just the path between the browser and the remote server. Plus, a VPN encrypts the connection and the data, making it a better choice for complete privacy.

What is HTML5

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is code that formats content on the internet. HTML5 is the latest version that removes the need for browser plugins like Flash, Java, and Silverlight. With HTML5, three components are at play: JavaScript to handle the interactive components, Cascading Style Sheets to dictate the layout, and HTML to piece it all together into the webpage you see on the screen.

HTML5 includes Encrypted Media Extensions, a platform that allows DRM -protected content to stream into a browser without the need for additional plugins. HTML5 includes the <video> element to embed a media player for video playback in web pages.

HTML5-based video uses the following formats:

• Theora (ogg)

Currently, Microsoft Edge is the only browser that supports all six formats .

What is Chromium

Chromium is an open-source codebase developed and maintained by Google. Developers can use this code to create a browser as-is or adapt the code to make a browser that also includes proprietary components. Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera are three examples of browsers that are based on Chromium.

What is digital rights management (DRM)

Digital rights management is a means for all content creators and distributors to control how you use copyrighted digital material. It prevents individuals from installing stolen software or digitally recording a copyrighted movie streamed from across the internet to your PC.

In the case of the best browsers for streaming, services like Netflix and Hulu protect HTML5-based copyrighted content by encasing it in a DRM package. The content cannot be unpackaged without a key that’s transmitted separately to the browser.

Moreover, content providers support different DRM platforms. For example, Netflix uses Microsoft’s PlayReady platform to encrypt content for Microsoft Edge on Windows PCs. It uses Apple’s FairPlay Streaming platform to encrypt content for Macs, iPhones, and iPads. The resolution also depends on the client device’s underlying hardware.

Here are the main DRM platforms used for HTML5 video playback:

• Apple FairPlay
• Google Widevine
• Microsoft PlayReady

Generally, one web browser on one platform supports only one DRM platform. For example, Microsoft Edge on desktop uses PlayReady. The mobile version for iPhone and iPad uses Apple’s FairPlay platform instead.

The exchange between the browser and the service determines the DRM and playback resolution.

Did you know?

HDMI uses a form of DRM called High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) to prevent unauthorized playback or digital copying.

Why are Microsoft Edge and Safari the only browsers that stream Netflix in 4K?

Netflix requires hardware-based video decryption that’s supported only by Microsoft Edge, the Netflix app for Windows, and Safari 14 (on certain Macs) to stream its 4K content.

Prior to streaming 1080p content (Full HD or FHD), the media industry used software-based DRM to protect their SD and HD copyrighted content. However, the decoded video was prone to leak into a computer’s general system memory pool shared by all software, allowing pirates to use screen recording tools to capture and share copyrighted content on the internet.

While many video streaming services still use software-based DRM on lower-resolution content, services like Netflix rely on hardware-based DRM to protect high-quality streams.

Streaming Netflix in 4K on Windows

Hardware-based video decoding on Windows PCs requires a capable processor or graphics chip. Here are the minimum software and hardware requirements you need to stream Netflix in 4K:

• Operating system: Windows 10 Anniversary Update (1607) or newer
• Integrated GPU: 7th-Gen Intel Core (Kaby Lake) or 1st-Gen AMD Ryzen (Zen) processor
• Discrete GPU (if a qualifying iGPU isn’t present): Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 3GB or newer; AMD Radeon RX 400 or newer
• Display: 60Hz 4K (external must support HDCP 2.2)
• Browser: Microsoft Edge or the Netflix app for Windows
• Codec: HEVC extension (if it’s not already installed)
• Internet speed: 15Mbps or higher; Nvidia says 25Mbps or higher

Processors use a private section in your computer’s system memory as a scratchpad—this section usually isn’t accessible by anything other than the CPU. It decodes the video in this private area and then sends it all straight to the graphics chip to render each frame on your screen.

