Can You Install the Safari Browser on Android?

There's no official Safari app for Android, but there are copycats

By
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Senior News Editor, Fact Checker
  • Western Kentucky University
  • Gulf Coast Community College
Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
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Updated on February 15, 2021
Reviewed by
Jerrick Leger
Jerrick Leger headshot
Reviewed by Jerrick Leger
Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

There is no official Safari for Android app, but there are lots of knockoffs in the wild, many of which are scamware. We don't recommend downloading any app that's masquerading as Safari for Android because there are plenty of other well-rated mobile browsers available.

Should You Install Safari on an Android?

The Safari web browser offers tons of features that make surfing the web easier, and it's usually considered superior to other browsers in terms of security, unfortunately, you're not going to find a version of Safari for Android that's sanctioned by Apple. That's because while there are plenty of 'Safari' browsers out there, none of them were created by Apple.

So, the question becomes, should you install one of these Safari files and hope for the best? Probably not, and there are a few reasons for that:

  • Many of the apps that are calling themselves 'Safari for Android' are nothing more than scamware—bits of high-demand software designed to deliver viruses and malware to unsuspecting users.
  • Even 'Safari' apps that are generally considered safe are not from Apple, therefore can have different features and capabilities than the Safari browser you may be used to using on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

It's because of this Lifewire recommends you don't download 'Safari for Android.' At best, you're likely to be disappointed by the browser you download, at worse, it could deliver malware to your device that requires loads of time to repair, or worse, it turns your phone into a useless brick.

There are many YouTube videos available that include links to a 'Safari' download file for iOS. There are even versions of Safari APKs available. None of these files are to be trusted. To be clear, there is no official version of Safari Browser for Android. And you should not download Android apps from sites that are unfamiliar. Google Play is always the safest resource for apps.

Alternatives to Safari for Android

So, since there is no Safari for Android, what are your options? There are plenty of Safari-like browsers available. For example, some of the highest rated options include:

  • Opera Browser: Opera is another super fast browser, but it also includes a free VPN that users find useful for getting around geofenced content. It also has a pop-up blocker, but does lack some importing and searching capabilities of other browsers.
  • DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser: Targeting users who are tired of their every move being tracked online, the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser offers all the features you would expect from a Safari-like browser: speed, security, and privacy. However, customization seems limited, so if you're looking for something that's highly customizable, this might not be the right browser for you.

Although none of these offers all the features of a Safari browser, each has its own strengths, and if you're ready to move away from Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge, then they're worth your time to try them out. And since they're all free, you're not going to spend anything but time trying to find a Safari-like browser that suits you.

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