Both Apple & Microsoft gain market share in the browser industry, while Google’s Chrome falls behind as it lacks privacy & AI features—something that users today demand in their browsers.
My work forces us to use Google, however I use Firefox & Safari outside of the office and plan to try Arc.
As someone who was in charge of tech for a school a few years back you could see that Microsoft wanted “in” hard and the day is finally here for them. I think Google assumed with Chromebooks in classrooms they would dominate the market by forcing the new, younger set to use their products; however I don’t think they banked on the agility of those users, technologically speaking, to be able to pivot so well. We had never had such a large swath of tech educated demographic before.
I think it’s an interesting time we are in and most users today aren’t intimidated enough to just stick with the “pre-loaded” software. From Soccer Moms to CSuite we have a society who has opinions and don’t readily accept slow performance.
I also think those who grew up with those early years of Google and understood the data collection issues have trust issues with Chrome - especially since they were collecting data on the youngest of our population and only using it to serve their purposes. So the clunky setup you reference above is likely due to the corner they put themselves in over that whole issue.
It will be interesting to see how the next 5 years in this market play out
Thank you v much for taking time out to write your perspective, Diane. Loved reading every bit of it. There was a lot of macro trends you perfectly summed up there that many of us sometimes take for granted.
I agree Google missed the bus on the swift technical maturity that users gained. They leaned hard on their dominance on Google Search. You can see in the market share chart in the post - how browser market share topped out for Google back in 2018. That period coincides with some highly controversial updates Google made to its Chrome browser where it required users to sign into Chrome using their Gmail credentials. There was enough backlash for Google to rollback those changes in Chrome Version 70 later in 2018 but it appears the damage was done. Users began to understand the gravity of data collection by tech companies. Especially after Facebook's Cambridge Analytica-era in 2017.
Fully agree that the rise of the technologically educated demographic is something Google probably wasn't paying too much attention to.
As someone who just recently left the chrome world, to join edge and brave, I do finally understand the vast last of capability that chrome is lacking today, and as you said no one accepts mediocre performance anymore.
I was going through the commentary on Reddit and X and noticed a lot of people do what you do - using at least 2 browsers with one browser being for work and one for personal use. I understand your choice on Edge but I'd love to know why you chose Brave over Duck Duck Go or Firefox?
Google Search is another large topic of discussion that we'd probably look at to answer your question. Today's internet users unequivocally want privacy. That's quite evident not only in how users have begun gravitating to privacy-enabled browsers. I believe Edge would have seen some stagnation too, but the AI hype did enough to appeal to the Edge user's curiosity in AI.
You can actually see this in the chart above. When Google released features in 2018 where users could sign into Chrome with their Gmail accounts. User growth started topping out. It created enough controversy for Google to turn around and sort of make this optional.
That aspect of chrome really disturbs me. Google is blatantly obvious in its tilt to the left. They have a reputation, deserved or not, for being heavy handed with conservatives and straight white men.
Like I know this is about finance but obviously the bias of the people working for Google are obviously damaging it. Does that mean there's a lawsuit there as I know plenty of people who don't use Google for the tilt you mentioned.
Thanks Cameron. Glad you enjoyed it. I echo a similar view as well - it affects my daily life and I still never think about it until I was looking for ideas to write about - until this data popped up.
Another great browser and search engine. Takes privacy v.v. seriously. Unfortunately, the data source I was using didnt break out share of Duck Duck Go - maybe because it was too small so they clubbed it with the Others category. But DDG is great. My brother is a die hard fan of DDG. How long have you been using DDG for? Do you use their Search and Browser? Have you tried their DuckAssist AI search tool?
I use the search. Wasn’t aware of DuckAssist. Thanks for mentioning. I’ll check it out. I’ve been using DDG for about a year I believe. I’ll check out Brave
I've been using Duck Duck Go for a while and recently made it my default browser. It is pretty strict in not wanting me to use anything connected to Facebook especially. I use Google still for trivial searches, like for recipes, but DDG for more serious searches, like politics. I may try Edge now that I read about it here.
