When it comes to online research, finding and using the right tech tools can make all the difference. There are tons of specialised productivity apps available but, in our opinion, the web browser is the most fundamental component to your toolkit. It’s where your research happens and, if you manage to choose the right one, your work instantly becomes a whole lot easier.

So, as researchers and designers of our own browser, we’ve compiled a list of the very best research browsers to help you make the right choice.

What is a browser for research?

We all know Google Chrome but these days more and more alternative web browsers are becoming available. Browsers for research are web browsers that focus on helping you to search effectively online, track your research, compare data, organise information and assist your note taking.

They are specifically built with tools to assist researchers, writers and academics.

Why is using a research browser so important?

The internet is an amazing resource for researchers. Academic catalogues, like Jstor, ResearchGate, WorldCat and Elsevier, and world-class historical archives are always available at the click of a mouse.

But the internet is also an incredibly distracting place, filled with visual noise and online ads. Browsers that are focused on minimising distractions can help you keep your focus and get your research done.

When you’re deep-diving on a subject online, keeping track of your research is also key. It’s all-too-easy to end up with a clutter of open tabs or poorly-organised, forgotten bookmarks. Or you just end up searching through your history, trying to find that elusive article. That’s why you need a browser that helps you organize your tabs and research.

Best browsers for research

Now you understand the importance of choosing the right research browser, let’s discuss the best options available to you. After careful review, here is our list.

Horse Browser

In our opinion, Horse Browser is the best browser for research. This innovative, new browser beats other browsers on this list, hands down. OK, maybe we’re a bit biased but here’s why.

The other browsers we’re recommending all offer ways to organise & group your tabs and, while this is welcome & useful, it doesn’t really solve researchers’ problems. Because grouped tabs are still easily cluttered-up or forgotten, just like bookmarks.

So let’s see what makes Horse Browser so different…

Key Research Features

• Unique Trails Feature: This feature marks out Horse Browser as our go-to research browser. Horse Browser replaces tabs with its own navigation system, called Trails. Every time you click on a link, Horse Browser opens a new page on the Trail, creating a list of nested pages in one easy-to-read vertical layout. Trails become your tabs, bookmarks and history in one. You can see exactly how you reached a particular page, allowing you to keep track of your online rabbit holes and make valuable insights & connections along the way. You can also drag-and-drop, rename, delete and customise your Trails to create your own filing system for your research. For us, it’s a revelatory way of conducting online research.
• Autosaves Your Pages: One of our favourite features. Horse Browser autosaves your pages, just like a Notes App. Everything you need is still there, whenever you re-open your browser, even after an update or shut down. You’ll never lose articles or important references again.
• Focus-friendly Design: Horse Browser has a collapsible sidebar. So if you’re doing deep-focus work, like reading a long research paper, you can collapse the sidebar and give yourself distraction-free screentime. Horse also offers an extremely effective in-built Ad-Blocker and Dark Reader, which prevent intrusive ads, help you keep your focus and rest tired eyes, while you’re researching.