Firefox: when to install it, and when not to
The daily browser for someone who wants tracker blocking on by default and an engine that is not Chromium. It is the only entry in this category that runs…
The short version
Firefox: The safest default for most people. It runs its own engine instead of Chromium, blocks trackers out of the box, and carries extensions the Chromium side is busy removing. Slightly rougher on a handful of Google properties.
| Licence / price | Free · Open source |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Category | Browsers — 4 programs |
| Official download | https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/new/ ↗ |
What it is for
The daily browser for someone who wants tracker blocking on by default and an engine that is not Chromium. It is the only entry in this category that runs its own rendering engine, which is a structural difference rather than a feature comparison.
When to pick something else
A small number of work tools are built and tested only against Chromium. A handful of Google properties also behave slightly differently. Keep a second browser for those sites rather than weakening this one.
What independent reviewers found
We do not run lab tests or benchmarks. These summaries are written in our own words, with the publisher named and the original linked. Our citation policy explains what we will and will not reproduce.
Electronic Frontier Foundation — Ongoing
What the source says. The EFF's Cover Your Tracks test lets a reader check both whether a browser blocks simulated trackers and how distinctive its configuration looks; its guidance warns that adding protections can itself make a fingerprint more unusual.
What we take from it. That is why we recommend one browser with strong defaults rather than a stack of blocking extensions. Run the test on your own install after any change, because defaults move between releases.
Cover Your Tracks ↗ (Electronic Frontier Foundation · Ongoing · Reader-run browser test)
TechRadar — 2025
What the source says. TechRadar's open-source roundup consistently treats a non-Chromium engine as a meaningful structural difference rather than a feature checkbox.
What we take from it. We keep Firefox as the daily browser for that reason, and suggest a second Chromium browser for the few work tools that need one.
Best open source software of 2025 ↗ (TechRadar · 2025 · Editorial product roundup)
How it compares in Browsers
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Chrome's speed with the ads and trackers already stripped out. The strongest built-in blocker you can get without installing anything. Its optional crypto features are easy to ignore, and you should ignore them. |
| Google Chrome Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Closed source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Install it only when a work tool refuses to run anywhere else. It is the most compatible and the most invasive: it reports to Google by default and is the engine everyone else is forced to follow. |
Practical notes
- Import bookmarks and passwords during setup, then confirm the import on a second device before deleting the old profile.
- Resist adding three blocking extensions on top of the built-in protection; overlapping blockers are the usual cause of broken login pages.
Questions people ask
Do Chrome extensions work in Firefox?
No. It has its own extension ecosystem, which is also why some content blockers remain available here.
Where it appears in our guides
- Setting up a new Windows PC: the order that actually works
- Before and after a clean reinstall: the checklist
- A privacy-first setup that does not break your computer
- How to spot a bundled installer before it is too late
- Why we link to publishers, and how to check a download yourself
- Moving off browser-saved passwords in one sitting
- Browser privacy settings that actually change something
See the full Browsers explainer for the other 3 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.