Firefox

Firefox

Updated Apr 26, 2026
Awarded
1efficiency points
by editors.

Embedded AI, User Experience, Tab Management, Performance Efficiency, and Data Protection

Firefox
Firefox screenshot
FTC
Review
Comparison17

Review Summary

Review Summary

Firefox is a non-profit, privacy-focused browser built atop Quantum browser engine instead of Chromium which runs the majority of other browsers on the market.

What this ultimately means is that in exchange for "privacy" you're getting a substantially less supported ecosystem of browser extensions and a higher likelihood of websites not rendering exactly as they were intended due to having less than 3% of global browser marketshare.

Because of that, for most people, we recommend using a Chromium-based browser like that of Arc Browser.

Best Web Browser? Arc vs Chrome vs Safari vs Brave

Best Web Browser? Arc vs Chrome vs Safari vs Brave

Firefox Alternatives

Firefox Alternatives

Not sure if Firefox is the right fit for you? Check out these alternatives:

  1. ChatGPT Atlas
    ChatGPT Atlas

    Best AI Browser for ChatGPT users

    Best AI Browser for ChatGPT users

What is Firefox?

What is Firefox?

Firefox is one of the only privacy-focused browsers that is not built atop Chromium, in theory giving it further distance from the stronghold that Google has in the browser market.

What this ultimately means is all the Chrome extensions that people use and rely on are not compatible with Firefox unless rebuilt specifically for it. Think of it like iOS, Android, and Windows Phone/BlackBerry (which neither exist anymore, but the point is), you'll typically get developers building for iOS first (think of as Chromium/Chrome), Android second (think of as Webkit/Safari), and then Quantum Browser Engine third (Firefox).

Key Features

Key Features

Privacy Focus

Privacy Focus

Because of that, while you may be choosing a "privacy-focused" browser like Firefox, you're also getting substantially less third-party app support, and a higher chance of websites not performing as intended (like legacy banks or modern sites using newer technology). It simply comes down to there not being enough marketshare for web developers to focus on making everything work properly in Firefox as it only accounts for less than 3% of global marketshare.

Extensions & Compatibility

Extensions & Compatibility

Given this foundational difference, it means that the millions of Chrome extensions that are accessible to people, are not in Firefox, unless they rebuild it for Firefox, giving people less options if they choose Firefox as their primary browser.

For that reason, most people who use Firefox also use a second browser as well (typically based on Chromium), like Arc Browser, Chrome, or Brave for when they need full features and functionality like full Chrome Extension support.

Revenue & Business Model

Revenue & Business Model

That said, while they are a non-profit and privacy focused, they still make the far majority of their money from Google ($500M/yr) by having Google as the default search engine. So if you want to be a sustainable browser, you really need to just make a deal with Google in some way.

Some argue that Google is in some way strategically paying Firefox at this point just to make it seem like Chrome is not a monopoly.

Categories

Categories

Firefox fits into multiple categories based on what it actually helps you do. Each category highlights a different strength and the efficiency points it earned, helping you compare tools not just by features, but by how well they actually perform.

BrowserMain
Open Source

Keep exploring the best software across categories, or explore Firefox alternatives

FAQ

FAQ

Is Firefox Based On Chromium?

Is Firefox Based On Chromium?

No, Firefox is one of just a few browser that is not based on Chromium. Firefox is based on Quantum Browser Engine instead of Chromium.

How Does Firefox Make Money?

How Does Firefox Make Money?

Is Firefox a Non-Profit Company?

Is Firefox a Non-Profit Company?