The Safari Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Safari in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Safari
The Insider’s Guide
Apple's built-in browser for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Safari’s own pages.
Made by Apple · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05After you payGetting your money back, getting out, and getting help
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Safari’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Safari’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 8 of the 15 other browsers we grade
Safari is the web browser Apple includes with the operating system on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro. It limits cross-site tracking by default with Intelligent Tracking Prevention, organizes tabs into Tab Groups and Profiles, and syncs passwords, bookmarks, history and tabs between a person's Apple devices. Apple no longer offers it for Windows or other non-Apple operating systems.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Safari, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It has no ad blocker, AI or VPN on the list, and a newer Safari only arrives when you update the whole operating system.
- 1
Best for people who live on Apple devices
But it stops at Apple's border: there's no Windows or Android version, so one non-Apple device breaks the chain.
- 2
It is free
Safari has no paid plan at all. Safari is included with the operating system on Apple devices and is listed as free on the App Store. There is no paid tier.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 4
Intelligent Tracking Prevention
On-device intelligence limits cross-site tracking and hides the IP address from known trackers. A Privacy Report lists the trackers stopped on the current site and over the past week.
- 5
Tab Groups and Profiles
Tab Groups save named sets of tabs, sync between devices and can be shared with other people. Profiles keep history, extensions, cookies and favorites separate for topics such as Work and Personal.
- 6
Sync and Handoff
Passwords, bookmarks, history and tabs sync across Mac, iPad and iPhone, and Handoff passes the page being viewed from one nearby device to another.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 8 of 15
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Safari is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Safari at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Apple
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 179,693 ratings
The report card
Best for people who live on Apple devices
Safari comes installed on every Mac, iPhone and iPad, limits cross-site tracking by default and keeps your passwords and tabs in step across your devices, for nothing. But it stops at Apple's border: there's no Windows or Android version, so one non-Apple device breaks the chain. It has no ad blocker, AI or VPN on the list, and a newer Safari only arrives when you update the whole operating system.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, with no paid tier of any kind. It arrives with the operating system on every Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision Pro, so there's nothing to buy, nothing to subscribe to and nothing held back for payers. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright and already installed before you ask: tracking prevention, Tab Groups, Profiles, sync, passkeys and the Reading List are simply there. No account to make, no plan above it. |
| Features | B | The job is covered, plus two things tied to Apple devices: Tab Groups you share with other people, and Handoff passing the page you're reading to the device in your hand. Also a Privacy Report, Profiles, passkeys in iCloud Keychain, Reader and offline reading. No ad blocker, no AI and no VPN on the list, though. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.4 from about 180,000 App Store ratings. It's running the moment the device is, with nothing to install. The catch: a newer Safari only turns up when you update the whole operating system. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One family of devices and no further: Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision Pro, with Handoff between them. Apple says it no longer offers Safari for Windows or any other non-Apple system, so a single PC in the house breaks the chain. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Safari is for
- Fits if you use a Mac, iPhone and iPad together and want your tabs and passwords on all three
- Works for planning things with family, since Tab Groups can be shared
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you own a Windows PC or an Android phone, as Safari is Apple devices only
- Not for you if you want the newest browser without updating your whole operating system
- Watch out: there's no ad blocker, AI or VPN on the feature list
- Tight if you pick text out of images a lot, as Live Text supports seven languages
Good to know
Good for
- People who use a Mac, iPhone and iPad together
- Browsing with tracker protection that is on by default
- Families and groups planning together in shared Tab Groups
Worth knowing
- Safari runs only on Apple devices. Apple says it no longer offers Safari updates for Windows or other non-Apple operating systems.
- New versions arrive with operating system updates, so getting the latest Safari means updating macOS, iOS, iPadOS or visionOS.
- Live Text, which selects text inside images and paused video, is supported in seven languages.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Safari is free to use.
Free
$0
The full browser on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro, included with the device's operating system.
The free plan
Safari is included with the operating system on Apple devices and is listed as free on the App Store. There is no paid tier.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Apple's built-in browser for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: passkeys, read later, web browser.
