Pick Tabula if
Your work spans several sites and you want them side by side on one canvas instead of in tabs.
The catch. It runs on macOS only, it is closed source, and it is newer than everything else here.
Tabula vs Safari
Tabula is best for seeing many sites at once. Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices.
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.
Tabula vs Safari, feature by feature
| Tabula | Safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium | WebKit |
| Vertical tabs | On by default | No |
| Sites on screen at once | As many as you arrange, on a canvas | One per window |
| Separate workspaces | Zones — two free, unlimited on the paid plan | Profiles and Tab Groups |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Built in, ads and trackers | Trackers, not ads |
| Extensions | Chrome Web Store | Safari extensions |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS, iPhone, iPad |
| Open source | No | No (WebKit is) |
| Price | Free; $9.99/month for unlimited zones | Free |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Tabula better than Safari?
Neither wins everywhere. Tabula is best for seeing many sites at once; Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices. Pick Tabula if your work spans several sites and you want them side by side on one canvas instead of in tabs. Pick Safari if you want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud.
Do Tabula and Safari block ads?
Tabula: Built in, ads and trackers. Safari: Trackers, not ads.
Which extensions do Tabula and Safari run?
Tabula: Chrome Web Store. Safari: Safari extensions.
Where do Tabula and Safari run?
Tabula: macOS. Safari: macOS, iPhone, iPad.
Are Tabula and Safari free?
Tabula: Free; $9.99/month for unlimited zones. Safari: Free.