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What’s the best browser for streaming videos?
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Get the most out of your film or TV bingeing sessions by choosing the best browser for streaming. Let’s see which ones are available and why you should use them
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 26 January 2026
Best browsers for streaming videos in HD and 4K
Choosing the best browser for streaming videos in high definition or HD can make a difference to picture quality, playback speed and battery life. With an HD-compatible web browser, you’ll get crystal-clear quality and an all-around better viewing experience.
What are some of the best browsers that support HD movies?
Best browser for streaming on Mac
Safari for macOS users is the default web browser on all MacBooks, iMacs, iPhones and iPads regardless of what operating system they run on.
Best browser for Windows users
Microsoft Edge supports 1080p resolution. 1080p refers to the number of dots or pixels that an image contains – a higher number always guarantees a better picture quality. With this browser, you’ll be able to stream your favourite action movies, addictive box sets or online videos without compromising on image quality.
Best browser for HD monitors
For those with HD monitors, using Edge or Safari will give you an optimal viewing experience when you want to see every single detail of the CGI in the latest blockbuster. If you’re wondering about the ever-popular Google Chrome, although it’s efficient and quick to load, it only streams at 720p – the same is true of Firefox and Opera.
To stream films and TV shows in HD or 4K without interruptions, you’ll also need a fast and reliable broadband connection that can keep up with your browsing activities.
Fastest browsers for streaming videos
Burn through as many episodes from your latest (and greatest?) box set binge with the right desktop browser. Choosing one that will give you fast internet streaming, like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, will keep your entertainment needs topped up.
Google Chrome is one of the fastest browsers around, making it a great choice for streaming. Videos load quickly and play smoothly, so you and the family can sit back and enjoy your next box-set without interruptions.
Microsoft Edge, though, is another contender for the best web browsers with its speedy streaming. Its performance has been known to match or beat the frontrunner, Chrome. Notably, Mozilla Firefox and Opera lag, so stick with either Chrome or Edge on your movie nights, and you won’t be disappointed.
If your browser is set up correctly, but streams still buffer, it may be time to upgrade your broadband. Check your internet speed with our free broadband speed test.
Best browsers for streaming on laptops
The best part of getting a new laptop, regardless of the make and model, is that the battery lasts quite a while when fully charged. Naturally with age and time your battery relies on the charger a lot more. To help keep your battery performing well, you should use a browser that won’t zap the life out of your device when you’re streaming. We’ve ranked the best web browsers to use in order of battery-saving magic.
Edge: it’s available on Windows and brings you good performance, security and privacy. The icon is a blue letter ‘e’ – but it isn’t the same application as Internet Explorer.
Opera: developed by Opera Software, this browser is fast without killing your device’s power – and it doesn’t compromise on performance either.
Firefox: a good browser that has the ability to do what you need it to with little impact on your battery usage.
Chrome: despite its speed and performance, using this for streaming will drain your battery very quickly. It’s a well-known issue.
So which browsers should I really consider?
Now that we’ve talked about the best browsers for streaming in HD, fast-loading browsers or ones that won’t drain your battery, let’s have a closer look at the benefits of different web browsers.
Opera is a safe and secure browser known for protecting its users and their data. It comes with a built-in ad blocker, so you won’t need to use a third-party one. The great thing about the built-in blocker is that it speeds up the load time of all websites, getting you to the sites you love quicker without being bombarded by copious adverts. Opera is available on a number of operating systems, including the popular macOS and Windows. And if gaming is your thing, Opera GX is a special version of the Opera browser specifically for gaming.
The Microsoft Edge browser for Windows users has been dubbed one of the best browsers for Netflix, boasting resolutions of up to 4K. Alongside brilliant viewing quality, Edge is quick, performs well on most sites and has largely replaced its predecessor, Internet Explorer. It comes as standard on all Windows devices and is close (speed wise) to Chrome.
As one of the most popular browsers around, Google Chrome is used on computers, both desktops and laptops, as well as smartphones and tablets. Chrome loads websites quickly, which is great when you’re in a hurry or just a little eager to browse your favourite sites. It’s a top performer when it comes to speed, but that comes at the price of draining your device’s battery too, so keep a charger handy.
The UR browser has a clean and modern interface for users who appreciate simplicity. You can configure the look and feel of your browser when you open it, such as viewing different tabs at the same time, hiding elements of a browser, and also loading the browser within seconds. It’s secure too. It performs HTTPS redirection on sites that require a secure login, such as banks, and it makes several security checks so that you don’t fall for any phishing attacks.
Top tips for better browser streaming
As we’ve explored the benefits of using a good browser for all your online needs, here’s a quick round-up of tips to get the best performance when streaming online:
• Reduce WiFi congestion: Turn off or disconnect other devices that use your home broadband. Too many devices connected can clog the signal, leaving you with slow-performing WiFi.
• Use an Ethernet cable instead of WiFi. You’ll get the best performance if you connect your device this way, especially if you’re going for a big streaming or gaming session. The cable will offer a direct-wired connection from your router to your device, allowing you to stream without any WiFi issues.
• Download videos to avoid buffering. Although streaming on the go is achievable sometimes, you could always download the file onto your playback device or to one of the streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime. You’ll be able to watch the video whenever you want and you won’t have to wait for it to load.
Enhance your streaming experience with our broadband and TV bundles
Even the best browser benefits from fast, reliable broadband. Our broadband and TV bundles bring together your favourite streaming apps and live TV channels in one seamless experience — with Netflix Standard included at no extra cost.
With everything in one place and the reliable performance of Virgin Media broadband, you can enjoy smooth, high-quality streaming across multiple apps, no matter which browser you choose.
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