Firefox alternatives?
Firefox alternatives?
On Linux and Android. What are privacy oriented alternatives to Firefox now that it's no longer trustworthy?
The ability to sync between devices would be a huge bonus, even just on a local network.
I just installed Librewolf today, using it now. Being a fork of FF it makes a very smooth transition.
I use a similar set up. Librewolf on Linux and IronFox on Android. You could still use a Firefox account to sync, but I wouldn’t. I’ve heard there’s a way to host an older version of Firefox sync locally, but I haven’t looked into it.
Second the Ironfox recommendation.
Not OP, but I've never heard of IronFox. Is it a comparable replacement for Mull? Gods I'm still a bit salty over how sudden that was...
This + xBrowserSync for bookmarks.
This is what I use.
And this is the latest sync server that doesn't rely on discontinued versions of Python: https://github.com/mozilla-services/syncstorage-rs/. It's not a full, plug and play solution, and it doesn't support PostgreSql so I haven't set it up in my self hosted environment yet, but plan to eventually.
I made this https://github.com/jeena/fxsync-docker/ which supports PostgreSQL but sadly they broke the upstream images in newer versions.
Someone did the work to rebuild the images and fix the problems in new versions, looks promising: https://github.com/porelli/firefox-sync
LibreWolf finally has an account at mastodon @librewolf@chaos.social
I made the switch, its worth noting that there is some differences, like not keeping cookies by default, and you're not able to set it dark mode etc. These can be fixed up through extensions or config changes.
If you want to keep the Gecko Engine from Mozilla to support an alternative to Google's monopoly here are a couple alternative for Linux :
- Librewolf
- Mullvad Browser
- Zen Browser
For Android you have to be aware that unfortunately every firefox based browser lack of per-site isolation unlike chromium browsers.
- IronFox (active fork of Mull by DivestOS)
- Fennec
On the dark side of the spectrum you have chromium browser such as :
- Brave (Linux & Android) (disable cryptocrap, sponsor backgrounds and it's quite good)
- Cromite (Android)
Vivaldi is much better than brave, no ai or crypto shit and the CEO isn't alt right
Vivaldi is pretty awesome. The massive levels of customization are next level compared to other Chromium options. I use it first if needing to use a site that is hard-coded to reject Firefox or other non-Chromium browsers. Also use it as a feed reader a lot.
Yes Vivaldi doesn't come with crypto bullshit nor AI. However by default it's so badly tuned for user privacy... and sprobably even security. Honestly I would prefer having a Vivaldi AI Agent over a proprietary web browser (I know it's mainly open but it's not) It was not that well optimized on several of my devices when I tried it... I'm not conviced by their chromium proprietary fork even tho it's not the worst alternative either.
I use ungoogled-chromium & thorium are worth a mention.
I have been daily driving Zen and aside from some random issues here and there when they mess with the UI (which is to be expected with a beta). It kind of reminds me of how cool Firefox felt back in the day coming from IE. Has been fun to see real progress and effort to try weird things that are local to the browser. Not trying to acquire costly extra services/products that take resources away from the browser. I just really wish Mozilla would have (or even start) allowing people to donate towards just the browser.
Some of the extra stuff they have have the option to directly support. The browser is still worth being a real option that isn't just some Chromium-based BS. Yet they keep trying to divert money to everything but it. I hope that the major forks of FF start tying to prepare for going forward in the main code without Mozilla when/if the time comes. This new IE that is Chrome/Chromium can't be allowed to keep going and dictating what is and isn't allowed.
I also have LibreWolf and Mullvad (along with tor) and like them for the efforts in privacy and security. But are too restrictive for daily use for me. Mostly use them only with VPN when finding torrents and other stuff that I don't want to be tied to an account/syncing (not just NSFW but searching and looking into political or questionable topics). Very happy to have options no matter what.
https://digdeeper.club/articles/browsers.xhtml has a somewhat comprehensive analysis of a dozen of the browsers you might consider, illuminating depressing (and sometimes surprising) privacy problems with literally all of them.
In the end it absurdly recommends something which forked from Firefox a very long time ago, which is obviously not a reasonable choice from a security standpoint. I don't have a good recommendation, but I definitely don't agree with that article's conclusion: privacy features are pointless if your browser is trivially vulnerable to exploits for a plethora of old bugs, which will inevitably be the case for a volunteer-run project that diverged from Firefox a long time ago and thus cannot benefit from Mozilla's security fixes in each new release.
However, despite its ridiculous conclusion, that page's analysis could still be helpful when you're deciding which of the terrible options to pick.
While it was an interesting read, the article is quite outdated and the author is overly negative of literally everything, not just privacy. If a browser has a glowy button, it's horrible because it's too fancy... I feel for the guy...
I've been using LibraWolf on desktop for several years now. It's just far simpler than modifying standard Firefox. for my personal needs.
power of 'community-driven' projects
Just amazing how people wake up, watch a bit of YouTube and run to social media saying the sky is falling in.
Floorp and librewolf, among others.
neither of them are aviable for android
Ironfox for Android
Ironfox on Android, easily is the best.
LibreWolf is what I use, but I heard Zen Browser is another fork that's been getting some traction. I don't use it though, but I've heard from someone who does that it works for them. thumbs-up
Zen looks good, but being more unique couldn't it get fingerprinted more easily?
Also their community is on Discord, which to me is a red flag quite frankly. I realize it's separate from the browser, but still. Discord no good.
Yeah I don't personally like how unlike LibreWolf it doesn't use ResistFingerprinting.
these days if i find any project exclusively active on socials like discord and twitter, and github forge, i quit using it. i mean i wont be registering an account there just for community support.
Been using Zen for the past week. It takes some getting used to, but it's been great so far.
So I haven't been following the Firefox thing that closely. Fennec isn't an alternative because it uses Firefox's Sync and Brave is out of the question because it's crypto Chrome?
Fennec is a poor alternative because it connects to Firefox services. Sync is optional, but some internal components will talk to Mozilla, and Mozilla changed their mind about "never selling your data" recently.
Brave is Chrome with a history of suspicious moves, toxic leadership, involvement with crypto and AI
Cromite
Cromite is exceptional.
librewolf, mullvad, zen browser? all fork of firefox
Not really an option because he said Android
You can use any firefox fork on Linux and any other firefox fork on Android. They sync fine.
useful to me, a non-android user who clicked because the title doesn't say anything about it.
Floorp :)
Cromite, it's basically Vanadium for non GrapheneOS devices
No mention of phoenix here? I moved from Librewolf over concerns it wasn't keeping up and this project does much like the arkenfox stuff does by using the current firefox and just changing some settiings and policies so you are never behind the latest version of firefox. Check out their comparisons: https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/wiki/Comparison#safe-browsing
Did you guys know Firefox is still libre software? 😱 Like, all data usage is verifiable 🤯, and you can easily configure it so it doesn't call home... Right? 🥵
Every couple of months there is an alarmist trend to kill Firefox, and then it turns out Firefox stays as the big libre option that respects your privacy and fights for freedom.
I am not saying they will never fail. But they haven't so far. And that's what matters.
Is brave an option?