Everyone has a go-to browser. At this point, you probably don't even notice which application you click on when you're dying to peep your friend's new Facebook album or check out the latest episode of New Girl. And, unless it erratically quits on you right before you press "send" on that important email, you probably don't care all too much about which browser you use on a regular basis.
But when it comes to building your website to be compatible with your customers' browser of choice, however, you should care, according to the research of Shareaholic, the Boston-based content discovery startup. If you know which browsers to optimize for, you can ensure that your visitors will have a top-notch experience every time they drop by your site–mobile included, whether they're using Chrome or Safari.
The top four most popular browsers are used by more than 80 percent of the market. Shareaholic found that Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer take the biggest chunk out of the web browser market. Google's Chrome browser captured the number one spot, with over a third of the market share at 35 percent–more than doubling the second most used browser, Firefox, which garnered 17 percent.
The Android browser is coming in hot with double-digit growth. Android saw the biggest change in growth over the last nine months, rocketing up nearly 28 percent. Chrome also ticked up 16 percent in the same time period, continuing to defend its market leader position.
Half the browsers out there are falling fast. Internet Explorer, which saw around a 24 percent decline in use, in particular is feeling the burn from Chrome and Android's growth. Though still in the second spot, Firefox dropped around 12 percent from last January to September. Opera also fell 17 percent in usage; with only 1 percent of the market, it looks like the browser is approaching its deathbed sometime soon.
So we don't have to bid adieu to Firefox just yet. But if you are working under the assumption that your visitors are still sticking with Internet Explorer or Safari, your weekend may have just gotten a bit busier than you would have liked. With mobile on the rise, Android's usage will likely see an even greater growth spurt in the coming months, meaning optimizing sites for smartphones and tablets will be key in keeping your visitors happy and engaged.
