Safari should be the best browser to use on a Mac. That is what it is optimized for. And in general, that is true on a new Mac.

Safari is Apple’s own browser, built into macOS, and tuned for Apple hardware. It is usually fast, efficient, secure, and easy on battery life. Other browsers may beat Safari on certain tests or certain websites, but Safari is usually the smoothest everyday browser on a newer Mac.

The problem is that this advantage can fade on an older Mac. Safari may still be Apple’s browser, but if the Mac cannot run a newer version of macOS, Safari will fall behind too. That is when compatibility problems begin to show up. Some websites may load poorly, refuse to complete a login, complain that the browser is unsupported, or behave strangely compared with the same website in another browser.

This does not always mean the Mac has a hardware problem. It often means the Mac, macOS, Safari, and the modern web are no longer aging at the same speed.

Safari Is Tied to macOS

One of the biggest differences between Safari and other browsers is that Safari cannot be upgraded independently in the same way. It is limited by the macOS version your Mac can run.

That can be a strength. Safari can be efficient because it is Apple’s own browser and is built into macOS.

But it can also be a weakness on an older Mac. The version of Safari you can use is determined by the version of macOS your Mac can run. If the Mac cannot run a newer version of macOS, it cannot run a newer version of Safari. Over time, that older version of Safari falls behind what modern websites expect.

This is why a Mac from around 2017 can be in an awkward position. It may not feel very old. It may still start up, run email, open documents, and do many ordinary jobs. But if it cannot run a newer version of Safari, the web keeps moving forward while your Mac does not.

Modern Websites Are Built Around Modern Browsers

A lot of websites are no longer simple pages of text and pictures.

Many websites now behave more like apps. They manage logins, check security settings, display live information, play protected video, process payments, and communicate constantly with remote servers.

That means a website may rely on newer browser features that an older version of Safari does not support.

Sometime pages appears to load, but one important part of the site does not work correctly. That is not always a speed problem. Sometimes it is a compatibility problem.

Browsers Are Not All Equal

This is the part that frustrates people.

A website may not work well in Safari, but the same site may work better in one of the other browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Brave. There is no guarantee that all browsers will handle the site the same way.

That does not always mean those browsers are “better” overall. It often means the website was built and tested more heavily around Chrome or Chromium-based browsers.

Safari follows Apple’s approach to privacy, security, and web standards. That can be good for users, but it also means some websites behave differently in Safari than they do in Chrome.

Even on a newer Mac, it is a good idea to keep Firefox and Chrome available for websites that do not function or display properly in Safari.

The reverse is also true. If you usually prefer Chrome, remember to try Safari or Firefox when a website is having a problem.

Later Intel Macs Are in an Awkward Middle Age

This is not just a problem for very old Macs.

Many Intel-based Macs from 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 still look modern and can do a lot of useful work. They may run email, Word, Excel, Photos, Zoom, and most web pages without obvious trouble. But older Macs can sometimes handle many tasks well and still stumble on others, especially when a website or browser expects something newer.

That is what puts these Macs in an awkward position. They are not obsolete in the usual sense. They may still be perfectly useful for many things. But they cannot run a newer version of Safari. At some point, that can turn a perfectly usable Mac into a frustrating web-browsing experience.

A late Intel Mac with 8 GB of memory may also slow down more than it used to, especially with modern websites, webmail, streaming, Zoom, and cloud syncing. Some 27-inch Intel iMacs can be upgraded with more memory, but that is a tough choice to make. Sinking money into an outdated computer is not always a great idea.

Browser Support Matters

Before choosing another browser, make sure you are running the latest version of macOS your Mac can run. This matters for two reasons. Each macOS version has its own version of Safari, and other browsers have their own minimum macOS requirements.

As of this writing, macOS Ventura is an important cutoff point. Chrome and Edge are moving toward requiring macOS Ventura or later for current versions. Firefox currently supports older versions of macOS than Chrome and Edge, which can make it especially useful on some older Macs. Brave is also an option, but because it is based on Chromium, I would not assume it will support older Macs longer than Chrome.

The question is not simply, “How old is the Mac?” The better question is, “What version of macOS can it run, and can it still run any current browsers?” The older your Mac, the more useful it becomes to have at least Chrome and Firefox installed, so you have more than one way to reach websites with newer features.

In broad terms, many 2017 Intel Macs top out around macOS Ventura, while many 2018 and 2019 Intel Macs can go farther. The 2020 Macs are a mixed group because some were Intel and others were Apple silicon. The exact answer depends on the specific Mac model, so it is worth checking before deciding what browser to use or whether it is time to replace your Mac.

Lightening the Load: Clearing Website Data

As you visit one website after another, your browser stores certain data from those visits. This is intended to make your next visit easier and make pages load faster. This data can include cookies, saved preferences, shopping cart information, cached images, fonts, and other pieces of a website.

But stored website data can also cause problems. If a website has changed but your browser is still using old saved data, the page may load incorrectly, buttons may not work, or a login may fail. That is why clearing website data in any browser can help.

Browsers can also run extensions. You may be using one extension to block advertising, another extension to work with your password manager, another to alert you to sales, or others to do dozens of other things. But extensions can also cause problems. If Safari or any browser is increasingly having issues as the computer ages, it makes sense to turn off extensions and clear website data.

