Android runs on over 2 billion devices, that is more than Windows, iOS & others combined. That implies how popular the Android is among smartphone users, that is every two out of three picks Android over other operating systems. As a matter of fact, Android is used platform to access the web. But getting the fastest web browser for Android wouldn’t lead to a happy ending.
In my sincerest recommendation, going with the trusted browsers sounds like the smart thing to do. The reason being, Internet surfing is a private affair, and since you don’t want to suffer from the lack of security when accessing private information, you ought to go with what you know, eh? Let’s see some of the top best Android browsers 2018, without any further ado let’s login, shall we?
Best Android Web Browsers You Shouldn’t Ignore – 2018 Edition
1. Google Chrome
Google Chrome is one of the quicker and best browser for Android known to mankind (sort of). Being a product of the tech giant, Chrome provides ample features to tinker around. Chrome is loaded with lots of features which is more than adequate for average person, which includes built-in Flash, HTML 5, incognito window, Data saver (have to enable), & importantly possess the ability to sync all histories, passwords & bookmarks across any device seamlessly using Gmail account.
Google Chrome
It makes your experience seamless across multiple devices, and the faster web page rendering engine makes it hands down choice. Well, the jaw-dropping features might not make Chrome as the best Android browser, if your smartphone isn’t packing some decent power inside. It requires sufficient system memory and horsepower to get going, to say less it is a memory hog. Although it is resource intensive, but the features and the security it provides makes us rethink the decision. Best part, it is updated regularly which weeds out potential bugs, so no hindrance is likely to be encountered.
- Tabbed browsing.
- Sync history/bookmarks across your devices.
- The private/incognito mode feature is available.
- “Do not track” is a built-in option.
- Data saver is built-in for optimized data usage.
- Voice search & better integration with voice assistants like Google Now & Allo.
- Multiple gestures supported are supported.
2. Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is the old school browser that dominated the industry before Chrome’s launch. It is open source in nature, which attracts mostly developers and geeks. The overabundance of addons stepped by the game for Firefox. When it comes to the options and area to explore, it wins over any browser. You can install Add-ons right into your mobile browser, making the competition tougher for Chrome.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox carries the same genes from its cousine, which includes synchronisation, built in flash, data saver, private browsing and others. But it isn’t resource intensive as Chrome, it is easy on memory so you can give it a shot. It could be quite faster, if you compared with chrome it falls short.
- Well organised.
- Synchronise history/bookmarks across different platforms.
- Add-ons supports for geeky nerds.
- Private Browsing
- Store passwords securely, encrypt it with a master password.
- Gestures will make browsing intuitive.
- Flash is inbuilt.
- Block trackers, web malware.
3. Opera Browser
Opera, everyone’s favourite web browsers getting better. It has some signature features which makes it stands out in the crowd along with few short comings. It supports flash, faster downloading, private browsing, tabbed browsing, and you can customize the way you want it to look.
Opera Browser
Well, Opera isn’t for everyone the sponsored notification might let off some, you can turn it off in settings. The built in newsfeed can make or break Opera it has some trending news in worldwide scale, many find it useless whereas some found it worth. The Data saver is a boon for many cellular data users, you can fire up Ad blocker, video compression and image quality accordingly.
- Clean & clutter-free UI.
- Easy tabs navigation especially tablet mode.
- Private browsing.
- Opera Turbo – Renders web pages faster and saves the data.
- Pop-up blocker and filters anonymous ads.
- Intuitive download manager.
- One clicks user agent switcher.
- Sync all your data with single sign-in.
Opera Browser
Opera Mini
If you need lighter version of Opera but ready to sacrifice few options, you could go with Opera Mini. Both browsers are lighter on memory and CPU, so either do works.
4. Dolphin
Being a great alternative to stock Android browsers, Dolphin provides you ample features for accessing to the internet. The user interface is simple and intuitive, you can save your favourite bookmarks or shortcuts for instant access. Apart from that, the built-in flash player and pop-up blocker will make browsing smooth.
