Edge, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, Coc Coc: same Chromium engine, what differs

Open the "About" page of almost any browser that is not Firefox or Safari and you will find the word Chromium. Chromium is the open-source project Google builds Chrome from. Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, Coc Coc, Samsung Internet and dozens of others take that code, add their own features, remove some of Google's, and ship it under their own name.

So websites look and behave the same in all of them. What actually differs is everything around the engine. This post compares the popular ones for normal users.

What they all share

Because they share the Chromium engine:

• Websites render the same way. If a site works in Chrome, it almost always works in the others.

• Most Chrome Web Store extensions install and run in them.

• They inherit Chrome's Manifest V3 extension rules, which limit some ad blockers. Browsers with their own built-in blocking (Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) are less affected because their blocking is not an extension.

• They share most security bugs. When Google fixes a serious Chromium vulnerability, every browser built on it needs to ship that fix too.

That last point is the most important one for safety.

Security updates: how fast does the fix arrive?

Chrome releases a new major version roughly every four weeks, with security updates in between. Other Chromium browsers must merge each fix into their own code, test it and release it. Big, well-funded vendors usually do this within days. Smaller projects can lag behind.

How to check: open the browser's About page and compare its Chromium version with the current stable Chrome version listed on the Chrome Releases blog. If your browser is often several versions behind, that is a warning sign.

The browsers, one by one

Microsoft Edge

Built into Windows and also available on Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

• Strengths: excellent performance and efficiency on Windows; sleeping tabs and efficiency mode to save memory and battery; vertical tabs; a built-in PDF reader with annotations; Internet Explorer mode for old company web apps; strong management tools for IT departments.

• Things to know: tightly linked to a Microsoft account, Bing and Copilot. It shows news, shopping and AI features that some people find noisy; most can be turned off in settings.

Good for: Windows users, companies using Microsoft 365, anyone who needs legacy IE-only sites.

Opera and Opera GX

• Strengths: a sidebar with messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger and others), a free built-in "VPN" that is really a browser proxy (it covers browser traffic only, not other apps), built-in ad blocking and an AI assistant called Aria. Opera GX is a gaming-themed version with limits for how much CPU, memory and network the browser may use while you play.

• Things to know: lots of features enabled by default, and a business model built on search deals and partnerships. Review the privacy settings after installing.

Good for: people who want messaging and extras in one window; gamers who want the GX resource limits.

Brave

• Strengths: Brave Shields blocks ads and trackers by default, built into the browser rather than as an extension, so Manifest V3 limits do not apply to it. Private windows with Tor are built in. Brave Search is the default search engine in many regions.

• Things to know: Brave has an optional rewards system with its own cryptocurrency token and privacy-preserving ads; you can ignore or disable it. Aggressive blocking occasionally breaks a site; you can lower Shields for that site with one click.

Good for: people who want strong ad and tracker blocking with zero setup.

Vivaldi

• Strengths: the most customisable of the group: tab stacking and tiling, keyboard shortcut editing, mouse gestures, built-in mail, calendar and feed reader, and a built-in tracker and ad blocker. Vivaldi says it does not track users.

• Things to know: the number of options can feel overwhelming at first.

Good for: power users who live in the browser all day.

Coc Coc

Coc Coc is a browser and search company based in Vietnam, and its browser is one of the most used in the country.

• Strengths: built for Vietnamese users, with Vietnamese language tools such as typing and spelling helpers, a built-in button for downloading media from many websites, and local search and content.

• Things to know: its main market and support are Vietnam-focused. As with any browser, check the privacy settings and how quickly it ships Chromium security updates, and remember that downloading media may break a website's terms or copyright.

Good for: Vietnamese users who want local language features built in.

Samsung Internet

The default browser on Samsung phones, also available on other Android devices. It offers content blockers, a secret mode and good integration with Samsung features. Good for Samsung phone users who prefer not to install another browser.

Comparison table

Switching between Chromium browsers is easy

Because they share a base, moving from one Chromium browser to another is usually painless:

• Import on first run: all of them offer to import bookmarks, saved passwords, history and open tabs from Chrome or another installed browser. Do this before uninstalling the old one.

• Extensions: install them again from the Chrome Web Store (or the browser's own store). Your extension settings usually do not transfer, so export them first if the extension has an export option, for example a password manager or an ad blocker's custom filters.

• Passwords: if you use a separate password manager, nothing changes. If you used the browser's built-in password manager, import them, then delete them from the old browser so you do not keep two copies.

• Sync on phones: if you switch on desktop, install the same browser on your phone and sign in so bookmarks and passwords follow you.

One caution: importing copies saved passwords to a new place. On a shared or work computer, check what you are importing and who else can sign in to that browser profile.

How to choose

1. Start with what you need built in: ad blocking, messaging, customisation, Windows integration or local language tools.

2. Check update speed: compare the Chromium version in About with current Chrome.

3. Review privacy settings right after installing: turn off what you do not want, such as personalised news, shopping suggestions or telemetry.

4. Install only the extensions you need: the same extension security rules apply as in Chrome.

5. Do not run five browsers: each one is another app to keep updated.

Key takeaways

• Chromium browsers share an engine, so websites and most extensions behave the same.

• The real differences are built-in features, data collection and the business model.

• Security fixes must be merged by each vendor, so check how quickly yours updates.

• Brave, Opera and Vivaldi block ads natively, which avoids Chrome's extension limits.

References

• The Chromium Projects

• Chrome Releases blog

• Microsoft Edge features

• Brave Shields

• Opera GX

• Vivaldi privacy

• Coc Coc browser