Waterfox icon
Waterfox icon

Waterfox

 386 likes

Utilize Waterfox for a high-speed, private browsing experience on 64-bit systems. Built on Firefox, it taps into Intel's C++ compiler for optimal performance, supports legacy extensions, allows full customization, and blocks ads by default, ensuring utmost control and security.

Regular Window

License model

  • FreeOpen Source

Application type

Country of Origin

  • GB flagUnited Kingdom

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows  Only for 64-bit Windows.
  • Linux
  • Android
  • Android Tablet
3.6 / 5 Avg rating (43)
386likes
38comments

Features

Suggest and vote on features

Properties

  1.  Privacy focused
  2.  Customizable
  3.  Lightweight
  4.  Support for Themes

Features

  1.  Firefox-based Browsers
  2.  Support for 64 bit
  3.  Optimized Firefox
  4.  Privacy enhanced
  5.  Support for Firefox extensions
  6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
  7.  Legacy addons support
  8.  Classic extension support
  9.  No Tracking
  10.  Optimized for Windows
  11.  Cloud Sync
  12.  Block Trackers
  13.  Dark Mode
  14.  Ad-free
  15.  Portable
  16.  Works Offline
  17.  Specific for 64-Bit
  18.  Picture in Picture
  19.  No registration required
  20.  Integrated Password Manager
  21.  Automated speed adjustments
  22.  Based on Gecko engine

 Tags

Waterfox News & Activities

Highlights All activities

Recent News

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Recent activities

  • App icon
    Maoholguin added Waterfox as alternative to Dia Browser
    3 days ago
  • hundvd7 liked Waterfox
    13 days ago
  • App icon
    POX added Waterfox as alternative to Opera Neon
    18 days ago
  • App icon
    berkaygediz added Waterfox as alternative to Lemur Browser
    22 days ago
  • kelsonv reviewed Waterfox  
    about 1 month ago

    Kind of like Ungoogled Chromium in that it's Firefox minus the Mozilla telemetry and services, except Waterfox feels like a complete application instead of one with a bunch of gaps.

    Using it is about the same as using Firefox. Less stuff breaks than in LibreWolf (which goes a lot further in its privacy protection). Waterfox tracks Firefox's ESR releases, so it can be slightly behind the main browser in terms of features, but they seem to track security...

  • kelsonv replied to a comment / review on Waterfox
    about 1 month ago
  • AneesMufti, dakarth and thesuncitywitch liked Waterfox
    about 1 month ago
  • App icon
    POX added Waterfox as alternative to Kumo Web Browser
    about 2 months ago
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Comments and Reviews

   
 Post comment/review
Comment summary: Waterfox is generally praised for preserving old Firefox extensions, removing telemetry, and providing enhanced privacy features compared to Firefox. However, concerns about slower security updates and its past ownership by an ad company, System1, have been raised. Users appreciate it for being lightweight, yet some find its performance inconsistent and limited in modern standards. Its recent independence from System1 is a positive development, restoring user trust.
Top Positive Comment
jakubabayomitsimbukondo
Sep 21, 2017
13

Best Firefox-fork out there, no telemetry & faster than Mozilla's browser.

beat_truck
Jun 9, 2022

Waterfox is now owned by System1, an ad / data collection company, so you can bet it has telemetry now. I would avoid it like the plague.

rabbit-stew
Jun 27, 2024

Waterfox cut ties with System1 a year ago.

Paulo Oliveira
Aug 7, 2024

What about the support for extensions? And if EFF is privacy concerned, why Firefox is not enough and we "need" Waterfox? 🦊-fan here, but no blind, want to learn from others about the gap.

Top Negative Comment
beat_truck
Jun 9, 2022
7

I'd leave zero stars if I could.

Waterfox is owned by System1, an ad / data collection company, so I would avoid it like the plague. If you are looking for a hardened / more private version of Firefox, Librewolf is very good, though.

Kelson V
May 14, 2025

For the record, Waterfox is independent again now.

Kelson V
May 14, 2025
1

Kind of like Ungoogled Chromium in that it's Firefox minus the Mozilla telemetry and services, except Waterfox feels like a complete application instead of one with a bunch of gaps.

Using it is about the same as using Firefox. Less stuff breaks than in LibreWolf icon LibreWolf (which goes a lot further in its privacy protection). Waterfox tracks Firefox's ESR releases, so it can be slightly behind the main browser in terms of features, but they seem to track security updates quickly.

I like the thumbnails for the tab sidebar. There's probably an extension to do that in mainstream Firefox, but I haven't looked yet. (Waterfox is compatible with Firefox Add-ons.) The one Firefox service it does use is Sync, which is end-to-end encrypted.

The Android version is solid, but for some reason it's missing in-browser translations.

Real installers with updaters for Windows and Mac (unlike LibreWolf), Flatpak and tarballs for Linux (but not ARM Linux yet). The Flatpak has the usual issues talking to KeePassXC icon KeePassXC

S74RDUS7
Mar 22, 2025
0

It changes some of my settings after each restart. I like it otherwise, but its hard for me to trust.

Shaz Shah
Sep 3, 2024
1

It's still early days for me with Waterfox. I recently picked it up after someone reported to be that it is now independent of System1.

As it's based on Firefox ESR updates can be a little slow, but that's not an issue for me. I'm happy as long as I get a snappy and minimal web browser using the Gecko engine. So, yes. It's a breath of fresh air where the market is "flooded" with Chromium browsers.

It's not vastly different from Firefox, but I do like that it's got all the usual Mozilla telemetry disabled (more private), using DNS over Oblivious HTTP (even more private), improved performance, and a collab with Tree Style Tab for a Waterfox sidebar.

I have been using Waterfox for a couple of days and, so far, have not faced any stability issues. Plus, it works with Firefox Sync. Yay!

spqe
Jan 26, 2024
2

Using for years. Not always been up to date, but always very stable and friendly.

Bill Kek
Aug 15, 2023
-1

No telemetry? Empty start page, empty profile without sync, but it's still try periodically start connection to 34.117.65.55 and others servers. It's actually push.services.mozilla.com server. NonGNU compiler. No trust, sorry.

Douze
Apr 10, 2025

You could report that to their issue tracker, hopefully they will provide more insight as to what's exactly happening on your side.

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7 of 38 comments

What is Waterfox?

Waterfox is a high-performance web browser that is designed on the Mozilla Firefox platform. It is specifically constructed for 64-Bit systems with a primary focus on speed.

The speed of Waterfox is attributed to its construction using Intel's C++ compiler, which is recognized as one of the most robust compilers in the industry. This compiler allows for the fastest possible web browser by optimizing code changes. This unique combination results in an exceptional browsing experience.

In addition to its speed, Waterfox places a high emphasis on data safety and privacy. Unlike other browsers that require users to manually opt-in to privacy settings, Waterfox offers these settings as a default feature. This ensures that the user's data is secure, their privacy is upheld, and they maintain control over their browsing experience.

Official Links

Waterfox information

AlternativeTo Category

Web Browsers

GitHub repository

  •  4,420 Stars
  •  363 Forks
  •  713 Open Issues
  •   Updated Jun 3, 2025 
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Our users have written 38 comments and reviews about Waterfox, and it has gotten 386 likes

Waterfox was added to AlternativeTo by Kahlil88 on Nov 21, 2011 and this page was last updated Mar 30, 2025.