59 Browser Usage Statistics: Who’s Leading in 2025?

Most of us knew Internet Explorer (IE) before we even understood what a web browser was. It introduced many to the internet, and programs like Internet Explorer taught users about browsing, often without them realizing they were learning.

Over the years, web browsers have evolved from simple tools for viewing websites into feature-rich platforms that shape how we interact with the digital world. They now prioritize speed, security, and personalization, catering to the diverse needs of users. 

In this article, we delve into the evolution and usage of renowned web browsers like Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox. We’ll explore their unique features, market dominance, and how they cater to varying user needs in today’s digital landscape.

Toward the last fold, you’ll find a web browser that isn’t as popular but still manages to hold second place in G2’s Fall 2024 Grid® Report! 

Google Chrome undoubtedly has a significant market share. It’s the leading web browser in countries like the US, India, and China. It tops the list in market share for desktop web browsers and several other categories. Take a look at the statistics below to develop more insights into Google Chrome usage. 

• 3.45 billion people across the world use Google Chrome.
• More than 6 in 10 people globally use Google Chrome to browse the internet. 
• 8.74 million downloads of Google Chrome were generated from the Google Play Store in 2024.
• Chrome currently holds the leading position in the global browser market, with a market share of 65% as of 2024.
• Google Chrome accounted for 63% global market share for internet browsers in 2023. 
• In 2024, Google Chrome’s market share for desktop web browsers was 66.41%, and for mobile web browsers, it was 66%. 
• In India, Google Chrome has an 85.84% market share across all devices. 

• On average, Google Chrome shows 250 million warnings for malicious websites per month.
• 280 million Google Chrome users installed dangerous extensions
• Google Chrome’s Safe Browsing service protects over 4 billion people worldwide. 

• Google runs a Chrome Bounty Program that pays ethical hackers to perform pen-testing and report vulnerabilities for a reward of $250,000. 
• 137,345 Chrome extensions are available on the Chrome Web Store, along with 39,263 themes. 
• Adobe Acrobat is the most widely installed Chrome extension, with over 207 million installations. 
• The 6th most popular Chrome Extension in 2022, LINEAR, was based on ChatGPT. 

Here is a table displaying the Chrome browser market share recorded by year:

Source: StatCounter 

Microsoft Edge was created as a successor to Internet Explorer even though IE 11 was available alongside Edge for compatibility until 2023. 

The statistics below highlight the latest Microsoft Edge trends in the market. 

• Internet Explorer’s market share was 94% in 2004. It reduced to 0.62% in 2021. 
• Internet Explorer has experienced a continuous decline, with its market share dropping from 59.10% in 2009 to 0.16% in 2024

Here is a table displaying the Internet Explorer market share recorded by year:

Source: Soax 

• 80% of people remove Internet Explorer as their default browser as soon as they get a chance. 
• Microsoft Edge had a 3.4% market share worldwide in 2021. Around 158 million people used Edge to browse the web back then. 
• Microsoft Edge’s market share increased by 0.68% with the introduction of Bing AI.

• Microsoft Edge holds a market share of 12.96% globally in 2024.
• Microsoft’s Edge has 15.5% of the U.S. desktop market.
• Microsoft’s Edge browser had a United States market share of 7 percent in 2024.
• 94% of G2 reviewers rate Text-to-Speech as one of Microsoft Edge’s top features.
• In recent years, Edge has reported a 10% improvement in speed.
• Edge users spend about 2.4 hours per day browsing, compared to 3.2 hours on Chrome
• 54% of Microsoft Edge users are male, while 46% are female.

Apple Safari was introduced with Mac OS X Panther in January 2003. Steve Jobs previously intended to name it “Freedom,” and developers wanted to call it “iBrowse.” There were many codenames, but Safari stood out. Since then, Apple’s Safari has come a long way. Here are a few statistics that give us a glimpse into their journey. 

• 1 in 5 people worldwide get online with Safari as their web browser. 
• In October 2024, Apple’s Safari ranked second in the United States of America with around 45.31% of the global browser market share, close to Chrome
• As of 2024, in the mobile browser market, Safari holds 23.47% of users.
• Apple’s Safari had a 21% market share worldwide in 2023. 
• 19.16% of all internet users browsed the web with Safari in 2022.

• In the US, Safari is the leading mobile web browser with over 55.85% of Americans using it on their mobiles.  
• In North America, Safari has around 70 million desktop and 250 million mobile users in 2024.

The first version of Mozilla Firefox was released in 2004. As new versions came, Firefox gained significant popularity over the years. Notably, Firefox is a non-profit organization; volunteer developers have contributed over 40% of the source code. Take a look at the state of usage with Mozilla Firefox.

• Mozilla Firefox accounts for 2.93% of the browser market share in 2024.
• Mozilla Firefox is preferred by 5.31% of desktop users in 2024.
• 91% feel Mozilla Firefox meets their requirements. 
• 3.35% of people worldwide have used Firefox as of December 2023.
• The Firefox app has over 100 million downloads on Google Play’s Android store.
• 50% of Mozilla Firefox customers have a non-English version of the browser. 

Brave is a web browser focused on enhancing its users’ privacy. Developed in 2015 by Brendan Eich (JavaScript, Firefox) and Brian Bondy (formerly Khan Academy), the browser has a built-in ad-blocking feature that prevents intrusive internet ads. Below are some interesting statistics about Brave browser usage.

• Brave has around 1% of the global web browser market share. 
• 31.6 million daily active users reported on Brav in October 2024.
• Brave Web Browser reached 72.4 million monthly active users in October 2024
• In June 2023, 57.76 million users were active monthly on Brave. 
• 96% of G2 reviews feel Brave is easy to use. 
• Brave Search processes 14.1 million search queries per day.
• Over 411.7 million search queries are made on Brave each month.

• Around 74.69% of Brave visitors are men. 
• 97% of users believe Brave is headed in the right direction. 
• 90% of G2 reviews talk about the decent quality of support Brave’s team provides.

Browse with the best!

Based on our stats, Google Chrome holds the market share for many categories. If you want to make a safe bet, choose Chrome as your web browser. Other options like Safari, Firefox, or Edge also provide reliable platforms for a solid browsing experience. 

In comparison, Brave offers options to browse with enhanced privacy. The majority of its present users feel it’s safe to use and offers quality support, but it’s up to you to take these statistics and make an informed decision about your browsing needs. 

Learn how secure web gateways protect your browsing experience and keep threats at bay.