The Browser Wars Shift to AI: Alternatives to Chrome and Safari
AI News Desk
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TechCrunch
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7 min read
The browser wars now center on AI integration, with new entrants like Perplexity, The Browser Company, and Opera challenging Google Chrome and Apple Safari.
The browser wars have entered a new phase this year: The fight isn’t just over search results anymore — it’s over which company’s AI gets to act on your behalf inside the browser. Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari still dominate the market overall, with Chrome’s edge coming largely from how aggressively it has woven generative AI into search. But 2026 has brought a wave of new entrants — from well-funded startups to Big Tech — all betting that the browser is about to become less like a window onto the web and more like an assistant that gets things done for you.
Users looking for alternatives to Chrome and Safari can choose from a growing variety of browsers aimed at challenging the industry giants. To help navigate the competitive landscape, we’ve compiled an overview of some of the top alternative browsers available today. This includes browsers leveraging AI, open source browsers that promote customization and privacy, and “mindful browsers” — a new term that refers to browsers designed to enhance user well-being.
Perplexity is the most recent startup in the space to launch an AI-powered web browser . Called Comet , the company’s new product acts as a chatbot-based search engine, and can perform actions like summarizing emails, browsing web pages, and performing tasks such as sending calendar invites. It’s currently only available to users with Perplexity’s $200/month Max plan, but there’s also a waitlist where people can sign up.
The Browser Company, the startup behind the Arc browser, recently introduced Dia , its AI-centric browser that looks similar to Google Chrome but with an AI chat tool. Currently available as an invite-only beta , Dia is designed to help users navigate the web more easily. It’s able to look at every website that a user has visited and every website they’re logged into, enabling it to help you find information and perform tasks.
For instance, Dia can provide information about the page a user is currently browsing, answer questions about a product, and summarize uploaded files. To get early access to Dia, users have to be an Arc member. Non-members can join the waitlist.
Another recent entry into the AI agentic browser war is Opera’s Neon , which has contextual awareness and can do things like researching, shopping, and writing snippets of code. Neon is currently available on macOS and Windows. The subscription costs $19.90 per month.
OpenAI recently launched its AI-powered web browser, called Atlas . The browser allows users to ask ChatGPT about search results and browse websites within the chatbot instead of being directed to outside links. There’s also an “agent mode” for users to ask ChatGPT to complete tasks on their behalf.
Atlas was first rumored to launch in July ; however, it only became available on macOS in October. It’s expected to arrive on Windows, iOS, and Android devices soon. Backed by Y Combinator, Aside is an upcoming AI-first, browser-native automation platform built to autonomously complete tasks, fill out forms, and manage data on behalf of users.
The company describes the experience simply: “Give it your passwords, browsing history, and browser context.” Unlike traditional automation tools that rely on integrations, Aside operates directly within the browser itself, allowing it to work across Gmail, Notion, Slack, Figma, and banking platforms. Users can sign up for the waitlist ahead of launch. Jatter launched its AI-powered browser in June, giving users the ability to ask questions about any web page, uncover relevant insights, and receive personalized recommendations based on their browsing activity.
Additionally, Jatter offers an integrated Notes app, so it can learn from that content, summarize notes, and surface key details. Jatter is currently available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. It’s free to use, but there’s an optional subscription for $10 per month.
Brave is among the more well-known privacy-first browsers , popular for its built-in ad and tracker blocking capabilities. It also has a gamified approach to browsing, rewarding users with its own cryptocurrency called Basic Attention Token (BAT). When users choose to opt in to view ads, supporting their favorite websites, they get a share of the ad revenue.
Additional features include a VPN service, an AI assistant , and a video calling feature . DuckDuckGo is another browser that many people are probably already familiar with, thanks to its search engine by the same name. Launched in 2008, the company recently made significant investments in its browser to stay competitive by introducing generative AI features , such as a chatbot.
It also enhanced its scam blocker to detect a wider range of scams, including fake cryptocurrency exchanges, scareware tactics, and fraudulent e-commerce websites. In addition to blocking scams, DuckDuckGo prevents trackers and ads, and it doesn’t track user data, resulting in fewer pop-ups for users. Ladybird , led by GitHub co-founder and former CEO Chris Wanstrath, has an ambitious mission compared to other rivals: It aims to build an entirely new open source browser from scratch.
This means it will not rely on code from existing browsers, a feat that has rarely been accomplished. Most alternative web browsers depend on the Chromium open source project maintained by Google, which is the most widely used base for many browsers. Like other privacy-focused browsers, Ladybird will offer features to minimize data collection, such as a built-in ad blocker and the ability to block third-party cookies.
The browser has yet to be launched, with an alpha version scheduled for release in 2026 for early adopters, available on Linux and macOS. Vivaldi is a Chromium-based browser created by one of the original developers of the Opera browser. Its biggest selling point is its customizable user interface, which allows users to change the appearance and enable or disable features.
One unique feature is that the browser window changes color to match the website being viewed. Other key features include ad blocking, a password manager, no user data tracking, and productivity tools such as a calendar and notes. Opera launched the Air browser in February, becoming one of the first mindfulness-themed browsers in the space.
While Opera Air functions like a typical web browser, it includes unique features designed to support mental well-being. These features consist of break reminders and breathing exercises. Another feature, called “Boosts,” provides a selection of binaural beats to either help improve focus or relaxation.
SigmaOS is a Mac-only browser featuring a workspace-style interface that emphasizes productivity. It displays tabs vertically, allowing users to treat them like a to-do list that can be marked as complete or snoozed for later. Users can create workspaces — essentially groups of tabs — to better organize different activities, such as separating work from entertainment.
This Y Combinator-backed browser has been around for a few years now and has most recently begun introducing more AI features, including the ability to summarize various elements of a web page, such as ratings, reviews, and prices. It also has an AI assistant that can answer questions, translate text, and rewrite content. SigmaOS is free to use, but users who want more than three workspaces can subscribe to a plan for $8 per month, which provides unlimited workspaces.
Zen Browser aims to create a “calmer internet” with its open source browser. Zen lets users organize tabs into Workspaces, and offers Split View to view two tabs side by side, among other productivity-focused features. Users can also enhance their browsing experience with community-made plug-ins and themes, such as a mod that makes the tab background transparent.
Why this matters: The emergence of AI-integrated browsers marks a significant shift in how users interact with the web. As these browsers become more prevalent, developers and businesses will need to adapt to new models of user engagement, where AI assistants are increasingly acting on behalf of users. For consumers, this means more choices for how they want to experience the web, but also raises questions about data privacy and the potential for AI-driven biases.
The impact on the broader industry will depend on how these new browsers are adopted and how they evolve to meet user needs. One thing is clear: the browser wars are heating up, and AI is the new frontline.
