LibreWolf vs Waterfox

LibreWolf is an independent Firefox-based browser for people who want privacy and security settings applied by default. It includes uBlock Origin with custom filter lists and strict Tracking Protection, while Resist Fingerprinting is enabled and WebGL is disabled. On closing the browser, it removes cookies and site data; Total Cookie Protection is also enabled. HTTPS-only mode and stricter TLS/SSL negotiation rules add further security controls. DuckDuckGo and Searx are among its listed search providers. LibreWolf says it disables telemetry, does not collect data, and lacks the infrastructure to do so. It is free and open source for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Updates usually follow a stable Firefox release within three days, but the browser has no automatic update capability. DRM playback is off by default but can be enabled in settings. Its built-in password manager is disabled, so the project suggests using another option.

Waterfox is a free, open-source web browser built around privacy and customisation. It uses the Gecko engine and is listed for Android, browser extensions, Linux, macOS and Windows. On desktop, it blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups and overlays by default; filter lists and site exceptions can be adjusted. Private tabs use their own container, and Waterfox removes that container’s site data when the final private tab closes. DNS requests are encrypted and passed through an Oblivious HTTP relay; users can change or disable the default Fastly-operated relay and Cloudflare-operated resolver. Tree tabs nest pages under the page that opened them, with branches that can be collapsed or moved together. Firefox WebExtensions work, but Chrome-only extensions do not transfer automatically. Regular updates incorporate Mozilla security fixes using the Firefox ESR model. Waterfox says telemetry, health reports and crash reports are disabled at build time. Sync is off until Mozilla-account sign-in, and synced data is end-to-end encrypted. The browser plan is free, with no premium tier or required payment.