On Google and Facebook I have turned off all the "data sharingg" I can figure out how to turn off. They constantly remind me I did it and want me to let them share my data "for a better, more personalized ads experience". Lol
Interesting article that a non_techie, retired RN like me can understand.
I haven't used any AI that I know of. I'm interested in learning more about it, but most articles don't really tell me how I can use it, just that it's out there and people are using it.
You are not alone, Catherine. AI ran so hard and fast in 2023 that many super-techies are trying hard to keep up with the pace of innovation this year. We might aim to do a recap soon on all AI innovation this year.
On your choice for DDG as your browser - your choice is quite consistent with the data that saw while researching about this topic. Users today want their browsers to either be much better at protecting their privacy or being that much better at using AI. (or both). DDG is a good browser and search engine.
Thanks for sharing your browser experience, Catherine!
Glad you found the post insightful. I wouldn't have believed that Chrome would stall out some 5 years ago, but I guess, if you don't innovate fast enough, you get out-innovated soon enough.
On that note, I have been super loyal to Chrome, up until this year and moving to Brave and Edge has been an eye-opening experience.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Arny! What browser do you use when making livestreams? I'm guessing you're using some cloud software for your livestreams which needs a compatible browser?
Thank you for this post. I look forward to reading every week. Always relevant, always interesting.
I have been a long time chrome user and a long time IE “poopooist”. Chrome was always the best browser to display data from the preeminent search engine.
Recently I have been using both browsers because something has attracted me in Microsoft’s browser. It seems slicker now, more polished. Time will tell. I’m still using Chrome simply because of inertia.
In terms of AI, I still tend to go directly to ChatGPT site for queries; however, I expect at some point this will no longer be necessary for me.
Thanks again for the post. Looking forward to the next.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Dino. Really happy when our readers enjoy what we write for them.
In case you did not know, the old Edge browser was built on the super-old IE code platform. Its only in 2019 when Microsoft decided to trash IE completely forever. They switched to using Google's own Chromium code framework which is open-sourced (free-to-use). That's one of the earliest reasons why Edge started to become more relevant to many people's perceptions of being slick.
I love Brave too. Believe it or not, but I use four browsers based on my tasks but Brave is my favorite. It really is fast and doesn't hog machine power.
Lol. Ok - it started out as curiosity. especially after I got frustrated with Chrome in 2021. Brave became my defacto for mostly general purpose. But here's what I do:-
1. Brave:- using any cloud software, work-related browsing and other focused browsing like reading news.
2. Edge: Streaming Videos also for focused browsing sometimes
3. Safari: All banking apps, all my finances
4. Arc: Social Media, casual browsing based on links I click from social media sites
Dec 15, 2023·edited Dec 20, 2023Liked by Amrita Roy, Uttam Dey
Safe to say that personal AI assistants will be the new Web 3 browser. Despite fact that Top~0.5% already have them, oddly quiet on massive opportunity to expand to Top 5~10% early adopters and managerial class. I'm all ears for promising contenders..
That's a really interesting take on this topic. Never thought about it that way - that AI assistants could be the next iteration of web browsers. Maybe, that could be one of the early signs why many browsers have been integrating AI assistants into their browsers, with some even calling it 'Copilot'. 😉
Thanks Amrita for this interesting piece. I think people are waking up to Edge. I currently still default to Chrome because I find the Generative AI overview very useful. I am not sure if everyone has set it up, but I enjoyed it. I look forward to trying Arc Browser and have enjoyed Brave!
Thanks Marianne and also thanks for restacking the post. I wish there was a way to link my comments from the restack here, instead of writing it twice. But, yes, my co-author Uttam is an avid fan of Arc and he will definitely recommend it. As for me, I have recently switched over from Chrome to Edge and Brave, and just realized the limitations of Chrome after all these years.
Thank you both for all the AI browser information, which is increasingly becoming more important. AI aside my favorite browser is Brave. It's fast, and I usually find more in searches then using Google or Safari. Sometimes like today when I visit Facebook I can only access it through Brave.
Thank you! I’m not sure what embedded trackers mean. Lol! When I do research I use Brave. I also use it for Facebook. So much faster and easier. Have a magical day! ✨🤗
No worries Charlotte - Im pretty sure you've seen updates like this from Brave where it tells you how many trackers it blocked. It makes sure (as much as it can) other sites cant track what you browse.
