In this data visualization I only include desktop web browsers, so no mobile web browsers. So the numbers will be different after 2008, when smartphones took off. Like the previous visualization this one goes back to the first graphical web browser, Mosaic. Before Mosaic most users browsed the web either with a text based web browser such as Lynx or using Nexus which had a graphical interface, which was easier to use.
1993
Mosaic
First graphical web browser, Mosaic brought the web to life with inline images and links.
1994
Netscape Navigator
Launched at $49 with a 90 day trial
1995
Opera
Launched to the public as trialware
Internet Explorer
That same year IE launched as free add-on to Windows 95
1996
Marc Andreessen co-founded both, Mosaic and Netscape
1997
Netscape held 70% of the market but IE being free and part of Windows was gaining fast. This forced Netscape to became freeware.
1998
Microsoft was taken to court for violating antitrust laws
1999
America Online acquired Netscape for $4.2 billion dollars
2000
Microsoft was found guilty and decided to split IE from Windows
2001
IE was the official winner of the first browser war
2002
Firefox Beta launched, originally called Phoenix, then Firebird
2003
Safari 1.0
released by Apple
2004
Firefox 1.0
finally released to the public
2005
Free Opera
Opera browser becomes freeware
2006
IE 7.0
Microsoft reintegrated IE into Windows
2008
Netscape Ends
Netscape Navigator is discontinued after version 9
2008
Chrome 1.0
Google releases Chrome
2009
Mobile Web
Mobile browsers and apps start reducing desktop use
2010
Firefox 3.6
Firefox introduces Personas theme engine with version 3.6
2011
IE 9
Introduced new interface
2012
Chrome overtakes IE
2013
IE 11
Final version of IE
2014
Opera 19
Introduced Workspaces feature to organize tabs
2015
Edge
Microsoft launches Edge to replace IE
2016
Opera 40
Launches with free VPN & battery saver mode
2017
Firefox 55
Included VR capability
2018
Opera 50
Included an anti-Bitcoin mining tool
2019
Firefox 70
Featured Dark Mode & Tracker Blocker
2020
Edge
Microsoft introduced Chromium-based Edge and a new logo.
2021
Chrome
Google begins development of an alternative to cookies to protect user privacy.
What is your favorite desktop browser?
