Mullvad Browser vs Waterfox
Mullvad Browser
mullvad.net
Waterfox
waterfox.comSide by side
| Figure | Mullvad Browser | Waterfox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Web browsers | 8.7 (#22) | 9.3 (#3) |
| Spec score · Privacy browsers | 8.7 (#6) | 9.3 (#2) |
| Browser engine | gecko | gecko |
| Built-in ad blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-device sync | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2023 | 2011 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Gothenburg, Sweden | Suite 140, 372 Old Street, London, EC1V 9AU, United Kingdom |
| Open source | Mullvad describes the browser as open source and free of charge. | Yes |
| Supported platforms | both | Downloads are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android; Windows requires Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, and Linux glibc 2.17 or later. |
| Support | Mullvad lists [email protected] as its contact address for questions about the browser. | Waterfox provides help articles for browsing, privacy and security, customization, troubleshooting and Android. |
| Tracking protection | advanced | advanced |
Plans
In their own words
Mullvad Browser
Mullvad Browser is a free, open-source browser designed to reduce tracking and browser fingerprinting. It uses the Gecko engine and runs on supported versions of Linux, macOS and Windows; the Windows version requires Windows 10 or later and a 64-bit system. Fingerprinting protection is intended to make users appear more similar to one another, and uBlock Origin is included to block third-party trackers. The browser also includes ad blocking. Private mode is enabled by default, so cookies, cache and history are not saved between sessions, and a reset button starts a clean session in one click. Mullvad says it has removed browser telemetry. The browser can connect with or without a VPN, but it does not use the Tor Network; it was developed in collaboration with the Tor Project. Cross-device sync is not available. Mullvad says it does not earn money from the browser and instead earns income from its VPN service. Support questions can be sent to [email protected].
Waterfox
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.