Dolphin Browser For Android
For power users, you’ll also get the advanced features like Gesture support and personalized search. Sonar is something special; you can make use of your voice to search the web. You don’t have to install any personal assistants, it’s built right into the browser itself. You can also customise the browser with a wide array of themes out there.
- Easy sync bookmarks/history.
- Browser store for installing web apps and add-ons.
- A variety of gestures is supported.
- Voice search is packed.
- Custom rendering engine.
- Flash player is supported.
- Classic and list style tab browsing.
- One-tap sharing.
- Highly customizable UI.
5. Maxthon
Maxthon is the brilliant choice of a web browser for Android phones; its unique features makes it worth a try. Browsing speed is optimum, and the smooth user interface runs parallel to it. On the other hand, it supports all the feature like Incognito Mode, Flash and other practical stuff that is preliminary for smooth browsing.
Maxthon Cloud Web Browser
Features including Magic Fill (fills the form details automatically), user agent switcher (switches between mobile, desktop, and tablets), images off, AdBlock Plus (still in the beta mode), sync options (sync history favorites, tabs), NewsBites (latest news engine) and others. If you had a bad experience with a browser or need to switch to a new one, then Maxthon must be the first one on your list. Well-organized, intuitive interface and faster browsing are what makes Maxthon well-known.
- A straightforward and intuitive user interface.
- Browsing was Faster than we expected.
- Automatically fill forms with Magic Fill.
- One click user agent switcher.
- Vast sync options.
- NewsBites for the latest news.
- AdBlock Plus (Beta mode)
6. Apus
Apus is the lightweight and powerful browser that’s enough for most of the daily needs. Apus Web browser is aimed to provide the smooth and fluid browsing experience even on the low-end smartphones with 2G/EDGE & slow internet connections.
Apus Web Browser
Apus browser is the best performer for the low-end smartphones. The favorite shortcuts make you access your most visited websites without typing in the URLs. Furthermore, the tab management makes most of your browsing experience. Incognito and Night modes are somewhat essential for a night-owl which is built-in. Features like Speed mode (renders pages faster), Full screen (hides notification bar), desktop site, privacy sites (pattern lock websites), offline pages (saves pages offline), night mode (dark theme for low light conditions), delete data (one click clear your browsing records).
- Smallest browser (less than 3 MB).
- Speed mode to render pages faster.
- Privacy sites – Lock the websites for private access
- Experience faster browsing with slower internet.
- HTML5 is supported.
- Incognito, No images, Game and Night Modes.
- Compatible with Android tablets.
- Well-organized tab browsing.
7. UC Browser
Although, it is a great web browser it collects unnecessary informations and ask for almost all the permissions. There was breach in its datacenter few months back, we don’t recommend UC browser anymore. And the way it handles sponsored articles and news is undeniably worst.
UC browser created a wave and overtook the rival browsers. You’ll get access to the fast internet and the UI meets expectations. Although, you’ll get promotional contents of third-party websites, you’ll also get a lot more to grab on your plate. With enhanced downloading speeds it is one of the best browsers for downloading. You won’t need any download managers for android phone to get the work done.
UC Browser
You can also customize browser theme, and switch to night mode if you need. The turbo boost resonates with Opera Turbo but does the job well. Too many promotional contents and notification may annoy anyone, if this isn’t a concern then UC Browser has your name written on.
- Easy and smooth browsing.
- High-speed download.
- Incognito Mode.
- UC Turbo for faster browsing.
- Flash supported.
8. Brave
Brave Browser (Formerly known as link bubble browser) is another app that is concerned about the privacy of its users. It blocks all the Ads and other trackers that track the user behavior and brings you safe and secure browsing.
You don’t have to wait till the web page completes loading, you could browse others in real-time. You could redirect the link to a particular app such as Google Play Store, etc.
9. Puffin Browser
Puffin is another reliable player with smart features. You could experience the ultra fast browsing with the latest flash version and enhanced page outlets. With the advanced javascript rendering engine, it would fetch the data fast even with slow connections.
If you don’t want to download files to the smartphone, you can save them to the cloud storage services like Dropbox, etc. Later, you could download the collected data from the cloud to your phone using the browser. Puffin browser comes with the Android v 6.0 (Marshmallow) update.
