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Browsers I tried yesterday (on Linux):
- Zen: neat, but the UI is too different for my taste
- Floorp: also neat, but features I don't use
- Waterfox: sweet spot for me
Librewolf and Waterfox seem pretty similar on paper. I went with Waterfox cuz idk. So far, Waterfox seems to be a drop-in replacement. I haven't noticed any problems with websites and haven't run into any bugs.
One note about Waterfox is that I would have liked if it was added to the official Arch Linux repos. I installed fine with the AUR, but still.
Bonus: Waterfox is available on Android! đ„ł
One note about Waterfox is that I would have liked if it was added to the official Arch Linux repos. I installed fine with the AUR, but still.
I tend to go with Flathub before the AUR, if available. đ
I tend to go with Flathub before the AUR, if available.
This is the correct way to Linux in 2025
Cool. Could you elaborate? Because I only do this because of some kind of gut feeling... đ
Flatpaks are containerized, making them both more reliable and more secure (in general... but it's always possible to fuck things up).
Besides the benefits to users, there are also huge benefits to developers: they can publish a single package and support nearly every distro with it.
It's often impossible for a dev to publish and maintain packages for all Linux distros out there, so stuff on AUR is built and packaged by well-meaning, but random people who are not the original developer. This very often leads to the app having bugs and compatibility issues which the developer ends up wasting time debugging and trying to fix even though it's not their fault. (although downstream packagers can fuck this up too by publishing their own unofficial Flatpaks, like Fedora's recent OBS shenanigans)
Oh yeah, the OBS thing. Yeah, I guess these are the reasons I've felt like Flatpaks are a bit more stable than AUR packages. They might take up more space or whatever, but it's nice to know they work like they're supposed to, especially commercial stuff like Spotify and Slack etc. I just wish Flatpak software integrated better with the rest of the system without extra configuration.
Zen: is Firefox
Floorp: is Firefox
Waterfox: is Firefox
Librewolf: is Firefox
They are all dependent on Mozilla and its choices.
There is currently no comptetive engine that isnât owned/developed by a big company. Ladybird is slowly getting there, but itâs gonna take a while. Until then gecko engine is OK for now. Itâs all opensource so we know when thatâs no longer the case.
Ladybirdâs communications are locked to proprietary, âenshittifiedâ platforms in Discord & GitHub.
There is some degree of independence. For example, if Mozilla releases some super evil patch tomorrow, I'm pretty sure everyone would just patch it out immediately. In fact, this is what most derivatives seem to do, patch out the ad/telemetry stuff.
But yeah, these are all modified Firefox browsers. Hopefully, nobody was thinking these were unique, new, browsers.
No, being a fork doesn't mean it's the same browser.
Try Mullvad browser, it works well in my opinion. It should be used with a VPN (i.e. shared IP address space) though.
I found waterfox on aurora store android and below this stores page it lists trackers found: Mozilla telemetry, Sentry. What is the point if it gives Mozilla the same data? Or is this not whst i think it is?
I like Zen for its different interface. I like having a built-in vertical tab bar. It's not as focused on privacy and security as Librewolf is, though.
Is waterfox independent of system1 now?
ETA: they are apparently: www.farside.link/reddit.com/r/waterfox/comments/14phsyl/a_new_chapter_for_waterfox/
Here is the link without the need to open reddit. https://www.waterfox.net/blog/a-new-chapter-for-waterfox/
One note about Waterfox is that I would have liked if it was added to the official Arch Linux repos. I installed fine with the AUR, but still.
Same for LibreWolf.
Bonus: Waterfox is available on Android! đ„ł
I was thinking I should ditch android FF, too...
Ironfox is a solid alternative there too
Is Zen still a safe bet? Iâm using it currently and quite like it actually so Iâm hoping itâs still a good option. I just frankly am pretty ignorant of all this browser shenanigans.
There is also Epiphany. browser with the webkit engine.