The XDA “I ditched Chrome and Firefox” piece is the kind of switch story that has repeated every year since 2018, and it keeps repeating because Chrome and Firefox both keep shipping features people did not ask for. The privacy-focused open-source alternatives have quietly grown into a real category, with different picks depending on whether you care about fingerprinting, telemetry, sync services, or just extension quality.
We tested seven open-source privacy browser apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The picks range from strict Firefox rebuilds through Chromium forks to design-forward productivity browsers. All are free and (with one hedge on Brave’s proprietary backend services) open-source.
What to look for in a privacy browser
Default settings that do not need a checklist. If the browser needs 15 toggles flipped before it stops phoning home, the “privacy” claim is nominal.
Fingerprinting resistance. Tor-adjacent projects (Mullvad, Tor Browser) invest here; typical forks do not.
Extension compatibility. Firefox extensions run on Firefox forks; Chrome extensions run on Chromium forks. Do not mix them up.
Update cadence. A privacy browser that ships security updates two months late is not privacy-first, whatever the marketing says.
Sync options. Bookmarks and passwords need to move between machines somehow; the question is whose server holds them.
Sensible defaults for ad-blocking. uBlock Origin pre-installed is a strong signal; a browser that ships without any blocker is not really pushing privacy.
Quick comparison
| Browser | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LibreWolf | Firefox with the parts you did not want removed | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Blocks telemetry, WebGL fingerprint, and Pocket by default |
| Mullvad Browser | Fingerprint resistance without Tor | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Built by Tor Project + Mullvad VPN |
| Brave | Chrome extensions with a privacy default | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Native ad and tracker blocking |
| Zen Browser | Firefox fork with modern tabs UI | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Vertical tabs, workspaces, no telemetry |
| Waterfox | Firefox for people who want Chrome extensions too | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Supports both WebExtensions and legacy XUL add-ons |
| Floorp | Firefox with usability tweaks | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Vertical tab tree and workspace features baked in |
| Ungoogled Chromium | Chromium without Google | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Removes Google’s telemetry and services entirely |
The apps
1. LibreWolf, Best for Firefox purists
LibreWolf is Firefox with the Mozilla ambitions taken out. Telemetry is disabled, Pocket is removed, WebGL is blocked by default (with a per-site allow list), and uBlock Origin is pre-installed. The developers ship weekly builds tracking upstream Firefox ESR, so security patches land on the same schedule as Mozilla’s.
Where it falls short: disabled WebGL breaks a lot of interactive web apps. Turning it back on is a two-click job, but if you use Figma, PowerBI, or three.js sites, you will hit that fast.
Pricing: free. Open-source (MPL 2.0).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (Flatpak, AppImage, native).
Download: librewolf.net
Bottom line: the default answer for anyone who wants Firefox without Mozilla’s product decisions.
2. Mullvad Browser, Best for fingerprinting resistance without going full Tor
Mullvad Browser is what happens when the Tor Project builds a browser designed to work outside the Tor network. It has the fingerprint resistance work that Tor Browser has spent decades on (letterboxing, canvas fingerprint blocking, uniform User-Agent), stripped of the exit-node routing. Use it with Mullvad VPN or without; the browser does not require the VPN.
Where it falls short: every session starts clean. No profile, no sign-in, no history persistence by default. That is by design and a friction point for daily driving.
Pricing: free. Open-source. Mullvad VPN is a separate €5/month product.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: mullvad.net/en/download/browser
Bottom line: the pick for people who cannot use Tor Browser (banking blocks, Netflix, etc.) but want the same fingerprint story.
3. Brave, Best for Chromium sites plus a privacy default
Brave is Chromium with tracker blocking baked in at the request-router level, not through an extension. Chrome extensions install as normal, Google Sign-In still works on the sites that require it, and the built-in shields settings are simple enough to explain to a non-technical relative.
Where it falls short: the Brave Ads and BAT tokens push has been quiet lately but has not disappeared. The Brave Rewards system is optional; the marketing tone is still there.
