SeaMonkey vs Waterfox (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Waterfox grades higher than SeaMonkey: 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.
SeaMonkey
All-in-one internet suite with browser, mail, chat and HTML editor
Waterfox
Free, open-source Firefox-based browser with a built-in ad blocker
Which one is for you
Pick SeaMonkey if
- Fits if you want browser, mail and IRC in one desktop program
- Makes sense if you read newsgroups or edit HTML pages by hand
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a phone version, as the site offers no iOS or Android edition
- Not for you if you use an Apple silicon Mac, since only an x64 macOS build is listed
- Watch out: the current release listed is 2.53.24, built on the Gecko engine
- Too heavy if you only want to browse, since mail, chat and editor come along
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
| 3.0GPASeaMonkeyVery good | 3.2GPAWaterfoxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with donations and sponsors accepted and no paid plan, so it undercuts this category's $7 cheapest quarter. | AFree and open source, and a program anyone can download and run. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole suite for Windows, macOS and Linux downloads at no charge, in 20-plus languages. | AThe whole browser is free on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, including the ad blocker on desktop. |
| Features | CBrowser, mail and news, feeds, IRC and an HTML editor in one program, built on Gecko. The browser itself is the same size of job as any other. | 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. It is a program you install and start using, though a suite has more parts than a lone browser. | BNo store rating on record. You install it and use it, with the blocker already running. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows x64 and x86, macOS x64 and Linux x64 and x86 builds, with no Android or iOS edition. | BWindows, Mac, Linux and Android. The download page lists no iOS version. |
| Best for | an all-in-one browser, mail and chat suite | 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: SeaMonkey and Waterfox. How we grade
Price against what you get
SeaMonkey 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 SeaMonkey 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
- SeaMonkey also covers email client and rSS reader.
- Waterfox also covers ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| SeaMonkey | Waterfox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | SeaMonkey is free; the site accepts donations and sponsors 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 | SeaMonkey Association | BrowserWorks Ltd |
| Price read from | seamonkey-project.org | waterfox.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
SeaMonkey
- The listed macOS build is x64 only; no ARM-specific macOS build is shown.
- It is run by a community council, and the about page says it describes the only full internet suite still developed.
- The current release listed is 2.53.24, built on the Gecko engine.
- The site offers no iOS or Android edition.
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
SeaMonkey
- Browser
- An Internet browser built on Gecko, the same code behind Thunderbird and the base of Firefox.
- Email and newsgroups
- A built-in mail and newsgroup client, plus feed reading, per the site's one-line description.
- IRC chat
- Chat is included in the same application as the browser and mail.
- HTML editor and web development tools
- An HTML editor and web development tools are part of the suite.
- Multiple languages and platforms
- The download table lists Windows x64 and x86, macOS x64, and Linux x64 and x86 builds in many languages.
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
SeaMonkey
Free$0
The full suite for Windows, macOS and Linux, in 20-plus languages.
Waterfox
Free$0
The full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, including the built-in ad blocker.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, SeaMonkey or Waterfox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both SeaMonkey and Waterfox are free to use.
Which has a free plan, SeaMonkey or Waterfox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both SeaMonkey and Waterfox have a free plan.
Which platforms do SeaMonkey 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.