Also a Privacy Report, Profiles, passkeys in iCloud Keychain, Reader and offline reading.
- Intelligent Tracking Prevention
- On-device intelligence limits cross-site tracking and hides the IP address from known trackers. A Privacy Report lists the trackers stopped on the current site and over the past week.
- Tab Groups and Profiles
- Tab Groups save named sets of tabs, sync between devices and can be shared with other people. Profiles keep history, extensions, cookies and favorites separate for topics such as Work and Personal.
- Sync and Handoff
- Passwords, bookmarks, history and tabs sync across Mac, iPad and iPhone, and Handoff passes the page being viewed from one nearby device to another.
- Passkeys and iCloud Keychain
- iCloud Keychain stores and autofills passkeys, passwords and credit card numbers on trusted devices. Safari also warns about suspicious websites and upgrades HTTP to HTTPS when available.
- Reader, Reading List and translation
- Reader removes ads and navigation from articles, Reading List saves pages to read later on any iCloud-connected device, even offline, and whole web pages can be translated in the browser.
- Extensions and web apps
- Third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad and Mac come from the Safari category on the App Store. A website can be saved to the Mac Dock or the iPhone and iPad Home Screen as a web app.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud Keychain
- Apple Pay
- Apple Wallet
- Apple Notes
Safari is made by Apple.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/15
Other browsers it is graded above
Safari's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 8 of the 15 other browsers we grade.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 8 of 15) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Safari has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Safari’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 8 of 15
- AFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 15
- BFeaturesAbove 7 of 15
- BEase of useAbove 4 of 15
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 15
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 15 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Safari is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Safari is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Read later: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- Passkeys, which rest on security you cannot improvise.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Safari’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Refunds
After you pay
Getting your money back, getting out, and getting help
What happens once you have paid: whether you can get your money back, how to leave, and how to reach a person when something goes wrong. Each is graded from Safari’s own terms and help pages.
Leaving Safari
Not graded · checked Oct 18, 2026
Safari comes with the device and costs nothing, so there is no plan, no renewal and nothing to claim back. You do not even need an account to use it. The only thing that could be closed is the Apple Account that syncs your bookmarks, tabs and passwords across devices, and Apple says you can delete that whenever you like. Be careful what you wish for: deleting it takes everything else with it.
- Closing your account
There is no subscription attached to Safari. The account behind synced bookmarks, tabs, history and passwords is your Apple Account, and Apple says you can permanently delete it at any time and for any reason by signing in to its Data and Privacy page and asking. Apple adds that an AppleCare plan has to be cancelled first, because an account with one active cannot be deleted.
Stated on support.apple.com- What you keep afterwards
Apple says a deleted Apple Account and the data on its servers go permanently, apart from what it must keep by law, and that it cannot reopen the account or restore anything afterwards. The email address or phone number cannot be used for a new account for several years. Apple advises backing up anything in iCloud first, and suggests deactivating instead, where that is offered, if you may want to come back.
Stated on support.apple.com
In your favour
- Nothing is charged for Safari, so there is no renewal to watch and no refund to chase.
- You can use the browser without an Apple Account at all; the account is only for syncing.
- Apple lets you delete the account yourself, at any time and for any reason.
Watch out for
- Deleting the Apple Account wipes everything in iCloud, not just your bookmarks and tabs.
- Apple says the deletion is permanent and that it cannot restore the data later.
- The email address or phone number is locked out of a new Apple Account for several years.
- You cannot delete the account at all while an AppleCare plan is still running.
Customer support
Good · checked Oct 18, 2026
Safari has no help desk of its own, so you get Apple's, and Apple's is better resourced than almost anything a paid browser offers: a Safari support hub, a full user guide for each platform, a chat that runs in Messages, a phone line in the countries Apple lists and a busy public forum. It falls short of an A because the contact page names no hours and no reply time, and live help is not offered everywhere.
Ways to get help
Live chat
The Contact Apple Support page offers a chat that opens in the Messages app on your device. It covers Apple products generally rather than Safari on its own, and the page gives no hours for it.
