Which Browser Uses the Least Memory in 2025?

Web browsers are now every bit as demanding as desktop applications. Running several tabs and web apps at once can quickly fill up your device’s RAM, from lightweight Chromebooks to gaming rigs with plenty of headroom.

So it’s good to know which browser uses the least memory, as it helps you maintain performance and avoid slowdowns, particularly on older or low‑spec machines. This guide provides a fresh look at 2025’s memory‑efficient browsers, explains why some browsers consume more RAM, and walks you through the factors to consider when picking a browser for your needs.

Why Browsers Use So Much Memory

A modern browser is much more than a window for viewing websites. Underneath the simple interface are multiple processes that handle everything from rendering graphics to running extensions. These hidden tasks explain which browser uses the least memory and why differences exist between them.

Browsers rely on a multi‑process architecture that splits key tasks into separate threads. Each of these threads occupies its own share of RAM. The busier your browsing session becomes, the more threads the browser creates.

• Tab managers: Each open tab runs as its own process. This isolation improves stability but also increases memory consumption.
• Renderer engines: The engine draws images, videos, HTML, and CSS. Engines like Blink and Gecko allocate memory differently, which impacts overall consumption.
• Extensions and plug‑ins: Add-ons can enhance productivity, block ads, or sync passwords. Every plug‑in you enable adds a small process that stays resident in memory.
• Background services: Notifications, automatic updates, and crash handlers run quietly in the background and reserve memory to keep your browsing seamless.

Left unchecked, these processes can slow down your device. By understanding these moving parts, you can better appreciate why some browsers are leaner than others, and you will be ready to assess the criteria that matter to you.

Criteria For Choosing a Low‑Memory Browser

With so many lightweight browsers, it’s obvious that not all of them offer the same features. So, to answer which browser uses the least memory, consider how these factors affect your experience.

Choosing a browser isn’t just about headline memory figures. You want a good balance between efficiency, usability, and security. A few key points help you decide:

• Tab management features: Functions such as Sleeping Tabs, tab hibernation, or tab grouping suspend unused pages so the browser can free up memory without closing them.
• Privacy and security tools: Built‑in ad blockers, VPNs, and tracker‑blockers reduce the need for external extensions, which keeps your browser lean.
• Extension support: A large extension ecosystem lets you add only what you need. Too many extensions can negate memory savings.
• Device compatibility: Some browsers are optimised for Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android. Pick one that works efficiently on your primary platform.
• CPU and RAM demands: The lightest RAM usage isn’t always the lightest CPU usage. A balanced browser manages both without slowing the rest of your system.

Keep these points in mind as you read through the comparison table below. Doing so will help you narrow down which browser uses the least memory while still meeting your particular requirements.

Browser RAM Usage Comparison 2025

Before looking into each browser, here’s a high‑level view of memory usage with 10 tabs open. This table also highlights a key feature that helps each browser conserve memory.

This snapshot shows why Edge often appears at the top of articles asking which browser uses the least memory. The next sections take a closer look at each browser, outlining strengths, weaknesses, and a few quirks that help you decide.

Best Browsers For Low Memory Usage

For the results mentioned in the table earlier and the analysis below, we used clean installs with no extensions and 10 everyday tabs (mail, docs, video, social, news, shopping, a forum thread, a web chart, a PDF, and a blank tab). Your result will shift with extensions, OS, and how many tabs you park, but the gaps between browsers tend to stay similar. Keep in mind that lower RAM isn’t automatically better, some engines spend a bit more to isolate tabs and avoid crashes, so weigh stability and features alongside the numbers.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge consistently sits at the top of memory‑efficient browsers. Built on Chromium, it benefits from the same familiarity as Chrome yet offers better memory discipline. Sleeping Tabs automatically puts idle tabs to sleep after a set time, so they stop consuming resources. Efficiency Mode goes further by reducing CPU consumption and lowering battery drain when your laptop is unplugged. With about 790 MB of RAM needed for 10 open tabs, Edge demonstrates why many users consider it the answer to which browser uses the least memory. Its integration with Windows services makes it a solid default for PC users, although extension options are more limited than Chrome’s. Edge’s blend of speed and lean memory footprint makes it a reliable choice for everyday browsing.

