10 Reasons To Stop Using Safari
Apple touts Safari as the “best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices,” (viaApple). It comes pre-installed on macOS and iOS and is the default browser on both operating systems. There’s no arguing that Safari is a modern-looking browser with a pleasing and easy-to-use interface. Some people love Safari, but it’s not the first choice for everyone.
There are legitimate reasons why you should stop using Safari and switch to an alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox. In particular, it’s tough to argue that Safari should be a go-to browser for anyone not using a Mac device, as we noted above that the browser was built by Apple and comes on its devices. But there are reasons to use other browsers, even for dedicated Mac users. Here are 10 reasons it’s time to stop using Safari, beginning with common errors users receive when attempting to use the browser.
Dreaded significant memory or energy error
Most people don’t have any issues with Safari, but some deal with an annoyingmemory errororenergy errorwhen using the browser. The browser suddenly will display the warning, “This web page is using significant energy,” and ask you to close the offending page. This error typically shows up when a single page or multiple pages are pulling more resources than normal, Apple notes. This extra power consumption causes an unexpected drain on your battery. Closing the offending windows usually restores the browser and your power consumption back to normal.
You also may see a similar warning about the page using too much memory. The “significant memory” error is particularly annoying, as Safari will reload the web page automatically, causing you to lose form items and any other text you were entering into the window at the time. This memory error happens on both older Macs and even Apple’s new M1 Mac series of laptops, according to9to5 Mac. Similar to the energy error, the memory error occurs when the user has multiple browser tabs open or is browsing a particularly media-intensive site.
This “significant memory” error slows down both the browser and the operating system. According toBrowser How, you can try to fix it by closing tabs, quitting Safari, disabling extensions, or clearing the browser cache. These procedures don’t always work, and sometimes the only way to fix the issue is to restart your computer.
Limited extensions
Extensions are a great way to expand the functionality of your browser,Applenotes. With extensions, you can check your grammar as you write (viaGrammarly), store passwords for future use, save money while shopping, and more. An extension can bring new features to the browser or add support for outside services. Both Safari for the Mac and Safari for iOS support extensions.
Safari is far from the best browser if you want to significantly expand the functionality of your browser. You will be sadly disappointed. you’re able to open the Mac App Store or the iOS app store and browse through all theavailable extensions. It won’t take you very long as both browsers only have a limited number of extensions in their app library.
If extensions are essential to you, consider switching to Chrome. The Chrome browser is the king of extensions with anextensive libraryof add-ons. Just be careful installing extensions, especially on Chrome. Google doesn’t review extensions as closely as Apple does, and occasionally malware-laden extensions make their way into the Google Play store. You can installGoogle Play Protectto handle this.
Broken websites
Some websites simply don’t support Safari. Apple uses the WebKit rendering engine, which is not as popular as the chromium engine behind Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge,Wirednotes. Chromium, in particular, haswidespread developer support, and most websites are designed to support this browser engine. Google’s Gmail, the most popular email service, works far better on Chrome than on Safari, according to thecompany’s website.
In many cases, support for Safariis not at the top of the listwhen a company architects a website. The developers instead focus on Chrome, the browser with the most users, according toOberlo. Because Safari is an afterthought, some websites won’t display correctly in Safari for iOS or macOS. This second-class status not only affects how a website appears but it also shapes how it works. Some Mac and iOS users may discover advanced features and integrated web apps, like those for video calling, are not enabled.
Safari only syncs across Apple devices
For years, Apple has worked to integrate its Mac platform seamlessly with its iOS devices, and the company’s efforts have paid off, as evidenced byApple’s Handoff. Open Safari, and you can’t help but notice how data is shared across devices. For starters, both the bookmarks and open tabs on your Mac will show up on your iOS device and vice versa. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to Handoff, you can answer incoming phone calls and text messages on your Mac. You also can copy a snippet of text on your Mac and paste it on your iPhone.
Though convenient, this sharing only works if you stick with Apple devices. You are out of luck if you go outside Apple and use an Android phone or a Windows PC. You cannot use Safari to access data like bookmarks and history on non-Apple devices, as the Handoff page notes. You’ll have to use another browser like Chrome. Apple wasn’t always so close-minded. The company did offer a Safari version for Windows but abandoned that project years ago, according toComparium.
