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ZDNET Highlights
- Firefox is still alive and kicking.
- Today’s world demands privacy and user choice.
- Firefox will be an improvement over many users’ default browsers.
I’ve used Firefox on and off since it first came into existence. It’s fast, customizable, bloat-free, serious about privacy and security, updated regularly, and its developers listen to users. With one brief exception in 2010, I’ve always been happy with the browser.
The company behind the browser has a different story. It’s worth noting that in July, 2025, I announced that I was removing Firefox forever. That decision was based on my dislike of some of the things Mozilla has done over the years. However, time heals all wounds, and I found myself going back to open-source browsers. Although I may disagree with some of Mozilla’s decisions, Firefox is still one of the best open-source browsers on the market. And given my interest in Linux and open source, it’s hard to stay away from the browser that ships by default with most Linux distributions.
Also: Firefox has fixed my biggest gripe with web browsers – and others should copy it ASAP
That said, for many users, changing browsers is like changing religion or switching from Coke to Pepsi. Chrome/Edge/Safari have been the default for years, and they are preinstalled on their respective operating systems (Chrome on Android, Edge on Windows, Safari on iOS/MacOS).
Why would you change? Is Chrome not “good enough”?
Well, that’s kind of the issue. Chrome is “pretty good.” But is “good enough” really good enough anymore? I would argue that it is not, and I am going to support that claim with some reasons why I believe Firefox makes sense in today’s world.
1. Firefox is not developed by a big company with a vested interest
Mozilla is the company behind Firefox. Although the Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization, its subsidiary, Mozilla Corporation, is a for-profit business. However, unlike Google and Chrome, Mozilla has no vested interest in promoting its respective services. From my perspective, Google wants to keep users within its ecosystem, which means google.comGoogle Workspace, Android etc. To that end, the company will do whatever it can to make it a reality.
Also: You need to take a closer look at the permissions behind your AI Chrome extensions – they could be spying on you
Mozilla, on the other hand, has no search engine to lock out users. Firefox doesn’t care what search engine you use, what operating system you use it on, or what productivity suite you prefer. This means that Firefox won’t do anything nefarious to stop me from doing what I want to do and how I want to do it.
Although Mozilla wants Firefox to become the biggest player in the browser game again, there is no way they are going to do that.
2. Better transparency through open source
Firefox is open source. This means you can View the source code used to build the browser. You can also create your own browser based on Firefox. But ultimately it allows anyone to look at the source code of the browser and see what’s going on under the hood. This is transparency.
Also: This one iPhone setting instantly stops all apps from tracking you – turn it off today
Yes, it requires a certain skill set to understand what’s going on in the code, but people with those skills are free to dive in. Try doing this with Chrome, Safari, or Edge. You won’t go very far. Sure, you can see the Chromium code (on which Chrome and Edge are based), but you won’t be able to see the proprietary bits that Google and Microsoft added to it.
To me, that ambiguity leads to distrust. I would prefer to use a web browser that is open and honest about what works.
3. Better Privacy
I am not saying that Firefox is It is the most privacy-focused browser on the market, as that title belongs to either the Brave or Tor browsers. However, Firefox is definitely more private than Chrome, Edge, or Safari.
Also: Best Secure Browser for Privacy: Expert Tested
Firefox’s built-in tracker blocking does a great job of preventing data collection. However, this does not mean that Firefox does not collect anything. It collects limited technical and interaction data, such as performance metrics, feature usage, and IP-derived location. That data is used only to improve the browser and to personalize sponsored content. It is important to understand that the data collected is anonymous and is not sold to advertisers.
Although Google does not sell your personal data to third parties, it does not need to, as it owns the largest advertising network in the world.
4. No deep integration
With Chrome, Edge, and Safari, you know you’re getting deep integration with proprietary tools that come together to create a cohesive whole. Chrome integrates with Gemini, Docs, and Meet, syncs your accounts, bookmarks, and passwords, and acts as a centralized hub for data used for targeted advertising. Targeted ads are a major driver for Google, as they generate revenue.
Also: I found a free Google Maps alternative that doesn’t track my location (or drain my phone’s battery).
Firefox, on the other hand, takes a minimalist approach to integration. Yes, you can sync your Firefox account across devices, but Firefox isn’t deeply integrated with any particular ecosystem: not Google Drive, not iCloud, and not OneDrive.
5. AI is opt-in, not opt-out
The rapid growth of AI in the last few years has made it a part of everything. Open Chrome and you will find Gemini. Open Edge and you’ll find CoPilot. Open Safari and you’ll find Apple Intelligence.
You can bet they will continue to lean heavily on browser AI. To solve that problem, AI in Chrome, Edge, and Safari is an opt-out feature. Firefox, on the other hand, takes an opt-in approach. By default, AI is not turned on in Firefox, so you’ll have to manually enable it for it to work. Yes, Firefox includes AI features, but they won’t work unless you enable them.
Also: I’m not a fan of Copilot, but these 6 new AI skills turned Edge into my favorite mobile browser
For anyone who is averse to AI, Firefox is the way to go.
6. DMA
“Every 10 seconds, someone chooses Firefox through the DMA choice screen.” this is it Mozilla had this to say about DMA.
The Digital Markets Act in Europe is designed to ensure fair competition and openness in the digital sector and targets major technology companies, often referred to as “gatekeepers”.
Given the choice, users will choose Firefox with over 6 million instances (again, according to Mozilla). company also Another study points to Its conclusion is that “…the daily active users of Firefox in the EU were 113% higher than they would have been without DMA.”
Too: Firefox makes it easier to separate your work and personal browsing – here’s how
In the US, users don’t have that kind of protection, so monopolists are free to set up monopolies as they wish.
Choice is important, but many (probably most) American users don’t realize they have a choice. It’s very easy to read between the lines of This excerpt from Yougov.com –Most users simply stick to the browser that their operating system presents to them. Some users may be aware of alternatives, but they believe that the companies behind those alternatives have their best interests in mind.
DMA shows that understanding choice leads to change.