Overall, the difference is that hardware decodes video in a private room while software decodes in a semi-private room, making the latter susceptible to screen recordings.

Finding an Intel CPU’s generation is easy

You can determine an Intel processor’s generation by the part number. Look for the first number immediately after the hyphen. For example, the Intel Core i5- 10 38NG7 used in the last Intel-based MacBook Pro 13 is a tenth-generation chip.

Streaming Netflix in 4K on Macs

Apple uses its own DRM platform called FairPlay Streaming. The requirements to stream 4K content from Netflix on a Mac are different from what’s required from Windows-based PCs. In a nutshell, a specific processor or graphics chip isn’t necessary to support Netflix in 4K. Instead, the 4K decoding falls to the standalone T2 security chip. Here are the requirements:

• Operating system: macOS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
• CPU: Apple Silicon (starting late 2020) or Apple T2 Security chip
• Browser: Safari 14 or newer
• Internet speed: 15Mbps or faster

Why can’t I stream Netflix in 4K using Chrome?

Chromium and Android use Google’s Widevine DRM. While it supports hardware- and software-based decryption, Netflix strictly limits 4K playback to specific hardware and software requirements as listed above. Chrome can stream Netflix in 720p (HD), but those restrictions block 4K streaming.

Author - Kevin Parrish

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong

Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.

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• 4.2 • 54K Ratings

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Description.

Explore the web with lightning-fast speed, powerful privacy protections and robust customization options. With Safari you can browse sites, translate web pages, and access your tabs across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Features • Passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs and more seamlessly sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac • Private Browsing mode doesn’t save your history and keeps your browsing your business • Intelligent Tracking Prevention prevents trackers from following you across websites you visit • Tab Groups let you save and organize your tabs and access them across iOS, iPadOS and macOS • Profiles help keep your browsing history, website data, and more separate between topics like work and personal • Shared Tab Groups help you share tabs and collaborate with family and friends • Extensions allow you to personalize Safari and add even more functionality to the browser • Reader formats articles for easy reading without ads, navigation, or other distracting items • Privacy Report shows known trackers that have been blocked from tracking you • Reading List easily saves articles for you to read later • Voice Search lets you search the web using just your voice • Web page translation converts entire webpages into other languages right in the browser • Handoff effortlessly passes what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another • Add to Home Screen allows you to quickly launch a website or web app from your Home Screen

Ratings and Reviews

54K Ratings

To much scams…please READ!

So whenever I use this app/ Safari it get these trackers and scammers to get my location and this is making me nervous. I installed ad blocker I think it’s called and I blocked some trackers which made me feel better. Every time you search something you usually get a scam or tracker. I do not like when people track me down. I rarely use this app because of the scams and risks. I think it is an OK app in general because it’s the people making these small BAD websites. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because it could use work but it is pretty much like google. I use google way more because I feel like it is much safer than safari. I could be wrong… Safari could use some work with all these BAD websites. Can you block these bad websites? I would love to block these websites cause they are scary. Also watch out for nine anime/ 9anime websites… I searched up 9anime on safari and clicked a link. It looked safe but then these inappropriate pop ups kept coming. I immediately got off. I checked my ‘ How much trackers we have prevented’ or whatever it’s called it said that it had prevented 14 trackers from getting my IP address. This was good and bad news. I’m glad that safari and google can prevent these trackers but it is bad because this is dangerous. BE CAREFUL ON SAFARI!!!

