Which browser is better for battery life on Mac?

Safari is significantly better for battery life on macOS. Real-world testing shows Safari achieves approximately 13.2 hours of browsing on a MacBook Pro, while Firefox averages 7.1 hours—a 45% difference. This is due to Safari's native Webkit engine and deep integration with macOS power management.

Does Firefox have a VPN, and does Safari?

Firefox includes a built-in free VPN with 50GB monthly data limit (v149.0+) at no cost. Safari does not have a native VPN feature; Apple users must subscribe to third-party VPN services or use Apple's iCloud+ (which includes iCloud Private Relay).

Can I sync Safari and Firefox across my devices?

Safari syncs seamlessly across all Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad) via iCloud. Firefox syncs across all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS) using a free Firefox account. If you use Windows or Android, Firefox is the only option; Safari is Apple-only.

Which browser has more extensions and add-ons?

Firefox has significantly more: approximately 150,000+ verified add-ons compared to Safari's ~12,000 extensions. This makes Firefox far superior for customization, privacy extensions, productivity tools, and developer utilities.

Which browser is more private by default?

Both offer strong privacy: Safari has Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) blocking 99% of trackers, while Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection + built-in VPN blocks 99.8% of trackers and encrypts browsing. Firefox provides additional privacy by default with no configuration needed.

Safari vs Firefox

Updated May 6, 2026

Safari

Apple's native browser optimized for macOS and iOS with tight ecosystem integration.

Mac and iPhone users who value battery life, performance, and integrated privacy without needing cross-platform flexibility.

Firefox

Open-source browser offering privacy-first features, extensive customization, and true cross-platform support.

Users across multiple platforms seeking maximum privacy, extension flexibility, and freedom from vendor lock-in, willing to accept slightly lower battery efficiency.

Short Answer

Safari excels on macOS/iOS with superior battery efficiency and seamless ecosystem integration, while Firefox offers greater customization, a built-in VPN, and cross-platform consistency for users prioritizing privacy and extension support.

Our Verdict

Choose Safari if you're deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, iPad) and prioritize battery life and native performance. Choose Firefox if you value privacy features, extension customization, cross-platform consistency, and don't want vendor lock-in.

Safari7.1

7.9Firefox

Choose Safari if

Mac and iPhone users who value battery life, performance, and integrated privacy without needing cross-platform flexibility.

Key Differences at a Glance

🔋

Battery Life on macOS: Safari wins (Optimal (native optimization) vs Good (uses more CPU))

🔹

Free VPN Feature: Firefox wins (50GB monthly (v149.0+) vs None)

📏

Extension Library Size: Firefox wins (~150,000+ add-ons vs ~12,000 extensions)

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	Safari	Firefox	Diff
Global Market Share	Safari	—	—
Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)	13.2 hours	7.1 hours	+86%
Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)	~12,000	~150,000+	-92%

Key Differences

Safari

Attribute

Firefox

Optimal (native optimization)🏆

Battery Life on macOS

Good (uses more CPU)

None

Free VPN Feature

50GB monthly (v149.0+)🏆

~12,000 extensions

Extension Library Size

~150,000+ add-ons

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Battery Life on macOS

Safari

Optimal (native optimization)🏆

Firefox

Good (uses more CPU)

Free VPN Feature

Safari

None

Firefox

50GB monthly (v149.0+)🏆

Extension Library Size

Safari

~12,000 extensions

Firefox

~150,000+ add-ons🏆

Cross-Platform Sync

Safari

Limited to Apple devices only

Firefox

Seamless across all platforms🏆

Privacy by Default

Safari

Strong (Intelligent Tracking Prevention)

Firefox

Stronger (Enhanced Tracking Protection + VPN)🏆

Latest Stable Version

Safari

26.4 (March 2026)

Firefox

149.0.2 (March 2026)

Customization Options

Safari

Minimal (Apple-controlled UI)

Firefox

Extensive (themes, sidebar mods, addons)🏆

Full Comparison

Attribute	Safari	Firefox

Global Market Share	Safari	—
Market Share	3%	—

Platform Support	Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)	—
Supported Platforms(platforms)	macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Platform Support(platforms)	macOS, iOS only	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness)	More responsive	—
Memory Efficiency	Optimized, lower usage	—
Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)	13.2 hours	7.1 hours
Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)	1.6GB	2.8GB
Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)	+8% faster	-12% slower
Show 2 more attributes Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours) 4-5 hours — Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method) Extension-based (slower, requires setup) —

Web Standards Compliance(level)	Good but trailing	—
Recent Updates (2026)(features)	Safari 26.4: 44 new features	—
Latest Version Release	149.0.2	—

