Switcher 2026: Thinking About Web Browsers ⭐️

While this series has focused on alternatives to Windows, there are smaller steps one might take to loosen Microsoft's hold on your life. Key among those steps are alternatives to Microsoft's applications and services. And there is no application more important than a web browser.
🌈 A few high level thoughts to kick this off
It's possible to make any web browser, even the worst enshittified offenders like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, safer and more private. The first step is to need to install the right extensions. I use Privacy Badger and AdBlock Plus on every desktop browser, and I often use uBlock Origin as well.

Everyone's needs and wants are different, obviously. But there are browsers to match just about any preference, from the truly minimal to the infinitely configurable. It pays to experiment.

As a general rule, you should consider maintaining at least two web browsers on computers, phones, and whatever other devices you use. Many use several different browsers.

You don't have to use the same browser on your PC, your phone, and your other devices. There are reasons why you might want to do so, of course, but I find myself not needing much in the way of cross-device sync, and you may not either.

You should use a third-party password manager–which includes portable passkey support–because these solutions are functionally better and work everywhere, which helps make my point above about using different browsers on different devices more seamless.
🔐 Browser security and privacy
On a computer, you should make sure that whatever web browser you're using is properly configured for the best security and privacy.

Some web browsers, like Brave and Helium, are secure and private by default, but they are outliers. Don't take my word for it: Use the website Cover Your Tracks to determine whether your browser is protecting you against tracking and fingerprinting. (And then visit Taken to understand how effective browser fingerprinting is for bad actors.) If it isn't, you should immediately install extensions, as noted above, that will better protect you. And then check it against that website again until it's as safe as possible.

While you can't necessarily trust some web browser makers, like Google and Microsoft, you should also take a few moments to ensure that the app is configured securely and privately (as is possible) using its settings interface. In Chrome, for example, there are Google-specific features like Ad topics, Site-suggested ads, and Ad measurement (in settings > Privacy and security > Ad privacy) that you should disable. But there are also explicit security settings–Safe Browsing, Secure connections, Use Secure DNS, and more–that you should enable (in settings > Privacy and security > Security). Other browsers have similar controls.
🧑‍💻 Choosing a web browser
Choosing a web browser is a personal choice, but it's possible to make some high-level generalizations that may help you pick the...