Your Underrated Prince, Safari

In my humble opinion, Safari is the underrated king among multiple web browsers on the market. I was a PC devotee from ‘95 to ‘16, since then, it’s been all Tim Cook 🍎 all the time. My only regret is not purchasing a smartphone back in ‘07 from Steve Jobs. Presently, I own an iPhone 6s Plus in rose gold (2016), iPad Mini (2016), iPad Pro (2019) & MacBook (2018) in rose gold with matching Beats By Dre headphones. All four are set up with Safari, not Chrome, TOR, Brave, Edge, or DDGo. I love the ability to quickly save favorites, add to reading list & share content to other platforms. My favorites are alphabetized for quick reference & the reading list keeps all articles & pages in chronological order for quick recall. Also, I learned Safari quickly because it’s extremely user friendly. The browser helped my navigation of Apple when switching from PC. I’ll admit, learning MacBook isn’t easy, but, Safari keeps things familiar for me on the desktop. When lost, just go back to Safari & start over. It’s surprising no one in tech media mentions Safari more often as a go to source for navigating the internet. Chrome is the reigning king of, Land Of Browsers, without an heir apparent. I nominate Safari as the prince with future king potential. Citizens of Land Of Browsers don’t like their chrome-plated dirty laundry aired, sold or tracked.

This new layout is better IMO, but there are a few other problems that kinda bug me

Unpopular opinion, but this new layout is better. I don’t even remember the old layout since I’m not even a long-time iOS user (this is my first iPhone). I looked up the old layout or the “cascade” layout and it looks more painful to me than the new one. By the looks of it, it’s definitely easier to miss a tab you’re looking for in the older version, and then you will have to spend like 10 more minutes scrolling to find the tab you’re looking for. Sure, it may be “faster”, but it’s definitely harder to find the certain tab you’re looking for if most of the tabs are only viewable by a little area at the top. This app is mostly fine except for a few problems I get from time to time. Today I’m having a problem where I was trying to look at some Google images and then I tried to look at more but it was just stuck on loading. It wouldn’t even finish loading. This happened only on like 2 searches thankfully though. I’d probably give it a 95% since it has some minor lags and problems.

App Privacy

The developer, Apple , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• User Content
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Browsing History
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

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• Live Streaming

Live Streaming: Safari Browser

To watch your local PBS station's live stream on the Safari browser, you'll need to enable location sharing with PBS.org . If you are using another browser, select it from the list below to see instructions for your browser:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

If you see the error message "We could not determine your device's location" when attempting to view the live stream, please follow the steps below to enable location sharing.

On a Mac Computer

On an iphone or ipad.

• Within Security & Privacy, select Location Services  on the left-hand side. Location Services may already be selected by default when opening Security & Privacy. 
• Within Location Services, confirm that the box to the left of Enable Location Services  is checked to show that location services are enabled.

• You may be prompted to enter your computer's personal login credentials to confirm your access. Enter your name and password and select Unlock  to confirm.
• Select the box next to Enable Location Services  to check the box.
• Return to the pbs.org live stream on your Safari browser. Refresh  the page at the top of your browser. Once the page refreshes, you should be able to view the live stream.

For additional help, please see Apple's support page on enabling location sharing here .

If you continue to receive the above error message, we also recommend confirming that you have enabled location sharing for pbs.org within your Safari preferences.

• With the Safari browser open on the pbs.org live stream, select the Safari  option at the top of your screen. A list of additional options will appear.
• Select Preferences from the list of additional options.
• While within Safari Preferences, select the Websites  option listed along the top of Preferences.
• While within Websites, select Location from the left-hand list of General options.
• On the right, pbs.org   should appear under Currently Open Websites.  To the right of pbs.org is an option showing Ask/Deny . Select this option, and then select Allow. 
• Close the Preferences window to return to the pbs.org live stream. Refresh  the page at the top of your browser. Once the page refreshes, you should be able to view the live stream.
• Tap on your device's Settings > Privacy > Location Services .
• Make sure that Location Services is On . If Location Services if Off , tap Location Services and tap the switch on the right to enable Location Services. The switch on the right will change from gray to green to show it is enabled.
• Scroll down and tap the Safari Websites option.
• Select Ask Next Time or While Using the App to update your location services preferences for Safari on your device.
• Visit the live stream on PBS.org and you should now be able to view the live stream.

