WHY WEB BROWSERS ARE FREE

Why are web browsers free to use and how do they make money?

Have you ever wondered why web browsers are free? If not, you probably didn't know that, at one point in time, you had to pay to use them.

Well, it wasn't always like this. In actual fact, it wasn't until 1998 that Netscape released the first free to use web browser. Imagine buying a computer before then, they were by no means cheap! Then you had to buy some additional hardware, and connect your telephone line which would charge you even more. Then, on top of everything else, you had to pay to use a web browser!

Fortunately, nowadays, that's not the case. Arguably the biggest web browser is by far Google and, to you, the user, it seems as if the service is free... but Google sells millions of targeted ads aimed at your demographic. That's how they make the big bucks.

What's more, Google even pays billions of dollars to other companies, like Apple, to have their default homepage set to Google. This makes sense as Google makes more by selling ads to Safari users than what they initially paid Apple for the deal.

Take a look at the video below by YouTube channel, Tech Quickie, on Why Web Browsers Are Free.