10. Mercury Browser
With the simple user interface, it stands out not only with the straightforward UI but also features it offers. It also has the inbuilt file manager to explore the files you have downloaded or in your cloud storage. Apart from that, it has day/night mode, privacy browsing, reading list, user agent switcher, no image browsing and bunch of others.
Mercury Browser
FAB icon comes handy, if you are about to add the current page to speed dial, bookmarks or reading list. Did I said, you can customise the FAB settings. With a plethora of plugins including, AdBlock, Gallery mode, screenshot and others, it satisfies your extension needs. You can also sync your bookmarks, passwords, history with other devices through Mercury connect. Not the best, but still an excellent android stock browser alternative.
11. Next Browser
Simple browser, which was developed aiming the light and moderate users. The UI is clean, with full screen mode. Like most of the browsers, it has night mode, bookmarks, no image mode, private browsing and few others. You can get your hands on few plugins to the browser in the extension centre, though the extension count is low, still more than enough for light users.
Next Browser
You can switch the user agent to desktop, Android or iPhone which might be useful. Apart from that nothing fancy, all the features are primarily targeting light users.
12. Ghostery
If privacy is your primary concern, why shouldn’t you try Ghostery browser? Ghostery’s advanced algorithm gathers the tracking script of hundreds of websites and stores in its database; so that none of your data is tracked. You could browse the web anonymously without worrying about your privacy.
Apart from that, the browsing experience isn’t slow; you’ll get an exceptional speed. The app requires additional permissions, unlike any regular web browser.
13. Chrome Beta
Simpler and faster browser replicate the Google Chrome with modified features in beta mode. You could install the Chrome beta along with Google Chrome, which fetches the history, bookmarks and other things. Apart from that, everything resembles the original Chrome web browser for the smartphones.
14. Opera Mini
Opera Mini is the most popular web browser accompanied with the traditional and impressive features. But flash contents were not supported in this browser; you have to switch to the browser with flash support.
15. CM Browser
It’s lightweight (2.9MB), lightning fast, and provides AV-Test verified security. In one word, it is just SUPER! The stunning user interface will make you hypnotized to use this browser over others. Say goodbye to Chrome and Firefox, CM Browser has it all.
The gesture control lets you access your favorite sites with a single click! The browser is also equipped to auto-scan any snooping spyware, malware, and quarantines it for you.
It also comes with something called Card Tabs which means you can access more websites at a simultaneous pace. The most profitable feature of CM browser is the Privacy Cleaner which deletes all your personal information, such as bank records, and previously accessed websites and saves nothing! Which means more privacy for you!
16. Flynx
Flynx is a one-of-a-kind web browser that brings the best of smart browsing features to your smartphone. It understands the need for multitasking in the modern age and allows its user to do the same without a scuttle. You can now open all the links from your apps which will run in the background. Your favorite articles are now opened in a clutter-free manner for easier reading facility. Any link that you open from other apps can also be saved for offline accessibility and reading.
17. Javelin
Javelin Browser is a powerful browsing app for Android devices that includes AdBlock Plus. Concurrently, Javelin has a stunning elegant design that you’ve not seen elsewhere. The main window and address bar are the most key designed features of this browser.
Javeline also organizes your most read bookmarks in a nice fashion, by showing the most frequently used/read pages to the top and the least used to the bottom. Other features include incognito mode and full reading mode which facilitates the ease of reading long articles. An intelligent web browser such as Javeline, poses a strong opposition to the traditional web browsers such as Google Chrome, so try it once and become a fan!
Wrapping up,
After all, it is best to stick with what works best for you, if you need faster browser and don’t care about the memory hogging issues then Chrome is way to go. For developers, who tinker around with Addons or Javascript Firefox is for you, for rest of the genre you could either go with Opera or Dolphin.
Well, that is the list of some best Android browsers 2018 edition, all these are better than stock web browser in terms of rendering engine, responsiveness & features, so you might find your perfect companion. Have we missed any other browser for Android on this list? If YES, let us know in the comment section, also drop your browser of choice & why in the comment section below.
