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Waterfox alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Waterfox: updates lag behind Firefox, and less hardening than LibreWolf. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Waterfox, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. LibreWolf currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1LibreWolf logoLibreWolfOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2Firefox logoFirefoxOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3Floorp logoFloorpOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
4PaPale MoonOpen sourceYesWindows, Linux4 of 457.2
5Zen Browser logoZen BrowserOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 455.3
  1. LibreWolf logo

    1. LibreWolfTop pick

    Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want a pre-hardened Firefox

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waterfox

    More aggressive privacy hardening with uBlock Origin included.

    Pros

    • No telemetry or sponsored content
    • uBlock Origin included
    • Strong privacy defaults without manual tweaking

    Cons

    • Strict defaults can break some sites and logins
    • DRM streaming off until you enable it
    • No mobile app
    Visit LibreWolf Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LibreWolf a good Waterfox alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Based on
    Firefox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026librewolf.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Ad blocker
    uBlock Origin included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026librewolf.net(opens source in a new tab)
    DRM
    Disabled by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026librewolf.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS, OpenBSD
    Checked Oct 25, 2026librewolf.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Firefox logo

    2. Firefox

    Best for: People who want a mainstream, independent browser with strong privacy and ad-blocker support

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waterfox

    Faster security updates directly from Mozilla.

    Pros

    • Independent Gecko engine
    • Full support for advanced ad blockers
    • Strong tracking protection by default

    Cons

    • Some sites are tested less and occasionally break
    • Smaller extension catalogue than Chrome
    • No longer supports Windows 8.1 and older
    Visit Firefox Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Firefox a good Waterfox alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Positioning
    Independent browser
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Extensions
    30,000+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PDF editing
    Built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum Windows
    Windows 10 (8.1 and older need ESR)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Floorp logo

    3. Floorp

    Best for: Firefox users who want workspaces, web panels and deep interface customisation

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waterfox

    Firefox-based with workspaces and even more customisation.

    Pros

    • Workspaces, split view and web panels built in
    • Deep interface customisation
    • Keeps Firefox extension support

    Cons

    • Smaller project than Firefox
    • No stable mobile app yet
    • Many options to learn
    Visit Floorp Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Floorp a good Waterfox alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Based on
    Firefox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026floorp.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Key features
    Workspaces, split view, web panels
    Checked Oct 25, 2026floorp.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026floorp.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    MPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Pa

    4. Pale Moon

    Best for: Fans of classic Firefox who want XUL add-ons and a traditional interface

    Open sourceWindows, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waterfox

    Classic XUL extensions and interface on its own engine.

    Pros

    • Supports classic XUL extensions and full themes
    • Traditional, highly customisable interface
    • Runs well on older hardware

    Cons

    • Many modern sites work poorly
    • Small team maintains the engine
    • No official macOS or mobile builds
    Visit Pale Moon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Pale Moon a good Waterfox alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Engine
    Goanna (own engine)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026palemoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Add-ons
    XUL extensions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026palemoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows support
    Windows 7 SP1 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026palemoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux builds
    64-bit GTK3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026palemoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Zen Browser logo

    5. Zen Browser

    Best for: Arc fans who want a similar sidebar layout on Firefox, without AI

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waterfox

    Modern sidebar-first Firefox-based design.

    Pros

    • Workspaces, split view and compact mode built in
    • Firefox engine with full uBlock Origin support
    • Free and open source on all desktop platforms

    Cons

    • No mobile app
    • Smaller team, so updates can lag Firefox
    • Some rough edges in newer features
    Visit Zen Browser Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zen Browser a good Waterfox alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zen-browser.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    MPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zen-browser.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Key features
    Workspaces, Compact Mode, Glance, Split View
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zen-browser.app(opens source in a new tab)

The best Waterfox alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

LibreWolf logo

Best Waterfox alternative for most people

LibreWolf

More aggressive privacy hardening with uBlock Origin included.

Firefox logo

Best Waterfox alternative for a free option

Firefox

Faster security updates directly from Mozilla.

Floorp logo

Best Waterfox alternative for open source

Floorp

Firefox-based with workspaces and even more customisation.

Zen Browser logo

Best Waterfox alternative for Mac

Zen Browser

Modern sidebar-first Firefox-based design.

Pa

Best Waterfox alternative for Windows

Pale Moon

Classic XUL extensions and interface on its own engine.

LibreWolf logo

Best Waterfox alternative for Linux

LibreWolf

More aggressive privacy hardening with uBlock Origin included.

Firefox logo

Best Waterfox alternative for iPhone and Android

Firefox

Faster security updates directly from Mozilla.

Waterfox alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Waterfox?

LibreWolf ranks first right now. More aggressive privacy hardening with uBlock Origin included. Firefox and Floorp follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Waterfox?

Yes. LibreWolf (open source), Firefox (open source), Floorp (open source) and Pale Moon (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Waterfox?

Yes: LibreWolf, Firefox, Floorp and Pale Moon, plus 1 more in the list above.

Which Waterfox alternatives work on Linux?

LibreWolf, Firefox, Floorp, Pale Moon and Zen Browser run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Waterfox?

The complaints we hear most: updates lag behind Firefox; less hardening than LibreWolf; small team behind it.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Waterfox, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.