Safari vs Chrome: Best Browser for iPhone and Mac in 2024

Safari is often the go-to browser for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on Apple devices. It’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem overall and offers a seamless experience across iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

On the other hand, Google Chrome is known for its extensive extension library and cross-platform synchronization. It provides a lot of features not available on Safari and is preferred for its versatility, whereas Safari is tailored to performance and privacy.

So, which browser should you choose? To help you decide, I’ve done the research and compared the browsers across multiple tests. Let’s take a look at each option more closely to get a clear answer.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Safari vs Chrome — What to Choose?

Comparing browsers involves running multiple tests. I’ve got hands-on experience with both browsers in specific categories such as UI, performance, and privacy to help you make the right choice.

So, let's dive into how Safari and Chrome stack up against each other.

1. Speed and Performance

Both browsers offer impressive speed and performance for loading and displaying web pages. Historically, Safari has had the upper hand over Chrome regarding memory efficiency. Chrome's reputation for consuming massive amounts of RAM is well-known, though its recent updates have brought that down significantly.

You can track your browser's RAM usage and kill tabs

Plus, Chrome now shows you the memory usage of each open tab when you hover over it. This is really useful for identifying and closing RAM-intensive tabs, helping you manage your Mac's resources more effectively. It also comes with its own Task Manager and a Memory Saver feature that puts tabs to deep sleep and effectively optimizes resources. Plus, the automatic tab discarder kills tabs that you’re not using to save memory (without getting rid of the tab).

I ran a few benchmarks on both browsers using the Speedometer 2.0, JetStream 2, and MotionMark tests to compare Safari vs Chrome performance. My M1 Mac has 16GB of RAM and zero apps running in the background.

Chrome uses more resources but is slightly faster than Safari

JetStream runs its tests by executing complex JavaScript workloads (the bigger the JetStream score, the better). This means that Chrome outperforms Safari when executing dedicated web apps.

MotionMark analyzes how the browser handles complex graphics. Chrome and Safari are neck and neck in this test, meaning both browsers offer a great user experience and responsiveness. That said, Chrome beats Safari in the Speedometer test and offers better web performance overall.

Safari runs more efficiently than Chrome, and it conserves system resources and battery life of iOS and Mac devices, especially when managing multiple tabs. That said, since it outperforms Safari slightly in all benchmarks, Chrome holds the edge in overall performance.

2. Energy Usage

As with RAM, Chrome uses a lot more battery if you have lots of tabs open. However, Chrome has seen significant improvements in energy efficiency as well. With its frequent updates, Chrome has started deep sleeping tabs that aren’t used for long periods.

This conserves battery life and helps keep your performance snappy. You can also enable an Energy Saver in Chrome’s settings panel that helps preserve battery life. That said, Safari is still a bit ahead of Chrome and is more optimized for Apple devices.

You can find the energy saver option in the performance settings

I tested both browsers by streaming an hour-long video on YouTube in Full HD resolution and then gaming for another 30 minutes. Here are the results:

So, you can clearly see that Safari offers better energy savings. That said, I don’t think Chrome is terrible either. It’s become a lot better with the latest updates and can be used in most cases without issues. But, if battery life is a big consideration for you, then Safari is the way to go.

3. Security and Privacy

Safari and Chrome both offer robust protection features but approach data privacy in distinct ways. Each one uses Google’s Safe Browsing database to protect you from phishing sites and malware. They both also offer private browsing tabs that delete all data when you close the window. Plus, each one will warn you if you’re not using the most secure (HTTPS) version of a website, block pop-ups, and automatically sandbox any potentially risky processes.

Safari is designed with privacy in mind and provides various features to minimize cross-site tracking (via ITP — Intelligent Tracking Prevention) and fingerprinting. The browser will even tell you how many trackers it’s blocked in the past seven days. Plus, its integration with iCloud Keychain lets you seamlessly manage passwords across Apple devices without compromising security.

You can also delete any stored website data to ensure no sensitive information is saved

Chrome offers a comprehensive suite of security features. This includes frequent updates that address vulnerabilities, a password manager with cross-platform synchronization, and dark web monitoring. This feature uses data analytics to alert you if your passwords and email addresses are ever leaked in a data breach.

Safari and Chrome also offer a dedicated privacy report or checkup scan option. This lets you stay safe from data breaches, bad extensions, and threats online. Chrome also lets you customize your browsing protection, and I recommend using the Enhanced protection option from the Safe Browsing settings.

You can also run a privacy check to ensure you're safe from data breaches

On the other hand, Google sells advertising data and has a lot more incentives to track you. Personalized ads are automatically enabled on Chrome, and over the last few years, Google has gotten in trouble for improper collection of personal data.

A lot of Chrome’s risky features are also enabled by default, like search predictions and URL suggestions (thanks to the browser’s ‘omnibox’ search bar, which remembers the things you search for and the sites you visit). That said, Safari has a similar feature — Smart Search — and both browsers give you the option to turn off personalized results.

Using a VPN is one way to encrypt your data and browsing habits so they can’t be tracked or monitored by Apple or Google. That said, neither Safari nor Chrome comes with a built-in VPN and Safari doesn’t support premium third-party VPN extensions, though Chrome does. That means Chrome lets hide your online activities from within the browser.

4. Ease of Use and Compatibility

In terms of user experience and compatibility, both browsers excel but cater to different needs. Safari's interface is streamlined and minimalist, embodying the sleek design language of macOS and iOS.

