10 Best Browsers for Windows 11 [Fastest & Private]
Make sure to choose a browser with great customization options
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Key notes
- Choosing the best browser for Windows 11 will depend on various factors, including speed, privacy, and security.
- Our team of expert testers has taken a variety of browsers through in-depth analysis and will present you with the results.
- A good browser for Windows 11 will allow customization, offer incredible browsing speeds, and ensure online security for its users.
Windows 11 has taken the OS market by storm, bringing many changes to its performance, an overhauled UI, a new Microsoft Store, and many other changes that make the OS much easier to use.
Let’s take browsers, for example. Choosing the best browser for Windows 11 can be tricky, depending on your exact focus and usage type.
Even though we test them regularly and even use most of them in our day-to-day activities, it has not been easy making up this list of best browsers for Windows 11.
We have taken into consideration many factors, such as speed, privacy and security, and overall features and functionality.
And to give you a better understanding here are some top choices for you to pick from instantly:
| Browser | OS | Best Features | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opera One | Windows 11-7, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS | • Modular AI technology • Built-in VPN and Adblocker • ChatGPT and social media in sidebar | ➡️Get It Now |
| UR Browser | Mac & Windows | • Download speed X 4 • News filter | ➡️Get It Now |
| Opera GX | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | • RAM, CPU, and bandwidth limiters • Sound effects | ➡️Get It Now |
| Edge | Windows, Mac, Mobile platforms | • Outlook in sidebar • Vertical tabs | ➡️Get It Now |
| Chrome | Windows 11-7, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS | • Rich extensions’ library | ➡️Get It Now |
Users are even more inclined to find a replacement for Internet Explorer, as the Windows 11 OS will not include this app by default.
As we already covered the best browser for Windows 10, in today’s guide, we will cover the same topic but for Windows 11, so read through, and at the end you just might find the right browser for you.
Every browser is different. Although it may seem like all browsers are the same, they usually specialize in different things.
For example, some focus on privacy and security, while others try to be as flashy as possible. If you’re not really interested in specifics, we got your back.
What is the best browser for Windows 11?
Opera One – Modular navigation for Windows 11
Opera One is the fastest and most optimized web browser available on the market. Using the browser for Windows 11 ensures a quick performance without utilizing too much of the system’s memory.
This new-age browser qualifies as the best browser for battery life on Windows 11, offering lightweight usage and integrated AI instruments in the sidebar. Also, meet the new liquid UI that allows improved web navigation due to its dynamic buttons and advanced transitions.
Although it is not as popular as Google Chrome, it has better RAM usage, is more customizable than the former, and comes with a VPN built into the browser.
Another practical feature of Opera One is the built-in messenger apps you can use to share with friends and acquaintances. Plus, you can synchronize the browsers on your devices, including bookmarks, extensions, and all customization you made.
If that didn’t convince you, you’d also be pleased to hear that you have improved productivity tools like tab islands. More exactly, this brand-new feature helps the user to streamline web navigation and organize work effectively.
Additional features:
- Modular design with AI improvements
- Free VPN usage
- Data browsing importing
- Sidebar tools with ChatGPT and social media
Opera One
Benefit from optimized, fast, highly customizable modular navigation for multiple devices.UR browser – 3 customizable security levels
UR browser is one of the most secure choices found on the list, with Opera One being a worthy rival. This browser protects your privacy, identity, and data while maintaining stable performance.
Being a Chromium-Based browser, it comes with customization options and ways to personalize the Homescreen.
Regarding security, the UR browser automatically scans all your downloads for viruses and stops the download upon detecting suspicious activity.
When you access a suspicious site, the browser will redirect you to an encrypted version (if there is one available), showing you a green shield icon to the left of the address bar when it’s secure.
Additionally, the UR browser automatically blocks third-party cookies and invisible trackers. Nobody can track your data for advertising purposes.
The browser makes everything work and loads faster because it removes cookies, ads, and other trackers that can slow down the page.