Stated on support.apple.comPhone
The same page lists live phone support country by country. Where a country is not on the list, the page says live support is not offered there, and numbers are tied to their own country.
Stated on support.apple.comHelp centre
A Safari Support hub links the common jobs, from updating the browser to clearing history and cookies, blocking pop-ups and fixing pages that will not load, and points to the Safari User Guide for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Stated on support.apple.comCommunity or forum
The Apple Support Community is a public forum where Apple customers and volunteers answer questions about any Apple product, Safari included, without a support plan.
Stated on discussions.apple.com
Not listed on Safari’s pages: email, contact form or ticket.
- When people answer
Its pages do not say.
- How fast it says it replies
Its pages do not say.
- What depends on your plan
Its pages do not say.
In your favour
- You can reach a person by chat or phone about a browser you never paid for.
- The Safari User Guide is written for each platform and kept current with each release.
- The support hub answers the common questions without making you contact anyone.
- The public forum is free to read and post in, with no account tier involved.
Watch out for
- No hours and no target reply time are published on the contact page.
- Live support is not offered in every country, and Apple says so on that page.
- Phone numbers generally only work from inside their own country.
- There is no queue for Safari itself: every question goes through Apple's general support.
What these two grades rest on. Read on 18 October 2026: Apple's Safari Support hub, the Safari User Guide for Mac, the Contact Apple Support page, Apple's article on deleting an Apple Account, the Apple Support Community and Safari's App Store listing. Nobody here closed an account or contacted Apple's support. They are graded apart from the five that make the GPA. How we grade refunds and support.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Google Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Orion and Microsoft Edge
The 5 tools Safari is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Google Chrome
Free
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in.
- Only Google Chrome lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Safari also covers read later.
- Google Chrome also covers password manager.
- 3.8GPA
Firefox
Free
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.
- Only Firefox lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Firefox is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Safari also covers passkeys and read later.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Only Brave lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Brave is open source, according to its own site.
- Safari also covers passkeys and read later.
- 3.0GPA
Orion
Free plan · from $5/mo
WebKit browser from Kagi that runs Chrome and Firefox extensions.
- Only Orion lists a Linux app.
- Safari also covers passkeys and read later.
- Orion also covers password manager.
- 3.6GPA
Microsoft Edge
Free
Microsoft's browser with the Copilot assistant built in.
- Only Microsoft Edge lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Safari also covers read later.
- Microsoft Edge also covers password manager.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Safari free?
Yes. Safari is free to use.
How much does Safari cost?
Safari lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Safari work on?
Safari is available on macOS and iOS.
How is Safari rated?
Safari's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 179,693 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Safari have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Safari is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Safari have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Safari is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Safari open source?
Safari is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Safari integrate with?
Safari's listing names iCloud Keychain, Apple Pay, Apple Wallet and Apple Notes.
Who makes Safari?
Safari is made by Apple.
What are the alternatives to Safari?
The closest alternatives to Safari in our directory are Google Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Orion and Microsoft Edge.
How do I close a Safari account?
There is no subscription attached to Safari. The account behind synced bookmarks, tabs, history and passwords is your Apple Account, and Apple says you can permanently delete it at any time and for any reason by signing in to its Data and Privacy page and asking.
What happens to my data if I leave Safari?
Apple says a deleted Apple Account and the data on its servers go permanently, apart from what it must keep by law, and that it cannot reopen the account or restore anything afterwards.
How do I contact Safari support?
Safari's pages list these ways to get help: live chat, phone, help centre and community or forum.
How does Safari compare with other browsers?
Safari's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 8 of the 15 other browsers we grade.
Is Safari good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Safari A for value for money. Safari has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Safari?
Safari is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Safari’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apple's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-01.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices change, so check apple.com before you buy.
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Safari, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/safari
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Safari: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/safari
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/safari/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Safari, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 16 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Vivaldi Insider's GuideCustomizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader3.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Safari’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Safari is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices and plans change: check apple.com before you buy.