With Chrome, you can simply hit “reset settings” under Google Chrome > Settings to take care of this. Safari doesn’t offer this feature, so you need to do it in steps. In Safari settings, you can turn off extensions. Under Privacy > Manage Website Data, you can remove all website data. To clear the caches, go to Settings > Advanced, and turn on Show Features for Web Developers. After that, you can go to the Develop menu and choose Empty Caches.

Use One Browser for One Important Website

You do not have to choose one browser for everything.

This is one of the simplest tricks for keeping an older Mac useful. If Safari works well for most things, keep using Safari. But if one important website works better in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Brave, use that browser for that website.

For example, a bank website may work poorly in Safari but fine in Chrome. A medical portal may behave better in Firefox. A streaming service may prefer Chrome or Edge.

In that situation, do not fight it. Use the browser that works.

You can even make that browser feel almost like a separate app. Set the browser’s home page to the website you care about. Put that browser in the Dock. Then, when you click on the browser icon, it opens directly to that one website.

This can be a good solution when one troublesome website is the main problem. Instead of saying, “Safari is bad,” the better answer may be, “Use Firefox for that medical portal,” or “Use Chrome for that bank.”

That does not fix every problem, but it can make an older Mac much more usable.

Chrome

Google Chrome is an obvious alternative to Safari.

It is widely supported, and many websites are tested against Chrome first. If an important website fails in Safari, Chrome is often the first browser I try.

The downside is that Chrome can be heavy. It can use a lot of memory, especially if you keep many tabs open. On an older Mac, Chrome may solve the website compatibility problem but create a different performance problem.

Still, Chrome is useful to have installed as a backup browser, especially if you are using a Mac that can still run a current version of Chrome.

Firefox

Firefox is often my favorite alternative browser for older Macs.

It is not based on Chrome, which means it gives you a real second option when Safari is acting badly. It also gives users more control over fonts, privacy settings, extensions, and the way pages display. Some folks really love that they have so much control over how pages are displayed.

Firefox also tends to support older versions of macOS longer than Chrome, Brave, and Edge. That can make it especially useful on older Intel Macs.

For someone with an older Mac who wants an alternative to Safari, Firefox is absolutely worth trying.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is based on the same general browser foundation as Chrome. That means it often works well with websites that expect Chrome-like behavior.

Edge can also be useful for people who use Microsoft 365, Outlook, OneDrive, or other Microsoft services, as it is tuned for Microsoft services.

Like Chrome, Edge can use a fair amount of memory, but it is still a practical browser to have available if your Mac can run a current version.

Brave

Brave is another Chromium-based browser.

Its main appeal is built-in ad and tracker blocking. On some older Macs, that can help because ads and trackers are often part of what makes web pages feel slow.

Brave is not for everyone, and some websites may complain about its blocking features. But for ad-heavy sites, it can sometimes make an old Mac feel more usable.

Which Browser Should You Use?

To be candid, most people with an older Mac abandon Safari completely. In general, I agree with that choice. When these same folks buy a new Mac, I have to remind them why they stopped using Safari and give them encouragement to give it another try.

In general, I prefer using Safari because its simpler interface lets me do many things in fewer steps. Since it is also part of the Apple ecosystem, it makes using a Mac easier. But I would not rely on Safari alone, even on a recent Mac.

If Safari is slow or a website does not work properly, install at least one other browser.

Getting an Alternate Browser the Safe Way

When you download a third-party browser, get it from that browser’s official website. Get Chrome from Google, Firefox from Mozilla, Edge from Microsoft, and Brave from Brave. Avoid sites that provide downloads for all sorts of free software, such as CNET or download.com. Those sites are riskier and can lead to unwanted software or malware.

When It May Be Time for a New Mac

A different browser can help, but it cannot perform miracles.

If one website fails in Safari, try Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Brave. If a different browser solves the problem, great.

But if important websites no longer work reliably in any current browser your Mac can run, the Mac’s age may be the issue.

At some point, an older Mac may not have a new enough version of macOS, current enough browsers, enough memory, or enough processor power to handle the modern web comfortably.

That does not mean you have to replace a 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020 Intel Mac immediately. Many of those Macs can still be useful.

But if the Mac cannot run current browsers safely, or if important websites no longer work reliably, it is time to start considering a newer Mac.

The decision is not just about speed. It is also about security and compatibility.

The newer Apple silicon Macs are faster, run cooler, and, if you are using a laptop, have better battery life. Each new macOS delivers more security than the previous one. That means the most secure Mac is running the latest macOS.

If the Mac is used only for casual browsing, you may be able to avoid replacing it for a while longer. If it is used for banking, medical records, business work, taxes, or anything involving private information, an unsupported browser or outdated macOS becomes a bigger concern.

Choosing a Path Forward

If your Mac is slowing down and Safari does not work as well as it used to, you have two choices. You can find ways to keep your older Mac useful, or you can decide that it is time to replace it. A new Apple silicon Mac will be faster and should make Safari feel smooth again.

If you keep your current Mac, make sure it is running the latest version of macOS it can run. Use another browser, use multiple browsers, clear out website data and caches, and turn off extensions.

A new Mac may be the cleanest long-term answer, but these steps may help you get more useful life out of the Mac you already have.