Additional features:
- Customizable
- Download manager
- 4x faster download speed
- News filter
- Easier access to your favorite sites
UR browser
Give a try to a web browser dedicated to keeping you safe and your data private.Opera GX – Quick access to RAM and CPU limiter
We have covered the Opera One browser in this list, but while the Opera GX is a variation, it has some unique features that make it the best gaming browser for Windows 11.
Let’s start by saying this is a dedicated gaming browser and the first and most prominent name in this niche. Like its sister browser, it is loaded with features that are magnified by the robustness of the Windows 11 OS.
We love it because of the easy integration it offers for platforms like Twitch and Discord. You will not have to leave a tab to send quick chats or view a video stream.
Like the Opera One browser, it offers synchronization for all your devices, making it easy to carry on wherever you left off on another device.
Lastly, if you like cool sound effects, then Opera GX is for you. There are nice effects for launching the browser and keystrokes. But, again, it immerses you in a gaming universe.
Additional features:
- RAM limiter
- Workspaces
- Ad blocker and VPN
Opera GX
This amazing app will take your Windows 11 browsing and gaming experience to the next level!Microsoft Edge – fast browsing speeds
Microsoft Edge is the bigger brother of Internet Explorer, with an overhauled interface, new functions, and more excellent performance than its predecessor.
This is, hands down, the best browser you can use on Windows 11 since Microsoft makes it, and they are constantly trying to push users into using it.
Besides, it comes integrated into the system. During the Windows 11 reveal, the company stated that the browser is going to receive some special love,
Microsoft Edge has a new interface on the latest Windows and runs on the Chromium Engine. Unfortunately, Bing is still the default search engine.
Learn more about the new additions to the browser by visiting our helpful article about Microsoft Edge’s upcoming overhaul.
Many of Edge’s extensions have been spotted on the latest Microsoft Store on Windows 11, making customization more straightforward and accessible.
This is part of the company’s effort to add value to the Microsoft Store. In the store, you can also find other popular apps such as WinZip, Canva, and Grammarly.
You don’t need to download the browser since it is already part of Windows. It’s just a matter of choosing to make it the default browser or not.
Additional features:
- Vertical tabs to work efficiently
- Smart copy feature to save time
- Tracking prevention for privacy
- Password monitor to keep track of credentials
- Enhanced InPrivate mode
⇒ Get Edge
Google Chrome – wide range of add-ons & extensions
Google Chrome is the father of all Chromium-based web browsers and one of the most popular ones among users, and rightfully so.
Being developed by the tech giant Google, the browser has lots in store for its users, emphasizing customization and personalizing it in your way.
You will find a vast library of extensions for it, and even if it doesn’t natively come with a built-in VPN or Adblock, those are just two clicks away from being installed.
However, one other thing that Google Chrome is known for—is consuming vast amounts of RAM. Seriously! This Chrome uses much of your memory, especially when opening multiple tabs.
Therefore, it’s not the best choice if you’re an avid gamer and care about performance. But for the others who don’t mind this minor inconvenience, it’s worth it.
You’re not exposed to online threats while you’re using the browser. As we mentioned, you can customize many options, including privacy and security features.
Mozilla Firefox – great customization options
Mozilla Firefox has been the go-to browser option for power users for many years. However, it received a massive overhaul last year, making it better.
It is still as customizable as ever, both in appearance and in the massive amount of plugins and extensions available.
Firefox boasts new protection measures, such as the DNS instead of HTTPS, that will keep internet providers from tracking and using your browsing data.
This leads to faster load times, less consumed data, and a more enjoyable experience without being nagged by ads constantly.
The browser works for multiple platforms and devices, including Linux, iOS, macOS, Windows, and more. Also, it’s available in over 90 languages!
The newly added picture-in-picture feature allows you to pop windows out of the browser window so you can multitask easier.
Brave Browser – lightweight and compact
Brave browser is a free, open-source browser available for mobile, PC, and Mac. Bravo Software developed it, and it’s based on the Chromium engine, making it one of the best lightweight browsers for Windows 11.
This is another privacy-oriented browser that blocks online ads and other tracking methods automatically by default.
What’s unique about Brave is that it allows users to access Tor, the most secure and private browser engine, all inside its tabs.