Mirek
Of the Android browsers you have ranked only Opera and UC have built-in word-wrap feature when zooming webpages. This is a must feature for small screens, when you need zooming and don’t want to scroll sideways. Word-wrap works best in Opera and slightly worsein UC. This should be implemented in Chrome, then it would be unrivaled the best.
Nenn
Agreed!
payal
I feel that the best android browser is cool browser .There are dozens of great browsers available on app store. It depends on what is your requirement. But one of the best browser that I came across and would recommend to use is cool browser- search &download. It helps you to perform almost all your daily browsing habits with ease and faster speed. it is a free app on play store. Cool browser also helps you to download and share videos from Facebook & other leading channels with just a single click.you can also download the pro version of cool browser- search &download for effortless streaming and downloading videos from you tube and other channels.
Charles
I could never use a browser that didn’t have a tab bar above the address bar, it’s why I refuse to use Chrome. I Absolutely hate going to a separate view in order to see all of my opened background sites. As such, Opera Beta is the best browser available by a huge margin.
Now, when you change your desktops LDPI to 380, which changes your phone to tablet UI mode, browsers like Chrome do show a tabs bar, so the feature is there, just hidden in phone mode.
This is what I’m talking about when I say tablet mode: https://goo.gl/photos/DW2vj1nR7ofcAVGu5 so basically If you have a 5.7″ phone and aren’t using 380 LDPI or table mode, you might as well be using a 4″ phone as the real estate is the same at 640LDPI.
Debanka Chanda
Yubrowser. You must include that. Its built from chromium and is open sourced. Its basically chrome, just with better features, default ad-blocking and prettier.
Jim Fraser
Opera has mastery of mobiles. I have been running Opera browsers on phones since I installed Opera Mini on a Nokia 3100 nearly 12 years ago. Now I am using Opera Mini on a Nokia 301 for one network and on my other network I have a Samsung Galaxy with two copies of Opera. I have Opera Mobile for when there is 3G or better and Opera Mini, with its tiny downloads, for when there is only 2G coverage. The result is that when others with phones costing 10 times as much and contracts costing 3 times as much shake their heads and announce that there is no internet coverage, I am still happily browsing with Opera Mini with my 2G connection (especially since there is nobody browsing else on it!!).
Virat
Good article sir. However, you have missed Polarity Browser. It is the fastest and most secure browser I’ve used with built in adblocking and anti-tracking features. Polarity Browser also has a very good desktop version which I also use on a daily basis.
Charles
No one has even heard of Polarity, it’s usage isn’t even registered on W3. Though I tried it, no thanks, not a fan of the tab function. I want to see all of my tabs above the address bar like the internet gods intended. I’ll stick with the best browser I’ve ever used , Opera Beta with Opera VPN, you can’t get anymore secure than that, seriously, you can’t. I mean we’re talking about the things people who live in caves use to send their propaganda after committing some atrocity.
Grin TheHYBRID
I’ll still give the best to Opera. Been using it for 10 years now nd no complain. Opera any day
Android
I use chrome and UC browser sometimes. Chrome is really good. I just need to signin with my mail id and everything comes as it is there on my PC which is really good.
T
Mozilla FF with its add ons makes it by far #1 imo…Until Chrome implements extensions, themes, etc they will not be used by me…Having Ublock Origins + Ghostery in your android browser is just TOO damn good
Timo Meyer
UC browser, Dolphin, cm, Opera tested all those and seems all try to make money with ads, sleak and no clutter browser are Firefox and start browse, both have great UI and no cluttering with unnecessary bullsh…
Scott
Firefox is so slow and it’s adblocking is pretty much non functional. Some sites FF is not useable at all because of the tabs and pop-ups. Chrome is almost as slow, no adblocking at all. I found Lightning to be faster, has descent adblocking (at least I can read the page without too much problem), but I wish it had sync and easy to switch to desktop display.
Charles
That’s because your not using FireFox in tablet mode, a completely different monster all together. As you can simply just choose the adblock extension you want. It’s basically the same exact application you get on Windows.