AI Features (2026)	Apple Intelligence Safari Summary	—

Privacy Features	Privacy-first architecture	—
Privacy Rating	High	—

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)	~12,000	~150,000+
Available Extensions(extensions)	~1,500	10,000+

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)	None (no VPN)	50GB free

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)	99% (ITP)	99.8% (ETP+VPN)
Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)	Total Cookie Protection (per-site)	—
Tor Integration(included/not included)	Not included	—
Default Privacy Mode(posture)	Privacy-conscious (requires customization)	—

Current Stable Version(version number)	26.4	149.0.2

Engine Base(engine type)	Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)	—

Organization Type(type)	Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)	—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)	~85%	—

Safari

Firefox

Global Market Share

Safari

—

Market Share

—

Platform Support

Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)

—

Supported Platforms(platforms)

macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS

Platform Support(platforms)

macOS, iOS only

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness)

More responsive

—

Memory Efficiency

Optimized, lower usage

—

Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)

13.2 hours

7.1 hours

Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)

1.6GB

2.8GB

Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)

+8% faster

-12% slower

Show 2 more attributes

Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours)

4-5 hours

—

Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method)

Extension-based (slower, requires setup)

—

Web Standards Compliance(level)

Good but trailing

—

Recent Updates (2026)(features)

Safari 26.4: 44 new features

—

Latest Version Release

149.0.2

—

AI Features (2026)

Apple Intelligence Safari Summary

—

Privacy Features

Privacy-first architecture

—

Privacy Rating

High

—

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)

~12,000

~150,000+

Available Extensions(extensions)

~1,500

10,000+

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)

None (no VPN)

50GB free

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)

99% (ITP)

99.8% (ETP+VPN)

Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)

Total Cookie Protection (per-site)

—

Tor Integration(included/not included)

Not included

—

Default Privacy Mode(posture)

Privacy-conscious (requires customization)

—

Current Stable Version(version number)

26.4

149.0.2

Engine Base(engine type)

Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)

—

Organization Type(type)

Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)

—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)

~85%

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	Safari	Firefox

Global Market Share	Safari	—
Market Share	3%	—

Platform Support	Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)	—
Supported Platforms(platforms)	macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Platform Support(platforms)	macOS, iOS only	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness)	More responsive	—
Memory Efficiency	Optimized, lower usage	—
Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)	13.2 hours	7.1 hours
Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)	1.6GB	2.8GB
Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)	+8% faster	-12% slower
Show 2 more attributes Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours) 4-5 hours — Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method) Extension-based (slower, requires setup) —

Web Standards Compliance(level)	Good but trailing	—
Recent Updates (2026)(features)	Safari 26.4: 44 new features	—
Latest Version Release	149.0.2	—

AI Features (2026)	Apple Intelligence Safari Summary	—

Privacy Features	Privacy-first architecture	—
Privacy Rating	High	—

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)	~12,000	~150,000+
Available Extensions(extensions)	~1,500	10,000+

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)	None (no VPN)	50GB free

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)	99% (ITP)	99.8% (ETP+VPN)
Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)	Total Cookie Protection (per-site)	—
Tor Integration(included/not included)	Not included	—
Default Privacy Mode(posture)	Privacy-conscious (requires customization)	—

Current Stable Version(version number)	26.4	149.0.2

Engine Base(engine type)	Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)	—

Organization Type(type)	Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)	—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)	~85%	—

Safari

Firefox

Global Market Share

Safari

—

Market Share

—

Platform Support

Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)

—

Supported Platforms(platforms)

macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS

Platform Support(platforms)

macOS, iOS only

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness)

More responsive

—

Memory Efficiency

Optimized, lower usage

—

Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)

13.2 hours

7.1 hours

Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)

1.6GB

2.8GB

Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)

+8% faster

-12% slower

Show 2 more attributes

Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours)

4-5 hours

—

Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method)

Extension-based (slower, requires setup)

—

Web Standards Compliance(level)

Good but trailing

—

Recent Updates (2026)(features)

Safari 26.4: 44 new features

—

Latest Version Release

149.0.2

—

AI Features (2026)

Apple Intelligence Safari Summary

—

Privacy Features

Privacy-first architecture

—

Privacy Rating

High

—

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)

~12,000

~150,000+

Available Extensions(extensions)

~1,500

10,000+

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)

None (no VPN)

50GB free

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)

99% (ITP)

99.8% (ETP+VPN)

Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)

Total Cookie Protection (per-site)

—

Tor Integration(included/not included)

Not included

—

Default Privacy Mode(posture)

Privacy-conscious (requires customization)

—

Current Stable Version(version number)

26.4

149.0.2

Engine Base(engine type)

Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)

—

Organization Type(type)

Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)

—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)

~85%

—

Safari vs Firefox

Safari

Firefox

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Software

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Safari

Pros

Cons

Firefox

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison