Alternatives to Waterfox
A Firefox build with telemetry stripped out, ad blocking and encrypted DNS turned on from the start. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Waterfox
A Firefox build with telemetry stripped out, ad blocking and encrypted DNS turned on from the start.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Waterfox.
Firefox
The main browser not built on Chromium, with tracking protection turned on by default.
Firefox is the upstream, so security updates arrive first and Mozilla account features are present, but ad blocking relies on an extension you add yourself.
LibreWolf
A Firefox build with the privacy settings already turned up and uBlock Origin included.
LibreWolf is a Firefox build with stricter privacy defaults, bundled uBlock Origin and Resist Fingerprinting, but it deletes cookies on close and has no Android build.
Floorp
A Firefox build from Japan with vertical tabs, workspaces, split view and web panels already wired in.
Floorp keeps Firefox's engine and add-ons while adding vertical tabs, workspaces and split view, though it has no official Android build.
Zen Browser
A Firefox build with vertical tabs, workspaces and split view, aimed at people who found Arc appealing.
Zen Browser keeps Firefox extensions and containers and adds vertical tabs, workspaces and split view, but it is a young project for Windows, macOS and Linux only.
Mullvad Browser
Tor Browser's fingerprinting defences without the Tor network, built to sit in front of a VPN instead.
Mullvad Browser applies Tor Browser's fingerprinting defences with private windows and no telemetry by default, but breaks some sites and has no Android version.
Pale Moon
Independent Firefox fork with the classic interface and XUL extension support.
Pale Moon keeps the pre-Quantum Gecko engine and XUL extensions, so older add-ons work, but it misses modern web features and some security hardening.
Mercury
A Firefox fork with compiler optimizations and privacy patches taken from LibreWolf, Waterfox and GNU IceCat.
Mercury is a compiler-optimized Firefox fork using privacy patches from LibreWolf, Waterfox and IceCat, with a portable variant, but it is maintained by a single developer.
GNU IceCat
The GNU Project's build of Firefox containing only free software, with added privacy extensions.
GNU IceCat is a Firefox build containing only free software, with LibreJS and JShelter, but blocking JavaScript breaks many sites and it is Linux only.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Waterfox as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Basilisk
Non-Chromium browser from the Pale Moon ecosystem that keeps XUL extensions.
Waterfox moves to a current Firefox base with telemetry removed and ad blocking on, so Firefox extensions replace the classic XUL extensions Basilisk runs.
DuckDuckGo Browser
Privacy browser with tracker blocking, cookie pop-up handling and one-click data clearing.
Waterfox is a Firefox build with telemetry removed, ad blocking and encrypted DNS on by default and Firefox extensions working, maintained by one small team.
Firefox ESR
The Extended Support Release of Firefox, a long-term stable build intended for organisations.
Waterfox keeps Firefox extensions and profiles working, removes telemetry and enables ad blocking and encrypted DNS, but a small team ships security updates after Firefox.
IronFox
Hardened Firefox fork for Android, successor to DivestOS Mull.
Waterfox is a Firefox build with telemetry removed and ad blocking and encrypted DNS on by default, offering Android and desktop builds from one small team.
SeaMonkey
Classic internet suite combining a browser, email, feed reader, IRC client and HTML editor.
Waterfox tracks current Firefox with telemetry removed and ad blocking on by default, but it is a standalone browser with no mail, feed or editor tools.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Tor Browser
A hardened Firefox that sends every page through the Tor network, so the site sees an exit node instead of your address.
