Updated 2026: This comparison reflects the browser landscape as of late 2018. Much has changed since then: Chrome’s Manifest V3 transition has reshaped extension capabilities (including ad blocking), Firefox has gained enhanced tracking protection as a built-in feature, Safari has improved its cross-platform story with iCloud Keychain and Passkeys, and Chrome’s market share has grown further. The analysis below is preserved for historical interest.
I had been using Firefox and Chrome on desktops (GNU/Linux and macOS) and Chrome on iOS. In late 2018, well-documented concerns about Chrome’s privacy prompted me to look more carefully at the alternatives.
I identified a set of features I consider must-haves and evaluated four browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera) across both desktop and iOS.
Feature comparison (2018) Link to heading
| Feature | Firefox Desktop | Chrome Desktop | Safari Desktop | Opera Desktop | Firefox iOS | Chrome iOS | Safari iOS | Opera iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available on GNU/Linux | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ ² | ✅ | — | — | — | — |
| Ad blocking (built-in) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ ¹ |
| Ad blocking (via extension) | ✅ ³ | ✅ ³ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ ⁴ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Reader view | ✅ ⁵ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cross-platform bookmark sync | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Apple only) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Apple only) | ✅ |
| Privacy / tracking protection | ✅ | ❌ | Partial | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Partial | ❌ |
Notes:
- ¹ Opera iOS’s “Block ads” was enabled but I could still see AdSense ads; effective blocking was incomplete.
- ² Safari is not released for GNU/Linux.
- ³ Via uBlock Origin extension (desktop only).
- ⁴ Via Firefox Focus WebView extension (iOS only).
- ⁵ Via Reader View extension (desktop only).
Conclusion Link to heading
Taking all my requirements into account, Firefox was the strongest option across the board, particularly for ad blocking, reader view, and privacy on both desktop and iOS. I continued using Firefox on desktop and switched from Chrome to Firefox on iOS.