WhatsApp is the messaging app most of your contacts already use. The phone install is an easy call, while the Windows desktop app is where the real tradeoff sits.
Messenger is Meta's free messaging app for Android and iPhone, with encrypted personal chats. The catch is that no desktop app comes with it anymore.
FaceTime is Apple's free video calling app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, encrypted end to end. The catch is who can call you back, and who can only join.
Wanting Chrome's engine without Google's services is the problem this web browser solves. Chromium's price is manual updates and no Netflix playback.
Private mode in most web browsers still shows every site your IP address. Tor Browser hides it behind volunteer relays, which matters most on watched networks.
Zen Browser is a free, open-source Firefox fork that brings Arc's Workspaces and vertical tabs to web browsers on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Opera Air is Opera's free wellness browser for Windows and macOS, with guided breaks and binaural Boosts sitting in the sidebar. Who it suits, and who gains nothing.
Password manager, VPN, and email alias: normally three extensions. Maxthon bundles them into one browser, from a developer with a China data-sharing history.
Samsung Internet Browser is a Chromium browser for Android and Windows, with real add-on support on the phone and tracking protection that is already on when you open it.
For anyone whose devices are all Apple, Safari is the browser that mostly earns its default spot. For anyone on a Windows PC, there is nothing to install.
One long read on the week's biggest shift, every Sunday.
