Most Popular Desktop Browsers 1993 - 2022

In this data visualization I only include desktop web browsers, so no mobile web browsers. So the numbers will be different after 2008, when smartphones took off. Like the previous visualization this one goes back to the first graphical web browser, Mosaic. Before Mosaic most users browsed the web either with a text based web browser such as Lynx or using Nexus which had a graphical interface, which was easier to use.

1993
Mosaic
First graphical web browser, Mosaic brought the web to life with inline images and links.

1994
Netscape Navigator
Launched at $49 with a 90 day trial

1995
Opera
Launched to the public as trialware
Internet Explorer
That same year IE launched as free add-on to Windows 95

1996
Marc Andreessen co-founded both, Mosaic and Netscape

1997
Netscape held 70% of the market but IE being free and part of Windows was gaining fast. This forced Netscape to became freeware.

1998
Microsoft was taken to court for violating antitrust laws

1999
America Online acquired Netscape for $4.2 billion dollars

2000
Microsoft was found guilty and decided to split IE from Windows

2001
IE was the official winner of the first browser war

2002
Firefox Beta launched, originally called Phoenix, then Firebird

2003
Safari 1.0
released by Apple

2004
Firefox 1.0
finally released to the public

2005
Free Opera
Opera browser becomes freeware

2006
IE 7.0
Microsoft reintegrated IE into Windows

2008
Netscape Ends
Netscape Navigator is discontinued after version 9

2008
Chrome 1.0
Google releases Chrome

2009
Mobile Web
Mobile browsers and apps start reducing desktop use

2010
Firefox 3.6
Firefox introduces Personas theme engine with version 3.6

2011
IE 9
Introduced new interface

2012
Chrome overtakes IE

2013
IE 11
Final version of IE

2014
Opera 19
Introduced Workspaces feature to organize tabs

2015
Edge
Microsoft launches Edge to replace IE

2016
Opera 40
Launches with free VPN & battery saver mode

2017
Firefox 55
Included VR capability

2018
Opera 50
Included an anti-Bitcoin mining tool

2019
Firefox 70
Featured Dark Mode & Tracker Blocker

2020
Edge
Microsoft introduced Chromium-based Edge and a new logo.

2021
Chrome
Google begins development of an alternative to cookies to protect user privacy.

What is your favorite desktop browser?

[ohnose]

I have been using Firefox since 2004 and I'm genuinely shocked that there was no point in time where it was popular

[thehuguenot]

The only thing IE is good for, is downloading another browser.

[tannhauser]

I started using Opera when I was playing Tribal Wars 15-20 years ago. The game needed several quickly launched attacks to conquer another village. A keyboard shortcut to changes tabs allowed launching four (maybe five, just in case, you know) attacks in less than a second. I don't play Tribal Wars anymore, but I still use Opera.

[NightSurgeon]

Honestly amazed at the low popularity of Opera. I've used Opera GX for 2 months (switched from Chrome) and it is amazing. And the fact that a few clicks imported everything from Chrome was a huge bonus.

[PeeTx]

17 years Firefox is my default browser.. I have used Chrome a lot, but only as second browser

[Jin-Ro]

It's sad that Opera never really became popular, it's a very good, solid browser nowadays.

[atdynax]

I only use Opera GX and like its many additions.

[Blast-Forward]

I like how you added background information and not only showed the moving charts.

[commonpike]

Firefox rose from Netscape (like a phoenix) because the latter was bought by AOL which changed the licensing. Firefox remained the 'open source netscape'

[melancholas]

I am in team VIVALDI since 2016.
It has so many good features and customizations and I try to support the underdogs and there is nothing I am missing here.

Before that, it has been Firefox and Opera.

[briandobson]

Firefox has always been hands down my Browser of choice. Google Chrome has far too many privacy concerns being associated with Google.

[kevorka]

>open Internet Explorer
>type "Boobs"
>press enter

Some were born early enough to explore the Earth, but *I* was born just in time to explore the internet...

[allengower]

I wonder why Brave Browser isn't mentioned, It does everything you want it to do ie. block tracking and blocks pesky adverts. In my humble opinion it is by far the best browser out there.

[MrToretto]

Opera GX is so underrated, it has everything Chrome has and many many many many more options. It's a great browser which deserves alot more love.

[oderalon]

I remember the day I heard about Firefox, a little while after it was launched. It immediately became my browser of choice, which it still is.

[raineyjayy]

Edge is currently really good. Though basically chrome without memory management issue

[RedPMD]

"Google" and "protecting user privacy" does not go together as milk and cereal.

[tspecialrl]

Surprised at how long it took for edge to overtake IE

[ScreenWatch]

I'm using Brave Browser in 2022 and I'm just waiting for everyone to follow once they realize how amazing the built-in ad-blocking technology is

[mzimy]

2002 - 2004
The great era of classic RuneScape playing on Internet Explorer

~Veteran RuneScape, 20 years this year