LibreWolf vs Chrome

Why Switch from Chrome to LibreWolf?

Google Chrome is designed to feed data into Google’s advertising ecosystem. Every search, every page visit, every interaction contributes to a profile that Google monetizes. Chrome’s privacy controls are minimal and designed not to interfere with Google’s data collection business.

LibreWolf is a community-driven fork of Firefox that strips out all telemetry, hardens privacy settings by default, and pre-installs uBlock Origin for aggressive ad and tracker blocking. Maintained primarily by European open-source contributors, LibreWolf represents the philosophy that a browser should serve its user — not an advertising company.

Unlike Firefox, which still sends telemetry to Mozilla and includes features like Pocket and sponsored content, LibreWolf removes everything that is not essential for private browsing. It is Firefox without the compromises.

Feature Comparison

Feature	LibreWolf	Chrome
Price	Free	Free
Engine	Firefox (Gecko)	Chromium (Blink)
Data collection	None	Extensive
Telemetry	Completely removed	Extensive
Built-in ad blocker	uBlock Origin pre-installed	No
Tracker blocking	Strict by default	Minimal
Fingerprint resistance	Enhanced by default	None
Extension store	Firefox Add-ons	Chrome Web Store
Bookmark sync	Manual (no built-in)	Google account
Open source	Fully	Chromium is, Chrome is not
Auto-update	Platform-dependent	Yes
GDPR compliant	Yes (no data collected)	Partial (US entity)
Default search	DuckDuckGo	Google

Pricing

Both browsers are completely free:

• LibreWolf: Free — funded by community donations. No data collection, no advertising, no corporate sponsorship with strings attached.
• Chrome: Free — funded by your browsing data. Google earns over $200 billion annually from advertising, and Chrome is a primary data collection channel.

LibreWolf has no premium tier. It is a community project built for the public good.

Privacy & Data Sovereignty

LibreWolf’s privacy approach is simple: remove everything that could track you.

• Zero telemetry: All Mozilla telemetry, crash reporting, and data collection endpoints are removed at build time
• Enhanced Tracking Protection: Set to strict mode by default, blocking known trackers, cross-site cookies, and cryptominers
• Fingerprint resistance: Enabled by default using Firefox’s built-in resistFingerprinting feature
• uBlock Origin pre-installed: Aggressive ad and tracker blocking without needing to install anything
• No Pocket integration: The Mozilla Pocket service (which tracks reading habits) is removed
• No sponsored content: Firefox’s sponsored shortcuts and suggestions are completely removed
• Cookie isolation: First-party isolation is enabled, preventing cookies from tracking you across websites
• WebRTC protection: Configured to prevent IP leaks through WebRTC
• DuckDuckGo as default search: No Google search tracking by default
• Community-maintained: No corporate entity has an incentive to weaken privacy protections

Since LibreWolf collects no data whatsoever, there is no personal information stored anywhere — making GDPR compliance essentially automatic.

Migration Guide

Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Estimated time: 15-25 minutes

1. Download LibreWolf from librewolf.net. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Linux users can install via Flatpak, AppImage, or native package managers (AUR for Arch, PPA for Ubuntu-based distributions).
2. Export your Chrome data. In Chrome, go to Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager > Export to save bookmarks as an HTML file. For passwords, go to Settings > Passwords > Export passwords to get a CSV file.
3. Import bookmarks. In LibreWolf, go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Import Bookmarks from HTML. Select the exported HTML file.
4. Set up a password manager. LibreWolf does not include cloud sync, so install a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden or KeePassXC (both available as Firefox add-ons). Import your Chrome passwords CSV into the password manager.
5. Install additional extensions. uBlock Origin is pre-installed. For other extensions, visit addons.mozilla.org. Popular privacy-friendly choices include Bitwarden, Privacy Badger, and ClearURLs.
6. Adjust settings if needed. LibreWolf’s strict defaults may break some websites. If you encounter issues, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and adjust tracking protection for specific sites using the shield icon in the address bar.
7. Set up updates. On Linux, your package manager handles updates. On Windows and macOS, check librewolf.net periodically for new releases or use a tool like WinGet or Homebrew.
8. Set LibreWolf as your default browser. Go to Settings > General > Startup and click “Make Default.”

Who Should Switch?

LibreWolf is ideal for:

• Privacy-conscious users who want Firefox’s capabilities without Mozilla’s telemetry
• Linux users who want a privacy-hardened browser that integrates well with their distribution
• Open-source advocates who want a browser built entirely by the community
• Developers who value transparency and want to audit every line of their browser’s code
• Anyone in the EU who wants a browser with zero data collection from a community rooted in European open-source values
• Security-minded users who want hardened defaults without spending hours configuring Firefox manually

The Bottom Line

Chrome is a polished browser built to maximize Google’s data collection. LibreWolf is an unpolished but principled browser built to maximize your privacy.

If you want a browser that works for you rather than for an advertising company, and you do not mind occasionally adjusting settings when a website breaks, LibreWolf is an excellent choice. It is Firefox the way it should be — fast, private, and free from corporate tracking. Maintained by European open-source contributors who believe privacy should be the default, not a setting you have to find and enable.

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Looking for more European alternatives in this category? See also: Vivaldi and Mullvad Browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between LibreWolf and Firefox?

LibreWolf is a fork of Firefox with all Mozilla telemetry removed, privacy settings hardened by default, and uBlock Origin pre-installed. While Firefox is already more private than Chrome, it still sends telemetry data to Mozilla and ships with some features (like Pocket integration) that LibreWolf considers unnecessary. LibreWolf is essentially Firefox configured for maximum privacy out of the box.

Is LibreWolf safe to use as my main browser?

Yes. LibreWolf is based on the latest Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) and receives regular security updates. However, unlike Firefox, LibreWolf does not always have an auto-update mechanism on every platform, so you may need to update manually or use a package manager. Keeping it updated is important for security.

Can I use Firefox extensions with LibreWolf?

Yes. LibreWolf is fully compatible with Firefox Add-ons. You can install extensions from addons.mozilla.org just as you would in Firefox. uBlock Origin comes pre-installed.

Who maintains LibreWolf?

LibreWolf is maintained by a community of open-source contributors, many of whom are based in Europe (particularly Germany and other EU countries). It is not backed by a corporation, which means there is no commercial pressure to add tracking or advertising features. The project is funded by donations.

Does LibreWolf break websites?

LibreWolf's strict privacy settings — such as blocking third-party cookies and resisting fingerprinting — can occasionally cause websites to malfunction. When this happens, you can adjust settings for specific sites or temporarily lower protections. Most major websites work fine, but some banking sites or complex web apps may need adjustments.