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• Live Streaming: Google Chrome Browser
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• The livestream is not available in your current location.
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• Livestream Error Code: The Livestream is not available in your current location
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It’s Time to Switch to a Privacy Browser

Google's admission that, yes, it does track you while you're in Chrome's Incognito mode , is just the latest in a long line of unsettling revelations about just how keenly Big Tech keeps an eye on our movements every time we connect to the internet. Billions of data records will now be deleted as part of a settlement to a class action lawsuit brought against Google.

As we've written before , Incognito mode and the equivalent modes offered by other browsers aren't as secure as you might think, particularly if you start signing into accounts like Google or Facebook. Your activities and searches as a logged-in user on large platforms can still be recorded, primarily to create advertising that's more accurately targeted toward your demographic.

Google, for its part, says it’s transparent about what data it’s storing and why—and in recent years it has made it easier for users to see and delete the information held about them. To really lock down your privacy and security, though, it’s best to switch to a browser not made by a company that earns billions of dollars selling ads.

And there are alternatives: Below we recommend several browsers built with user privacy and security as a priority. Even better, in many cases they can import data such as bookmarks and passwords from your current browser—Google Chrome, for example.

DuckDuckGo ( Android , iOS , Windows , macOS )

The DuckDuckGo browser blocks trackers at their source.

You might know DuckDuckGo as the anti-Google search engine, but the parent company has branched out to make its own browsers too. They keep you well protected online and at the same time give you plenty of information about the tracking technologies being proactively blocked.

DuckDuckGo starts by enforcing encrypted HTTPS connections when websites offer them, and gives each page you visit a grade based on how aggressively it's trying to mine your data. It'll even scan and rank site privacy policies for you.

When it comes to browsing data, this can be cleared automatically at the end of each session or after a certain period of time. Pop-ups and ads are snuffed out, and of course the DuckDuckGo search engine is built in, free of the Google trappings.

Charlie Wood

Eric Ravenscraft

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You also get extras like throwaway email aliases you can use in place of your real email address to protect your privacy, and everything about the browser and its features is simple to use: You don't really need to do anything except install them, so you're getting maximum protection with minimal effort.

Ghostery ( Android , iOS , Windows , macOS )

Ghostery comes with a range of tools to protect your privacy.

Install Ghostery on your mobile device or your computer, and straight away it gets to work blocking adverts and tracking cookies that will attempt to keep tabs on what you're up to on the web. There are no complicated setup screens or configurations to manage.

Like DuckDuckGo, Ghostery tells you exactly which trackers and ads it's blocking and how many monitoring tools each website has installed. If you do come across certain sites that are well behaved, you can mark them as trusted with a tap.

Or, if you find a site that's packed full of tracking systems, you can block every single bit of cookie technology on it (for commenting systems, media players, and so on), even if the site ends up breaking. A simple, private search engine is built in to replace Google too.

Ghostery's tools are a little more in-depth and advanced than the ones offered by DuckDuckGo, so you might consider it if you want to take extra control over which trackers are blocked on which sites—but it's simple enough for anyone to use.

Tor Browser ( Android , Windows , macOS )

Tor connects you to the Tor network, to keep your online activities more private.

Tor Browser markets itself as a browsing option "without tracking, surveillance, or censorship." It is worth a look if you want the ultimate in anonymized, tracker-free browsing—unless you're on iOS, where it isn't available (Tor recommends the Onion Browser instead).

The browser is part of a bigger project to keep internet browsing anonymous: Use Tor and you use the Tor Project network, a complex, encrypted relay system managed by the Tor community, making it much harder for anyone else to follow your activities online.

As well as this additional layer of anonymity, Tor Browser is super-strict on the background scripts and tracking tech that sites can run. It also blocks fingerprinting, a method where advertisers attempt to recognize the unique characteristics of your device.

At the end of each browsing session, everything gets wiped, including cookies left behind by sites and the browsing history inside the Tor Browser app itself. In other words, private browsing that leaves no trace is the default—and indeed the only option.

