Which Browser Uses the Least RAM in 2026? Real Tests, Real Results
Let’s be real, RAM usage sounds like a single thing you can pin down. But it isn’t that simple.
A browser might use less RAM at idle (just sitting there with a couple tabs). But once you open 10 or 20 tabs, the picture changes. Sometimes a browser that starts small ends up bigger once stuff loads.
So when we talk about RAM, we’re usually referring to memory consumption under typical real world use (multiple tabs, real sites, background tasks, etc.). That’s the number that matters for most of us.
The tests we’ve got from recent comparisons in 2025 use setups like 10 tabs of browsing and real website loads, not fake numbers
Big browsers and how they really stack up
I’ll start with the ones you’ve probably heard of.
Microsoft Edge
Here’s the surprising thing. Edge often comes out lowest or one of the lowest among mainstream browsers when you measure multiple real tabs open.
Edge has this “sleeping tabs” feature that automatically freezes tabs you aren’t actively using so they don’t hog memory. That’s a big deal for people with limited RAM or lots of tabs.
It’s especially strong on Windows machines, where it’s tightly integrated with the system.
👉 Best for: Windows laptops, people who open lots of tabs and want smooth performance without tweaking settings.
Real numbers (example)
With about 10 tabs open, Edge runs around 700-800MB of RAM in tests.
That’s honestly impressive. On low end systems or older PCs, Edge may feel snappier than Chrome or Firefox.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is the oddball here. It’s not Chromium-based, so it behaves differently, and in many tests it uses slightly more memory than Edge at first but tends to scale better as you add more tabs.
Some tests actually show Firefox using the least RAM overall once you consider the way it manages multiple tabs with its own engine.
But this depends a lot on how you use extensions.
A real-world story:
My friend works with 30 tabs open all day (docs, Gmail, Slack, Twitter). On Firefox, her system barely blinked. On Chrome she saw RAM spike constantly. On Edge she saw moderate use. That lines up with the more efficient multiprocess management that Firefox uses.
👉 Best for: people with moderate to heavy tab use, and those who value privacy too.
Google Chrome
Chrome is everywhere. You probably know folks who complain it “eats RAM.”
And yeah, it does use more memory than Edge or Firefox in most side-by-side comparisons.
Why? Chrome uses a separate process for each tab and extension. That’s great for stability (one tab crashing doesn’t take down the whole browser) but not great for RAM.
Despite lots of improvements over the years, it’s still at the heavier end in real tests.
👉 Best for: people deeply tied into Google’s ecosystem or using lots of Chrome-only extensions.
Brave and Opera
These are both Chromium-based too, so they sit between Chrome and Edge in memory usage.
Brave blocks ads and trackers by default, which can cut down on RAM used for loading heavy ads and scripts.
Opera has some smart battery-saving features that also cut memory usage.
But neither consistently beats Edge or Firefox on RAM. They’re good, just not lowest.
👉 Best for: privacy fans (Brave) or folks who want built in tools (Opera).
Safari (on Mac)
If you’re on a Mac, Safari is very memory-efficient compared to most browsers because Apple tunes it tight with macOS.
But it’s not available on Windows or Linux, so unless you’re on Apple hardware it isn’t an option.
👉 Best for: anyone deep in the Apple ecosystem.
What about ultra-lightweight browsers?
Here’s where things get interesting.
There are browsers like K-Meleon, Pale Moon, Midori, Dillo, and others that use tiny amounts of RAM in testing.
For example, K-Meleon can run in under 100MB of RAM in idle tests, and Dillo can run in single-digit megabytes.
But here’s the thing …
You’ll trade off things most people expect from a modern browser:
- Good rendering of complex modern websites
- Extensions
- Syncing across devices
- Stable JavaScript performance
So those are only a sensible choice if you really just need basic browsing on an old PC, not if you’re Facebooking, Gmailing, or watching videos.
👉 Best for: super old hardware or very basic browsing.
A simple way to choose based on your situation
Here’s a practical grid you can use:
You care about everyday browsing, many tabs, and low memory
→ Go with Microsoft Edge.
You have moderately heavy tab use and want privacy with decent memory
→ Try Firefox.
You use lots of extensions and Google stuff
→ Chrome is okay but expect higher RAM.
You want built-in ad blocking or tools
→ Brave or Opera are mid-range.
You want the lowest possible RAM and don’t need modern web features
→ Try K-Meleon, Pale Moon, or Dillo. (Just don’t expect Netflix or Gmail to always work right.)
Tip: Try more than one. Open your usual 5–10 tabs and look at your system monitor. It’s immediate feedback.
What the research actually shows
Here’s a quick snapshot from recent 2025 tests:
- Edge: ~790MB with 10 tabs.
- Opera: ~899MB.
- Brave: ~920MB.
- Chrome: ~1000MB or more.
- Firefox: ~960MB but scales well.
- Safari (Mac): ~1200MB in some comparisons but super optimized on macOS.
These aren’t perfect numbers, because tests vary, but they paint a real pattern: Edge and Firefox are often the most memory-friendly among mainstream browsers, with Chrome at the heavier end.
What NOT to do
Do NOT assume the browser that uses the least RAM on paper is automatically the fastest or best for you.
More memory usage can mean faster caching, quicker tab switching, and smoother video. Less RAM doesn’t always equal better.
Also don’t judge purely by idle RAM numbers. What matters is how things behave under real usage. That’s where Edge and Firefox show their strength.
Quick action steps you can take today
Ready? Here’s a simple plan you can start with:
- Open your system’s Task Manager or Activity Monitor.
- Open 5 of your most frequent tabs.
- Try Edge and Firefox side by side for 15 minutes.
- Note the RAM each uses under the same workload.
- Pick the one that feels faster and uses less memory.
No guesswork. Real data on your machine.