Pale Moon vs Waterfox (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Waterfox grades higher than Pale Moon: 3.2 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Waterfox grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Pale Moon
Free open-source browser on its own Goanna engine, with legacy add-ons
Waterfox
Free, open-source Firefox-based browser with a built-in ad blocker
Which one is for you
Pick Pale Moon if
- Fits if you rely on legacy Firefox-style add-ons and full theming
- Makes sense if you want a browser with no telemetry, as the site states
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need video calls in the browser, since WebRTC is disabled
- Not for you if you stream DRM video, as there is no in-browser DRM
- Too light for phones: no iOS or Android edition is listed
- Watch out: official binaries need AVX, except the 32-bit Windows build
- Tight if you want current web standards: it follows its own engine, not Firefox or Chrome
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
| 3.0GPAPale MoonVery good | 3.2GPAWaterfoxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source, with donations accepted and no paid plan, which is under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. | AFree and open source, and a program anyone can download and run. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD costs nothing, with portable and 7-Zip Windows versions. | AThe whole browser is free on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, including the ad blocker on desktop. |
| Features | CXUL add-ons, themes and NPAPI plugins, but WebRTC, an integrated PDF reader, DRM and parental controls are deliberately off in the main build. | 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 | BNo rating on record. You install it and go, though official binaries need a CPU with AVX, except the 32-bit Windows build. | BNo store rating on record. You install it and use it, with the blocker already running. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with no iOS or Android edition on the download page. | BWindows, Mac, Linux and Android. The download page lists no iOS version. |
| Best for | a customizable browser with legacy add-ons | 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: Pale Moon and Waterfox. How we grade
Price against what you get
Pale Moon has no paid plan and scores 2.3 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 Pale Moon 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
- Waterfox also covers ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| Pale Moon | Waterfox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Pale Moon is free and open source; the site accepts donations and lists no paid plan. | 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 | Moonchild Productions | BrowserWorks Ltd |
| Price read from | palemoon.org | waterfox.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Pale Moon
- Official binaries need a CPU with AVX support, except the 32-bit Windows build.
- It has no WebRTC, built-in PDF reader or DRM, so some sites and video services may not work.
- Compatibility with current web standards follows its own engine, not Firefox or Chrome.
- Windows download is also offered on the Microsoft Store, and there is no iOS or Android edition on the download page.
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
Pale Moon
- Goanna engine
- Rendering runs on Goanna, a derivative of Gecko, on the UXP platform; the site calls it a true fork and an independent product.
- XUL add-ons and themes
- Add-ons and complete themes can change core browser functions and appearance, and many legacy Firefox extensions are compatible.
- No telemetry
- The site says the browser contains no ads, telemetry or data gathering.
- Plugin support
- It supports legacy NPAPI plugins such as Java, Flash and Silverlight, which most browsers have dropped.
- Features left out
- WebRTC, an integrated PDF reader, in-browser DRM and parental controls are deliberately disabled in the main build.
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
Pale Moon
Free$0
The full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with portable and 7-Zip Windows versions.
Waterfox
Free$0
The full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, including the built-in ad blocker.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Pale Moon or Waterfox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Pale Moon and Waterfox are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Pale Moon or Waterfox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Pale Moon and Waterfox have a free plan.
Which platforms do Pale Moon and Waterfox run on?
As of Nov 13, 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.