LibreWolf vs Waterfox (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Waterfox grades higher than LibreWolf: 3.2 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Waterfox grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Waterfox
Free, open-source Firefox-based browser with a built-in ad blocker
Free
Which one is for you
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
Pick Waterfox if
- Fits if you want Firefox with the ad blocker already installed
- Works for people who want private tabs sitting beside normal ones
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the site says it's funded partly through search partnerships, so partner search ads are there unless you block them
- Skip it if you want the built-in blocker on your phone, as it's described for desktop
- Not for you if you use an iPhone, as there's no iOS version
- Watch out: it's run by one company, BrowserWorks Ltd, which the site says is wholly owned by its founder
How we grade them
| 2.8GPALibreWolfGood | 3.2GPAWaterfoxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source, and a program anyone can download and run. The FAQ says the project takes no donations. | AFree and open source, and a program anyone can download and run. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole browser is free, with uBlock Origin already installed. | AThe whole browser is free on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, including the ad blocker on desktop. |
| Features | 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. | CAd blocking, private tabs in a normal window, DNS over Oblivious HTTP and interface options. The built-in blocker is described for the desktop browser only. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. The hardening settings can log you out or break pages until you adjust them, so expect some tweaking. | BNo store rating on record. You install it and use it, with the blocker already running. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux only. The FAQ says no one currently provides an Android version. | BWindows, Mac, Linux and Android. The download page lists no iOS version. |
| Best for | a privacy-hardened Firefox | Firefox with an ad blocker built in |
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: LibreWolf and Waterfox. How we grade
Price against what you get
LibreWolf has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Waterfox has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Waterfox scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than LibreWolf for less, and none scores higher than Waterfox 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
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceWeb browserAd and tracker blocking
At a glance
| LibreWolf | Waterfox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | LibreWolf is free and open source. The FAQ says the project does not accept donations. | Waterfox is free and open source. The site says it is funded by search partnerships, optional Waterfox Private Search subscriptions and donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | LibreWolf community | BrowserWorks Ltd |
| Price read from | librewolf.net | waterfox.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Waterfox
- The site says it is funded partly through search partnerships, with an option to change the search provider or block partner search ads.
- The built-in blocker is described for the desktop browser only.
- It is run by one company, BrowserWorks Ltd, which the site says is wholly owned by its founder.
- There is no iOS version on the download page.
Key features
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.
Waterfox
- Built-in ad blocking
- The desktop blocker stops ads, trackers, pop-ups and overlays before they load. You can manage filter lists, site exceptions and search partner ads.
- Private tabs in a normal window
- Private tabs sit next to regular ones in a separate container, and site data is cleared when the last private tab closes.
- DNS over Oblivious HTTP
- DNS lookups go through an Oblivious HTTP relay, so the relay knows who connected and the resolver knows the query, but neither knows both.
- Interface options
- The site shows a choice of interface styles, color palettes, light or dark mode, and horizontal or vertical tabs.
- No telemetry
- The site says Waterfox has no telemetry and does not collect or sell personal data.
Plans
LibreWolf
Free$0
The full browser for Windows, macOS and Linux, with uBlock Origin included.
Waterfox
Free$0
The full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, including the built-in ad blocker.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, LibreWolf or Waterfox?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both LibreWolf and Waterfox are free to use.
Which has a free plan, LibreWolf or Waterfox?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both LibreWolf and Waterfox have a free plan.
Which platforms do LibreWolf and Waterfox run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Waterfox lists an Android app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.