Taken from PCWorld Magazine, April 2012 Edition

Not all Web browsers are created equal. Some are faster, some are more versatile, others are especially secure. We tested six leading browsers to learn where each one excels… and fails.

Everyone needs a Web browser, but with so many different ones available, deciding which one is best for you can be hard. Are you looking for something blazing fast? Or is strong security your top priority? Or do you need  lots and lots of add-ons?  Here is how the browsers stack up.

1st Place – Google Chrome – 4 1/2 stars
Chrome wins our top spot thanks to its ease of use, numerous extensions and add-ons, and superb performance. It may not be perfect for everyone, but Chrome is a well-rounded browser that should meet most people’s needs. It lets you close slow or frozen pages without restarting the browser, and its sandbox design helps prevent malware infections.

2nd Place – Mozilla Firefox – 4 stars
The new design has removed the bulky toolbar and replaced it with a row of tabs, and the bookmark bar is hidden by default. It’s biggest advantage over its rivals is its vast library of add-ons, which you can use to customize your browsing and make it more useful.  Be careful, however, as too many add-ons can slow the software down.

3rd Place – Facebook RockMelt – 4 stars
This browser if built on Googles Chromium browser framework, so it looks and acts a lot like Chrome. It is designed to appeal to social media fanatics, making communicating with Facebook friends easier. Pages load quite quickly, but extensions and add-ons are relatively scarce.

4th Place – Internet Explorer – 3 1/2 stars
IE has long lagged behind other browsers in features and ease of use. But the latest version offers a few functions that are at least as good as what the competition offers. Especially noteworthy are some great new privacy features, the ability to scan downloads and built-in cross-site script protection.

5th Place – Opera – 3 Stars
For internet users who prize speed above everything else, Opera should be the browser of choice. The interface looks like a polished version of Internet Explorer 9. It is not HTLM5 friendly, and there are fewer security options and add-ons than other browsers offer.

6th Place – Safari – 3 Stars
It is an adequate and fairly intuitive browser, but you can do better, especially if you use a Windows machine. It did not score well on any of the speed tests, and though its security has always been top-notch, organizing Safari can be troublesome. It plods through pages built with HTML5 and JavaScript.