Firefox has over 20,000 extensions on addons.mozilla.org (AMO). Most are niche, unmaintained, or low quality. Here is how to find extensions worth installing.
Use the AMO recommended extensions list
Firefox curates a "Recommended" list of extensions that have passed an additional quality review. These extensions meet Mozilla's standards for security, performance, and user experience.
Go to addons.mozilla.org → click "Extensions" in the top nav → filter by "Recommended."
The Recommended list is smaller but vetted. Start here before searching the full catalog.
Check the user count and ratings
Extensions with high user counts (100,000+) have been tested in the wild across many Firefox versions and system configurations. They are more likely to be stable.
For specialized tools (new tab replacements, specific productivity extensions), lower user counts are expected. 1,000-10,000 users is reasonable for a well-built niche tool.
Ratings below 3.5 stars often indicate compatibility issues, misleading descriptions, or poor UX. Read the negative reviews — they often reveal specific problems.
Review the permissions list
Before installing, check what permissions the extension requests. Click "Details" on the AMO listing → scroll to "Permissions."
Minimal permissions are a positive signal. An extension that only asks for "storage" (to save your settings) is lower risk than one that asks for "access to all websites" for a function that should not require it.
AMO requires developers to justify permissions. Excessive permissions may indicate tracking or unclear scope.
Check the last update date
Extensions that have not been updated in 2+ years may have compatibility issues with current Firefox versions. Check the "Version History" section on the AMO listing page.
Read the source description carefully
Good extension descriptions explain:
- Exactly what the extension does
- What data it accesses (if any)
- Where settings are stored
- What permissions are needed and why
Vague descriptions ("enhance your browsing experience") are a signal to investigate further.
Extensions with strong AMO listings I built:
All 11 of my extensions are listed on AMO with detailed descriptions and permissions justifications:
- Full series — with detail on what each does
See the full series for the specific extensions.
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