Reasons to ditch Chrome

Why Safari is waaaay better.

Author

Leander Kahney
August 05, 2025

I hate Google’s Chrome browser, but I’m forced to use it all day, every day, because certain plugins I need for my daily work aren’t compatible with Safari.

Actually, the plugin ecosystem is the one thing I like about Chrome: There’s a much bigger and better assortment of plugins available than for Apple’s web browser. But that’s about it.

I don’t like the UI, or the icons, or the overstuffed and confusing Settings panel(s), and I especially don’t like the memory hogging. It’s so bad, I’m forced to restart my machine every day because Chrome will inevitably crash the whole system if not.

And it annoys me that I have to stipulate a user profile when I launch the browser (which only helps Google to better spy on me).

I could go on.

I’m stuck with Chrome — for work anyway — and I don’t see a way out of it. Which makes it worse when I read posts like today’s top story, which details five reasons to ditch Google’s web browser. I agree with all of them — EVERY SINGLE ONE!

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • A leak out of Germany details the exact date Apple will launch the iPhone 17 lineup.

  • The fifth betas of Apple’s upcoming operating systems just went out to developers, which means updates to the public betas will likely arrive tomorrow.

  • This is a pretty good deal on Anker’s MagGo 3-in-1 travel charger. Cult of Mac’s managing editor Lewis Wallace just bought one for a trip to Europe. “I bought it the morning that my flight left and had it by the afternoon,” he messaged me in Slack. “I was pretty satisfied paying 71 bucks for it. Now it's on sale for $63.”

  • I know what I’m getting my mom for Xmas. She loves these MagSafe finger loops for her iPhone, and this new one incorporates a loop, a stand and a suction mount.

  • Apple nerd par excellence Stephen Hackett joins us on the CultCast podcast to talk about a big week of iPhone 17 Pro leaks, tips on customizing your iPhone’s Home Screen, and a big new Mac display we reviewed.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

5 reasons to use Safari instead of Chrome

Apple markets its products as privacy-forward and seamlessly integrated. You gain a lot by using Apple’s web browser, Safari, vs. Chrome.

The exact day Apple launches the iPhone 17 is ...

Apple’s next-generation smartphones reportedly will launch during a fall product-launch event during the second week of September.

Apple seeds fifth iOS 26, macOS Tahoe betas

iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26 take another step toward release as Apple seeds the fifth round of betas to developers.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Slash $150 off Apple Watch Ultra 2

A beefier design, long battery life and advanced features make Apple Watch Ultra 2 a great deal for all (not just endurance athletes).

Google Pixel 10 teaser roasts Apple over long wait for smarter Siri

Google throws shade at Apple’s delayed Siri upgrade, poking fun at the “coming soon” features.

iPhone rakes in 3 times the revenue of any rival

Apple’s revenue from selling iPhones makes up a whopping 43% of the global smartphone total, dwarfing Samsung and others.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Block ads and data trackers forever with this top-rated service

Snag a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard family plan. The iOS and Mac ad blocker also protects your privacy on Android and PC.

Limited-time sale: Save on small-but-mighty Anker MagGo 3-in-1 travel charger

You can save big on an Anker MagGo charger for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. It folds up tiny so you can bring it anywhere.

Smartish Wallflower combines iPhone finger loop, suction mount and kickstand

The clever gadget magnetically attaches to your iPhone, where it’s ready to do three important jobs.

iPhone 17 Pro leaks --- with special guest, Stephen Hackett [CultCast #710]

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Stephen Hackett joins Leander and Griffin to talk all about a big week of iPhone 17 Pro leaks.

‘Invasion’ season 3: Now the real war starts [Apple TV+ trailer]

"Invasion" season 3 approaches. Apple TV+ adds a full trailer to its previous teasers. Looks like the ultimate battle to save humanity looms.

Today in Apple history: Beginning of the end for clone Macs

On August 5, 1997, Apple got into a standoff with Power Computing, marking the beginning of the end of the Mac clone era.

A message from I Hate It Here

The free newsletter making HR less lonely

The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.

Tweets of the day

Wallpaper of the day

One more thing ...

❝

Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do. That's true for companies, and it's true for products.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

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