The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator both support most available plug-ins, and can actually use each other's plug-ins. For instance, if you install Internet Explorer 4.0 it can automatically import your Netscape bookmarks and plug-ins. The latest versions of both browsers can handle common multimedia content, like standard Windows and Mac video and audio formats such as .avi or .au files, without plug-ins.

Both browser companies are also plugging their own Web technology. Netscape has acquired or developed video, 3D, audio, and virtual reality products in its Live line of plug-ins. Microsoft has put a tremendous effort into developing ActiveX, technology that is used as an alternative to plug-ins. Both browsers use different implementations of Dynamic HTML, which allows features such as moving text and animated images, without any plug-ins or additional applications. With ActiveX and Dynamic HTML we see special effects comparable to those produced by Shockwave, including buttons that light up and user-activated animations.

Both Microsoft and Netscape have examples and documentation on their versions of Dynamic HTML on their sites.