Safari also offers excellent integration with the Apple ecosystem, including Apple Pay and Handoff, which lets you seamlessly switch between devices while carrying out tasks in the browser. Safari's performance optimizations for Mac mean better battery life and faster load times, making it an attractive option if you’re fully invested in Apple products.

The browser’s profile settings also enable you to work with multiple accounts to personalize your browsing experience on the same device. Plus, its sync allows you to transition your bookmarks, history, and passwords across Apple devices. The downside? Safari doesn’t work with other operating systems — unless you’re happy to use a very out-of-date version.

You get the same settings for Chrome, with improved compatibility. Setting up profiles is easy, and it can be synced across all major OSs like Android, Windows, Linux, and Apple (including Mac, iPhone, and iPad). The browser works with a wide range of web standards, ensuring websites function correctly and efficiently. Its user interface is beginner-friendly, and Chrome supports extensive customization through themes and extensions.

Both browsers let you customize the profiles separately with themes, extensions, and more

When it comes to customization, Chrome offers a few more themes and configuration options to choose from. But both browsers have a dark mode, widgets, and the ability to change the default search engine from Google to Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo. The browsers also let you search tabs and manage multiple tabs by grouping them, alongside standard bookmarking features. Overall, both browsers offer a great user experience.

You can also configure the tab settings and private browsing (incognito) modes

5. Extensions and Additional Features

Thanks to the vast library of extensions, Chrome has a substantial advantage in this category. This range allows you to add almost any feature to your browser, from ad blockers like AdGuard to password managers and productivity tools. The browser comes with a secure autofill service, Google Pay support, Google reverse image search, Google Assistant integration, and a dedicated reading mode.

You can get extensions for ad blockers, VPNs, social media, and more

Safari is limited compared to Chrome but still provides a good selection of useful extensions through the App Store. Apple has also integrated several valuable features directly into Safari, such as a Reader mode for a distraction-free experience, a “Listen to Page” accessibility feature, and a secure autofill service. It also lets you convert any webpage to a PDF along with annotations.

Chrome provides more options when it comes to extensions but Safari has the main tools covered

A big advantage for Safari is its tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem. You can make online purchases securely using Touch ID and Face ID. Plus, it helps you secure your passwords while using the autofill service.

Chrome is certainly a better fit if you have Android devices or use Windows. Plus, you can seamlessly share your screen with Chromecast and easily stream anything from your device to your big-screen TV.

Chrome also works better with other Google apps such as Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets. Google’s automatic Translate lets you translate any webpage to any language in seconds. Safari's translation feature is not as immediately accessible or as widely supported.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Tips on Choosing Between Safari and Chrome

Choosing between Safari and Chrome doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a simplified guide to help you decide, combining key points for both browsers:

• Choose your ecosystem. If you're fully invested in Apple's ecosystem, Safari offers seamless integration across all your devices, from Mac to iPhone and iPad. If you navigate between different OSs, such as Windows at work and macOS at home, Chrome provides a consistent experience across multiple platforms for mobile browsing.
• Consider battery life and performance. Safari is optimized for macOS, meaning it generally consumes less battery and CPU resources, especially on MacBooks. Chrome outperforms Safari but can take up marginally more resources. You can use your Mac’s Activity Monitor if you want to measure each browser’s performance for yourself.
• Think about security and privacy concerns. Safari is designed with a strong emphasis on privacy, offering many security-related features. That said, Chrome's frequent updates can provide peace of mind with the regular security patches.
• Look for additional features and extensions. Chrome offers a vast library of extensions, allowing for significant customization of your browsing experience. Safari provides some key features natively, but its extensions aren’t as varied or abundant.

FAQs on Safari vs Chrome

What is the fastest browser for iPhone?

Safari is the fastest browser for iPhones due to its integration with iOS. Apple has optimized Safari to work seamlessly with the iPhone's hardware, ensuring quick load times and efficient performance. That means you also get better battery life with Safari as compared to other third-party browsers.

However, speed can depend on the websites you visit and how those sites are optimized for different browsers. Third-party browsers like Chrome may offer comparable pace in various conditions — but Safari's optimization for iOS typically gives it a speed advantage.

Does Google own Safari?

No, Safari is developed and maintained by Apple Inc. It’s the default web browser on all Apple devices, including Macs, iPhones, and iPads. Google owns Chrome, which is another popular web browser available across multiple platforms. While Google is the default search engine in Safari, and there have been financial agreements related to this, the browser itself is wholly owned and operated by Apple.

Can you have two browsers on your Mac?

Yes, you can have multiple web browsers installed on your Mac. It's quite common to have more than one browser, such as Safari and Chrome, on a single device. Different browsers can be good for different uses so it can be helpful to have a couple installed.

For example, you might use Safari for its close integration with the Apple ecosystem and Chrome for its extensive library of extensions. Having multiple browsers can also be useful for web development or testing, allowing you to see how websites perform across different browsing environments.

Why is Safari so laggy?

Lag can be due to outdated software, overloaded browser cache, or extensions. If Safari is not up to date, it might not perform optimally, so make sure to update both the browser and macOS. Multiple tabs can also slow down browsing speeds, while disabling extensions can help, as they can consume excessive resources.

The Bottom Line

Both Safari and Chrome stand out as excellent browser options. With its simplicity and integration within the Apple ecosystem, Safari is a great pick for your iPhone, iPad, and Mac — it's ready to use right out of the box.

On the other hand, Chrome is the best bet if you want to browse across multiple operating systems as it supports Android, Windows, and Linux as well as macOS and iOS. It also provides excellent speed, user-friendliness, and unmatched customization capabilities. Its status as a top browser is certainly well-earned.