Firefox: A Classic Browser Focused on Privacy and Customization

1. Introduction to Firefox

Firefox is an open-source browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation, first released in 2002. Unlike browsers based on the Chromium engine, Firefox uses the Gecko engine and emphasizes user privacy protection, customization, and the open-source spirit. Although it has a smaller market share, it continues to attract loyal users due to its strong privacy features and commitment to freedom.

Since Chrome has recently started disabling Manifest V2 extensions, I have been wondering whether Firefox's market share might increase slightly as a result. From what I understand, almost all Chromium-based browsers are affected. Even Brave, which initially claimed to continue supporting Manifest V2, only allows enabling four commonly used extensions in the settings. However, I believe that once most browsers stop supporting Manifest V2, extension developers might stop maintaining it as well, leading me to take a pessimistic view of Chromium-based browsers.

I have reinstalled Firefox and will share its features along with my personal experience using it.

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2. Firefox's Privacy Protection Features

Firefox offers several powerful privacy protection features, including default blocking of third-party trackers, Total Cookie Protection, encrypted DNS requests (DNS over HTTPS), and container tabs to isolate data from different websites. Additionally, it has fingerprinting protection to reduce browser characteristic exposure, ensuring user privacy and anonymity online.

In terms of privacy protection, Firefox undoubtedly excels. However, people often avoid using Firefox due to its poor compatibility, slower speed, and high memory usage. But if one truly wants to avoid Chromium, Firefox is the best option.

For my personal use, I rely on a user.js configuration called BetterFox. Placing this file in the current Profile directory enhances Firefox’s performance, reportedly making it 31% faster than standard Firefox 🚀. More details can be found on its GitHub page.

Alternatively, you can try some third-party privacy-focused versions, such as GNU IceCat and LibreWolf. However, there are many third-party versions available, some of which are not open-source or are maintained by private companies—I will discuss them later.

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3. Customization and Extension Ecosystem

If you prefer manual configuration, Firefox fully supports that. It is highly customizable, allowing you to modify anything in about:config if you know what you're doing.

As a browser, Firefox also supports extensions. Most popular extensions have both Firefox and Chrome versions, and Firefox allows Manifest V2 and Manifest V3 extensions to coexist, meaning you can install uBlock Origin without issues.

Here are some recommended extensions:

• Violentmonkey: A script manager similar to Tampermonkey.
• Immersive Translate: A powerful translation extension supporting multiple services, including AI translation. Unlike Chrome or Edge’s built-in translators, this extension allows simultaneous display of original text and translations.
• Auto Tab Discard: Automatically suspends unused tabs to reduce memory usage.
• Bitwarden: A password manager that supports self-hosting via vaultwarden.
• CanvasBlocker: Provides fingerprint protection to enhance anonymity.
• Free Download Manager: Redirects browser downloads to FDM.
• Zero Omega: A proxy extension based on Proxy SwitchyOmega's Manifest V3 version.
• uBlock Origin: An essential open-source ad-blocking tool with powerful features.
• User-Agent Switcher and Manager: Allows switching the User-Agent to mimic Chrome, Safari, etc., which helps with compatibility issues.
• Firefox Multi-Account Containers: An official extension that allows users to log into multiple accounts on the same website while keeping them isolated.

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4. Performance and Resource Usage

Years ago, Firefox used less memory than Chrome, earning Chrome a reputation as a "memory hog." However, in recent years (around version 110), Firefox lost this advantage and sometimes even consumes more memory than Chrome. Based on my recent experience, Firefox uses more memory when fewer tabs are open, but with 20+ tabs, the difference becomes negligible. Additionally, using the Auto Tab Discard extension to suspend unused tabs helps manage memory usage efficiently.

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5. Multi-Platform and Sync Features

As one of the three major browsers, Firefox supports multi-platform synchronization. With a single account, users can sync tabs, bookmarks, history, and passwords.

However, its mobile version is even less user-friendly than its desktop counterpart. On Android, it supports extensions, which is a significant advantage. But in my experience, the Android version is quite sluggish, so I use the third-party version Iceraven, which feels slightly smoother than the official version—though still not as fast as Chromium-based browsers.

On iOS, due to system limitations, Firefox lacks many features, with its only real use being bookmark synchronization. Personally, I no longer worry about bookmark sync, as I use multiple browsers and none are my permanent go-to. With an iPhone, Safari is my primary mobile browser.

