Use Safari unless you have a reason not to. On a MacBook Neo, with 8GB of memory you can't upgrade, the browser is usually the biggest thing competing for RAM, and Safari asks for the least. If you need Chrome extensions, Brave or Edge give you them for less memory than Chrome itself. If you live in Gmail and Google Docs, Chrome still fits best, as long as you keep your tab count down.
What matters in a browser on the MacBook Neo
Memory comes first. In a Tom's Guide test on a Mac, Safari used roughly 1.2 to 1.4GB with 10 tabs open, while Chrome used about 2.1 to 2.4GB for the same tabs. On a 16GB laptop that gap barely matters. On the Neo, it's a big slice of what's left after macOS takes its share. Battery follows the same pattern, and after that it comes down to fit: iPhone syncing, extensions, or Google's apps. Every browser below is free, and you can change your default in System Settings, a step our MacBook Neo setup guide walks through.
Everyday browsers
Ordered roughly by how kind they are to the Neo's 8GB.
1. Safari
Free · WebKit engine · Best for battery and efficiency
Safari came with your Neo, and on an 8GB machine that's an advantage. It uses roughly 40 to 50 percent less memory than Chrome with the same tabs, goes easy on the battery (a big part of the up-to-16-hour battery rating we cover in our MacBook Neo review), and hands pages, passwords, and tabs to your iPhone without setup. The trade-offs are a smaller extension library and no version for Windows or Android, which hurts if you also use a PC at school or work.
2. Firefox
Free · Gecko engine · Best independent, private choice
Firefox is the main browser that doesn't run on Google's Chromium engine, so it's the pick if you want an independent, privacy-minded option. It blocks trackers by default and you can customize almost everything. Don't expect a big memory win over Chrome with a few tabs open, where recent tests show them nearly even. Firefox pulls ahead once you have dozens of tabs open.
3. Brave
Free · Chromium engine · Best private Chromium browser
Brave runs on the same Chromium engine as Chrome, so every Chrome extension and site works, but it blocks ads and trackers by default, which also trims what each tab uses. Its ad blocking also covers one of the gaps in macOS's built-in malware protection. If you like Chrome but not its memory use, switch to this. Brave also makes our list of 25 essential Neo apps.
4. Microsoft Edge
Free · Chromium engine · Best for built-in features
Edge is Microsoft's take on Chromium, often slightly lighter than Chrome, with vertical tabs and a Copilot AI sidebar built in. Chrome extensions work, and it'll feel familiar if you're switching from a Windows PC. One warning if you used it before: Microsoft removed the Collections feature in June 2026, so save research some other way.
5. Google Chrome
Free · Chromium engine · Best for compatibility, but heavy
Chrome has the biggest extension library and the tightest Google account sync, so if you live in Gmail, Docs, and Drive, it fits, especially if you're coming over from a Chromebook. It also now has Gemini built into a side panel for summarizing pages. The cost on the Neo is memory: Chrome needs close to twice what Safari does, and past 15 or 20 tabs you'll feel it. If the Neo starts to lag, check Chrome first, and our Neo troubleshooting manual covers the rest. Even developers often swap Chrome for Safari on this machine, as our programming on the Neo guide explains.
Design-forward browsers
6. Arc
Free · Chromium engine · Best design, but frozen
Arc swapped the tab strip for a sidebar, added Spaces to separate work and personal browsing, and won a loyal following for its calm layout. Its maker, The Browser Company, stopped adding features in May 2025 to build its AI browser, Dia, and was later bought by Atlassian. Arc still works and still gets security patches, but nothing new is coming. If you want the same ideas in a browser that's still being built, look at Zen.
7. Zen Browser
Free · Gecko engine · Best Arc alternative
Zen is the closest thing to Arc that's still under active development. It has the sidebar, workspaces, and split view, but runs on Firefox's engine, and it's free and open source. Releases are still labeled beta, though they've been stable enough for daily use for a while. Arc fans who want those ideas in a browser with a future should start here.
AI browsers
The newest category builds an assistant into the browser instead of a separate tab. It's also the least settled one. OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas launched on the Mac in October 2025 and shut down in August 2026.
8. Perplexity Comet
Free, paid plans for heavy use · Chromium engine · Best AI browser
Comet, from the AI search company Perplexity, puts an assistant in the sidebar that knows which page and tabs you're on. It can summarize articles, answer questions with sources, compare information across tabs, and carry out multi-step tasks like filling in forms or drafting emails. Normal browsing feels like Chrome, because it's built on Chromium. If you research a lot, it's the AI browser to try. Dia, from Arc's makers, chases the same idea, but new users now need a paid plan from $20 a month for its AI features.
Browsers for MacBook Neo compared
| Browser | Engine | Kind to 8GB? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari | WebKit | Excellent | Battery and efficiency |
| Firefox | Gecko | Good with many tabs | Independent privacy |
| Brave | Chromium | Good | Private Chromium |
| Microsoft Edge | Chromium | Moderate | Features and Chrome compatibility |
| Google Chrome | Chromium | Heavy | Google's apps |
| Arc | Chromium | Moderate | Design (no new features) |
| Zen | Gecko | Moderate | Arc-style, actively built |
| Perplexity Comet | Chromium | Moderate | AI browsing |
Every open tab holds memory, whichever browser it's in, so a pile of tabs in Safari can still outweigh a few in Chrome. If the Neo feels slow, close what you're not using before you switch browsers, and lean on our 8GB optimization guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Chrome extensions in these browsers?
Yes in the Chromium-based ones: Brave, Edge, Arc, Comet, and Dia all run Chrome extensions. Firefox and Zen use Firefox add-ons, and Safari has its own separate extension library.
Is Arc still safe to use in 2026?
Yes. Arc still receives Chromium security updates, and its maker hasn't announced an end date. The risk is less about safety than about a slow fade, since no new features are coming.
Is Perplexity Comet free?
Yes. Comet has been free for everyone since October 2025, with limits on how much you can use the AI assistant and agent. For heavier use, Perplexity Pro costs $20 a month and also includes Comet Plus, a $5-a-month add-on for articles from partner publishers.
How do I change my default browser on a Mac?
Open System Settings, go to Desktop & Dock, and pick a browser from the "Default web browser" menu. Most browsers also offer to make themselves the default the first time you open them.
Can I move my Chrome bookmarks and passwords to Safari?
Yes. In Safari, choose File, then Import From, then Google Chrome, and pick what to bring over: bookmarks, history, and saved passwords. Your passwords then sync through iCloud Keychain to your iPhone. Extensions don't transfer, so reinstall the Safari versions from the App Store where they exist.
Can I use Google Docs offline in Safari?
No. Google's offline mode for Docs, Sheets, and Slides only works in Chrome and Microsoft Edge. If you need to write without Wi-Fi, keep one of those installed, or use Pages or LibreOffice for offline drafts.
Is Safari private enough?
For most people, yes. Intelligent Tracking Prevention blocks cross-site trackers by default. If you pay for iCloud+, iCloud Private Relay also hides your IP address from the sites you visit. Brave and Firefox go further by blocking ads too.
How can I see which browser is draining my battery?
Open Activity Monitor and click the Energy tab. It ranks apps and their background processes by energy impact, so if Chrome or one of its processes sits at the top all day, that's your answer.