Safari (Web Browser)
4 of 5 Stars
Dependable web browser built into macOS. (I can't speak to the iOS version since I don't use an iPhone or iPad.) Not much in the way of bells and whistles, but it does offer the usual bookmarks, autofill, reading mode, private windows, etc. And it'll install PWAs on a desktop (until the App Store side of the company convinces them not to again).
Safari is built in-house by Apple, and Apple is the main contributor to WebKit, so it integrates extremely well with the macOS desktop.
Apple talks a lot about privacy, but aside from blocking (some) trackers and offering the suspiciously-named "private click measurement", it's not clear how far that privacy really goes.
not clear how far that privacy really goes
Compatibility note: WebKit and Blink have diverged a bit over the years, but "I only test in Chrome" sites are more likely to break in Gecko browsers in my experience.
Default on macOS instead of Windows. No bells and whistles. Doesn't keep trying to get you to sign into iCloud. Dependable. There are a lot of ways Safari is the opposite of Edge!
Extensions and Syncing
It doesn't support extensions built for Firefox or Chromium. It does have its own set of extensions available through the App Store (at least on macOS), where I was able to find extensions for Pocket, Wallabag, BitWarden, Consent-O-Matic and so on.
Notably missing: Floccus bookmarks sync, KeePassXC, and Privacy Badger, though Floccus does have an iOS app.
BitWarden's extension works just like it does in other browsers. As for KeePassXC, Safari does work with the password manager's auto-type feature, at least!
Sync seems to be primarily bookmarks and the reading list, and only over iCloud.
Bottom Line
You could do a lot worse than Safari, but Orion has more features (and can use most Chrome/Firefox extensions too) if you want to stick with similar tech under the hood.
— Kelson Vibber, 2025-05-09
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