If you are not familiar with Tor, you should know that the engine not only hides your browsing history but also masks your location by re-routing it to several servers reaching you.
The Brave Browser is also more memory efficient, consuming up to 33% fewer resources than Google Chrome.
Fewer resources and less energy are required to run them as well. As a result, laptop and mobile users will also notice an increase in battery life of over 33%!
Vivaldi – highly customizable
Nothing beats deploying a very customizable browser on a highly customizable OS. In this regard, the Vivaldi browser and Windows 11 are two peas in a pod.
While it has many excellent features, we love it because almost everything is customizable, making it a browser you can truly own.
It is built on the Chromium engine, meaning that you will be able to extend its function using add-ons from the Chrome web store.
You can have multiple users on a single Vivaldi account, which means you can customize profiles with specific themes to fit the work you need.
And finally, despite the many readily available features, the devs have managed to keep the design neat and user-friendly.
Additional features:
- Bookmark management
- Tab management and browser window
- User-friendly mobile version
SlimBrowser – very low impact on resources
The SlimBrowser is not the most feature-rich on this list, but if you are looking for a lightning-fast Windows 11 browser, it may be one to try.
With this browser, you can create separate profiles or groups for specific websites and launch them all at once.
You will enjoy a distraction-free surfing session by enabling its ad blogger. Additionally, creatives will love to use its spell check, which means you can send emails without shocking recipients with grammatical howlers.
The downside is that you may find the interface cluttered at first glance.
Additional features:
- Efficient Download Manager
- Single-click Facebook integration
- Text and webpage translation
WaterFox – Lower system requirements than Firefox
If the name rings a bell, it’s because it should. The browser is a fork of Mozilla Firefox and, in this regard, has a few similar features.
If you ever used Chrome and thought it was a resource hog, the WaterFox browser will be a breath of fresh air; it is very light on the operating system.
It comes preinstalled with uBlock Origin, which is famous for being a very configurable tracker blocker; it is the privacy gold standard.
We love it because even though it carries a lot of features from its mother browser, it is stripped of Mozilla’s telemetry.
Also, since it is a privacy-focused browser, it boasts of not gathering its user’s data.
Additional features:
- Disabled encrypted media extensions
- Zero Startup profiling
- Support for 64-bit NPAPI plugins
⚡Which browser works best on Windows 11?
Based on our test the best browser for Windows 11 is Opera One. It offers an extensive range of customizable features and a plethora of excellent built-in tools like a VPN adblocker and fast social media access.
That being said, if you plan on using your Windows 11 device for gaming, Opera GX will ensure that you can customize your RAM and CPU output, among other advantageous features.
⚡ Which is the fastest browser for Windows 11?
As you can see from the results presented below, the fastest browser on the market for Windows 11 is Microsoft Edge, with a score of 165 runs per minute, followed by Brave Browser with 161 runs per minute.
On the 3rd position in this top, we have UR Browser with a 145 runs per minute score.
To create an easy-to-understand table with conclusive information about the speed of your favorite browser, we have used the Speedometer 2.0 tool from BrowserBench on a Windows 11 PC.
This helpful tool allows us to take all the browsers presented in this guide and put them to the test to get a good set of results, which can help you make an informed decision.
Here are the results:
| Browsers | Speedometer 2.0 Benchmark score |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Edge | 165 runs/minute |
| Brave Browser | 161 runs/minute |
| UR Browser | 145 runs/minute |
| Opera GX | 141 runs/minute |
| Google Chrome | 133 runs/minute |
| Mozilla Firefox | 119 runs/minute |
| Vivaldi | 115.8 runs/minute |
| Opera One | 110 runs/minute |
| SlimBrowser | 88.98 runs/minute |
| WaterFox | 85.2 runs/minute |
As we previously discussed, speed is not the only element to consider when choosing a browser, but knowing that you have the fastest on the market will surely be helpful.
🛡️ Which is the safest browser for Windows 11?
Online security and privacy became even more critical a few years ago, so choosing the best private browser for Windows 11 can be tricky.
