How Firefox Beat Chrome in the Speed Race
If you’re like me, you probably use a web browser every day for various purposes, such as browsing the internet, checking emails, watching videos, shopping online, and more.
You may also have a preferred browser that you stick to, whether it’s Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or something else. But have you ever wondered how your browser compares to others in terms of speed, performance, privacy, and features?
Well, I have. And I was surprised to learn that Firefox, the browser I’ve been using for years, has recently outperformed Chrome, the most popular browser in the world, in a speed test conducted by Speedometer. Speedometer is a tool that gauges a browser’s web app responsiveness through simulated user interactions. It measures how quickly a browser can run web applications, such as Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
According to an article by AlternativeTo, “Firefox has outpaced Chrome in terms of speed in a recent assessment by Speedometer, especially under high load conditions. This is a significant shift in the browser landscape, as Firefox was once noticeably slower than its Chrome counterpart.” This caught my attention because I remember a time when Firefox was indeed slower than Chrome, and I was tempted to switch browsers. But I’m glad I didn’t because Firefox has been improving its speed and responsiveness with major updates such as Quantum and ongoing enhancements.
Quantum is a project that revamped Firefox’s engine and improved its performance. It was launched in 2017 and brought significant changes to Firefox’s architecture, such as multi-process support, parallelism, and a new CSS engine. Quantum also reduced Firefox’s RAM consumption, which makes it more efficient when handling multiple tabs. As Howtoedge states, “Both browsers are very fast, with Chrome being a little faster on desktop and Firefox a little faster on mobile. They’re both also resource-hungry, though Firefox becomes more efficient than Chrome the more tabs you have open.”
But speed is not the only factor that matters when choosing a browser. There are also other aspects to consider, such as customization, security and privacy. And this is where Firefox shines even more than Chrome. Firefox is developed by Mozilla, a nonprofit company that does not make its money from ads, so it’s less incentivized to collect user data. Firefox also has features like Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP), which blocks over 2,000 trackers, including social trackers from companies like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
ETP is turned on by default for all users worldwide and can be customized according to your preferences. You can choose between three levels of protection: standard, strict, and custom. You can also see how many trackers are blocked by clicking on the shield icon in the address bar. As Mozilla says on its website,
“At Firefox, we have a huge number of dedicated users who appreciate our steadfast dedication to online privacy. For example, the latest version of Firefox includes a feature called Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) which is turned on by default for all users worldwide.”
Firefox also has other privacy features that make it stand out from Chrome. For example, it has an integrated feature called Firefox Monitor that automatically notifies you if your password has been breached or needs to be updated. It also has a built-in password manager called Lockwise that lets you securely store and sync your passwords across devices. You can also use Firefox Send to share files with end-to-end encryption and control over expiration and access.
Chrome, on the other hand, is not as private or secure as Firefox. Chrome is owned by Google, a company that makes most of its revenue from ads. Google collects a lot of user data for the creation of targeted ads, which raises privacy concerns. Google also has access to your browsing history, passwords, site visits, location, and more. As Mozilla points out,
“Google actually collects a disturbingly large amount of data from its users including location, search history and site visits. Google makes its case for data collection saying it’s doing it to improve its services — like helping you find a sweater or a coffee shop like the one you previously bought or visited.”
Chrome does have some privacy features, such as Incognito mode and Do Not Track option, but they are not as comprehensive or effective as Firefox’s ETP. Incognito mode only prevents Chrome from saving your browsing activity locally but does not stop websites or third parties from tracking you online. Do Not Track option only sends a request to websites not to track you but does not guarantee that they will comply.
Of course, Chrome is not all bad. It does have some advantages over Firefox in some aspects, such as loading sites and running JavaScript. Chrome also has a larger library of extensions and a simpler user interface. Chrome is the most widely used browser in the world and many websites are optimized for it.
However, these advantages may not outweigh the disadvantages of Chrome’s privacy issues and data collection practices.
So, what’s the verdict? Which browser is better: Firefox or Chrome? Well, it depends on your preferences and needs. If you value speed, performance, privacy, and customization, then Firefox is the better choice for you. If you prefer simplicity, compatibility, and a larger extension library, then Chrome may suit you better. But keep in mind that Chrome comes with a cost: your personal data.
Personally, I’m sticking with Firefox because I believe it’s the best browser for me. I like its speed, performance, privacy, and customization features. I also like its mission and values as a nonprofit company that cares about the health of the internet and its users. I think Firefox is more than just a browser; it’s a movement.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it informative and helpful. If you have any thoughts or opinions on this topic, please feel free to share them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
Reference articles:
-Firefox outperforms Chrome in speed for the first time according to a Speedometer assessment, AlternativeTo, July 21, 2023
-Chrome vs. Firefox 2022: Which One Is Better Browser?, Howtoedge, July 19, 2023
-Firefox vs Chrome 2023 [Mozilla vs Google Browser Showdown], Cloudwards, July 12, 2023
-Firefox vs. Chrome: Which is better?, Mozilla, July 10, 2023
Originally published at https://trendydigests.com on July 21, 2023.
I am a tech writer for Trendy Digests, a website that provides insightful and informative content in various fields. I write about topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and more. You can follow me on TrendyDigests.com to read more of my articles and learn more about me.
