Pick Safari if
You want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud.
The catch. It has no vertical tabs or split view, a smaller extension catalogue, and no Windows version.
Safari vs Orion
Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices. Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension.
Pick Orion if
You want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
The catch. It is Apple-only, it has no split view, and some extensions only partly work.
Safari vs Orion, feature by feature
| Safari | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | WebKit | WebKit |
| Vertical tabs | No | Yes, in the View menu |
| Sites on screen at once | One per window | One per window |
| Separate workspaces | Profiles and Tab Groups | Profiles, each as its own app |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Trackers, not ads | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Safari extensions | Chrome and Firefox extensions |
| Platforms | macOS, iPhone, iPad | macOS, iPhone, iPad |
| Open source | No (WebKit is) | No |
| Price | Free | Free; Orion+ from $5/month |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Safari better than Orion?
Neither wins everywhere. Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices; Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension. Pick Safari if you want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud. Pick Orion if you want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
Do Safari and Orion block ads?
Safari: Trackers, not ads. Orion: Built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Safari and Orion run?
Safari: Safari extensions. Orion: Chrome and Firefox extensions.
Where do Safari and Orion run?
Both run on macOS, iPhone, iPad.
Are Safari and Orion free?
Safari: Free. Orion: Free; Orion+ from $5/month.