Sustainable Substitutes for Safari

Safari is the build-in Web Browser in Apple’s Operating Systems MacOS and iOS.

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Reasons to avoid Safari

Avoid Safari due to Apples' assaults on web standards that threaten the open web. Apple actively hinders websites to be installed as web apps.

While Safari is probably better for your privacy than Google’s Chrome, it comes with too many downsides. Go with ethical alternatives instead.

Sustainable Alternatives

Here are some sustainable alternatives for Safari

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Firefox

Firefox is a popular open-source web browser developed by Mozilla.

Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks third-party trackers and fingerprinting scripts by default, especially in Private Browsing Mode and Strict mode.Source: Firefox blocks fingerprinting
Firefox is fully open-source, allowing for community audits, contributions, and transparency in its development.Source: Github Repo
Firefox does not allow third-party trackers in its default browsing experience.Source: Third-party cookies and Firefox tracking protection
Firefox’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption, making it more efficient for users on limited data plans or battery-powered devices, especially when combined with the uBlock Origin Plugin.
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Vivaldi

Vivaldi is a highly customisable ad- and AI-free web browser based on Chromium.

Vivaldi is mostly ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Vivaldi blocks ads and trackers by default, with a privacy dashboard for visibility into blocked content.Source: Fighting for a better web
Vivaldi’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data usage and saves energy. Additional energy is saved by avoiding AI bloat in its browser.
By default Vivaldi does not allow third-party cookies.
Vivaldi Technologies is based in Norway.
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Brave

Brave is a privacy-focused web browser based on Chromium.

Brave is ad-free by default, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Brave blocks ads, trackers, and third-party cookies by default, reducing exposure to online tracking and fingerprinting.
Brave does not use third-party trackers or allow external parties to collect user data.
Brave’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption, making it more efficient for users on limited data plans or battery-powered devices.
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LibreWolf

LibreWolf is a fork of Firefox, with enhanced security and privacy settings.

LibreWolf is mostly ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.Source: LibreWolf Features
LibreWolf blocks trackers, ads, and fingerprinting by default, with enhanced protections like uBlock Origin pre-installed and stricter privacy settings.Source: LibreWolf Features
LibreWolf is fully open-source, allowing for community audits, contributions, and transparency in its development.Source: Codeberg Repos
LibreWolf does not allow third-party cookies or share user data with external parties.Source: LibreWolf Features
LibreWolfs’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption. The decision to avoid AI bloat in its browser saves even more resources.
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Mullvad Browser

Mullvad Browser is privacy-focused with Tor Project Collaboration.

Mullvad Browser blocks trackers, ads, and fingerprinting by default, with pre-installed uBlock Origin.
Mullvad Browser removes most ads and sponsored content, ensuring a clean and distraction-free browsing experience.
Mullvad Browser does not allow third-party trackers or share user data with external parties.
Mullvad’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption, making it more efficient for users on limited data plans or battery-powered devices.
Mullvad is a based in Sweden.
Website

The 6 main issues with Safari

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Safari is developed by Apple, one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and pricey products. NPR: How 5 Tech Giants Have Become More Like Governments Than Companies (2017)

Monopoly - Market dominance that stifles competition and limits user choice.

Apple uses its control over iOS to limit choices for browser engines and adoption of Progressive Web Apps in order to undermine competition and enforce App Store sales. Source: Alex Russell: Browser Choice Must Matter (2021-2025)

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Apple has made misleading claims about its goals to allow competition. One example: Apple claimed it had no choice but to kill Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in order to comply with letting other Browser engines install PWAs. This claim is a decoy, in truth Apple is happy to slow down adoption of PWAs, because it secures App Store sales. Source: Open Web Advocacy: It’s Official, Apple Kills Web Apps in the EU (2024)

Tax Avoidance - Aggressive strategies are being deployed to avoid paying taxes.

Apple is trying to avoid paying any taxes in the EU. In 2024 it has been fined 13 Billion Euros for illegal tax arrangements with Ireland Source: Wikipedia: Apple's EU tax dispute (2024)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Apple is financing Donald Trumps plans to create a new ballroom in the white house, hoping to benefit from upcoming laws. Apple CEO Tim Cook donated $1 Million to Trumps inauguration fund.Sources: OpenSecrets: Trump ballroom donors poised to benefit from AI plan they helped shape (2026), Gizmodo: Tim Cook Is Latest Tech Exec to Kiss the Ring, Gives Trump’s Inauguration $1 Million (2025)

Misinformation / Manipulation - Spread of false or misleading information, often through algorithmic amplification, which can harm public discourse and trust.

Apple seems to put the most resistance out of all Big Tech companies against Trumps demands to ban scientific findings, especially on topics like gender, elections, vaccines or diversity. Reports say its training guidelines for AI models have been updated to comply though. Sources: The Mac Observer: Apple Accused of Changing AI Guidelines After Trump’s Election (2025)