Our honest take on the best Firefox-based web browsers for top privacy and customization
I’ve been using Firefox-based browsers for years, not because I’m a tech hermit (though I’ve been called worse), but because I like knowing who’s watching me. And no, I don’t mean my old grumpy cat. I mean Google, with its Chrome empire quietly logging every click, scroll, and half-formed search query. Firefox, and its many descendants, offer a quiet rebellion: a way to browse without feeling like you’re being followed by digital paparazzi. Plus, you can install uBlock Origin and feel like a digital ninja, blocking ads, trackers, and pop-ups with surgical precision. It’s not just privacy, it’s power.
The beauty of Firefox’s ecosystem is its open-source DNA. You’re not stuck with one interface or one set of features. Want a browser that looks like it was designed by an architect? Try Zen. I’ve been using it for over a year, and it’s my daily driver. Vertical tabs? Check. Workspaces? Check. Split views, tab groups, compact mode? Double check. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for browsing, but without the weird scissors. For those who want to try something a bit different, Floorp also offers deep customization without sacrificing performance. Waterfox? Still alive, still fast, still no telemetry. And if you’re on KDE Plasma, FireDragon integrates so smoothly you’ll wonder why you ever used anything else.
Feeling a bit old school? Then, Basilisk (yes, the XUL-based phoenix) can be a good choice. It's fast, customizable, and what “Firefox always was and still should be”, according to some of our users. Too modern for you? Well, then I guess you should go back to Pale Moon, GNU IceCast, or K-Meleon. They may not be the most modern options in terms of user interface and customization options, but they're still running, and they don't include any of Mozilla's bull$it recent AI features and data collection.
For the privacy purists, LibreWolf is your best friend: hardened, stripped of telemetry, and built for those who want to vanish into the digital ether. Mullvad Browser? Perfect if you’re already using their VPN, it’s like a privacy one-two punch. And if you really want to disappear? Tor Browser. It’s not just private, it’s anonymous. It routes your traffic through multiple relays, hides your IP, and lets you access the Tor network. It’s slower, sure, but sometimes, speed is the price of freedom.
On Android? Don’t worry. Mull may be gone, but its spirit lives on in forks like IronFox, Iceraven, and Fennec. They’re not all as polished as Chrome, but they’re far more respectful of your data. And honestly, that’s worth a few extra taps. The point is: you have options. Lots of them. So test a few. See what fits. And if you find your perfect match, tell us about it, because in this browser jungle, we’re all just trying to find the best tree to climb.
Comments
I like this, except for the recommendation of LibreWolf while not addressing how the developers deal with journalism or any people who just asks questions by banning them, additionally from them shouting out loud about being woke. If you really care about privacy (not anonymity) you shall not be using anything else rather than Mullvad Browser. I'd like to add R3dfox to the list, however Alex, the creator of Thorium &Mercury Browsers, that previously shipped Thorium with Yiff images within the binaries works in the Eclipse team as a developer, so I cannot advice on it beyond 75%, although the Eclipse team isn't just him but some others & who knows, maybe Alex's work is being supervised to avoid that kind of surprises, but that's just hope from a positive side of thinking.
On SmartPhones I use IronFox, it's amazing & It's really hard for me to not advice you on making it your primary web browser on SmartPhones. I advice you to install it through Obtainium or Accrescent.
Great Firefox focused content. I understand wanting to get away from the Google eco-system but unfortunately Mozilla is Google adjacent and lives or dies by their hand. 80% of Mozilla's funding comes from Google.
For now, chromium based browser are more practical for everyday use. Although, I will be very excited to see a stable LadyBird release :)
uBlock Origin no longer appears in the Chrome Web Store because Google removed it due to incompatibility with the Manifest V3 extension framework. uBlock Origin can be safely downloaded from its official GitHub repository at github.com/gorhill/uBlock. I find the tab refresh extensions for Firefox just aren't as good as the ones for Chromium. Rather than fuss with extensions to avoid tracking, I prefer Chromium over Chrome. While Chromium doesn't update automatically, several update programs will make it easy.
The recommendations in the article are 100% valid, and if you enjoy Firefox browsers then you should absolutely use them! However I disagree with the idea that using Firefox is some sort of rebellion against the Blink engine. Google couldn't care less what browser you use unless you're blocking their ads of course, and that's because not only is Mozilla spying on you, Google in a roundabout way owns Mozilla and thus Firefox. Again, use whatever you prefer, but let's not pretend that using Firefox is some sort of middle finger to Google, they are unavoidable, AlternativeTo as a site relies on Google technologies and so does everything else. In other words, you aren't better than everyone for using Firefox. I prefer using Brave myself, which is also an entirely valid option. If you're a member of r/browsers, read this and try not to cry. I know it's hard for you to hear lol
Ok, but you don't talk about the main subject when people talk about that : engine monopoly. And it's seem pretty logic having only ONE browser engine is a problem, even more if it came from one of the biggest corporation in the world.
So, yeah, using the biggest, corporate-validate engine for browsing internet IS a ethical question, period. It's basic logic here. If we give up and give control to ONE engine : ads-blocker will disappear, seem pretty understandable..?
But the million dollar question is does it matter if Google could delete Mozilla off the face of the planet since it's almost entirely funded by Google? If Google actually wanted to ban every single adblocker possible, they will do that regardless of what browser you use, and unless some people really come together and maintain the 3rd largest browser engine which is nearly impossible, then your precious Firefox will be 6 feet under. This is why Ladybird is so relevant right now, we really do need a FOSS browser engine built independently from big tech and that is what they're trying to make. In fact we should all go donate right now!
@candroid. Other than extensions to do ad blocking, I believe ads can also be blocked using dns and proxy methods.
@candroid The issue is Google would be setting web standards which effects how websites work so no browser could escape it.
@Navi Google develops all of the web standards already that is their entire business model, Firefox as a matter of fact is comparatively slow to adopt these standards too.
Firefox Color is an addon that is worth mentioning for customization. Technicality you can just change anything in Firefox browsers by altering the CSS but most dont have time or skill for that.
Waterfox is a great drop-in replacement for Firefox on both desktop and Android, and I do really like the experience of Zen.
I will say the chromium hate these days seems a bit forced and illogical (sometimes based on debunked myths) especially with a few actually solid forks like Helium and what it is trying to do, but I'm still on Zen myself, though with the way things are going at Mozilla, I can't say I'm super optimistic about the future of Firefox itself, like who knows if they might find a way to fuck up even just the Gecko engine, cuz that's all they got left pretty much...
Addendum: many chromium forks still support Manifest V2 extensions so you can have uBlock no problem, and they strive to keep it that way. I'm cautiously optimistic about Ladybird, not so much after some kinda stupid controversy surrounding it that maybe is an indicator of what kind of individual the lead dev is like, so when it comes to "brand new" browser engines I'm putting my bets mostly on Servo for now, which people should check out as well
@Luz9 Would be interesting if someone tried to combine Ladybird and Servo projects to put something out sooner.