Brave Private Web Browser and DuckDuckGo build privacy into their own products, while Fennec F-Droid takes a different route: it rebuilds Mozilla Firefox for Android with proprietary bits and telemetry removed. It is free, carries no ads, and the current version is 159.0.0. We host the unmodified APK, and the checksum is listed below.
Firefox without the proprietary parts
Fennec F-Droid follows the latest Mozilla Firefox release. The build strips out proprietary components and telemetry, which is the main reason to pick it over stock Firefox. The source is published under the MPL-2.0 licence, with the code available on Mozilla's Mercurial server.
The package ID is org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid, and the app first appeared on February 1, 2015. The developer is listed as unknown, though the support link points to Mozilla's mobile pages.
Add-ons, tracking protection and Firefox Sync
The browser supports a collection of add-ons, ad blockers among them. Tracking protection has been improved, and private mode opens in one tap. You can set the navigation bar at the top or bottom and customize the start screen.
Tabs can be grouped into collections, and picture-in-picture mode is included. A dark theme is available. Firefox Sync can carry tabs, bookmarks and passwords across devices.
What to check before installing
The file is 122.3 MB and needs Android 8.0 or newer. The browser still connects to various Mozilla services that can track users, so removed telemetry does not mean no network contact with Mozilla. Firefox Sync is one such service, so decide whether you want to use it.
The SHA-256 checksum for the file is a1bbb21a1330cd08e48e8bf1220a7412c968b1bf32fbd029c7d771728ba73a32.
Fennec F-Droid pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with no ads
- Open source under the MPL-2.0 licence
- Supports add-ons, including ad blockers
- Firefox Sync for tabs, bookmarks and passwords
- Navigation bar can sit at the top or bottom
Cons
- Still connects to Mozilla services that can track users
- Download is fairly large at 122.3 MB
- Developer is listed as unknown
- Requires Android 8.0 or newer
Is Fennec F-Droid safe?
The APK is the unmodified file, and its SHA-256 checksum is a1bbb21a1330cd08e48e8bf1220a7412c968b1bf32fbd029c7d771728ba73a32, so you can compare it with your download. The source is open under MPL-2.0 and the browser carries no ads. Proprietary bits and telemetry were removed from this Firefox-based build, though it still connects to Mozilla services that can track users. The developer name is unknown.
How to install Fennec F-Droid
- Download the APK with the button on this page and wait for it to finish.
- Compare the file with the SHA-256 checksum shown here if you want to confirm it arrived intact.
- Open the file on your phone and allow installs from this source when Android asks.
- Finish the install, then open Fennec F-Droid from your app drawer.
