Alternatives to Firefox
Independent Gecko-engine browser from Mozilla
Firefox ranks #5 of 14 in Browsers, with an Alt Score of 70. It is licensed under MPL-2.0, free and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. 10 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
People who want a free, independent web browser built by a non-profit-backed organization rather than an ad company, including privacy-conscious users and anyone browsing on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android.
Firefox is Mozilla's open-source browser with built-in tracker and fingerprinting blocking, a private browsing mode, and a free password manager. It supports an extensions marketplace for customization and offers an Extended Support Release (ESR) for users on older operating systems. Because it uses Mozilla's own Gecko engine rather than Chromium, it adds engine diversity to the web.
Users download the installer for their OS from firefox.com, install it, and browse normally, with privacy protections enabled by default and further settings, extensions, and sync (via a Firefox Account) configurable from the browser's preferences.
Where Firefox stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Firefox
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Browsers checklist (16 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Browsers checklist | Firefox | Vivaldi | Brave | Waterfox | Orion | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) | ||||||
| Built-in ad blocker | ||||||
| Built-in VPN or proxy | ||||||
| Vertical tabs | ||||||
| Tab groups & workspaces | ||||||
| Extension ecosystem compatibility | ||||||
| Sync (E2E encrypted) | ||||||
| Battery / memory saver mode | ||||||
| Privacy: fingerprinting protection | ||||||
| Telemetry opt-out | ||||||
| Profile containers | ||||||
| Reader mode |
Every fact and feature listed for Firefox is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License MPL-2.0 verified 2026-07-11
The current version of the license is MPL 2.0
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/ -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
Free
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/firefox-private-web-browser/id989804926 -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
Windows
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/download/all/?redirect_source=mozilla-org -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Version 150.0, first offered to Release channel users on April 21, 2026
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/150.0/releasenotes/ -
Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Gecko is the layout engine developed by the Mozilla Project and used in many apps/devices, including Firefox and Firefox OS.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Gecko -
Built-in VPN or proxy No verified 2026-07-11
Powered by Mozilla. Fighting for your right to privacy since 1998.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/products/vpn/ -
Vertical tabs Yes verified 2026-07-11
Vertical tabs in Firefox stack your open tabs along the side of the browser window instead of across the top.
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/features/vertical-tabs/ -
Tab groups & workspaces Yes verified 2026-07-11
Tab groups in Firefox keep your browser tabs neatly organized so you can switch between work, research, and everything else without losing track.
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/features/tab-groups/ -
Extension ecosystem compatibility Yes verified 2026-07-11
Extensions are like apps for Firefox. They add features to Firefox to make browsing faster, safer, or just plain fun.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ -
Sync (E2E encrypted) Yes verified 2026-07-11
All your data is encrypted on our servers so we can't read it – only you can access it.
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/features/sync/ -
Privacy: fingerprinting protection Yes verified 2026-07-11
Firefox helps reduce the amount of identifying information websites can gather from your browser.
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/features/block-fingerprinting/ -
Telemetry opt-out Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can update your data collection settings for Desktop and Mobile at any time.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/firefox/ -
Profile containers Yes verified 2026-07-11
Cookies downloaded by one Container are not available to other Containers.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/ -
Reader mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
Reader mode turns busy pages into clean, readable content in a single click.
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/features/focus/
FAQ
Yes. Vivaldi, Brave and Waterfox have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Brave, Waterfox and LibreWolf — every license claim links its source.