Opera

Opera has been a favourite for low‑spec devices for years. It still performs well today thanks to its battery saver and built‑in VPN, which eliminate the need for third‑party add‑ons. Opera uses roughly 899 MB with 10 tabs open, making it a strong contender for anyone trying to decide which browser uses the least memory. The interface includes a sidebar for quick access to messaging apps and a handy workspaces feature for organising tabs by project. Despite these extras, Opera remains light enough for older desktops and laptops. It lacks the massive extension library of Chrome, but most basic tools are covered. If you like added features and a smooth performance on low‑end hardware, Opera is worth a look.

Brave

Brave is designed around privacy and performance. It automatically blocks ads, trackers, and cross‑site cookies, removing the need for extra extensions. This approach not only protects your data but also cuts down on resource usage. Brave takes about 920 MB of RAM with 10 tabs. The browser includes its own rewards system where you can earn tokens for viewing privacy‑friendly ads. It even offers an optional built‑in VPN for multiple devices. If you value privacy as much as speed, Brave balances both. Although it doesn’t always top the charts in which browser uses the least memory, its combination of low usage and powerful privacy features makes it a smart option.

Chromium / Vivaldi

Chromium forms the backbone of many browsers, including Edge, Opera, and Google Chrome. Running the base version offers a glimpse of what makes this engine so popular. Out of the box, Chromium consumes about 930 MB of RAM with 10 tabs. However, Vivaldi (a browser built on Chromium) adds a layer of customisation that helps users reduce memory use. Vivaldi’s tab stacking lets you group related tabs into stacks, keeping the interface tidy and decreasing memory demands. You can also hibernate tabs not in use. This flexibility makes it the answer to which browser uses the least memory for power users who like to tailor every aspect of their browser. The trade‑off is a steeper learning curve, but once configured, Vivaldi delivers an efficient and personalised browsing experience.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox has long been praised for its commitment to privacy, and its Quantum engine has improved memory and CPU efficiency. With about 960 MB of RAM used for 10 tabs, it isn’t the lightest browser on paper. Yet tests involving 20 or more tabs show that Firefox sometimes outperforms Chromium‑based competitors by a wide margin; in heavy tab sessions, it can use half as much memory as Chrome. Firefox allocates memory per tab and automatically reduces usage when resources are tight. Its extension library, while smaller than Chrome’s, still covers most needs. For users wanting a balance between memory, privacy, and open‑source philosophy, Firefox remains a strong choice.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome remains the most popular browser worldwide thanks to its speed, security features, and unrivalled extension ecosystem. However, its memory demands are the highest among mainstream browsers, roughly 1 GB for 10 tabs. Users who leave dozens of tabs open may find Chrome saturates RAM quickly, pushing the question of which browser uses the least memory firmly into focus. Chrome’s heavy usage stems from its multi‑process architecture and the sheer number of third‑party add‑ons available. You can mitigate some of this by adjusting settings or toggling Chrome Hardware Acceleration. If your workflow depends on specialised extensions and you have enough RAM, Chrome is still a comfortable choice. Otherwise, it may be sensible to try lighter alternatives.

Safari

Safari is Apple’s in‑house browser for macOS and iOS. It uses around 1.2 GB of RAM for 10 tabs on a Mac. While this figure looks high, Safari is deeply optimised for Apple hardware. Features like intelligent tab management and energy efficiency mean Safari uses less CPU time and battery than Chrome on MacBooks. Moreover, Safari integrates well with iCloud Keychain, Handoff, and other services. The downside is that it isn’t available outside Apple’s ecosystem. For Mac users concerned about which browser uses the least memory, Safari isn’t the absolute winner, but its overall efficiency and smooth integration do make it a strong option.

Best Browsers For Low‑End PCs and Specific Use Cases

Some readers need a browser that performs acceptably on a machine with 4 GB of RAM or less. Others browse on phones or tablets with limited resources. This section helps you choose the right browser for these scenarios.

