Iridium Browser vs LibreWolf (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Iridium Browser and LibreWolf share a 2.8 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Iridium Browser if
- Fits if you want a Chromium browser that holds back partial queries and metrics by default
- Makes sense if you roll out browsers to staff, since Windows comes as an MSI
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want Chrome sync or Google sign-in, because neither works
- Not for you if you want automatic updates: you download each new build yourself
- Watch out: Google Safe Browsing is on by default and contacts iridiumbrowser.de and Google's servers
- Too light for phones: there is no Android or iOS version
Pick LibreWolf if
- Fits if you want Firefox without telemetry and with tracking blocked from the start
- Works for people who don't mind adjusting settings to get a site working
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you stream from DRM services, because DRM is disabled by design
- Watch out: cookies are cleared on close, so sites will log you out each time
- Not for you if you want it on your phone, as there's no Android version
- Watch out: it's maintained by volunteers and takes no donations
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAIridium BrowserGood | 2.8GPALibreWolfGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to use, with no paid plans listed, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. | AFree and open source, and a program anyone can download and run. The FAQ says the project takes no donations. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole browser is free, including an MSI package and a portable Windows zip, with no cap to reach. | AThe whole browser is free, with uBlock Origin already installed. |
| Features | CIt keeps the Chromium interface and extension model, but it lacks Google sign-in and Chrome sync because it ships without Google API keys. | CNo telemetry, strict tracking protection, cookies cleared on close and fingerprint resistance. The gaps are written into the design: DRM is disabled, so DRM-protected video services won't play. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Updates mean downloading and installing the latest build by hand, which is more upkeep than a normal browser. | CNo store rating on record. The hardening settings can log you out or break pages until you adjust them, so expect some tweaking. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, macOS and Linux only. The download page lists no Android or iOS version. | CWindows, Mac and Linux only. The FAQ says no one currently provides an Android version. |
| Best for | a privacy-tuned Chromium browser on desktop | a privacy-hardened Firefox |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Iridium Browser and LibreWolf. How we grade
Price against what you get
Iridium Browser has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. LibreWolf has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than Iridium Browser for less, and none scores higher than LibreWolf for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- LibreWolf also covers ad and tracker blocking.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceWeb browser
At a glance
| Iridium Browser | LibreWolf | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to use. The site lists no paid plans. | LibreWolf is free and open source. The FAQ says the project does not accept donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Red Cool Beans UG | LibreWolf community |
| Price read from | iridiumbrowser.de | librewolf.net |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Iridium Browser
- Iridium does not update itself: updates mean downloading and installing the latest build manually.
- Signing in to Google and Chrome sync does not work, because the browser ships without Google API keys.
- Google Safe Browsing is on by default and contacts iridiumbrowser.de and Google's servers unless you turn it off.
- Not available for Android, iOS or other mobile systems. The download page lists only source code tarballs, and the FAQ describes Windows, macOS and Linux installs.
LibreWolf
- DRM is disabled by design, so DRM-protected video services will not play.
- Resist-fingerprinting and cookie clearing can log you out of sites or break some pages until you adjust the settings.
- The FAQ says no one currently provides an Android version.
- It is maintained by volunteers and takes no donations.
Key features
Iridium Browser
- Chromium base
- Built from the Chromium code base, so it keeps the Chromium interface and extension model while changing privacy-related defaults.
- Privacy defaults
- Automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords and metrics to central services is blocked and only happens with the user's approval.
- Reproducible builds
- The project says all of its builds are reproducible and that its changes can be audited in a public Git repository.
- MSI deployment
- The Windows installer is an MSI package, which the site presents as a way for administrators to roll the browser out across an organization.
- Portable Windows version
- A zip-file portable edition runs without installing and can keep its data in a folder of your choice.
LibreWolf
- No telemetry
- The project states that it removes telemetry, data collection and experiments from the Firefox base.
- uBlock Origin included
- uBlock Origin comes installed with custom default filter lists, alongside Firefox's tracking protection set to strict.
- Anti-fingerprinting defaults
- It turns on resist-fingerprinting, reports the language as en-US to sites and disables WebGL, a common fingerprinting source.
- Cookies cleared on close
- Cookies and site data are deleted when the browser closes by default, and Total Cookie Protection is enabled.
- Privacy-oriented search engines
- The default search list includes DuckDuckGo and Searx rather than Google.
- Follows Firefox releases
- It is built from the latest Firefox stable source, so security fixes arrive with Firefox's own.
Plans
Iridium Browser
Free$0
Free to use. The site lists no paid plans.
LibreWolf
Free$0
The full browser for Windows, macOS and Linux, with uBlock Origin included.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Iridium Browser or LibreWolf?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Iridium Browser and LibreWolf are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Iridium Browser or LibreWolf?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Iridium Browser and LibreWolf have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.