Daniel Vaughan
There’s a new browser that was released just weeks ago, and it has some unique features. (My wife and I are the creators). It’s name is Surfy Browser http://www.surfybrowser.com
and it was recently app of the week on Gizmodo UK.
It has a passcode and fingerprint lock for launching the app or for individual bookmarks. You can save a session to a lockable tile and have private browsing automatically switched on. It has an ad blocker. It has text-to-speech, so you can listen to pages while browsing or using other apps.
It has real swipable tabs, mobile optimizer.
It’s more customizable than other browsers; with 21 thousand color variations, you can set the color of the tabs, application bar, and accent; and even set the background to your favourite photo. There are too many features to list, but here are a few more:
✔ Desktop mode
✔ Multiple search providers: Google Bing DuckDuckGo Yahoo! Baidu
✔ Searchable history
✔ Clear cookies and cache with history.
✔ Set desktop or reading mode for individual tabs
✔ Share pages via Email SMS, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & NFC
✔ Night dimmer
✔ Save images & open links via context menu
✔ Find on Page
✔ Customize tabs and application bar colors
✔ Pin pages to the Launch Pad
Also, we’re a mum and dad operation, not a big company that’s going to sell your data.
Hockett
Once I started using Yandex Browser it became my default. It’s great on tablets and phones. Try it you’ll like it and then maybe it’ll make your list.
DG
Many thanks for including our APUS Browser, will let our developers team know and keep on developing.
Andrew
VIA Browser is the best! Try it, its really light and so fast, has everything u need.
Apoorva
Try out WARP BROWSER on Google Play Store
PsyintZ
Howcome “Pyrope” didn’t make this list? It’s easily one of the best browsers on the market today – if not THE best. It’s incredibly fast, reliable & secure – and it only contains the mordern, essential features, opting to leave out the bloaty & redundant ones. If you haven’t tried it, I highly suggest you do so. I removed all of my other browsers almost instantly (except Puffin – for speed browsing) as soon as I saw how Pyrope performed.
nextup
Try WIRE BROWSER on Google Play Store https://goo.gl/xMgxfJ
nextup
Try WIRE BROWSER on Google Play Store
Patrick
I found Samsung internet browser to be a very good browser, i think it’s even better than Chrome due to it’s extensions and the fact that it’s easy on resources. At first it might say that it’s not compatible with your device, but you can always download its apk file at apkmirror or install the beta version on play store.
AndroidGaul
I like Google Chrome for fast download and browsing anywere 😀
Rick
I agree with Patrick on the proprietary Samsung Internet Browser…it is way faster than Chrome and has almost all the bells & whistles. I prefer it on my Galaxy Tab S 10.5 wifi tablet and my cheap-midrange Samsung Galaxy J3 phone (actually mine is called a “Samsung Sky” -phone because it came with a little more “beef” in system than the reg J3 and it was promo phone built for the HSN tv shopping network….great phone for my needs and wants. I still cannot believe people will pay $700-approx $1’200 for these high end phones. One really needs to look at the “Risk/Reward” of paying for the super $$$ phones….to each his own, though. Curious as to what you think of the Samsung stock internet browser and if you could point out out the major differences of this one compared to for instance-Chrome. My devices are not rooted, yet I do not care for ALL the non deletable Google stuff built into phone. Great article and thank you!….and hopefully I will see your opinions I have requested.
Ranjan
Comment Text*UC has some potential threats, first even on denying they allows sites to access my location, even after disabling the notification they sends notification, even after blocking ads it shows almost all ads …….yet asked me to share the story that it blocked 10k ads …….Total crap
And I don’t trust apus and CM browser as they are Chinese browser
Oksana
Free Adblocker Browser is a great choice if you don’t want to see ads, value online privacy protection and want to browse fast and safely. This browser saves your phone battery and money that can be wasted for data consumption required to download ads.
Sachin
Thanks for this great article. Definitely, all will be going to love this article. Again very very thanks to you for this article.
Austin
What about edge??
Vasil D
Mercury browser WAS good, but it’s not updated till 2015. Translator stop works, sync stop works and I don’t know why is in that list.