Firefox for Android has gone through significant changes. The current version (Fenix, based on GeckoView) is quite different from the old Firefox for Android. Here's an honest assessment.
The Big Difference: Extension Support
This is the main reason to use Firefox on Android instead of Chrome: extensions work.
Firefox for Android supports a subset of extensions from AMO. You get:
- uBlock Origin — full ad blocking, same engine as desktop
- Dark Reader / NightOwl — system-wide dark mode for websites
- Multi-Account Containers — cookie isolation
- Bitwarden, 1Password — password manager extensions
- Other extensions from the approved mobile list
Chrome for Android has no extension support. Firefox's extension ecosystem on mobile is a genuine differentiator.
How Extensions Work on Android
- Open Firefox for Android
- Three-dot menu → Add-ons
- Search and install
The experience is similar to desktop. Extensions appear in a toolbar menu. Some desktop extensions that rely on browser UI features aren't available, but core content-modifying extensions work.
Sync Between Desktop and Mobile
Firefox Sync works seamlessly:
- Bookmarks sync
- History syncs (including "tabs" you opened on desktop available on mobile)
- Passwords sync
- Open tabs from your desktop accessible from mobile and vice versa
The "other devices' tabs" feature is the most underused — open Firefox for Android → menu → Synced Tabs to see what's open on your desktop.
What Firefox for Android Does Well
Customizable toolbar: You can move the address bar to the bottom (better thumb reach on large phones). Settings → Customize → Toolbar.
Tab management: Firefox for Android has a tab tray with grid or list view. The list view is more scannable than Chrome's card layout.
Reader View: Available on supported pages — clean typography, dark mode option. Works the same as desktop.
Private Browsing: Dedicated private mode that truly isolates sessions from regular browsing. Asks if you want to keep tabs open when switching modes.
What Firefox for Android Does Worse
Performance: Firefox for Android tends to use more RAM and sometimes loads pages slightly slower than Chrome for Android. On lower-end devices, this is noticeable.
Google integration: Chrome is tightly integrated with Google services on Android. For Google Maps, Docs, Drive — Chrome's integration is smoother.
PWA support: Firefox for Android doesn't support installing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) to the home screen. Chrome does this well. If you use any web apps as PWAs, you'll need Chrome.
Media playback: Background audio/video playback can be inconsistent on some Android versions compared to Chrome.
The Extension Case Study: uBlock Origin
The most compelling reason to use Firefox on Android is uBlock Origin. On Android devices with limited data plans or slower connections, blocking ads and trackers via uBlock Origin:
- Reduces data usage significantly on ad-heavy sites
- Speeds up page loads
- Reduces battery drain from JavaScript-heavy ads
Chrome users on Android get no equivalent. There are DNS-level blockers (Adguard, NextDNS) that work system-wide, but uBlock Origin's content-level blocking is more granular and more effective on complex pages.
Firefox for iOS
Worth noting separately: Firefox for iOS is built on WebKit (Apple requirement), not Gecko. This means Firefox for iOS uses the same rendering engine as Safari.
Extensions are very limited on iOS due to WebExtension API restrictions Apple imposes. The iOS version is more about Firefox sync and the Firefox brand than the Gecko rendering engine.
For iOS: Firefox is useful for sync with your desktop Firefox and for its privacy features. It won't give you the same extension ecosystem as Firefox for Android.
Recommendation
If you care about extensions on mobile, Firefox for Android is the only real option. uBlock Origin alone makes it worth using.
If performance and Google integration are priorities, Chrome for Android is better.
Many people run both: Chrome for performance-sensitive use and Google integrations, Firefox for private browsing and reading-heavy browsing with uBlock enabled.
Firefox for Android continues improving. The Fenix rewrite was controversial (lost many features from the old version) but the current state is solid for extension users.
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