Firefox for Android has improved dramatically since the Fenix rewrite in 2020. It's genuinely competitive with Chrome on Android now, and has privacy features Chrome's mobile browser doesn't offer. Here's what's worth knowing.
What's Different About Firefox for Android
The current Firefox for Android (Fenix) is a complete rewrite. The old Firefox (pre-2020) had poor performance and looked dated. The new version:
- Uses GeckoView, the same Gecko engine as desktop Firefox
- Much faster than the old version
- Supports extensions on mobile (genuinely useful ones)
- Full uBlock Origin support — the same extension you use on desktop
This last point is significant. Chrome's Android browser doesn't support extensions. Firefox for Android does.
Getting Extensions on Firefox Android
- Tap the three-dot menu → Add-ons
- You'll see a curated list, but you can load any AMO extension
To install extensions not in the curated list:
- Enable "Install from AMO" in Settings → Advanced
- Paste the AMO URL directly in the address bar
Extensions that work well on mobile:
- uBlock Origin: Works exactly like desktop. Actually blocks ads.
- Firefox Multi-Account Containers: Container tabs work on mobile
- Bitwarden: Password manager
- Dark Background and Light Text or Dark Reader: Dark mode for all sites
- Cookie AutoDelete: Auto-clear cookies from closed tabs
The iOS Difference
Firefox for iOS is not the same Firefox. Apple requires all iOS browsers to use WebKit (the Safari engine). Firefox for iOS cannot use Gecko.
This means:
- No uBlock Origin on iOS Firefox
- No real extension support
- Browser rendering is Safari's rendering (WebKit), not Firefox's (Gecko)
- Privacy features like Enhanced Tracking Protection are implemented on top of WebKit
Firefox for iOS is essentially a custom Safari wrapper with Firefox's UI and some privacy features. It's still better than Chrome on iOS (same WebKit restriction applies to Chrome too), but the extension advantage doesn't exist.
Bottom line: Firefox's value proposition is much stronger on Android than iOS.
Firefox Sync on Mobile
Firefox Sync works well across desktop and Android:
- Bookmarks, history, passwords sync bidirectionally
- Open tabs sync: see tabs open on your desktop from mobile and vice versa
- Extensions don't sync (different platform)
To enable: Settings → Sign in to Sync → Create or sign into Firefox Account
This is optional — Firefox works fine without a sync account. But if you use Firefox on multiple devices, sync is one of the best features.
Privacy Features Worth Enabling on Mobile
Enhanced Tracking Protection: Settings → Privacy and security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → Strict
HTTPS-Only Mode: Settings → Privacy and security → HTTPS-Only Mode → Enable in all tabs
DNS over HTTPS: Settings → Privacy and security → DNS over HTTPS. Choose your resolver (Cloudflare, NextDNS, or custom).
Clear data on app close: Settings → Delete browsing data on quit
Firefox Focus (Companion App)
Firefox Focus is a separate, ultra-private browser:
- Automatic tracking protection and ad blocking
- No browsing history
- One-tap erase (clears everything)
- No extensions
- Minimal UI
Firefox Focus is for when you don't want any session data. Not for regular browsing (no sync, no bookmarks) but useful for:
- Quick lookups you don't want in history
- Visiting sites you don't want connected to your regular profile
- Sharing a device temporarily
On Android: Firefox Focus has its own GeckoView engine. On iOS: WebKit (same Apple restriction).
The Comparison: Firefox vs Chrome on Android
| Feature | Firefox Android | Chrome Android |
|---|---|---|
| Extensions | Yes (full AMO) | No |
| uBlock Origin | Yes (real blocking) | No |
| Container tabs | Yes | No |
| Sync | Firefox Sync | Google account |
| Engine | Gecko | Blink |
| DNS-over-HTTPS | Yes, configurable | Yes, less flexible |
| Privacy defaults | Better | Worse |
For most Android users who care about privacy and ad blocking, Firefox is clearly better than Chrome. The extension support alone makes it worth it.
Setup Recommendations
For a well-configured Firefox for Android:
- Install Firefox for Android
- Add uBlock Origin from Add-ons
- Enable Enhanced Tracking Protection → Strict
- Turn on HTTPS-Only Mode
- Enable DNS over HTTPS
- Optionally: sign in to Firefox Sync
- Consider Firefox Focus for incognito-style needs
Ten minutes of setup, significantly better privacy than the default Chrome experience.
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