Alternatives to GNU IceCat
The GNU Project's build of Firefox containing only free software, with added privacy extensions. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
GNU IceCat
The GNU Project's build of Firefox containing only free software, with added privacy extensions.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as GNU IceCat.
LibreWolf
A Firefox build with the privacy settings already turned up and uBlock Origin included.
LibreWolf is a privacy-hardened Firefox build with uBlock Origin and Resist Fingerprinting on by default and Windows and macOS builds, but without LibreJS nonfree script blocking.
Firefox
The main browser not built on Chromium, with tracking protection turned on by default.
Firefox is the upstream browser with official builds on all major platforms, but it is not limited to free software and does not block nonfree JavaScript.
Waterfox
A Firefox build with telemetry stripped out, ad blocking and encrypted DNS turned on from the start.
Waterfox removes telemetry and enables ad blocking and encrypted DNS on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, but has no free-software-only policy or JavaScript blocking.
Mercury
A Firefox fork with compiler optimizations and privacy patches taken from LibreWolf, Waterfox and GNU IceCat.
Mercury is a compiler-optimized Firefox fork that borrows privacy patches from IceCat, LibreWolf and Waterfox, adds Windows and macOS, but is maintained by a single developer.
Tor Browser
A hardened Firefox that sends every page through the Tor network, so the site sees an exit node instead of your address.
Tor Browser routes all traffic through the Tor network with strong fingerprinting defences, hiding your address, but it is noticeably slower and some sites block Tor exit nodes.
Mullvad Browser
Tor Browser's fingerprinting defences without the Tor network, built to sit in front of a VPN instead.
Mullvad Browser uses Tor Browser's fingerprinting defences instead of JShelter, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is meant to be used behind a VPN.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
ungoogled-chromium
Plain Chromium with every connection to Google web services stripped out, and nothing else changed.
Dillo
Browse lightweight pages with a small graphical browser.
NetSurf
A small, fast open-source web browser written in C with its own layout engine.
Pale Moon
Independent Firefox fork with the classic interface and XUL extension support.
SeaMonkey
Classic internet suite combining a browser, email, feed reader, IRC client and HTML editor.
IronFox
Hardened Firefox fork for Android, successor to DivestOS Mull.