Lightweight browsers such as K‑Meleon, UR Browser, Midori, SeaMonkey, and Lynx remain popular for very old hardware. K‑Meleon uses the Gecko engine and can run with just 20 MB per tab. UR Browser strips away ads and trackers by default and even offers a macOS version, which is rare for ultra‑light browsers. Midori spans Windows, Linux, and Android, with plans for Mac; it combines customisable elements with low RAM use. SeaMonkey, built on the Mozilla codebase, removes heavy features to run smoothly on machines with as little as 1 GB of RAM. Lynx is text‑only, which makes it incredibly light for command‑line fans, though not practical for everyone.

On smartphones and tablets, the answer to which browser uses the least memory can differ. Brave stands out on Android because its ad blocking reduces RAM and CPU demands, saving battery and data. Firefox Focus takes a minimalistic approach; it deletes history after each session and lacks tabs, resulting in very low memory usage. Opera Mini compresses web pages and is ideal for low‑speed networks or devices with 1 GB of RAM.

Mac users often ask if Safari or a cross‑platform alternative is better. Safari’s optimisation for macOS makes it efficient despite higher RAM numbers. For those who want a Chromium‑based option without the baggage, Brave and Firefox perform well on Apple silicon chips and deliver good memory performance.

For traders, live charts, depth‑of‑market widgets, and news feeds can keep dozens of tabs busy. Choose a lean, stable browser for long sessions, like Edge for Sleeping Tabs/Efficiency Mode, Brave for built‑in tracker blocking on charting sites, or Firefox for steady performance with many tabs. If a brokerage add‑on or any other requirement forces a Chrome‑based setup, run your platform on Chrome remote desktop and  a Forex VPS so the heavy lifting lives off your laptop while your browser stays light.

Each of these use cases shows that the question of which browser uses the least memory absolutely depends on device capabilities. In the next section, we’ll map common user types to suitable browsers to make your decision easier.

How to Choose the Right Browser for You

Different users have different needs. Memory usage is just one piece of the puzzle. To help you decide which browser fits your workflow, this section matches user profiles with browsers that balance memory usage, privacy, and functionality.

• Low‑RAM devices: If your computer has 4 GB or less of memory, Microsoft Edge and Opera are good mainstream options. They keep memory use reasonable while providing a full browsing experience. For very old PCs, consider K‑Meleon or Midori.
• Privacy advocates: Brave and Firefox offer strong privacy without relying on heavy add‑ons. Brave blocks ads and trackers by default. Firefox has a strict anti‑tracking policy and allocates RAM intelligently.
• Power users and multitaskers: Vivaldi allows you to stack tabs and hibernate them, keeping RAM usage under control while managing dozens of pages. Its customisable interface can be tailored to your workflow.
• Remote‑desktop users: If you frequently access cloud machines or remote desktops for work, you’ll appreciate the flexibility of Chrome’s remote‑desktop tools. Our article on Chrome Remote Desktop: All You Need to Know shows how to set up a secure connection without overloading your local machine.
• Extension lovers: If your work depends on a specific extension ecosystem, Google Chrome still leads the pack. However, keep memory usage in mind and regularly prune unnecessary add‑ons.

Once you determine which profile fits you, it’s easier to answer which browser uses the least memory for your situation. For projects that demand more than casual surfing, such as data-heavy applications or complete development stacks, Cloudzy’s high-performance VPS plans provide an affordable way to add computing muscle. Offloading intensive tasks to a remote virtual machine keeps local RAM free, delivers a clean sandbox for browser testing, and pairs NVMe storage with 10 Gbps networking so build pipelines and large datasets move quickly. Backed by AMD EPYC processors and DDR4 memory, every instance offers consistent speed and low latency, making coding, compilation, or GPU-assisted rendering smooth from any device, anywhere.

Closing thoughts

With computing needs growing, so does the importance of choosing a browser that performs well on limited resources. While Microsoft Edge currently leads the pack for minimal memory consumption, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari each have their own strengths. Some excel at privacy, others at flexibility or integration with a particular ecosystem. Deciding which browser uses the least memory depends on your device, your habits, and the features you value most. Try a few options, be mindful of extensions and background processes, and don’t hesitate to test browsers on a cloud server using Cloudzy’s high‑performance VPS solutions to keep your local machine running smoothly.

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