Our verdict: LibreWolf is Firefox with the privacy settings already turned up and Mozilla's telemetry removed, so you skip an hour of tweaking. The price is convenience: there is no automatic updater on Windows, DRM video is off by default, and strict settings break some sites until you adjust them.
About LibreWolf
LibreWolf is a community project that rebuilds each Firefox release with its own settings. It uses the same Gecko engine and supports Firefox extensions. New versions usually arrive within a few days of each Firefox stable release.
Telemetry, sponsored content and many Mozilla services are removed, uBlock Origin comes preinstalled, and privacy-related preferences are hardened by default. Firefox Sync is off by default but can be enabled, and DRM playback for streaming services can be turned on in Settings.
What it does well
- uBlock Origin included. Blocks ads, trackers and malicious domains from the first launch.
- No telemetry. Mozilla's data collection and sponsored content are removed from the build.
- Hardened defaults. Stricter privacy and anti-fingerprinting settings are applied out of the box.
- Firefox extensions. Works with add-ons from Mozilla's extension store.
- Optional Firefox Sync. Encrypted sync of bookmarks and passwords can be switched on in settings.
Who it is for
Good fit
Privacy-minded Firefox users who want hardened settings without editing about:config themselves.
Look elsewhere
People who want automatic updates, or who mainly watch DRM-protected streaming services.
Pros and cons
Pros
- uBlock Origin preinstalled
- No telemetry
- Hardened privacy settings by default
- Open source
Cons
- No built-in automatic updater on Windows
- DRM video is disabled by default
- Strict settings can break some websites
How to install LibreWolf
Download the x86_64 setup from the LibreWolf site and run it. LibreWolf does not update itself on Windows, so install updates by hand, through winget, or with the optional community updater linked on the download page. If Netflix or Spotify will not play, enable DRM in Settings → General.
Questions about LibreWolf
Is LibreWolf free?
Yes. LibreWolf is free and open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
How is LibreWolf different from Firefox?
It uses the same engine but removes telemetry and sponsored content, includes uBlock Origin and applies stricter privacy settings by default.
Does LibreWolf update automatically?
No. On Windows you need to install new versions yourself, through a package manager such as winget, or with an optional updater.
