Windows, while the most popular desktop operating system in the world, has a major problem with memory management. Especially when it comes with web browsers, this issue becomes evident everytime you have more than 20 tabs open.
So ideally for Windows, the best browsers should be easy on the RAM and stable. We’ve tested a bunch of browsers on Windows and few of them came up on top.
Overview of the Best Browsers on Windows
| Browser | Best For | Best Feature | |
 | Edge | Efficiency | Sleeping Tabs & Vertical Tabs |
 | Chrome | Speed & Reliability | Google Integration |
 | Opera GX | Gaming & Productivity | GX Control & Hot Tabs Killer |
 | Brave | Privacy & Ad Blocking | Built-in Ad Blocker & VPN |
 | Firefox | Privacy & Customisability | ETP & Containers |
 | Vivaldi | Customisability | Vertical Tabs |
Microsoft Edge – The Best Browser for Windows
You’ve used Edge at least once. Even if it was to download Chrome. However, Edge has come a long way since then. As it’s built on Chromium now, the browser is just as fast as Chrome, but with much better optimisation.
Built for Windows, Runs Better Than Chrome
Since Microsoft controls both Windows and Edge, they’ve optimised it to work seamlessly with the OS. That means better memory management, smoother performance and improved battery life on laptops compared to Chrome. If you’re juggling a lot of tabs, Edge handles them more efficiently, using less RAM while keeping everything responsive.
Packed with Useful Features
Edge has some genuinely useful tools out of the box. Vertical tabs make managing a ridiculous number of open pages easier, the built-in sidebar keeps quick tools and AI-powered search within reach and Collections let you organise research without endless bookmarks. It even has a built-in PDF reader.
Deep Microsoft Integration
If you’re already using Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive or Teams, Edge makes life easier. It syncs passwords, bookmarks and settings across your Microsoft account and works smoothly with Windows’ split-screen and productivity features. Copilot (Microsoft’s AI assistant) is also built in, but whether that’s a good thing depends on how much you like AI popping up uninvited. You can disable it though.
Performance Without the Bloat
Edge is faster than any other Browser on Windows due to the lack of bloat. It crashes less and eats up less RAM, especially when you enable Sleeping Tabs, a feature that suspends inactive tabs to free up system resources. If your browser tends to slow your PC down after a while, Edge might be the better option.
The Downsides
Even though Edge is great on Windows, it’s still Microsoft’s browser which means you’ll occasionally feel the company pushing you to use Bing, Microsoft Rewards or their AI tools.
Who Should Use Edge on Windows?
If you want Chrome’s page loading speed but with better performance on Windows, go for Edge. It’s reliable, integrated and has features that actually work.
Google Chrome – The Best Browser Overall
Chrome has been the go-to browser for most people for years and for good reason too. It’s fast, reliable and syncs across all your devices. If you’re deep into Google’s ecosystem, Chrome is practically a part of your workflow. But on Windows, there’s one major problem, it’s a memory hog.
Fast and Familiar
Chrome delivers one of the smoothest browsing experiences on Windows. Pages load quickly, scrolling is fluid and it hardly ever crashes even when you have multiple tabs open. The UI isn’t the cleanest, but it’s familiar. So you’ll always feel right at home.
Extensions
You can’t talk about Chrome without talking about the Chrome Web Store. It has thousands of extensions so it’s one of the most customisable browsers out there. Ad blockers, password managers, VPNs, productivity tools, you’ll find everything in Chrome’s Web Store.
Sync Across All Your Devices
If you’re already using Chrome on your phone, tablet or another computer, everything stays in sync. Your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history and open tabs follow you across devices, so switching between them is quick and easy. Google’s password manager also integrates directly into Chrome so you don’t have to remember login details.
A Couple of Issues with Chrome
While Chrome is powerful, it’s also one of the most resource hungry browsers on Windows. If you have a decent amount of RAM you might not notice, but if you’re running an older machine or multitasking with a bunch of apps, Chrome can slow down fast. Google has improved memory management features like Memory Saver which suspends inactive tabs, but it’s still not as light on resources as Edge.
And while Chrome is great for speed and convenience, if privacy is a priority you might want to look elsewhere. Google makes money from data collection and while you can tweak privacy settings, Chrome is designed to feed data into Google’s ecosystem.
Who Should Use Chrome on Windows?
Chrome is perfect if you want a fast, feature-rich browser that works across all your devices. If you’re deep into Google’s ecosystem, Chrome is an easy pick
Opera GX – The Browser for Gamers
Opera GX is called a gaming browser. But to be very honest, it’s more of a marketing gimmic than anything. You don’t need to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy what it brings to Windows.
Limit How Much RAM and CPU It Uses
One of the biggest problems with modern browsers is how much memory they consume. Opera GX solves this with GX Control. This feature lets you manually limit how much RAM and CPU the browser is allowed to use. If you’ve ever had your browser slow down your whole PC while gaming, streaming or working, this feature alone makes Opera GX stand out.
