While you can read all the Chrome vs. Safari comparisons on the Web, trying both browsers will help you make the best decision for you. I used Safari for almost a decade before switching to Chrome in 2023. Read on to learn why I haven’t looked back.
Content
- 1. Plugins Work Better With Chrome Than Safari
- 2. Chrome Is More Customizable Than Safari
- 3. Writing Feels Nicer in Chrome Than Safari
- 4. Searching in the Safari URL Would Often Result in Errors
- 5. Safari Often Crashed When a Site Was “Using Significant Energy”
- 6. I Prefer Pinning Websites in Chrome Over Safari
- 7. It’s Easy to Access Other Google Apps From Chrome
1. Plugins Work Better With Chrome Than Safari
I have tried using multiple extensions in Safari, but there were multiple instances where they kept crashing. For example, whenever I tried using Grammarly, it would freeze my computer. I verified that this was the plugin’s fault, as everything worked fine after uninstalling it.
Yet, all of my plugins work better in Chrome. I’ve tried Chrome productivity extensions like Todoist, plus other apps, like AdBlock, Evernote Web Clipper, and Cold Turkey. Almost every time, I notice better performance results in Chrome.
The variety of extensions in Chrome is also much more interesting than the offerings in Safari, making it great for effectively performing numerous tasks.
2. Chrome Is More Customizable Than Safari
One of my biggest problems with Safari is that its customization options are limited. You can change the background and a handful of other things, but it’s nowhere near the level of Chrome. In addition to multiple plugins, you can adjust Chrome’s appearance using numerous color palettes.
Another Chrome advantage vs. Safari is that you can add shortcuts to complement the many other Chrome keyboard shortcuts that are designed to help you stay productive.
Besides its unique customization options, you also have access to some that exist in Safari (e.g., adding a background image).
3. Writing Feels Nicer in Chrome Than Safari
I used to write all of my articles in Safari, but I grew to dislike the experience. The main reason was that I couldn’t use spellchecker plugins, but I also just didn’t like the experience in general.
Possibly because I write in Google Docs, I feel like typing in Chrome is less “jumpy” than is sometimes the case in Safari. I have also experienced fewer Chrome crashes at important times while writing.
The seamless plugin integrations discussed earlier have also been a natural part of having a better experience in Chrome compared to Safari.
4. Searching in the Safari URL Would Often Result in Errors
I very rarely type a search engine URL (i.e., “google.com”) if I want to look for something, for the simple reason that it’s time-consuming. Instead, it’s much easier to look for the specific search term in the URL bar.
Unfortunately, I noticed many times that Safari did not provide search results when doing this. Instead, I received an error message (despite customizing my Safari settings). Moreover, I’ve noticed in recent iOS and iPadOS updates that Safari delivers search results nowhere near as quickly as it once did.
However, I have never had this problem in Chrome on my computer, smartphone, or tablet.
5. Safari Often Crashed When a Site Was “Using Significant Energy”
Don’t get me wrong – I have had problems with Chrome not responding or crashing. I don’t think you can ever fully avoid this, regardless of the browser you use. However, issues with “using significant energy” notifications and crashing have historically happened to me more frequently in Safari.
On many occasions, Safari crashed when I didn’t have a significant number of tabs open. I normally encountered this problem when watching YouTube videos and navigating image-heavy websites.
Performance and stability are essential when choosing a browser, which is precisely why I stopped using Safari. I also switched from Internet Explorer to Firefox back in the day.
6. I Prefer Pinning Websites in Chrome Over Safari
You can save your favorite websites in Chrome and Safari, but I’ve always enjoyed doing this in Chrome more than Safari. In my opinion, they look better and are also easier to access. It’s also easier to pin extensions to your toolbar in Chrome than in Safari.
I like seeing all of my pinned pages in Chrome as soon as I open the app; it makes navigating through different systems very easy. When you’re a freelancer, or student in particular, not using brain space on menial tasks like this makes a big difference. In comparison, I’ve had to expand the sidebar to access saved sites in Safari – and I really dislike this.
I also like that Google Chrome has a logical drop-down menu to find your other saved pages. Changing the order of your websites is straightforward.
7. It’s Easy to Access Other Google Apps From Chrome
You can access other Google apps in Safari, but you’ll typically have to type in their URLs. As someone who uses Google Drive and other tools, I need faster access.
You can find dozens of Google apps in Chrome by simply clicking on the Google apps icon. (It’s the one with nine circles.) Besides the ones you expect, you’ll also find other tools, like Google Analytics, Google Travel, and Password Manager.
While Safari certainly has its benefits, and I’ll still use it in the future, I don’t see it replacing Chrome as my go-to browser in most cases. Chrome’s stability and customization are both vital for my needs, and I also like that I can access many of my apps without too much hassle. Having extensions for automating boring tasks and other functions is also ideal.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
Danny Maiorca –
Contributor
Danny has written for online audiences for 10+ years. He specializes in Apple products and loves writing on his MacBook, keeping in touch on his iPhone, and measuring his workouts on his Apple Watch. Danny’s work has featured in multiple places online, including MUO, Lifewire, and Guiding Tech. Away from the keyboard, he’s passionate about photography and leading an active lifestyle outdoors.
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