Once shunned by all, Microsoft Edge is gaining on Chrome now. I'd even say that it has surpassed Chrome in some aspects. With the seamless integration of bing AI and a host of other new features, it stands as a decent challenger to Google Chrome at present. The lag when opening multiple tabs in Chrome becomes more evident with each passing day.
As someone who recently left the Chrome world, I now understand why Uttam was after me for so long to move to other browsers, but I am usually a little late to adopting new technologies.
Tell me about it. More than 10 tabs and Chrome would be eating my machine's RAM alive. You should try Arc. Its quite intuitive with its tab management.
SRWare... thats a new one, never heard about that before until now. I was just on their website and it appears to be heavily leaning on privacy. Good. Since you are a user of this browser - how does this differ from the privacy features of Safari(mac users) or Brave, DuckDuckGo?
My work forces us to use Google, however I use Firefox & Safari outside of the office and plan to try Arc.
As someone who was in charge of tech for a school a few years back you could see that Microsoft wanted “in” hard and the day is finally here for them. I think Google assumed with Chromebooks in classrooms they would dominate the market by forcing the new, younger set to use their products; however I don’t think they banked on the agility of those users, technologically speaking, to be able to pivot so well. We had never had such a large swath of tech educated demographic before.
I think it’s an interesting time we are in and most users today aren’t intimidated enough to just stick with the “pre-loaded” software. From Soccer Moms to CSuite we have a society who has opinions and don’t readily accept slow performance.
I also think those who grew up with those early years of Google and understood the data collection issues have trust issues with Chrome - especially since they were collecting data on the youngest of our population and only using it to serve their purposes. So the clunky setup you reference above is likely due to the corner they put themselves in over that whole issue.
It will be interesting to see how the next 5 years in this market play out
Thank you v much for taking time out to write your perspective, Diane. Loved reading every bit of it. There was a lot of macro trends you perfectly summed up there that many of us sometimes take for granted.
I agree Google missed the bus on the swift technical maturity that users gained. They leaned hard on their dominance on Google Search. You can see in the market share chart in the post - how browser market share topped out for Google back in 2018. That period coincides with some highly controversial updates Google made to its Chrome browser where it required users to sign into Chrome using their Gmail credentials. There was enough backlash for Google to rollback those changes in Chrome Version 70 later in 2018 but it appears the damage was done. Users began to understand the gravity of data collection by tech companies. Especially after Facebook's Cambridge Analytica-era in 2017.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/26/17904762/google-chrome-sign-in-changes-feedback
Thank you for such an insightful response.
Fully agree that the rise of the technologically educated demographic is something Google probably wasn't paying too much attention to.
As someone who just recently left the chrome world, to join edge and brave, I do finally understand the vast last of capability that chrome is lacking today, and as you said no one accepts mediocre performance anymore.
My work has everyone using Edge which I find very good; however, at home I prefer to use Brave.
I was going through the commentary on Reddit and X and noticed a lot of people do what you do - using at least 2 browsers with one browser being for work and one for personal use. I understand your choice on Edge but I'd love to know why you chose Brave over Duck Duck Go or Firefox?
I personally like Brave because I feel the privacy is better, built in add blocker and VPN.
I was a big fan of Firefox before but it seemed to be running really slow on my machine. That was a while ago maybe it is faster now.
On top of all of that, Brave also has Web3 wallet integrations too.
Do you think Google's insistence on manipulating searches, the the name of the culture war, is what is also contributing to it's decline?
Google Search is another large topic of discussion that we'd probably look at to answer your question. Today's internet users unequivocally want privacy. That's quite evident not only in how users have begun gravitating to privacy-enabled browsers. I believe Edge would have seen some stagnation too, but the AI hype did enough to appeal to the Edge user's curiosity in AI.
You can actually see this in the chart above. When Google released features in 2018 where users could sign into Chrome with their Gmail accounts. User growth started topping out. It created enough controversy for Google to turn around and sort of make this optional.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/26/17904762/google-chrome-sign-in-changes-feedback
The tracking…
That aspect of chrome really disturbs me. Google is blatantly obvious in its tilt to the left. They have a reputation, deserved or not, for being heavy handed with conservatives and straight white men.
