6 Best Lightweight Browsers for Mac to Use in 2024
Choose a minimal browser for Mac that will also block ads
- As expected, a lightweight browser for Mac will be less demanding on your machine.
- So, which is the lightest browser for Mac? We've included a wide variety of premium picks that will run smoothly on low specs.
- Many of our Mac light browsers also include free VPN features to keep you safe.
A web browser is one of the most used applications on a computer, regardless of the platform you’re using.
But if you want a fast and responsive browsing experience, it’s advised to use a lightweight browser.
These types of browsers are available on all platforms, and in today’s article, we’re going to show you the most lightweight browser for Mac.
Since there aren’t that many Mac versions out there, you might be looking for a browser that has no impact on your device’s performance. If you want fast response times instead of cool designs, we’ve got you covered.
What is the least CPU-intensive browser on Mac?
Our readers told us that Safari is the most energy-efficient browser for Mac and that makes sense because it’s the default option.
However, CPU usage is not the main criterion for choosing the best browser for Mac. You should be more concerned with its memory allocation.
So, if you’re wondering which browser uses the least RAM on Mac, here is a quick preview of our favorite picks:
- Opera One – Fastest browser for Mac
- Brave Browser – Lightest browser for old Macs
- Vivaldi – Simple and customizable
- SeaMonkey – Great feed detection
- Safari – Best native browser for Mac
Safari should take the crown, but it turns out that it doesn’t. When we loaded the same 10 tabs on Opera One and Safari, the first used less memory.
To be precise, Opera One was using only 820 MB of RAM while Safari was loading roughly 860 MB.
That being said, let’s see which is the lightest browser for Mac. We also took into consideration their features and agility.
What is the best lightweight browser for Mac?
Opera One – Fastest browser for Mac
Opera One is a well-known web browser that has been around for decades. The browser is based on the Chromium engine, so it’s quite similar to Google Chrome.
It’s important to mention that it also works with Chrome extensions, so you should be able to use extensions from Chrome Web Store without any problems.
The browser has a built-in ad blocker that will block ads and tracking scripts and make your browsing experience faster and smoother than before.
As for additional features, it’s important to mention a free built-in VPN with unlimited bandwidth that will provide an extra layer of privacy for all users.
Opera One is a lightweight, fast, and secure web browser, and if you’re looking for a new browser for your Mac computer, it’s the best choice.
Here are some of Opera One’s key features:
- AI language chats and social media apps
- Workspaces feature
- Advanced tab islands
- Built-in messengers
- Available on all desktop and mobile platforms
Opera One
If you need a fluid modular UI and secure browser for your Mac, this is the right choice to make.Brave Browser – Lightest browser for old Macs
If you’re looking for a lightweight and secure browser for Mac, perhaps Brave Browser might be the right choice for you. According to the developers, the browser is 3 to 6 times faster than its competitors.
It’s important to mention that this browser blocks malware and tracking cookies, so you’ll enjoy a safe browsing experience. Also, Brave doesn’t store or sell your browsing data to third parties.
To ensure that your connection is secure, the browser is automatically using an HTTPS connection whenever possible.
The browser also supports Chrome extensions, so if you’re switching from Chrome, you can continue using your favorite extensions.
Brave Browser offers great privacy features, and with built-in ad blocking, it will make your browsing experience faster than before.
Brave Browser’s key features:
- Built-in password manager
- TOR integration for private browsing
- Ability to block tracking scripts
- Adblocking
- Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Vivaldi – Simple and customizable
Another lightweight browser for Mac that we need to mention is Vivaldi. This simple browser for Mac has built-in tracking protection, thus preventing websites from collecting your browsing information.
In addition, it has a built-in ad blocker so it can block ads on all websites or only on specific websites.
The browser offers tab stacking and tiling, so you can display two websites in a single tab, side by side. Of course, you can pin your favorite websites to the sidebar for quick access.
It’s worth mentioning that Vivaldi supports quick commands, so you can use the universal search feature to perform all sorts of commands in a matter of moments.
Vivaldi offers some unique features, and if you’re looking for a reliable web browser, then be sure to give Vivaldi a try.
Here are some of Vivaldi’s key features:
- Support for Chrome extensions
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Pop-out video
- Instagram integration
- Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android
SeaMonkey – Great feed detection
If you’re looking for a lightweight browser, then SeaMonkey might be the right choice for you. The browser offers a session restore feature allowing you to easily restore your previous browsing sessions.
There’s also a Data Manager feature that works as a central management interface allowing you to control site-specific data, cookies, permission, preferences, etc.
SeaMonkey supports feed detection, and it allows you to view the contents of the feed and subscribe to the feeds with just a few clicks.
The browser also has a built-in email client, so you can easily send emails to others. IRC client is also there, so you can chat with others with ease.
Overall SeaMonkey offers fewer features than other major browsers, but it makes up for it with its simplicity and light resource usage.
SeaMonkey’s key features include:
- Lightweight
- Support for addons
- Popup blocker
- Built-in email client
- Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Safari – Best native browser for Mac
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best, and that’s the case with Safari. The browser is pretty light on your resources, and according to Apple, it’s 1.6x faster than other web browsers.
The browser offers tracking protection, and thanks to the sandboxing feature, your computer will keep the malicious threats contained in the web browser.
Of course, protection against harmful websites is also there, so you can rest assured that your browsing experience is perfectly safe. To keep your accounts secure, Safari also offers its password manager.
It’s important to mention that the browser is optimized for Mac, and it lets you browse up to 3 hours longer and stream up to 4 hours longer on your MacBook.
Safari is a core component of Apple’s ecosystem, and if you own multiple Apple devices, then Safari should be the right choice for you.
Other of Safari’s core features:
- Available on all Apple devices
- Faster than other browsers
- Protection against malicious websites
- Sandboxing
- Tracking protection
AVG Secure Browser – No resource draining
Last but not least, the AVG browser it’s a worthy solution for private navigation and low resource usage.
What you need to know about this browser is that it won’t let your down. You have fast speeds with an integrated ad blocker for clean navigation from anywhere.
Plus, it’s possible to surf the web using minimal PC resources and enjoy a lightning-fast browsing experience at all times.
When it comes to security, there are no blindspots because AVG includes anti-tracking benefits, tracking script defense, or integration with its VPN.
In addition, the resolution can take care of you with privacy cleaning tools capable of erasing browsing data, history, or cache files.
AVG Secure Browser
Try out this light usage browser for Mac and forget about freezing pages.There are many excellent web browsers for Mac, but if you’re looking for a lightweight browser, we suggest trying out any browser from this article.
You should also look at our list including the best browsers for Mac OS X El Capitan, and get other suggestions.
What is your opinion about the lightest browser on Mac? Share your insights in the comments section below.