Built-in Ad Blocker, VPN and Other Useful Extras
Opera GX comes with built-in tools that other browsers make you install as extensions. It has a built-in ad blocker, a free VPN for extra privacy and GX Cleaner that helps remove unnecessary browser files to keep things running smooth. There’s even a Hot Tabs Killer feature that shows you which tabs are consuming the most resources so you can close them instantly.
Twitch, Discord and Music Services in the Sidebar
For gamers, streamers and content creators, Opera GX’s sidebar integration is a game-changer. You can access Twitch, Discord, YouTube Music and even messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram directly from the browser without needing extra tabs or apps. This makes multitasking a breeze especially if you like to keep everything within easy reach.
Looks like a Gaming Rig, Runs like One Too
Opera GX’s design is bold with neon highlights, custom themes and animated transitions that makes it feel like an addition to your gaming setup. You can customize the colors, effects and even add RGB lighting integration with Razer Chroma.
Some Downsides to Consider
While Opera GX has features that help with memory management, for a browser, it has too many of these features. Which makes it a bit too bloated. For example, if you wanted ad blocking on your browser, you could get a better ad blocker than the built in one. The same for VPN. But then there would be two of everything. Opera gives you an all-in-one solution. While it’s a jack of all trades, it’s clearly a master of none.
Who Should Use Opera GX on Windows?
Gamers, streamers and power users will love it. Even if you’re not a gamer, the performance controls, built-in tools and UI will be a bonus.
Brave – The Privacy Browser
If privacy is your main priority while browsing the web, Brave is the best browser for Windows you can use. Brave is designed to block trackers, ads and other online annoyances out of the box.
Built-in Ad and Tracker Blocking
Brave has Shields, its built-in ad and tracker blocker which blocks intrusive ads and speeds up page loading times. Unlike vanilla Chrome or Firefox you don’t need extensions, Brave does it by default. The result? Faster browsing, better privacy and lower memory usage since trackers aren’t running in the background.
Easy on the System Memory
Since Brave isn’t sending data back to Google or loading extra tracking scripts, it uses less memory than Chrome. While it’s still Chromium-based, it’s optimised to be lighter and faster.
Built-in Crypto Wallet and Brave Rewards
Brave has some unique features including Brave Rewards which lets you earn cryptocurrency (BAT) by opting into privacy-respecting ads. It also has a built-in crypto wallet which is great if you’re into Web3 but feels unnecessary if you just want a simple browser.
Some Features Might Feel Like Bloat
Brave’s privacy-first approach is awesome but some of its features like Brave Rewards and crypto wallet might feel unnecessary if you just want a standard browser. Also because it blocks certain tracking scripts by default some websites might not load properly until you adjust the Shields settings manually.
Who Should Use Brave on Windows?
Brave is perfect if you want a fast, lightweight browser that blocks ads and trackers without extra extensions. If you value privacy, hate ads or just want something that runs more efficiently than Chrome, Brave is the way to go.
Firefox – The Customisable, Privacy-Focused Alternative
Firefox has always been the browser of choice for people who don’t want something controlled by Google or Microsoft. On Windows, it’s one of the best alternatives to Chrome and Edge, with strong privacy features, great customisation options and better memory management.
Less Tracking
Firefox doesn’t just talk about privacy. With Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP), it blocks trackers, fingerprinting and cryptominers by default and keeps your browsing data private. Firefox has very little interest in selling your data. And it’s open source, so you can actually verify their data collection practices. Sadly, browsers like Opera and Chrome do not promote the same confidence.
Uses Less RAM Than Chrome
Firefox has been optimised to use less memory than Chromium based browsers like Chrome, Edge and even Brave. If you have dozens of tabs open Firefox’s multi-process architecture will make sure your system doesn’t slow to a crawl. It also has a feature called Fission that improves security by isolating website processes without overloading your RAM.
Full Extension Support and Customisation
Firefox is the only non-Chromium browser that still supports a massive extension library, so you can install everything from ad blockers to productivity tools. Unlike Chrome it also allows deep customisation, from the UI layout to privacy settings so if you like to tweak your browsing experience then Firefox is the best choice.
Some Downsides to Be Aware Of
Firefox is great but not perfect. Some websites are still optimised for Chromium browsers so you might run into occasional compatibility issues. And while Firefox’s performance has improved a lot it still isn’t as fast as Chrome or Edge.
Who Should Use Firefox on Windows?
Firefox is perfect for anyone who values privacy, customisation and efficient memory usage. It’s great if you want to break free from the Chrome ecosystem and still have access to powerful features and a great extension library.
Vivaldi – The Browser for Power Users
If Chrome is too basic and Firefox too traditional, then Vivaldi is your browser. Built for power users, Vivaldi has insane levels of customisation, a tab system that puts others to shame and built in tools that make extra extensions redundant.
A Customisable UI Like No Other
Vivaldi lets you move every part of the interface – address bar, buttons, tab placements and even keyboard shortcuts. Want a minimalist look? Strip it all down. Prefer an info dense UI? Add as many toolbars and side panels as you want. No other browser gives you this level of control.