Like I know this is about finance but obviously the bias of the people working for Google are obviously damaging it. Does that mean there's a lawsuit there as I know plenty of people who don't use Google for the tilt you mentioned.
I believe there was. The young man who wrote an interoffice memo discussing why their was a disparity of women in programming.
Terrific topic. I really like enjoyed this look at something that affects my day everyday and yet sits in the background.
Thanks Cameron. Glad you enjoyed it. I echo a similar view as well - it affects my daily life and I still never think about it until I was looking for ideas to write about - until this data popped up.
Interesting article. You overlooked Duck Duck Go.
Another great browser and search engine. Takes privacy v.v. seriously. Unfortunately, the data source I was using didnt break out share of Duck Duck Go - maybe because it was too small so they clubbed it with the Others category. But DDG is great. My brother is a die hard fan of DDG. How long have you been using DDG for? Do you use their Search and Browser? Have you tried their DuckAssist AI search tool?
I use the search. Wasn’t aware of DuckAssist. Thanks for mentioning. I’ll check it out. I’ve been using DDG for about a year I believe. I’ll check out Brave
I've been using Duck Duck Go for a while and recently made it my default browser. It is pretty strict in not wanting me to use anything connected to Facebook especially. I use Google still for trivial searches, like for recipes, but DDG for more serious searches, like politics. I may try Edge now that I read about it here.
On Google and Facebook I have turned off all the "data sharingg" I can figure out how to turn off. They constantly remind me I did it and want me to let them share my data "for a better, more personalized ads experience". Lol
Interesting article that a non_techie, retired RN like me can understand.
I haven't used any AI that I know of. I'm interested in learning more about it, but most articles don't really tell me how I can use it, just that it's out there and people are using it.
You are not alone, Catherine. AI ran so hard and fast in 2023 that many super-techies are trying hard to keep up with the pace of innovation this year. We might aim to do a recap soon on all AI innovation this year.
On your choice for DDG as your browser - your choice is quite consistent with the data that saw while researching about this topic. Users today want their browsers to either be much better at protecting their privacy or being that much better at using AI. (or both). DDG is a good browser and search engine.
Thanks for sharing your browser experience, Catherine!
I wasn’t aware of that “little” fact. There is no greater flattery than mimicry.
The “impossibile” is not impossibile, didn’t expect these stats to happen.
Thanks so much for sharing this great article.
I am personally stuck to Chrome apart from when making livestreams.
Glad you found the post insightful. I wouldn't have believed that Chrome would stall out some 5 years ago, but I guess, if you don't innovate fast enough, you get out-innovated soon enough.
On that note, I have been super loyal to Chrome, up until this year and moving to Brave and Edge has been an eye-opening experience.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Arny! What browser do you use when making livestreams? I'm guessing you're using some cloud software for your livestreams which needs a compatible browser?
Chrome gives me trouble connecting with iPhone continuity camera on Streamyard.
I use Brave Browser for livestreams.
Ah! gotcha... I use Brave a lot! Thanks again sharing your experience.
Thank you for this post. I look forward to reading every week. Always relevant, always interesting.
I have been a long time chrome user and a long time IE “poopooist”. Chrome was always the best browser to display data from the preeminent search engine.
Recently I have been using both browsers because something has attracted me in Microsoft’s browser. It seems slicker now, more polished. Time will tell. I’m still using Chrome simply because of inertia.
In terms of AI, I still tend to go directly to ChatGPT site for queries; however, I expect at some point this will no longer be necessary for me.
Thanks again for the post. Looking forward to the next.
Thanks Dino for your continued support.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Dino. Really happy when our readers enjoy what we write for them.
In case you did not know, the old Edge browser was built on the super-old IE code platform. Its only in 2019 when Microsoft decided to trash IE completely forever. They switched to using Google's own Chromium code framework which is open-sourced (free-to-use). That's one of the earliest reasons why Edge started to become more relevant to many people's perceptions of being slick.
I love Brave because it’s very fast. Based on this article I will take a look at Microsoft. It runs on a Mac, right?
