Most Popular Web Browsers 1993 2022

In this data visualization I go 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

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

1995
Internet Explorer
Launched as free add-on to Windows 95

1996
Opera
Launched to the public as trialware

1997
Netscape held 70% of the market but IE being free was gaining fast
1998
This forced Netscape to became freeware
1998
Microsoft was taken to court for violating antitrust laws
America Online acquired Netscape for $4.2 billion

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
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 reintegrates IE into Windows

2008
Netscape Ends
Netscape Navigator is discontinued

2008
Chrome 1.0
Google releases Chrome

2009
Mobile Web
Mobile browsers started gaining market share

2010
Firefox 3.6
Firefox introduces Personas theme engine

2011
IE 9
Introduced new interface

2012
Chrome overtakes IE

2013
IE 11
Final version of IE

2014
Opera 19
Introduced Workspaces feature

2015
Edge
Replaced IE

2016
Opera 40
Free VPN & battery saver mode

2017
Firefox 55
Included VR capability

2018
Opera 50
Anti-Bitcoin mining tool

2019
Firefox 70
Dark Mode & Tracker Blocker

What is your favorite browser?