HACKER Q&A
📣 plg

Why do Mac users use Chrome not Safari?


Just curious, how come I see lots of Mac users using Chrome not Safari for web stuff? Is it because the web/dev tools are better or more familiar and the users I see are also web devs?


  👤 aristofun Accepted Answer ✓
Safari has just terrible usability and developer plugins ecosystem in comparison to Chrome.

Less important issue is also worse compatibility of some websites that you have no choice but use (like government services etc).

Unfortunately. Since the raw performance is noticeably better on Mac.


👤 spacedcowboy
Chrome has a ridiculously high percentage (65%) of the market [1]. If the people you see are mainly web-devs, that's going to pretty self-selecting...

Personally I like Safari, but it's all down to personal choice.

[1] https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share


👤 hairofadog
I use safari, but I think the extension ecosystem in Chrome (React Dev Tools, etc.) may be one reason some developers like it.

👤 maxharris
I use Safari on Mac, and Firefox on Linux. I don't even have Chrome installed on any of my machines.

👤 regmtait
I've used Firefox since the early days of Firebug. Dev tools still great and Mozilla continues to respect privacy. Tiny market share now. Safari felt a bit rough in the past.

👤 yuppie_scum
Extensions.

👤 navjack27
I use edge on mine

👤 gardenfelder
Firefox and Brave

👤 Normille
i don't use either.