To compare all the browsers from this guide, we used the BrowserAudit website benchmark.
This tool analyses the respective browser capabilities with more than 400 tests, each measuring if the browser can protect your privacy and online identity.
Here are the results:
| Browser | Privacy & Security - Browser |
|---|---|
| Mozilla Firefox | - 375 tests passed - 9 warnings - 0 critical - 20 skipped |
| SlimBrowser | - 375 tests passed - 9 warnings - 0 critical - 20 skipped |
| WaterFox | - 374 tests passed - 9 warnings - 0 critical - 20 skipped |
| Google Chrome | - 368 tests passed - 15 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| Opera One | - 367 tests passed - 16 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| Opera GX | - 367 tests passed - 16 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| UR Browser | - 367 tests passed - 16 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| Vivaldi | - 367 tests passed - 16 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| Microsoft Edge | - 365 tests passed - 18 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| Brave Browser | - 364 tests passed - 18 warnings - 1 critical - 21 skipped |
As you can see from the table presented above, Mozilla Firefox seems to have the most significant number of passed tests and is matched by SlimBrowser exactly.
Close behind, we have WaterFox with 374 passed tests, followed by Chrome, Opera One, and Opera GX.
That being said, if we consider all aspects of these options, the number of features, customization options, etc., Opera One still comes on top.
🎯 Does Windows 11 force you to use Edge?
Even though back in August of 2021, Microsoft was making it harder for users to change the default browser settings on Windows 11, the backlash from users has made the Redmont giant reconsider its position on this topic.
The Windows 11 build 22509 was the first version of this OS that allowed users to switch to a different default browser other than Edge with just a click of the mouse.
As it is, the aforementioned single click only applies if you have already opened the Settings app.
Another alternative to solve this situation is to tick the Change default browser box, which appears whenever you install a new browser on your device.
Is Microsoft Edge the same as Internet Explorer 11?
Even though most people were not fans of the Internet Explorer browser, it does have some nostalgic value for some people.
While Microsoft recommends that nobody uses Internet Explorer anymore, there are a few ways to continue using IE on Windows 11.
Now, Edge has an IE mode closed environment for people who still need to use it or for those who encounter issues when making the transition.
But it’s much faster than Internet Explorer, offers better security and privacy, and provides a redesigned UI.
Is Chrome or Edge better for Windows 11?
To answer the question about choosing Chrome or Edge for Windows 11, our team of testers has used the Basemark Web 3.0 benchmark.
This great online tool allows you to test browsing speed, possible data bottlenecks, and other web-performance markers.
To test the CPU and RAM usage for both these browsers, we reset them first, and then five identical tabs were opened in each browser to check what CPU and RAM consumption data were recorded.
Regarding the browser’s security and privacy capabilities, our team of testers has used the BrowserAudit test to ensure an in-depth analysis of this topic, as it is a crucial one.
This online tool checks if the browser uses a wide variety of security standards and features and if it’s doing so correctly.
Here are the results:
| Browser | Basemark Web 3.0 Score | Engine | RAM Usage | CPU | Privacy & Security score - BrowserAudit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | 1051.94 | Chromium | 1250MB | 1.2 - 1.8% | - 364 tests passed - 19 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
| Microsoft Edge | 1079.04 | Chromium | 638MB | 1.0 - 1.4 % | - 365 tests passed - 18 warnings - 1 critical - 20 skipped |
As you can see from the results table, choosing between Edge and Chrome will come down to personal preference, as both are built on a Chromium architecture and thus have very similar results across the board.
No matter which option you choose, you can rest assured that you will have a great overall experience.
Time to say goodbye to Internet Explorer! Our old buddy is officially retiring from Windows 10 on the 15th of June, 2022. Windows 11 will not even include it.
Nostalgia aside, we all know that Internet Explorer has never been a good browser, so we won’t miss the app. What is the best browser to replace Internet Explorer 11?
If you would like to get the speed of Internet Explorer 11 and combine it with an immersive UI, great customization options, and a built-in VPN and adblocker, then Opera One is the best choice for you.
