Our verdict: Pale Moon is for people who miss the old, fully customizable Firefox and want a browser that does not depend on Google or Mozilla. It is light and private by design, but it cannot run modern Firefox or Chrome extensions, and some heavy web apps may not work properly.
About Pale Moon
Pale Moon is a community project led by M.C. Straver (Moonchild Productions). It started as a fork of Firefox and now runs on its own independently maintained platform and the Goanna rendering engine, with an interface close to Firefox before the 2014 Australis redesign.
The browser keeps everything in a single process, which uses fewer resources than multi-process browsers. It supports full themes, XUL add-ons from its own add-ons site and legacy NPAPI plugins, and the project states that it collects no telemetry. Some features are left out on purpose, including WebRTC and parental controls.
What it does well
- Goanna engine. Uses its own rendering engine instead of Chromium or the current Gecko.
- XUL add-ons. Extensions from the Pale Moon add-ons site can change core browser functions and the interface.
- Classic interface. Menus, status bar and toolbar layout can be customized in the pre-Australis Firefox style.
- Single-process design. Keeps memory use low and avoids dozens of browser processes in Task Manager.
- Pale Moon Sync. Optional sync service for bookmarks, passwords and settings run by the project.
Who it is for
Good fit
Experienced users who want a lightweight, highly customizable browser with a classic Firefox-style interface.
Look elsewhere
People who rely on Chrome or modern Firefox extensions, video calls in the browser (no WebRTC) or demanding web apps.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Independent engine and platform
- Deep interface customization
- No telemetry
- Light on system resources
Cons
- No support for modern Firefox or Chrome extensions
- Some modern sites and web apps break or are not tested on it
- No WebRTC, so browser-based video calls do not work
How to install Pale Moon
Download the 64-bit installer from the official page; Pale Moon also offers a portable build and a 7-Zip archive. The project asks you not to download Pale Moon from third-party sites, because only unaltered official builds are allowed. Add-ons come from addons.palemoon.org, not from the Firefox or Chrome stores.
Questions about Pale Moon
Is Pale Moon free?
Yes. Pale Moon is free and open source, funded by donations rather than ads or data collection.
Can Pale Moon use Firefox extensions?
Only old-style extensions written for Pale Moon or adapted for it. Current Firefox WebExtensions are not supported.
Is there a portable version?
Yes. The official download page offers a portable 64-bit build that keeps its profile on a USB stick.