No profiles
Like many people, you probably use the same computer for multiple purposes. You may share a computer with your kids or use a single workstation for both work and home. You may even want to keep these workspaces separate, and have different profiles for everyone who uses the computer. Chrome and evenFirefoxofferbuilt-in profilesallowing you to create profiles on the browser level. you’re able to create a customized profile for watching videos and another for researching information. Once created, you can quickly switch between these profiles.
Unfortunately, profiles are not available in Safari,Komandonotes. To create two distinct workspaces, you have to set up two user accounts — known as anApple ID— and switch between the users. User accounts affect not only Safari but also the launcher and other settings. Instead of focusing on the browser, you have to configure the entire operating system, which can be inconvenient.
Some web apps won’t work
Safari struggles with rendering some web pages, but that’s not all. It also is not compatible with some web apps. With limited time and money for development, web developers often targetthe most popular browserplatform and the one that is most developer-friendly. Not surprisingly, the browser of choice is usually Google Chrome, which grabs70%of the browser market, or Microsoft Edge which is the browser of choice for Microsoft developers.
As a result of this attention on Chrome and Edge, not all web apps will work inside Safari. Take, for example, the calling and video calling feature in Slack. The companyTweetedthat it planned to focus on a great Chrome experience, and was intentionally overlooking other browsers as a result. The web-based feature works just fine in Chrome on the Mac, but won’t work in Safari. If you try to answer an incoming call in Safari, you are prompted to either switch to the Chrome browser for the Mac or download theSlack desktop appfor the Mac.
Performance
Hands down, Safari is the fastest browser on the Mac, but Google Chrome and Opera are not too far behind in speed. In a recent test byPC Magazine, Apple’s Safari browser scored a 119 on the Jetstream 2 test, putting ita the top of the list. Though Safari was the speediest, it did not crush the competition andother testshave shown similar results. Chrome and Opera were slightly behind with scores of 103 and 102.6, respectively. This slight drop in speed may be a worthwhile tradeoff for some.
But as we noted above, that speed is only expected on a Mac device. Furthermore, as also noted above, what good is speed if the apps and sites you want to use don’t work up to their full potential? Yes, you sacrifice some speed, but in return, you get the increased compatibility and expandability of Chrome or features like thebuilt-in VPNin Opera.
Poor productivity in iWork
Apple touts the deep collaboration between its devices, as we’ve covered in this article.Appleloves to tout how AirPods automatically switch between devices, how mobile phone calls get forwarded to your Mac, and how items you copy on the Mac can be pasted on your iPhone. However, there is minimal integration between the two products when it comes to Safari and Apple’siWork productivity suite. The iWork apps, such as Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, exist as standalone apps. You must work within those apps and not in the Safari web browser.
This independent operation is in stark contrast to Google Chrome, whichties togetherGmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Photos, and more. You can quickly switch between the different Google web apps right within Chrome. You can also manage their settings and even do all your work right within the web browser. Safari and iWork just don’t have that same level of integration.
No themes on Safari
Safari has a pleasing, easy-to-use interface, but it is rather bland. Yes, youcan changethe tool and favorites bar or create acustom start page, but you cannot go much further. You cannot easily change the entire look and layout of the browser window like you can in competing browsers. Chrome, in particular, supports themes that’ll change the browser windows appearance by adding a new background image, swapping out the colors to your preference, and modifying the style of the menu items (viaDigital Trends).
There are a variety of themes that range from the minimal options that pare down the interface to complex themes inspired by pop culture icons in competing platforms like Microsoft Edge, such asthese specific themesfor Halo fans. For those dedicated gamers and others who prefer to have a highly customized user interface, Safari simply doesn’t stack up to the competition.
Less frequent updates
Apple is known for its slow pace of development when it comes to its web browser. The company typically rolls out Safari updates along with its iOS or macOS updates. These updates are released once every month, or sometimes, only once every few months. Some of these updates add new features, but most are quick bug fixes or security patches. Only every year or so do major upgrades happen, far less than Apple’s competitors.
If you want a cutting-edge browser that adapts to technology and security threats at breakneck speed, you may have to look at alternative browsers like Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Chrome. Microsoft rolls out new versions every few weeks alternating betweensecurity updates, bug fixes, and major changes. Thesesignificant updatesoccur almost monthly. Google Chrome updates every four weeks or so,the companynotes. According toNstec, Firefox updates every six to eight weeks.
