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4 days ago
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I've been using Firefox, on and off, for a very long time. After all, it's been the default web browser for Linux for as long as I can remember. But I'm finally moving on from Firefox and all of its clones.
Also: 5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy first
This time it feels permanent. Every other time I migrated away from Firefox (or a Firefox fork), it felt temporary, like I'd soon return, after using whatever browser I adopted, because Firefox was always there for me (and Linux).
The problem is Mozilla
But this time… I can't imagine going back. Even to a clone, like Zen Browser, which I've really enjoyed using. The problem isn't Zen Browser or any of the Firefox forks. The problem isn't really a Firefox issue (more on that in a bit). The problem is Mozilla.
Also: The Firefox I loved is gone - how to protect your privacy on it now
You see, Mozilla is a company, and companies have to have income to keep the lights on. There's nothing wrong with that, but when those running said company have shown signs that they don't quite understand how to steer an open-source ship.
Take, for instance, back in 2022, when Mitchell Baker, Mozilla's CEO (at the time -- she's now gone), was found to have received a significant pay raise of over $6.9 million. This drew criticism and ire from people around the world, especially given A) how Firefox was struggling to keep up with other browsers' market share, and B) how Mozilla's income was suffering. It was not a good look then, and it's not a good look now.
And there were all the layoffs, even during a time when Mozilla was flush with cash. That was a move no one could understand. It was looking as if Firefox was about to reclaim its glory days, and then, wham, the staff was cut. About the same time, it seemed Mozilla decided to shift its focus away from its core user base. Yes, I'm talking Linux and open-source enthusiasts.
You see, when Mozilla and Firefox were in their glory days, it functioned with a Linux-first frame of mind, and it worked very well. Firefox was, hands down, the best browser on the market for Linux, and it always seemed the Mozilla team was working to make Firefox the Linux browser. It listened to the open-source community and worked hard to ensure Firefox worked perfectly on the open-source operating system.
Also: Mozilla is so out of Pocket for shutting down one of my favorite apps
But then things started to change, and it seemed Mozilla was no longer a champion of the open-source community. What was once a blazing-fast browser on Linux has become doggedly slow. On top of that, features started to disappear (such as Do Not Track). As well, the development team seems to be ignoring the fact that every browser on the market has moved ahead of Firefox with regards to Tab Management. It's almost as if Mozilla doesn't care that browsers like Opera, Safari, Edge, and others have made tab management a work of art.
Firefox can't compete
And let's not talk about how much faster Chrome has become. Firefox can't compete with that speed. As well, there's the fact that so many Linux distributions have opted to go the Snap or Flatpak route with Firefox, and Mozilla has done a less-than-stellar job on that front (the Snap version of Firefox is slow and buggy).
Ultimately, however, the biggest problem for me is that Mozilla is floundering as a company, and that has had a negative impact on the browser. That negative impact is far-reaching because of all the browsers based on Firefox. If Mozilla fails Firefox, Firefox will fail every browser to use it as its core. What does that mean? If apps like Zen Browser are to remain successful, they might have to go it on their own and maintain their own core. That's a big ask for a small team.
Also: I thought my favorite browser blocked trackers but this free privacy tool proved me wrong
And because of the constant drama with Mozilla, users are no longer able to trust the future of Firefox. I don't, and I need a browser I can rely on. I need a browser built by a company that actually listens to its users and understands the importance of workflow and creating a browser that is efficient, reliable, and forward-thinking.
I can't keep using a browser that's stuck in the past.
A browser that's never let me down
Ergo, I'm returning to the browser that has never let me down, one built by a company that clearly listens to its users and knows that to stay relevant, it has to deliver.
That browser is Opera.
Also: 5 reasons why Opera is my favorite browser
I trust Opera. I know the company gets it and won't be run into the ground by poor management. It also doesn't hurt that Opera is the most beautiful browser on the market with the best tab management available.
So, there you have it: the reasons why I'm leaving Firefox behind, and this time it feels as though I will never return to what was once my go-to browser.
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