Which Internet Browser Is Best for Video Calls? The Surprising Picture Quality Differences

Does the type of internet browser you use make a difference on video calls? It’s a valid question, and you may be surprised at the answer. Your internet speed affects streaming video and audio quality, but so does the type of browser you use. How do you choose the best one that meets your needs? Keep reading to learn how to get the best possible experience on your next video call.

Does It Matter Which Browser You Use for Video Calls?

Because the three major video conferencing platforms have mobile apps, we only discuss desktop and laptop browsers. Similarweb reveals that four popular browsers enjoy the highest market shares as of July 2023:

• Google Chrome: 61.05%

• Apple Safari: 25.89%

• Microsoft Edge: 5.18%

• Mozilla Firefox: 2.38%

  
  

Each browser possesses unique capabilities. WebRTC, an open-source technology, allows video and audio to work on web pages without additional plug-ins. The big four desktop browsers, as well as Opera and Vivaldi, support WebRTC. However, some do so a little better than others – and that’s important when it comes to Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

Zoom: Consistent Across the Board

So, with WebRTC as a significant factor in video call quality, which browser internet application is the best choice? Windows Report reveals how the big four browsers perform with Zoom. Chrome’s stability and overall call quality on Zoom are better due to its more robust WebRTC support. Meanwhile, Firefox has WebRTC as a built-in feature, plus clearer video due to high graphic performance. Safari, Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi also perform well due to their WebRTC compatibility.

Teams and Meet: Mixed Support

As for Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, their performance varies by browser. Both work consistently on Chrome and Edge, and most of Google Meet’s features are available for Firefox. However, Google Meet currently does not support virtual backgrounds for Firefox users. Also, Teams does not support some calling and meeting features on Firefox and Safari. Vivaldi and Opera users also report that they can’t access meetings on Teams with their browsers.

Recommended Browsers

Chrome and Edge are the best choices regarding accessibility, call quality, and performance for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Both browsers provide consistent support on all three platforms for pretty much all features, including virtual backgrounds and higher video quality. Vivaldi and Opera are good choices if you only use Zoom and Google Meet.

Least Recommend Browsers

Firefox users may experience some issues with Google Meet and Teams. Vivaldi and Opera are less than optimal if you regularly use Teams for meetings and calls. Finally, the big three video conferencing services have been rolling back support for Internet Explorer 11.

Other Issues To Consider

The browser you use is only part of the equation with video conferencing. It also depends on the particular platform, your internet connection speed, and the type of account you have. For instance, Google Meet just started rolling out 1080p this past spring. As for Zoom, 720p and higher resolutions are only available to Pro users.

With all that said, it’s also worth considering the differences between using web clients and the dedicated app for each service. You may be better off with desktop clients if you need access to all features and regularly use unsupported browsers. Zoom’s app is available for MacOS, Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS. Meanwhile, Teams has an app for Windows and MacOS.

The Final Verdict

So, which internet browser is the most ideal for your video call needs? Chrome and Edge are the best overall options across all three platforms, while support is sometimes hit-or-miss for Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Vivaldi. Ultimately, you must select the browsers that best meet your needs.