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Does anyone use Safari?

Safari is one of the major web browsers along with Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. But it has much lower market share than its competitors, which leads many to wonder – does anyone actually use Safari? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Safari’s market share, its advantages and disadvantages, and the types of users who still prefer Apple’s native browser.

Safari’s Declining Market Share

Safari used to be much more popular in the early days of the web. Back in 2008, before Chrome was released, Safari accounted for over 30% of desktop browser market share globally. However, since Chrome’s rise starting in 2009, Safari’s market share has steadily declined. As of October 2022, Safari’s global market share is down to just 3.62% on desktop and 28.54% on mobile.

On mobile, Safari has managed to retain a sizable user base because it’s the default browser on iOS. But Apple has been slowly losing mobile market share to Android over the past decade. And on desktop, Safari never stood a chance once Chrome arrived. Chrome now makes up 65% of the desktop browser market.

So statistically speaking, Safari’s user base today is quite small compared to other major browsers. Very few people use Safari if they’re not required to use it on Apple devices. But let’s take a closer look at who the remaining Safari users are.

Who Still Uses Safari?

The majority of Safari’s user base today consists of people using Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This includes:

  • iPhone users – Safari comes preinstalled and is the default browser on iPhones. Many iPhone owners don’t bother to change the default or install a different browser.
  • iPad users – Similar to iPhone, Safari comes preinstalled on iPads and remains the default for many users.
  • Mac owners – Safari is also the default on Macs. While many Mac users opt for Chrome or Firefox, some prefer to stick with Apple’s preinstalled browser.

Beyond Apple device owners, there are a few other small user segments that actively choose Safari:

  • Privacy-focused users – Safari does not allow third-party cookies by default and takes measures to block online trackers. The browser ranks high on privacy benchmarks.
  • Older generations – Particularly older users who are accustomed to Safari and have not adopted other mainstream browsers like Chrome.
  • Light browser users – People who just need basic browsing functionality and don’t want the memory footprint of Chrome.

There are also likely regional differences in Safari use. In the key Apple strongholds like the United States and Europe, its market share is likely higher than the global average.

Why Don’t More People Use Safari?

Given that Safari is the default browser for millions of Apple device owners, why have so many iPhone, iPad, and Mac users opted to install and use other browsers like Chrome and Firefox instead?

Here are some of the main limitations of Safari that drive users to seek out alternative browsers:

  • Limited compatibility – Safari occasionally struggles to render web pages in the same way as other browsers due to differences in web standards support. This can create page layout issues.
  • Less functionality – Chrome and Firefox tend to offer more robust functionality like expansive extension ecosystems. Safari has a more barebones feature set.
  • Slower performance – In various performance benchmarks, Safari lags behind Chrome and Firefox in metrics like page load speed and JavaScript execution tests.
  • No syncing across devices – Unlike Google and Firefox accounts, Apple does not offer syncing of bookmarks, history, passwords, and other data across devices.
  • Not cross-platform – Safari only runs on Apple operating systems, while other browsers work across Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile platforms.

These limitations have caused many people to view Safari as an inferior browser choice. The main reason someone might use Safari today is simply because it’s the default option on their Apple device, not because they feel it’s the best browser available.

Does Safari Have Any Advantages?

Despite its small market share, Safari does still have some advantages that could make it appealing to certain users:

  • Privacy – As mentioned earlier, Safari takes a strong stance on privacy by blocking third-party cookies and trackers by default. Safari also offers “Privacy Report” to see which cross-site trackers are being blocked.
  • Efficiency – The browser uses Apple’s WebKit rendering engine, which is optimized for efficiency on Apple devices. This can translate to faster performance, especially on underpowered hardware like iPhones.
  • Simplicity – The Safari user interface is clean and devoid of clutter. Users who want a minimalist browsing experience may appreciate this.
  • Seamless Apple ecosystem – Deep integration with Apple services like iCloud Keychain for passwords makes for smooth cross-device use across Apple products.
  • Lower memory usage – Safari uses less RAM than Chrome, an advantage for devices like older MacBooks with limited memory.

So for users who prioritize privacy, efficiency, simplicity, and integration with Apple devices, Safari can be an appealing option. But for most other use cases, Chrome or Firefox tend to be more featured and capable browsers.

Is Safari’s Market Share Still Declining?

In the last few years, Safari’s market share decline seems to have slowed. And there are some signs Apple may be stemming the tide:

  • On iOS, Safari is required by Apple policy – alternative browser apps on the App Store like Chrome and Firefox must use Safari’s WebKit rendering engine under the hood.
  • Apple has touted recent performance improvements in Safari with the release of Safari 15 for Mac and iOS 15.
  • New privacy-centric features like Privacy Report aim to attract security-focused users.
  • The browser continues to be the default on all new iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, capturing new users.

However, Safari still faces an uphill battle against the behemoth that is Google Chrome. Chrome has continued to gain share on both desktop and mobile, and now accounts for over 2/3 of global browser use. Chrome has also closed the gap in speed and efficiency that gave Safari its early advantages.

Unless Apple can innovate with exciting new features that capture the imagination of more users, Safari may be consigned to its niche status going forward. But with privacy and data protection becoming bigger concerns today, Safari has an opportunity to differentiate itself from data-hungry competitors.

Conclusion

In summary, here are the key points on Safari’s user base today:

  • Safari usage has declined significantly over the past decade and now stands at just 3-4% market share globally.
  • Most Safari users today are those required to use it on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.
  • However, some small niche user segments like privacy advocates do actively prefer Safari.
  • Safari lacks some key features, compatibility, and cross-platform support compared to rivals.
  • But it still offers advantages like efficiency, simplicity, and privacy protections.
  • Safari’s user base decline seems to be slowing, though growth remains an uphill battle.

While Safari is no longer a mainstream choice like Chrome or Firefox, Apple’s native browser still serves an important role for those embedded within their ecosystem. And if privacy concerns continue to grow, Safari may ultimately differentiate itself by providing a more private, less tracked browsing experience than Google Chrome.