Firefox - Free Download (2026)

Name: Firefox
Availability: InStock
Author: The Mozilla Foundation

By FreewarePub editorial Updated Jun 30, 2026 3 min read

70MB Windows 10/11

Firefox - Free Web Browser

Firefox is a free, open source web browser built by Mozilla Foundation. It runs on its own Gecko engine, which makes it one of the few browsers that is not based on Google's Chromium. The current version is 150.0, with updates every four weeks. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Where Firefox stands out is privacy. Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks third-party trackers, tracking cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinting by default. Total Cookie Protection isolates cookies per site so advertisers cannot follow you across the web. There is also HTTPS-Only Mode, DNS-over-HTTPS, and a built-in translation feature that works offline without sending your data anywhere.

What you get

The basics work well. Tab management improved recently with Tab Groups (name and color-code groups of tabs, collapse them when not needed) and Vertical Tabs that show your open tabs in a sidebar instead of the top bar. Split View lets you put two pages side by side. Picture-in-Picture pops videos out into a floating window.

Firefox has a built-in password manager that saves, generates, and auto-fills credentials, synced across devices through Firefox Sync (end-to-end encrypted). The PDF viewer handles reading, form filling, drawing, and signatures without a separate app. Ctrl+Shift+S takes screenshots of any page section or the full scrollable page.

The extension catalog at addons.mozilla.org is smaller than Chrome's but covers the essentials - uBlock Origin, Bitwarden, Dark Reader, Privacy Badger. Multi-Account Containers is a standout extension that isolates cookies per container (work, personal, shopping), so you can be logged into multiple accounts on the same site.

Developer tools (F12) include an Inspector, Console, Network monitor, JavaScript Debugger, and Performance Profiler. They are solid and some developers prefer them to Chrome DevTools for CSS debugging.

Advantages

Strong privacy defaults - tracker blocking, cookie isolation, fingerprint protection
Independent engine (not Chromium) - good for browser diversity
Tab Groups and Vertical Tabs for organization
Built-in password manager with encrypted sync
Offline page translation (no data sent to servers)
Extensions like Multi-Account Containers have no Chrome equivalent
Open source, no telemetry if you turn it off

Drawbacks

Slower than Chrome on some JavaScript-heavy sites
~2% market share means some websites are not tested in Firefox
Smaller extension library than Chrome
RAM usage is comparable to Chrome despite reputation
Mobile version on iOS uses WebKit (Apple requirement), not Gecko

Editor's take

I switched to Firefox a few years back, mostly because of Multi-Account Containers. Being able to keep work and personal logins completely separated in the same window is something Chrome still cannot do natively. The privacy features are real - I run Strict tracking protection and rarely hit issues with broken sites.

It is not the fastest browser. Some web apps feel a half-second slower than in Chrome, and a few sites render slightly differently because they were built with Chrome in mind. But for everyday browsing, the difference is small, and I would rather use a browser that is not feeding everything back to Google's ad network.

Who it is for

Firefox is a good pick if you care about privacy and want a browser that is not tied to Google. It works well for everyday browsing, and power users get Tab Groups, Containers, and strong developer tools. If you depend on Chrome-only extensions or need the absolute fastest JavaScript performance, Chrome is still faster. For most people, Firefox does the job well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Firefox free?

Yes. Firefox is free and open source, published under the Mozilla Public License. There are no ads, no premium version, and no hidden costs.

Is Firefox safer than Chrome?

Firefox blocks third-party trackers and tracking cookies by default with Enhanced Tracking Protection. It also offers fingerprinting protection and DNS-over-HTTPS. Chrome has similar security but collects more data for Google's ad network.

Can I import bookmarks from Chrome to Firefox?

Yes. Go to File > Import from Another Browser and select Chrome. Firefox imports bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, and autofill data.

Does Firefox use a lot of RAM?

Firefox uses roughly the same amount of RAM as Chrome. With many tabs open, both browsers use several gigabytes. Firefox has a built-in task manager (about:processes) to check per-tab memory usage.

What happened to Firefox market share?

Firefox holds about 2-3% of global browser market share, down from a peak of around 30% in 2009. Chrome dominates with over 65%. Firefox remains more popular in Germany and among privacy-focused users.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Ad and tracker blocking	Settings › Privacy & Security › Enhanced Tracking Protection › Strict. Blocks trackers, tracking cookies, and cryptominers.
2	Add-ons and extensions	Menu › Add-ons and Themes (Ctrl+Shift+A). The addons.mozilla.org catalog includes uBlock Origin, Bitwarden, Dark Reader, and others.
3	Private browsing (incognito)	Ctrl+Shift+P opens a new private window. History, cookies, and form data are not saved.
4	Cross-device synchronization 2	Settings › Sync › Sign in with a Mozilla account. Syncs bookmarks, passwords, tabs, history, and add-ons. End-to-end encryption.
5	Automatic updates	Enabled by default. Menu › Help › About Firefox checks for and installs updates.
6	Popup window blocking 3	Settings › Privacy › Permissions › Block pop-up windows (enabled by default).
7	Contact groups and list organization	Right-click a tab › Add to Tab Group. Assign a name and color. Collapse or expand groups as needed.
8	Password manager 6	Settings › Privacy › Passwords. Saves, generates, and autofills passwords. Sync across devices via Firefox Sync.
9	Developer tools	F12 opens DevTools. Inspector, Console, Network, Debugger, Performance Profiler.
10	Closed tab restoration	Ctrl+Shift+T restores the last closed tab. Works repeatedly (stack-based).
11	Bookmark management 2	Ctrl+D adds a bookmark. Ctrl+Shift+O opens the bookmarks library. Import from Chrome/Edge via File › Import.
12	PDF reader	Firefox opens PDF files directly. Draw, sign, and fill out forms in the built-in editor.
13	Vertical Tabs	Settings › General › Tabs › Enable Vertical Tabs. Tabs appear in a left-side panel instead of at the top.
14	Picture-in-picture	Hover over a video › Click the blue PiP icon. The video plays in a floating window on top of other content.
15	Web page translation 2	Translation icon in the address bar. Translates pages offline (without sending data to a server).
16	Built-in VPN 2	Settings › Mozilla VPN (in select regions). 50 GB/month for free.
17	Take screenshot 6	Ctrl+Shift+S or right-click › Take Screenshot. Select a region or capture the full page (full height).
18	Printing / PDF export	Ctrl+P › Select "Save as PDF" from the printer list. Ctrl+S saves the page as HTML.
19	Multi-Account Containers	Install the Firefox Multi-Account Containers add-on. Each container (work, personal, shopping) isolates cookies and sessions.
20	Browser fingerprinting protection	Settings › Privacy › Enhanced Protection › Strict. Blocks browser fingerprinting techniques.
21	Interface customization	Right-click the toolbar › Customize Toolbar. Drag buttons, change the theme. Use about:config for advanced settings.
22	HTTPS-Only mode	Settings › Privacy › HTTPS-Only Mode › Enable in all windows. Forces encrypted connections.
23	Reader mode	Click the reader icon in the address bar (or press F9). Removes ads and formatting, leaving clean text.
24	DNS-over-HTTPS	Settings › Privacy › DNS over HTTPS › Max Protection. Encrypts DNS queries.
25	Split View	Right-click a tab › Open in Split View. Two pages displayed side by side.