Tab Management for Power Users
If you work with a ridiculous number of tabs, Vivaldi makes life easier. Tab Stacking lets you group tabs together, keeping your workspace clean. You can also tile multiple tabs side by side, perfect for research, writing or comparing documents without switching between windows.
Built in Tools to Reduce Extension Dependence
Vivaldi has a Notes app, an email client, a feed reader and even a built-in translator, no need for extra extensions. There’s also a screenshot tool and a command bar for keyboard driven navigation. It’s a browser that can replace half of your other apps.
Some Shortcomings
While Vivaldi is feature rich, it’s not the lightest browser on Windows. It’s based on Chromium so it still uses a fair amount of memory and all those extra features add some bloat. If you prefer a streamlined experience Vivaldi might feel overwhelming at first.
Who Should Use Vivaldi on Windows?
Vivaldi is for users who love customisation, advanced tab management and built in tools. If Chrome is too limited and you want a browser that adapts to your workflow not the other way around, Vivaldi is unbeatable.
What is the Fastest Browser for Windows?
For raw speed on Windows, Chrome and Edge are the top contenders. Both are built on Chromium, so they share a base, but performance varies based on how each browser is optimised.
Chrome has always been fast. It loads pages quickly, handles multimedia heavy sites smoothly and integrates well with Google’s ecosystem. But here’s the catch. Chrome’s speed comes at the cost of high RAM usage, so if you have a lot of tabs open it will start to weigh down on your RAM.
Edge is better optimised for Windows. Since it’s designed by Microsoft for Windows, it gets deep system integration and feels snappier especially when handling multiple tabs. Edge has features like Sleeping Tabs which puts inactive tabs to sleep reducing resource usage and improves responsiveness. In real world use, Edge stays smooth even with 20+ tabs open.
But if you want the fastest page load times, Brave is worth mentioning. Unlike Chrome and Edge, Brave blocks ads and trackers by default which means web pages load way faster.
Which Browser Uses the Least RAM on Windows?
If RAM is your concern, Edge is the best browser on Windows by a long shot. While Chrome, Firefox and other browsers gobble up RAM when you have multiple tabs open, Edge is lighter and more resource-friendly.
The reason Edge performs better in this area is Sleeping Tabs. This feature automatically suspends inactive tabs, freeing up RAM and keeping your system responsive. Chrome keeps all your tabs active unless you manually close them or use an extension to manage memory usage. The difference is huge. Chrome can use over 3GB of RAM with 15-20 tabs open, while Edge is often under 2GB for the same load.
Another advantage of Edge is efficiency mode, which prioritises system resources when your device is running low on power. This is especially useful for laptops where battery life is a concern, as it helps reduce background activity.
The other option for lower RAM usage is Firefox. Unlike Edge, Firefox isn’t built on Chromium, which gives it an advantage. It doesn’t use as many separate processes for each tab, making it slightly more memory efficient than Chrome.
What is the Most Secure Browser for Windows?
If you want your browser to be secure, it must protect your personal data, block harmful websites, and keep your browsing history private. When it comes to Windows, Microsoft Edge, Brave and Firefox all offer security features, but they approach it in very different ways.
Microsoft Edge has SmartScreen, a Microsoft-built security feature that actively scans and blocks malicious sites and downloads better than Chrome’s Safe Browsing. SmartScreen also integrates well with Windows Defender. This offers extra protection if you’re using Windows Security. Plus, Edge has Tracking Prevention, which blocks third-party trackers at different levels depending on your privacy settings.
But if you’re looking for the most secure browser for privacy, Brave takes the lead. Unlike Edge or Chrome, Brave blocks ads, trackers, and fingerprinting by default, so websites can’t track your activity. Brave also has HTTPS Everywhere, forcing websites to use encrypted connections whenever possible.
Firefox is another good option for security, especially since it doesn’t rely on Google or Microsoft services. It has Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP), fingerprinting protection, and container tabs, so you can separate your browsing activity across different accounts. Perfect if you don’t want Facebook or Google tracking your data across multiple sites.
However, if you want more than what these browsers offer, in terms of security, you can always use a solid ad blocker on Windows. An ad blocker can significantly enhance your privacy and security.
So, which is the most secure browser for Windows?
- If you want the best built-in security against phishing and malware, Edge wins because of SmartScreen and Windows Defender integration.
- If privacy is your priority, Brave is the best with its aggressive ad and tracker blocking.
- If you want an alternative to Google and Microsoft without sacrificing security, Firefox is your best bet.
Wrapping Up
Windows users get a lot of options when it comes to web browsers. That’s because Windows is a diverse platform. Some use it for work, school, and research, while others use it for gaming. And different workloads require different types of browser. While Windows might try to push Microsoft Edge a bit too much, you don’t have to use it. Find the one that suits you the most. And you can always just change it and import your browsing data to a new browser.