Pricing: free. Rewards, Brave Talk, Leo AI Premium are optional add-ons.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: brave.com
Bottom line: the pick for someone coming from Chrome who does not want to give up Chrome extensions or Google Meet.
4. Zen Browser, Best for a fresh take on tabs plus Firefox privacy
Zen is a Firefox fork that added the vertical-tab, workspace, and command-bar ideas Arc popularised, without adding the sync-to-vendor requirement. Telemetry is off, DoH is on by default, and the interface finally makes tab-hoarders feel seen. Extensions work; profiles work; the browser stays out of your way.
Where it falls short: the project is younger than LibreWolf and the release cadence occasionally lags upstream Firefox ESR by a week or two. Security patches still land but not immediately.
Pricing: free. Open-source (MPL).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: zen-browser.app
Bottom line: the design-forward Firefox fork. Pick this if LibreWolf feels too austere.
5. Waterfox, Best for Firefox extensions plus a Chrome escape hatch
Waterfox supports both WebExtensions (Firefox’s modern API) and the classic XUL add-ons Firefox retired in 2017. That means a handful of long-lost extensions (Tab Groups, Classic Theme Restorer, some cookie tools) still work. It also imports Chrome extensions in a compatibility mode, which is the escape hatch that makes it interesting for switchers.
Where it falls short: the Chrome-extension compatibility mode does not cover Manifest V3 extensions well. Some Chrome tools install but do not run correctly.
Pricing: free. Open-source (MPL).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: waterfox.net
Bottom line: the pick for XUL-extension nostalgia, plus a soft Chrome bridge.
6. Floorp, Best for Firefox with usability tweaks pre-configured
Floorp is a Japanese Firefox fork that pre-configures vertical tab tree, workspaces, tab sleeping, dual sidebar, and a handful of other UI features that on stock Firefox require add-ons or about:config edits. Telemetry off, no vendor sync, extension compatibility unchanged from Firefox.
Where it falls short: English documentation lags Japanese. Some settings dialogs still show translation gaps.
Pricing: free. Open-source (MPL).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: floorp.app
Bottom line: the pick for Firefox users who wanted vertical tabs and workspaces built in.
7. Ungoogled Chromium, Best for Chromium without Google
Ungoogled Chromium is Chromium with every Google service removed at build time. There is no Sync, no Web Store integration by default, no Safe Browsing, no anonymised metrics. What you get is a Chrome-family browser that behaves like open-source software and nothing else.
Where it falls short: because the Web Store is gone, installing extensions is a manual crx sideload process. There is a helper extension (Chromium Web Store) that restores discovery; it is a third-party trust step.
Pricing: free.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: ungoogled-software.github.io · GitHub
Bottom line: the pick for people who trust the Chromium codebase and no other layer above it.
How to pick the right one
Coming from Firefox and just want fewer surprises: LibreWolf.
Coming from Firefox and want a modern UI: Zen or Floorp.
Coming from Chrome and want Chrome extensions to keep working: Brave.
Coming from Tor Browser but need banking sites: Mullvad Browser.
You maintain a small number of very specific Chrome-family requirements: Ungoogled Chromium.
You miss old Firefox extensions: Waterfox.
FAQ
Is Brave really open-source? Most of the browser is (MPL/Apache-licensed on GitHub). Some backend services (Rewards, Sync) are proprietary. If “open-source across the whole stack” matters, LibreWolf, Zen, and Ungoogled Chromium are safer picks.
Which is best for beginners? Brave. Chrome-like interface, one-click install, working defaults.
Do these browsers share data with vendors? LibreWolf, Mullvad Browser, Ungoogled Chromium, Zen, and Floorp default to no telemetry. Brave sends some anonymised connection statistics unless disabled. Waterfox sends usage statistics unless disabled.
What is the best browser for Linux? Any of the seven runs cleanly on Linux. LibreWolf and Mullvad Browser have Flatpak builds; Brave has both native and Flatpak; the Firefox forks all ship native binaries.
Can I sync passwords and bookmarks across devices? Bitwarden works with all seven. Native sync exists on Brave (proprietary) and via Mozilla Sync on the Firefox forks (LibreWolf disables it by default; the others let you enable it).
