39 Web Browser Usage Statistics: Who’s Leading in 2024?

Most of us knew Internet Explorer (IE) before we knew what a web browser was. Many learned about web browsers through programs like Internet Explorer without realizing it. But times have changed and modern users are aware of the best web browsers on the market and prefer using them regardless of whether they came pre-installed with their system.

In this article, we explore how we use some of the renowned web browsers like Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox. 

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 Winter 2024 Grid® Report! 

Google Chrome web browser usage statistics

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. 

• Google Chrome’s market share for desktop web browsers in 2023 was 66.41% and 66% for mobile web browsers. 
• Google Chrome accounted for 63% global market share for internet browsers in 2023. 
• On average, Google Chrome shows 250 million warnings for malicious websites per month. Its 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 $30,000. 
• The 6th most popular Chrome Extension in 2022, LINEAR, was based on ChatGPT. 
• In India, Google Chrome has an 85.84% market share across all devices. 
• More than 6 in 10 people globally use Google Chrome to browse the internet. 
• 137,345 Chrome extensions are available on the Chrome Web Store, along with 39,263 themes. 
• 65.94% of Wyoming residents use Chrome to browse the internet.

Apple Safari web browser usage statistics

Apple Safari was introduced with Mac OS X Panther in January 2003. Steve Jobs previously had the intention of naming 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. 

• Apple’s Safari had a 21% market share in 2023 worldwide. No other browser accounts for more than 5% overall market share. 
• Apple’s Safari accounts for 25% market share for mobile internet browsers.
• 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.  
• 1 in 5 people worldwide get online with Safari as their web browser. 

Mozilla Firefox web browser usage statistics

The first version of Mozilla Firefox was released in 2004. As new versions of Firefox came, it 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.

• Firefox has over 100,000 installs on Google Play’s Android store. 
• 50% of Mozilla Firefox customers have a non-English version of the browser. 
• 20% of Mozilla Firefox users have turned enhanced tracking protection on to block third-party tracking cookies. 

• 91% feel the web browser meets their requirements. 
• 3.35% of people worldwide have used Firefox as of December 2023.
• Firefox has never had more than 23% of the market share. 

Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge web browser usage statistics

Internet Explorer was undoubtedly the web browser of choice for many people two decades ago. However, its user base shrank overtime, and better and more flexible web browsers entered the market.  

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 Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge trends on the market. 

• Internet Explorer’s market share was 94% in 2004. It reduced to 0.61% in 2021. 
• Despite not getting updates from Microsoft, Internet Explorer still holds 0.01% of the mobile market share worldwide. 
• Around 28 million out of 4.66 billion people still use Internet Explorer to browse the web. 

• 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. 
• 94% of G2 reviewers rate Text-to-Speech as one of Microsoft Edge’s top features.
• Microsoft Edge’s market share increased by 0.68% with the introduction of Bing AI.

Brave browser usage statistics

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.

• In June 2023, 57.76 million users were active monthly on Brave. 
• 96% of G2 reviews feel Brave is easy to use. 
• Users who opt in get back 70% of Brave ad revenue as a basic attention token (BAT).

• Around 74.69% of Brave visitors are men. 
• 97% of users believe Brave is headed in the right direction. 
• Brave has around 1% of the global web browser market share. 
• 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. 

If you’re considering a browser for professional use, check out the best web browsers for enterprises in 2024.