I’ve tried almost every browser available on Android. From Brave to open source browsers that let me use every extension I need.
They are great for blocking ads, bypassing YouTube’s subscription requirement for background playback, and avoiding Google’s tracking.
Every browser does something unique and gives Chrome a run for its money. But for certain scenarios and features, I still need Chrome as a backup. Here’s why.
Why I switched from Chrome in the first place
I was getting tired of being tracked
When I first heard about Brave, I was excited and enamored with the browser. I finally had a browser that felt like Chrome and let me block annoying ads on websites and search results.
Brave also let me block ads on YouTube, which led me to unsubscribe from Premium and save money every month.
I’ve tried and tested other browsers, like Iceraven, Arch Search, and even DuckDuckGo’s offering to avoid Google tracking me.
I particularly love Arc Search’s main feature, which presents search results in an aesthetic, helpful, and easy-to-read format.
When I want to use a particular extension, like Keepa, I use Iceraven to track products I’m planning to purchase.
If I want to watch anime via a VPN, I prefer to use Aloha since it lets me use the VPN service only in the browser, not system-wide.
But I mainly use Brave as my daily driver for browsing since it’s the closest to Chrome. There’s no denying that my browser experience has improved ever since I started blocking ads in these browsers.
I don’t have to deal with annoying pop-ups or worry about Google tracking me every time I look something up.
When you stack all the features these browsers offer, you quickly realize Chrome is severely lacking in every respect.
Chrome has no support for extensions, offline video playback for YouTube, in-browser VPN integration, or any ability to download media for offline playback.
Since Google’s business model depends on tracking every user as an ad profile, the company has little incentive to add ad-blocking features.
These features are essential to my browsing experience, and Chrome lacks them all.
It shows how far behind Chrome has fallen and how quickly it is losing users to better alternatives. But the reality is that, regardless of the browser I use, there are a few instances when I have to resort to Chrome.
And with new browser features rolling out, it’s even harder to delete the app from my phone.
Why I still need Chrome in my life
New features are getting hard to ignore
For all its faults, Chrome still does something right, especially with Google’s ecosystem backing it.
It works with every website imaginable and is great for making online payments. Since I use Google Keep, Gmail, Docs, and YouTube, Chrome syncs everything effortlessly.
Many websites I visit are optimized for Chrome and often break when using other browsers.
I’ve experienced scroll stutter on certain web pages and had the browser crash on me due to unknown errors.
It goes without saying that most web pages on the internet are tested for Chrome, and I regularly switch browsers if a certain website breaks on my alternates.
Recently, Gemini features have been added to Chrome on Android, which makes the browser hard to ignore.
I use Gemini with almost everything. I used it to plan my upcoming vacation, take Google Keep notes, and summarize long fantasy books I’ve already read.
The latest Auto Browse feature in Chrome is something I have grown fond of using.
The feature navigates the web page for me, fills out annoying forms, and even pays for products without any input from me.
The Auto Browse feature will reduce physical fatigue from constantly interacting with your phone’s screen.
The Auto Browse feature is only available to Gemini AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.
But Google is going beyond adding fancy features; it’s adding meaningful features that will not be available in other browsers.
For example, Web page Summaries on Chrome is another feature I will use heavily when reading articles online.
I tend to look up guides for games I’m playing, and many articles bury the answers in a lot of text. Finding the answer can be challenging and time-consuming.
The web page summary lets me find the answer quickly and provides any other important information I need to complete a quest.
If I have any other questions, Gemini in Chrome also has a Q&A feature that can answer them about the web page.
While many would ridicule this feature as AI bloat, for a Gemini power user like me, it is a welcome addition that I use almost daily.
Why I cannot ditch Chrome completely yet
Quitting using Chrome for a better browser was the best decision I made a few years ago. But I still use Chrome for work and for certain websites I know will not work as intended in other browsers.
The new Gemini features for Chrome are exciting, but I’m not sure how long the rose-tinted glasses will last.
I’ve reached a point where I use Brave 99% of the time for daily browsing and keep Chrome as a backup in case I need to switch when I encounter issues with certain websites.