Brave ( Android , iOS , Windows , macOS )

Brave gives you a clean, speedy browsing experience.

Brave comes with all the tracking protection features you would expect: Ads are completely blocked, there are tight restrictions on the data that sites can gather through cookies and tracking scripts, and you're always kept informed about what's happening.

The browser comes with an optional built-in VPN, though it costs extra ($10 a month). You can also, if you want, use Brave to access the Tor network we mentioned with the Tor browser and take advantage of its anonymizing relay service that hides your location and browsing data.

There's no doubt about the effectiveness of Brave's tracker-blocking technologies, and getting around the web in Brave is quick and snappy. It's a comprehensive package and one that strikes a well-judged balance between simplicity and power for the majority of users.

Brave has regularly pioneered features related to innovative web technologies, including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and (most recently) artificial intelligence; there's actually a new AI assistant built into it. In other words, it's not exclusively focused on security and privacy.

Firefox ( Android , iOS , Windows , macOS )

Firefox is part of a suite of privacy products from Mozilla.

Firefox has long been at the forefront of online privacy—blocking tracking cookies across sites by default, for example—and it continues to be one of the best options for making sure you're giving away as little data as possible as you make your way across the web.

Firefox also gives you a ton of information on each website you visit regarding the trackers and cookies that pages have attempted to leave, and which ones Firefox has blocked. Permissions for access to your location and microphone can be easily managed as well.

Aside from looking after the interests of its users, Firefox also scores highly for user customization. You can change the look and behavior of the browser in a variety of ways, and there are useful integrations like the built-in Pocket utility that saves web stories on your device so you can read them later.

Firefox developer Mozilla offers plenty of extras, including a free data-breach monitor that tells you when your usernames and passwords may have been exposed somewhere online, a free email alias system to keep your actual email address protected, and a VPN that costs $10 per month. It all adds up to a comprehensive package for keeping you safe online.

Safari (iOS, macOS)

Safari has been blocking tracking cookies for some time.

Apple continues to add privacy tech to Safari with each release on iOS and macOS—like requiring user authentication (such as a Face ID scan) when returning to a browsing session—though it's obviously not a browsing option if you're on Android or Windows.

Safari has long been blocking third-party tracking cookies that try to connect the dots on your web activity across multiple sites. It also blocks device fingerprinting techniques that try to identify your devices, and it reports back on the trackers it has disabled.

The browser can now also warn you when you try to use a password that's too weak on a new website or service, and it will make a suggestion of a stronger password if needed. Recent browser updates added support for logging in with passkeys too.

Safari operates against the backdrop of Apple's commitment to collect as little information about you as possible and to keep most of that information locked away locally on your device rather than on Apple's servers.

Update: April 6, 2024, 8:30 am: This guide was updated to include new guidance for DuckDuckGo and Ghostery, as well as to bring some descriptions of browser providers' data collection policies up to date.

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Apple steps up Safari’s game with 60% faster performance according to shiny new browser benchmark Speedometer 3.0

Revved up Safari: Faster, more accurate, and simply better browsing ahead

Safari users are in for some good news, as Apple claims that users of its web browser can expect significantly better performance from the browser and its WebKit browser engine (which is primarily used in Safari ). 

The news was shared by Apple in an official WebKit blog post, following its announcement of Speedometer 3.0 , the latest iteration of Apple’s browser benchmark made in collaboration with other browser engine developers. It explains that the introduction of Speedometer 3.0 will usher in an era of faster web use in general, allowing web developers to make web apps and websites unlike those seen before, and Apple itself will be making sure that Safari and WebKit take advantage of the new technology. 

According to 9to5Mac , the way that Speedometer 3.0 captures information and calculates scores will allow for more detailed findings and give web developers new capabilities. 

Putting the pedal to the medal 

The website explains that the various optimizations that were carried out on Safari saw its Speedometer score increase by about 60% between Safari version 17.0 and version 17.4 . It concludes by predicting that this will lead to improved Safari performance, enabling developers to build websites and web apps that are “more responsive and snappier than ever.”

