Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera are all popular browsers that use RAM to run. But which one uses the least?
Some browsers are more RAM-hungry than others, which can cause your system to slow down if you’re not careful. If you’re looking for a browser that uses minimal RAM, here are some of the best options available.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the four browsers and find out who comes out on top. We’ll also explore some of the features offered by each browser. So whether you’re looking for a browser that uses minimal RAM or one with tons of features, we’ve got you covered!
What Are Browsers?
For the least Techy savvy individuals, I feel obligated to explain every bit and provide information so you can understand everything thoroughly
A browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.
An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI/URL) and maybe a web page, image, video, or another piece of content. Hyperlinks present in resources enable users to navigate their browsers to related resources easily.
Although browsers are primarily intended to access the World Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by web servers in private networks or files in file systems.
Browsers retrieve a resource from a server after resolving its URL and any relative URLs within it (using DNS if necessary). They parse this HTML to construct the visible page, which is then rendered. This process of displaying a page is called “drawing the page”.
Each browser has its features and functionalities, so it’s important to choose one that best suits your needs.
Which Browsers Use the Least Memory?
Here is a brief comparison between a couple of infamous browsers,
1. Chrome
Google Chrome is a cross-platform web browser developed by Google. It was first released in 2008 for Microsoft Windows and was later ported to Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. The browser is based on the Chromium open-source project.
One of the main reasons Chrome is so popular is because it used to be very lightweight and efficient. However, things have changed in recent years and Chrome is now one of the heaviest browsers around.
When it comes to RAM usage, Chrome is a resource-hungry browser. In our tests, it was using up to 1.5 GB of RAM on a single tab.
However, it’s important to note that Chrome is also one of the most feature-rich browsers available. So if you’re willing to sacrifice some RAM usage for a better browsing experience, Chrome is definitely worth considering.
2. Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation.
Firefox uses the Gecko layout engine to render web pages, which implements current and anticipated web standards. In 2017, Firefox began incorporating new technology under the code name Quantum to promote parallelism and a more intuitive user interface.
Firefox has always been known for being a lightweight and efficient browser. In recent years, it has only gotten better in this regard.
In our tests, Firefox was using up to 400 MB of RAM on a single tab. This is significantly less than what Chrome was using.
Firefox also offers a great browsing experience and tons of features. So if you’re looking for a browser that uses minimal RAM but still has all the bells and whistles, Firefox is definitely worth considering.
3. Edge
Microsoft Edge is a cross-platform web browser developed by Microsoft. It was first released for Windows 10 and Xbox One in 2015, then for Android and iOS in 2017, and finally for macOS in 2019. The browser is based on the Chromium open-source project.
Edge is a relatively new browser from Microsoft. It’s designed to be a more lightweight and efficient alternative to Internet Explorer.
In our tests, Edge was using up to 350 MB of RAM on a single tab. This is quite similar to what Firefox was using.
Although initially, this browser was somewhat barebones, the developers are starting to add more and more features. So, if you don’t mind a browser that’s still a work in progress, Edge is definitely worth considering.
4. Opera
Opera is a cross-platform web browser developed by Opera Software. It was first released in 1996 for Windows 3.1. The browser is based on the Chromium open-source project.
Opera has always been known for being a lightweight and efficient browser. In recent years, it has only gotten better in this regard.
In our tests, Opera was using up to 250 MB of RAM on a single tab. This is even less than what Firefox and Edge were using. Opera also offers a great browsing experience and tons of features. And the best part is that it has its own integrated VPN service.
5. Safari
Safari is a web browser developed by Apple Inc. and is the default browser on all Apple devices. It was first released in 2003 for the OS X Panther operating system. The browser is based on the WebKit layout engine.
Safari is known for being a lightweight and efficient browser. In our tests, it was using up to 200 MB of RAM on a single tab.
This is significantly less than what Chrome, Firefox, and Edge were using. Safari also offers an amazing browsing experience and a multitude of extensions to work with. However, it’s only available on Apple devices.
6. Brave
Brave is a free and open-source web browser developed by Brave Software, Inc. It was first released in 2016 for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The browser is based on the Chromium open-source project.
Brave is a relative newcomer to the browser scene. However, it’s already making waves with its unique approach to browsing.
In our tests, Brave was using up to 150 MB of RAM on a single tab. This is even less than what Safari was using.
Brave also offers an amazing browsing experience and a host of features. Plus, it has built-in ad and tracker blocking capabilities.
In other words, it’s basically made for anyone that likes to keep their digital footprint to a minimum.
Conclusion
When it comes to using minimal RAM, all four of the browsers we tested performed relatively well. However, Brave and Opera came out on top, using significantly less RAM than the other two browsers.
If you’re looking for a fast and lightweight browser that doesn’t sacrifice features or performance, either of these two would be a great choice.
I hope you have gotten a clear answer on what browser uses the least RAM. Please feel free to ask in the comments section below if you have any further questions. Thank you for reading!