Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers out there today. Mozilla’s Firefox and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are constantly competing with Google’s browser for top spot amongst the most used when surfing the Internet. Chrome was first released in 2008 and is based on the WebKit layout engine.

Google decided to release a large chunk of the source code for its web browser which they title Chromium. This has allowed a multitude of developers to tweak, change and modify Chrome in such a way to make it accessible on the Mac OS and Linux operating systems as well as making native improvements to the Windows-based version.

Let’s take a look at the top five reasons why Google Chrome should be your one and only browser. If you are not already using Chrome, you’re missing out on a lot of great features. There are five top reasons why Chrome is the best, and if these features do not sway you to give it a try, we do not know what will.

Chrome’s 5 Most Attractive Features

Large library of extensions and add-ons

Chrome has one of the largest libraries of extensions, add-ons and built-in applications that enhance the browser’s ability to do what you want it to do.

Chrome Web Store

While Firefox and Internet Explorer boast impressive extensions as well, they cannot even come close to the amount of encouragement Google gives to developers to change the way Chrome works. Google themselves release official Chrome extensions, add-ons and more to make the browser more functional for its users.

Chrome also boasts a large library of HD themes included under the extension banner. These themes range from your favorite sports teams to color schemes and more. These themes are easily installed, require no restart to start using and can make your browser more like you and your desktop theme.

Chrome Themes in Web Store

If you are looking to truly customize your web browser beyond what a basic installation of Chrome offers, the Google Chrome Web Store can get you there.

Clean, simple user interface

One of the biggest complaints about Internet Explorer back when it was one of the few browsers available, was how clunky it made users feel. After Firefox’s release, many flocked to what Mozilla released because of how they revamped what a browser should look like. Then, Chrome hit the web, and more users jumped ship to its simple, clean user interface.

Chrome's UI

Google has done away with many of the traditional context menus, settings options, and bookmarks layout. They have given users a genuinely fresh experience when surfing the web. You can rest assured when using Chrome that doing what you want with it is quick because you do not have to jump through hoops to get to where you want to go. The clean interface makes that possible.

Searching from the address bar

Typing in Google.com in your address bar, waiting for it to load and then typing what you want to look for online is not a terribly difficult process. However, Chrome takes those three steps and combines them into one with the use of its address bar. Just type in what you want to look for.

Search from the address bar in Chrome

Google’s Chrome automatically begins searching for it not only in your session’s browser history but also by loading search results on the page. This cuts the time in half it typically takes looking for things online.

Chrome’s Task Manager

Have you ever clicked “Shift + ESC” in Google Chrome? Give it a try.

Chrome's Task Manager

Chrome’s built-in Task Manager should pop-up in the middle of your screen. This gives you a list of all the tabs opened, along with the memory, CPU, Network and FPS resources it is using. If a particular tab is giving you an issue, you can close it by clicking “End Process.” Since Chrome opens every webpage in a new tab, you can narrow down what pages are giving you problems instead of having to close the entire browser and lose what you are working for.

If you right-click on any task, you will be given options as to what other statistics you can display to see what resources it is using while open.

Right click on Chrome Task Manager item

Clicking on “Stats for Nerds” will give you an analysis of memory used, including the virtual memory utilized for each tab.

Stats for nerds in Chrome

Incognito Mode

The most underused but most amazing feature of Google Chrome often gets ignored by its users. Do you know what it is? It is Incognito Mode, and if you have not used it, yet, you are missing out. Incognito Mode allows you to surf the web without worrying about browsing history, download history or cookies. These are all deleted when you close the browser.

Any changes you make to settings or bookmarks are saved for you. You just do not have to worry about others seeing where you are surfing, what you are downloading and whether or not your cookies are being stored.

To get started with Incognito Mode in Chrome, you can either click on the “Wrench Icon” and click “New Incognito Mode.” The keyboard shortcut for incognito mode is “Ctrl+Shift+N.”

Opening Incognito Mode from Chrome

This will open a new window for you in Incognito Mode.

Chrome's Incognito Mode

You can also get to Chrome by right-clicking on its taskbar icon, or you can click on the “Left Arrow” in the Start Menu to start an Incognito Mode session.

(11) opening incognito mode

Is Google Chrome your one and only?

I was a diehard Firefox fan for years. I recently made the switch to Chrome after Mozilla failed to address the memory hog that its browser had become. It was a hard decision to make, but after several recommendations and pushes from people I trust, I made the switch and had not looked back. Making the switch to Chrome was the best possible thing I could have done to improve my experience surfing the web. Chrome has a multitude of extensions and apps to make using it even easier along with features that truly make it seamless. Firefox and Internet Explorer are trying hard to catch up with Chrome, but it seems there is no stopping Chrome from bagging the number 1 position in the browser market.

If you have not tried out Chrome or are hesitant to make a major change, you can always download Chrome and see how it feels. If you do not like it, switch back to your old browser, but chances are you might find a browser for life in what Google has breathed into Chrome.

Let us know your top reasons for using Chrome and why other browsers just cannot stand up against it. We would love to hear if you made the switch from another browser and why you did.

Download Google Chrome.