Companies such as Google , Intel , Microsoft , and Mozilla collaborated with Apple to create an improved shared user experience. Apple says this is to make sure browser testing is fair to whatever browser is subjected to it. It also means that the work involved in creating the new benchmarks didn’t fall on a single company.

This is promising messaging from Apple and in an almost out-of-character collaborative spirit. Developers who work on optimizing browser engines, as well as independent browser testers and reviewers, found the previous iteration of the Speedometer benchmark a useful tool in their work. Apple further claims that Speedometer 3.0 will improve upon this with improved testing accuracy and will enable the performance testing of a wide variety of contents.

Kudos to the Safari team for its collaborative endeavors

On a tangentially related note, competing browser developers are effectively forced to use Apple’s own WebKit browser engine for their browsers if they want their browsers to be in the App Store, except for regions where the law has forced them to allow browser engine developers to use whatever engines they prefer (such as the EU). If they’re not giving browser developers much of a choice in certain regions, it’s at least a positive note that they’re working to make WebKit the best browser engine it can be when developers have to use it.

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I commend Apple for this effort and development, and I think it will mean a better browser experience both for Safari users and users of other browsers. While Apple can sometimes appear to be aloof and uncooperative, developments like this by its Safari team show that it’s fully capable of the opposite, so hopefully, it will continue to do this more often when it’s clear that there are potential user benefits for everyone - not just its customers.

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Kristina is a UK-based Computing Writer, and is interested in all things computing, software, tech, mathematics and science. Previously, she has written articles about popular culture, economics, and miscellaneous other topics.

She has a personal interest in the history of mathematics, science, and technology; in particular, she closely follows AI and philosophically-motivated discussions.

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Apple touts major 60% leap in Safari and WebKit performance

Apple’s WebKit team has published a new blog post this week detailing how they’ve made significant upgrades to Safari’s performance over the last several months. The improvements come following the debut of Speedometer 3.0 in March, described as a “major step forward in making the web faster for all.”

Back in March, Apple, Google, and Mozilla teamed up to launch the new Speedometer 3 browser benchmark. The goal of Speedometer 3 is to “create a shared understanding of web performance so that improvements can be made to enhance the user experience.”

The results provided by Speedometer 3 offer more details on how the test “captures and calculates scores, show more detailed results and introduce an even wider variety of workloads.” Apple says:

The introduction of Speedometer 3.0 is a major step forward in making the web faster for all, and allowing Web developers to make websites and web apps that were not previously possible.

Apple’s WebKit team says that it has successfully improved Safari’s Speedometer 3.0 score by ~60% between the release of Safari 17.0 in September and Safari 17.4’s release in March. These improvements, Apple says, mean that developers can build websites and web apps that are faster than ever before:

With all these optimizations and dozens more, we were able to improve the overall Speedometer 3.0 score by ~60% between Safari 17.0 and Safari 17.4. Even though individual progressions were often less than 1%, over time, they all stacked up together to make a big difference. Because some of these optimizations also benefited Speedometer 2.1, Safari 17.4 is also ~13% faster than Safari 17.0 on Speedometer 2.1. We’re thrilled to deliver these performance improvements to our users allowing web developers to build websites and web apps that are more responsive and snappier than ever.

The full blog post has a ton of technical details on the work that has been done to optimize WebKit and Safari for Speedometer 3.0.

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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 192 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview , the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma , the latest version of macOS that Apple released in September 2023.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser . Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website .

Apple's aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

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Top Rated Comments

Safari 17.5 with MacOS 14.5 scored a 14.2, Safari Tech Preview 192 was 13.3, and the latest Google Chrome was 26.8. Uggg....

"and Performance Improvements" Sooooo...at long last, it's the most snappiest Safari we've ever created. You're going to love it

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