I love Brave too. Believe it or not, but I use four browsers based on my tasks but Brave is my favorite. It really is fast and doesn't hog machine power.
How do you use your four browsers? :-)
Lol. Ok - it started out as curiosity. especially after I got frustrated with Chrome in 2021. Brave became my defacto for mostly general purpose. But here's what I do:-
1. Brave:- using any cloud software, work-related browsing and other focused browsing like reading news.
2. Edge: Streaming Videos also for focused browsing sometimes
3. Safari: All banking apps, all my finances
4. Arc: Social Media, casual browsing based on links I click from social media sites
Awesome setup :-)
Safe to say that personal AI assistants will be the new Web 3 browser. Despite fact that Top~0.5% already have them, oddly quiet on massive opportunity to expand to Top 5~10% early adopters and managerial class. I'm all ears for promising contenders..
That's a really interesting take on this topic. Never thought about it that way - that AI assistants could be the next iteration of web browsers. Maybe, that could be one of the early signs why many browsers have been integrating AI assistants into their browsers, with some even calling it 'Copilot'. 😉
Thanks Amrita for this interesting piece. I think people are waking up to Edge. I currently still default to Chrome because I find the Generative AI overview very useful. I am not sure if everyone has set it up, but I enjoyed it. I look forward to trying Arc Browser and have enjoyed Brave!
Thanks Marianne and also thanks for restacking the post. I wish there was a way to link my comments from the restack here, instead of writing it twice. But, yes, my co-author Uttam is an avid fan of Arc and he will definitely recommend it. As for me, I have recently switched over from Chrome to Edge and Brave, and just realized the limitations of Chrome after all these years.
Thank you both for all the AI browser information, which is increasingly becoming more important. AI aside my favorite browser is Brave. It's fast, and I usually find more in searches then using Google or Safari. Sometimes like today when I visit Facebook I can only access it through Brave.
Brave is so good at catching all those sneaky trackers embedded in pages. And it does that without affecting the webpages performance.
Thank you! I’m not sure what embedded trackers mean. Lol! When I do research I use Brave. I also use it for Facebook. So much faster and easier. Have a magical day! ✨🤗
No worries Charlotte - Im pretty sure you've seen updates like this from Brave where it tells you how many trackers it blocked. It makes sure (as much as it can) other sites cant track what you browse.
https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/optimized/3X/0/0/0068657d0d5c0d90b8e24607b9033d5a0411e5e8_2_638x1000.jpeg
Oh! Ok, thank you! I've seen notifications informing me of trackers. I'm not super tech-savvy! So it’s good to know! 🤗
Good content, would love more granularity. A Top 20 TIOBE/Versus for major apps would be startup worthy..
Agree, this is a high level overview. Would do a deeper dive in future posts. I am not sure what is TIOBE?
https://www.tiobe.com/tiobe-index/
https://versus.com/en/categories
Once shunned by all, Microsoft Edge is gaining on Chrome now. I'd even say that it has surpassed Chrome in some aspects. With the seamless integration of bing AI and a host of other new features, it stands as a decent challenger to Google Chrome at present. The lag when opening multiple tabs in Chrome becomes more evident with each passing day.
As someone who recently left the Chrome world, I now understand why Uttam was after me for so long to move to other browsers, but I am usually a little late to adopting new technologies.
Tell me about it. More than 10 tabs and Chrome would be eating my machine's RAM alive. You should try Arc. Its quite intuitive with its tab management.
Yikes........Sister that is too much this morning without coffee.....Good post. .......
Thank you Jean.
I trashed giggle and their chrome two decades ago.
Firefix was just as bad, i trashed it too.
I use SRWare iron and Vivaldi.
SRWare... thats a new one, never heard about that before until now. I was just on their website and it appears to be heavily leaning on privacy. Good. Since you are a user of this browser - how does this differ from the privacy features of Safari(mac users) or Brave, DuckDuckGo?
SrWare Iron is a chromium based browser from Germany — it is awesome👍….. i discovered it over 25 years ago, it has NO ties to Google
25 Years ago!! How did this one get past me? Will try this out. Thanks for sharing your experience, Noreen!