7 browser features I can’t live without that Chrome doesn’t offer

JuSun/Getty Images

I used Chrome for a very long time on my desktop. Although I still use Google’s browser on my Android device, I migrated away from Chrome on the desktop because I wanted a more modern-looking browser with more customizations and an open-source mindset.

Maybe someday I’ll switch back. 

Also: Why I’m done with Firefox for good – and what I use now

What features would make me consider the switch? While I don’t really see that happening, there are features I firmly believe Chrome needs — and that I’d like to see in the next version.

1. Workspaces

This is a big one. I’ve been using Workspaces since Opera first released the feature, and I cannot imagine using a browser without such a feature. 

Also: Opera Workspaces is tab management perfection

A workspace is a way to silo tabs into categories. You could create a workspace for Productivity, Creativity, Shopping, News, etc. Once you’ve created those workspaces, you can then open tabs associated with each workspace, knowing they will only appear in that tab. This is a great way to stay organized, without having 30 tabs open in a single window. 

When I try a new browser and find out it doesn’t include workspaces, I know right away that I won’t be using that browser for long. (Workspaces are found in browsers like Opera, Zen Browser, Safari, Arc, and more.) If you’ve ever tried Workspaces, you’ll understand why they’ve become a must-have for me.

Workspaces are the future of browser tab management, and I’m always surprised that not every browser has adopted this feature.

Also: It almost pains me to say it, but Microsoft Edge is great on Linux

Current browsers that offer a Workspaces-like feature include Opera, Edge, Vivaldi, Safari, Zen Browser, and Arc.

The browser that implements the feature the best right now is Opera.

2. Native vertical tabs

Nothing is worse than having a Workspaces feature, but then your tabs still open horizontally across the top of the browser. Vertical tabs make it so much easier to recognize what tabs are open and don’t take up precious vertical space within the browser. I’d much rather have more vertical room for my browser than horizontal, because I can read more without having to scroll. 

Also: You need a browser with vertical tabs – here’s why

On top of that, vertical tabs are just easier to manage. There are Chrome add-ons you can install to give you vertical tabs, but Google should really build this into the browser.

Current browsers that offer native vertical tabs include Edge, Vivaldi, Brave, Arc, Zen Browser, and Safari.

The browser that implements vertical tabs the best right now is Edge.

3. Built-in theming

Come on, Google, it’s 2025, and we’re seeing browsers (such as Opera and Zen) that allow users to customize the theme of the browser UI to perfectly fit their personality or needs. I know a lot of people don’t consider this important, but for those who view aesthetics as an important part of the desktop, having a browser that simply doesn’t allow theming seems so late ’90s. 

Also: My top 4 browsers after testing nearly every one

If I’m staring at something all day, I don’t want that thing to have the same old dull-gray theme that it always has. I want to be able to customize it to fit my mood.

Current browsers with a built-in theming feature include Zen Browser, Vivaldi, Arc, and Opera.

The browser that implements theming the best right now is Opera.

4. Improved ad and tracker blocking

Chrome’s ad and tracker blocking just isn’t up to modern standards. I get it, Google makes a lot of money from advertising revenue and doesn’t want to cut its nose off in spite of its face. But it’s not just the rising flood of ads that consumers and users have to deal with, it’s also the danger that lurks within those ads in the form of malicious code. 

I don’t see Google shifting gears on this, but it’s sad to see nearly every browser on the market willing to have our backs with regards to ads and trackers, while the most widely used browser on the market does not.

Also: I thought my favorite browser blocked trackers, but this free privacy tool proved me wrong

Most browsers (sans Chrome) have some level of ad and tracker blocking.

The browser that implements ad and tracker blocking the best right now is Brave.

5. Better memory management

Chrome is one of the fastest browsers on the market. Some browsers, such as Firefox, can’t hold a candle to the speed of Chrome. But although Chrome opens faster than most browsers and renders pages as quickly as any, its memory management leaves something to be desired. 

Keep Chrome open long enough (with several open tabs) and you’ll understand what I mean. I’ve seen desktops come to a streaming halt because Chrome was left running too long, and memory leaks wreaked havoc. 

The browsers with the best memory management include Opera, Safari, Brave, and Edge.

The browser that has the best memory management right now is a toss-up between Opera and Edge.

6. No more data collection and privacy issues

We’ve reached a point where the collection of data should simply not be happening. Consumers and users don’t want any third party keeping tabs on them, simply so the company can send them targeted ads or sell their information to the highest bidder. 

Some browsers get that and have slowed down (or stopped) the collection of data. Chrome…not so much. By default, data collection is enabled, and most users don’t bother to change the settings. I would like to see (at least) the next version of Chrome shipping with data collection disabled by default.

Also: The best secure browsers for privacy in 2025: Expert tested

The browsers that collect the least amount of data include Brave, Opera, Tor, Vivaldi, Mulvad, and Firefox.

The browser that takes the top prize for this category right now is Tor.

7. HTTPS upgrading

Finally, we come to HTTPS upgrading. When you visit a site, the hope is that the site either defaults to HTTPS or allows for a web browser to automatically upgrade HTTP to HTTPS (because it’s more secure). Many browsers (especially those that consider privacy and security an imperative) default to HTTPS upgrading, while others at least include the feature (and make it easy to find). Chrome does not have this feature built in. I’d like to see the next version of Chrome ship with HTTPS upgrading included and enabled by default.

Most browsers offer some form of HTTPS upgrading, but some (like Chrome) do not allow users to enable/disable the feature.

The browser that handles HTTPS upgrading the best right now is Firefox.

Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.