If you're considering switching browsers but don't want to lose your current workflow, the question isn't just "which browser is better" — it's "what will I lose and gain specifically?"
Here's the honest comparison for people who currently use a new tab extension on Chrome and are considering Firefox.
What You Keep
Your browsing habits: Firefox can import Chrome bookmarks, passwords, and history. Your existing workflow transfers.
Most extensions: The majority of popular Chrome extensions have Firefox equivalents. Check AMO (addons.mozilla.org) before switching — Firefox equivalents for uBlock Origin, Bitwarden, LastPass, Grammarly, and most major extensions are available.
Your Google services: Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, Meet all work in Firefox. A few edge cases have minor friction (some enterprise Google Workspace features); most consumer Google services work identically.
Your muscle memory: Keyboard shortcuts are nearly identical. Ctrl+T, Ctrl+W, Ctrl+Shift+T all work the same way.
What Changes for New Tab Extensions
The Chrome Web Store isn't available: Chrome extensions install from the Chrome Web Store; Firefox extensions install from AMO. Most popular Chrome new tab extensions have Firefox equivalents, but not all.
Setting expectations for the new tab:
- Chrome's default new tab: Google Search + frequently visited sites + Google Lens
- Firefox's default new tab: Firefox Home (Pocket recommendations + top sites)
If you're using a custom Chrome new tab extension, look for its Firefox equivalent on AMO before switching.
The Weather New Tab Specifically
If you use a weather new tab extension on Chrome and switch to Firefox:
Weather & Clock Dashboard on Firefox provides:
- Live weather + 3-day forecast
- World clocks (useful if Chrome extension had this)
- No account requirement (unlike many Chrome weather extensions)
- MIT open source
The Firefox version of a weather new tab extension is often better from a privacy perspective because Firefox's extension ecosystem has fewer extensions with aggressive data collection models.
What You Gain
uBlock Origin at full capability: On Chrome, Manifest V3 has weakened ad blocking. On Firefox, uBlock Origin maintains full blocking capability.
Total Cookie Protection: Firefox's default third-party cookie isolation is more thorough than Chrome's.
Multi-Account Containers: No Chrome equivalent. If you manage multiple accounts, this is a significant gain.
No dependency on Google for the browser itself: Firefox is developed by Mozilla, not Google. Your browser isn't a Google product collecting data about your browsing for advertising.
What You Lose
Chrome DevTools as the canonical dev experience: If you're a developer targeting Chrome (which is the majority of the web), Chrome DevTools is the primary debugging environment. Firefox DevTools is good but different.
Better Google Meet/Workspace integration on Chrome: Some Google products work marginally better on Chrome — though for most users this isn't perceptible.
Chrome Web Store extension selection: The Chrome Web Store has more extensions. Most important ones are on AMO, but niche developer tools sometimes aren't.
The Transition Approach
For a risk-free transition:
- Install Firefox alongside Chrome (don't uninstall Chrome)
- Import bookmarks and passwords
- Find Firefox equivalents for your extensions
- Use Firefox as primary for 2 weeks
- Decide whether to make it permanent
Most people who try this find Firefox perfectly capable. The minority who switch back usually do so for a specific developer tool or enterprise workflow that works better on Chrome.
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