Firefox also offers Firefox Focus, a minimalist privacy-focused browser available on both iOS and Android. It features a single address bar and functions similarly to the DuckDuckGo browser, emphasizing private browsing with no history retention.

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6. Challenges and Future of Firefox

Firefox’s market share has been declining in recent years. Mozilla, as a non-profit organization, struggles to compete with Google-backed Chromium. There have also been reports of internal management issues within Mozilla. Chromium appears to be the de facto web standard, and developers prioritize Chrome compatibility—some websites even block Firefox, but changing the User-Agent to Chrome often bypasses these restrictions.

Mozilla had planned to replace the Gecko engine with a new engine called Servo, but after years of testing, it was never launched. In 2020, Mozilla laid off all Servo developers and transferred the project to the Linux Foundation, which later handed it over to Linux Foundation Europe in 2023. So far, it has not seen widespread adoption.

Interestingly, since 2004, Mozilla has partnered with Google to make Google the default search engine in Firefox. Apart from donations, a significant portion of Mozilla’s revenue comes from this partnership. While Firefox remains independent from the Chromium ecosystem, it still relies on Google for funding. Google is currently facing an antitrust lawsuit in the U.S., which could lead to Chrome being separated from Google. However, it remains unclear whether Chrome will be sold, to whom, and how it might impact Firefox's relationship with Google.

Although Firefox's continued support for both Manifest V2 and Manifest V3 extensions may attract some users, it is unlikely to significantly shift its overall market share.

 

7. Some Recommended Third-Party Browsers

Browser	Key Features	Supported Platforms	Official Website
Waterfox	Based on Firefox ESR, telemetry removed	Windows, macOS, Linux	waterfox.net
Floorp	Privacy-focused, highly customizable UI	Windows, Linux	floorp.app
LibreWolf	Removes telemetry, ads, and Google dependencies	Windows, macOS, Linux	librewolf.net
IceCat	Free software version maintained by GNU	Linux, Windows, macOS	GNU Icecat
Mull	Enhanced privacy and security for Android	Android	gitlab.com/divested-mobile/mull
Fennec F-Droid	De-Googled Firefox for Android	Android	f-droid.org
Tor Browser	Built on Firefox ESR, integrates Tor for anonymity	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android	torproject.org
IronFox	A fork of Mull, recommended by LibreWolf for Android	Android	IronFox
RunningCheese Custom Edition	Optimized with out-of-the-box configurations	Windows, macOS	RunningCheese Firefox
tete009 Build	Performance-optimized compilation	Windows	Software
Pale Moon	Uses Goanna engine, retains old Firefox UI	Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD	Pale Moon
Midori	Customizable, workspaces, privacy-focused	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android	Midori Browser
Mullvad	Tor Browser with Mullvad VPN instead of Tor network	Windows, macOS, Linux	Mullvad Browser
Iceraven	Previously supported third-party extensions, now smoother	Android	Iceraven
Basilisk	Supports XUL/XPCOM extensions, alternative to Waterfox Classic	Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD	Basilisk
SeaMonkey	A continuation of the Mozilla Suite, includes browser, email client, etc.	Windows, macOS, Linux	SeaMonkey Project
Zen Browser	Similar to Floorp, UI resembles Arc, potentially faster	Windows, macOS, Linux	Zen Browser

More browsers will be added if discovered.

8. Conclusion

Firefox is always a browser worth recommending. However, after trying it, you may find it slow, incompatible, difficult to use, or not user-friendly enough, and then switch back to a Chromium-based browser. Nevertheless, it deserves to be seen and experienced as a backup browser.

I won’t insist on recommending a complete migration from Chromium just because of its monopoly. It’s fine to have multiple browsers on your computer. Although I personally don’t like using multiple browsers simultaneously, I tend to switch my primary browser periodically, getting annoyed by its issues, and then switching again in a cycle.

From a usability standpoint, Firefox is not the best. But in areas where the average user may not care, such as customization, privacy protection, and continued support for Manifest V2 extensions, Firefox does well. On a deeper level, perhaps just because it remains one of the few independent engine browsers, it is destined to be admired.

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References:

• Servo web rendering engine joins Linux Foundation Europe
• Firefox Browser
• Mozilla’s approach to Manifest V3: What’s different and why it matters for extension users
• BetterFox