Alex Kontos founded Waterfox in 2011. After returning to independent ownership in 2023, it is now developed and operated by BrowserWorks Ltd, a holding company that is wholly owned by Alex.

The browser that answers to no one, except you.

Q: Is Waterfox really free?

Yes. Waterfox is free and open source with no premium tier or payment required. You don't need an account to browse. Download it, keep it and share it!

Q: How is it different from Firefox?

Waterfox uses the same Gecko engine as Firefox, so most sites and extensions work as expected. Browser telemetry is stripped out, and it adds built-in ad blocking, private and anonymised DNS, and more control over the interface. Waterfox is independently maintained.

Q: Does Waterfox receive security updates?

Yes. Waterfox incorporates Mozilla security fixes into its regular updates, following the Firefox ESR model.

Q: Will my extensions and bookmarks come with me?

Waterfox can import common browser data, but which data is transferred depends on your current browser and its version. Firefox WebExtensions are supported. However, Chrome-only extensions do not transfer automatically.

Q: How does Waterfox stay funded?

Waterfox is funded through search partnerships, optional Waterfox Private Search subscriptions, and donations. You can change your search provider or block partner search ads at any time. Waterfox does not collect or sell personal data.

Waterfox is a free, open source web browser focused on privacy out of the box and customisation to your taste. It has built-in ad blocking, private and anonymised DNS, no telemetry and no data collection. Plus, a variety of quality of life features.

Get WaterfoxGet Waterfox for AndroidGet Waterfox for LinuxGet Waterfox for macOSGet Waterfox for Windows

Free and open source.

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Waterfox

“I've been using Waterfox exclusively for coming up on two years (in a few months). It's been great.” by @jordantcarlson on Bluesky “I absolutely love waterfox and it was so easy to move all my stuff over” by @obtusedan on Bluesky “Waterfox has been working great for me on Mint, macOS and even Windows10.” by @arturismi on Bluesky “I am *very* happy with the appearance customization options it provides.” by @rectabdominis on Bluesky “I love Waterfox, it's a quieter version of Firefox.” by @wingeddrifter on Bluesky

“I've been using Waterfox exclusively for coming up on two years (in a few months). It's been great.” by @jordantcarlson on Bluesky / “I absolutely love waterfox and it was so easy to move all my stuff over” by @obtusedan on Bluesky / “Waterfox has been working great for me on Mint, macOS and even Windows10.” by @arturismi on Bluesky / “I am *very* happy with the appearance customization options it provides.” by @rectabdominis on Bluesky / “I love Waterfox, it's a quieter version of Firefox.” by @wingeddrifter on Bluesky /

Alliances, Partnerships & Sponsorships

Ad blocking

Stop unwanted ads and trackers from loading.

Waterfox's built-in desktop blocker prevents unwanted adverts, trackers, pop-ups and overlays from loading. This feature is enabled by default, and you can manage filter lists, site exceptions and search partner ads.

Private tab

A private tab without a private window

Keep your private tabs alongside your regular ones. These tabs share a separate private container and Waterfox clears its site data when you close your last private tab, where your regular session continues.

DNS over Oblivious HTTP

Private DNS without your identity attached.

Waterfox encrypts DNS lookups and sends them via an Oblivious HTTP relay. The relay knows who connected, but not what the query was. Similarly, the resolver knows the query, but not who sent it. This keeps your identity and your DNS queries separate.

Tree tabs

Browsing happens in branches, so your tabs do too.

Tree tabs nestle every page under the one that opened it. Collapse a finished branch, drag an entire subtree and reorganise an afternoon's worth of research with a single action.

Status bar

The status bar, back where it belongs.

Hover over a link to see exactly where it leads. The full URL remains visible without any pop-up overlays. The loading progress bar and keyboard shortcuts are located there too, just as they were in the past.

Questions

Straight answers.

Is Waterfox really free?

How is it different from Firefox?

Does Waterfox receive security updates?

Will my extensions and bookmarks come with me?

How does Waterfox stay funded?

Who makes Waterfox?

The web, on your terms.