Why I Switched Back to Safari (But Still Use Brave)

TL;DR: I switched back to Safari for everyday browsing, but I still use Brave for YouTube. Sometimes, two browsers are better than one.

Hey folks!

I'm an Apple user, and you know how it goes. Once you start using Apple products, you somehow end up using more of them.

But there was always one exception for me: Safari.

When I first got my iPhone 6s, Safari was the first browser I used. After a while, I explored Chrome and Firefox before eventually settling on Brave.

I was happy with Brave for years.

So, why did I suddenly give Safari another chance?

An Apple Advertisement Caught My Attention

Recently, I watched an Apple advertisement about Safari.

What caught my attention wasn't a brand-new browser feature or a technical benchmark.

It was the way the advertisement highlighted annoying pop-ups and intrusive advertisements.

We've all experienced those moments when we're trying to read something online and an advertisement gets in the way.

I've encountered that kind of interruption while browsing, particularly with Chrome.

Of course, Safari doesn't block every advertisement by default. Regular banner ads and video ads still appear, and Chrome also has pop-up blocking capabilities.

But the advertisement made me think about something beyond advertisements: online tracking.

Why I Used Brave

One of the main reasons I chose Brave was Brave Shields.

It's a built-in feature that blocks many advertisements and trackers without requiring additional extensions.

And honestly, I particularly appreciate it when watching YouTube.

I understand that advertisements are important for businesses and content creators.

But do I really need to watch the same laundry detergent advertisement several times a day?

Probably not. 😂

That's why Brave became my default browser.

However, the Safari advertisement reminded me that blocking advertisements and protecting personal information aren't exactly the same thing.

Privacy Is More Than Removing Advertisements

Imagine your friend sends you a link to book a flight ticket.

You open it, check a few prices, and leave.

Later, you notice travel-related advertisements appearing elsewhere.

This doesn't automatically prove that the original website tracked you. But websites and advertising services can use different techniques to collect information about browsing activity.

These include:

• Cookies
• Tracking parameters in URLs
• Browser-related information
• Scripts used for analytics and advertising

Safari includes Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which is designed to limit certain forms of cross-site tracking.

This isn't a newly introduced feature, and it doesn't guarantee anonymity or eliminate every form of tracking.

I'm also not suggesting Safari is more private than Brave in every situation.

The point is simpler: our browsers handle a lot of our everyday online activity, so privacy is worth paying attention to.

What Actually Made Me Stay With Safari

I've been using Safari again for a while now.

And the thing I appreciate most isn't even a complicated privacy feature.

It's how smoothly saved passwords and passkeys work with my Apple devices.

When I open a website and need to sign in, the experience feels seamless.

That's something I value in a browser I use every day.

But does that mean I've abandoned Brave?

Nope.

I still use Brave for YouTube because I prefer its ad-blocking experience.

My current setup looks like this:

Nothing complicated.

I Don't Need One Browser for Everything

As a software engineer, I spend a lot of time working with different technologies.

But when it comes to everyday tools, I don't always need the most technical solution.

I just want something that works well for me.

Safari fits nicely into the Apple devices I already use. Brave still offers an experience I prefer for watching YouTube.

I didn't switch because I suddenly became more loyal to Apple.

I switched because an advertisement reminded me to revisit something I'd ignored for years.

And after trying it again, I found that Safari suits my daily browsing better than I expected.

Sometimes, it's worth giving an old tool another chance.

You might discover that your preferences have changed.

Originally published on here