Chrome vs. Firefox: A Comparison of Speed, Privacy & More

Choosing the right web browser is a balancing act. You want something fast and reliable, but you also need strong privacy protections and security features. With both Chrome and Firefox offering outstanding features in all of these areas, it can be tough to decide which one to use.

In this guide, we’ll put Chrome and Firefox head-to-head to see which performs better in three key areas – and which has the best additional features – so that you can find the right fit.

Is Firefox Better Than Chrome?

Looking at the market share of these two browsers (Firefox is used by just 2.51% of people worldwide, while Chrome is the software of choice for 66.17% of users) you might think that the answer to this question would be a straightforward “No.”

Things are a little more nuanced than that, though. The better browser will depend on what you want to get out of your online experience.

As far as features go, it’s pretty much a tie – both browsers offer a rich set of tools, with a few differences depending on what you prioritize. Chrome pulls ahead when it comes to performance and security, though, while Firefox takes the win for privacy. 

	Chrome vs. Firefox
Performance
Privacy
Security
Features	&

Overall, if you want the fastest, most seamless experience with strong built-in protection, Chrome might be your pick. But if privacy and customization are higher on your list, Firefox could be the better choice. It really comes down to what matters most for your browsing style.

Firefox vs. Chrome Performance

Performance isn’t just about speed, it’s about how well your browser works to support your online activities. From streaming to gaming, researching, and scrolling through social feeds, things like page load times, memory usage, and battery life can make or break your experience.

Speed

Winner: Chrome

Speed plays a huge role in how smooth your online experience feels. The speed at which your browser is able to process standard JavaScript, handle unusual or advanced applications, and render dynamic graphics all have a big impact here.

This means that it’s super important to understand whether Firefox is faster than Chrome or vice versa. Fortunately, this is relatively easy to figure out.

There are three benchmark tests that assess how well a browser can handle some standard tasks: Speedometer, JetStream 2, and MotionMark. These tests help you see how fast and smooth a web browser is when you’re using it. In general, the higher the score, the better.

	Chrome	Firefox
SpeedometerChecks how quickly your browser can handle everyday web tasks (e.g. loading pages or typing in a chat box)	25.4ms (±1.6)	21.1ms (±1.2)
JetStream 2Tests how well your browser can handle complicated work behind the scenes (e.g. loading apps)	186.485	130.172
MotionMarkShows how well your browser shows fast-moving visuals like animations or game graphics	3218.52 @ 60fps (±6.77%)	1078.37 @ 60fps (±2.87%)

Based on these tests, Chrome comes out on top in terms of speed. That’s likely because of the recent upgrade to Google’s powerful V8 engine, which is optimized for fast code execution. This makes it particularly good at loading complex web applications and content-heavy sites and processing dynamic, interactive elements quickly.

While Firefox Quantum has doubled the browser’s previous speeds, it’s still slower when it comes to graphic-intensive processes (like gaming) and opening high-load applications. That said, it will still offer good everyday browsing speeds and perform basic tasks in a snap. 

Memory Usage

Winner: Chrome

RAM (Random Access Memory) is where your computer temporarily stores data it needs to access quickly – like all those browser tabs you have open at the same time. If a browser eats up too much RAM, your device can slow down, stutter, or crash when you’re multitasking.

For years, Chrome had a reputation for being a RAM hog. But Google has made real improvements over time, optimizing how Chrome manages tabs and background processes. This means Chrome now handles memory more efficiently. 

In our test, Chrome used just 167.9 MB of memory, while Firefox used a much heavier 707.1 MB  with 10 identical tabs open. Firefox still performs well for everyday tasks, but Chrome is likely better if you juggle dozens of tabs or work across multiple applications.

Power Usage

Winner: Chrome

Although it doesn’t make a big difference when you’re using a PC or are close to a power source, battery life becomes super important when you’re out and about browsing on a laptop or mobile device.

On laptops, heavy CPU and GPU usage are the biggest battery killers. When a browser demands more from your processor or graphics card, your device works harder, and the battery drains faster.

Chrome has made strides in power optimization, but it can still be a little more demanding during intensive browsing sessions (e.g., when you’re working across multiple tabs or streaming). Firefox tends to use slightly less CPU under typical loads, which can help conserve battery during light browsing.

Things are a bit different on mobile devices. Most phones and tablets use ARM processors, which are designed for energy efficiency. Here, both Chrome and Firefox run leaner, but Chrome’s deeper integration with Android often gives it a slight efficiency advantage.

Firefox might be a better bet if you’re using your laptop for casual browsing, but Chrome will hold its own across devices.

Privacy and Security: Chrome vs. Firefox

With cybercrime trending continually upward, it’s particularly important to ensure that your personal information and devices are protected. While third-party tools like VPNs can boost your privacy and security, starting with a browser that takes these protections seriously is key. 

Privacy

Winner: Firefox

Firefox is generally considered to be a privacy-first browser that’s focused on helping you control who’s able to see your information and how they can use it.

Private Browsing mode automatically blocks trackers and ads. It also includes Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP), which stops known third-party cookies by default and allows you to block cross-site cookie tracking, crypto-miners, and digital fingerprinting. If a website attempts to extract your personal info, Firefox will warn you with a message in your address bar.

Firefox also offers built-in support for DNS over HTTPS (DoH) to keep your browsing history private. Managing third-party app permissions, like access to your camera, microphone, and location, is also pretty straightforward. What’s more, you have granular control over the authorizations for each site.

Chrome offers private browsing through Incognito mode. This stops your browsing history from being saved locally, but it doesn’t block trackers or ads by default. Like Firefox, Chrome supports DoH for encrypted DNS queries. But it doesn’t enable it by default for all users.

Google has introduced some anti-tracking tools like Privacy Sandbox to reduce cross-site tracking without fully blocking ads, but the protections aren’t as aggressive as Firefox’s. That means you’ll need to install extensions to get similar ad blocking and tracker-blocking performance as you would on Firefox.

Camera and microphone access are also easily managed within Chrome, enabling you to allow the browser or just specific sites to use these accessories.

Security

Winner: Chrome

Both Chrome and Firefox have great built-in security features that help to protect you from online threats like hacking and malware, but is Firefox safer than Chrome?

Chrome has a robust password manager that suggests strong passwords and will alert you if your credentials are compromised in data breaches. It also has built-in malware and phishing protection and warns you when sites are potentially dangerous. On top of that, the Privacy Sandbox isolates tabs and processes to minimize damage if something does go wrong while you’re browsing. 

Like Chrome, Firefox has a solid built-in password manager that automatically notifies you whenever your password has been breached (or could use an update), along with malware and phishing protection. One place where it definitely outpaces Chrome, though, is the HTTPS-Only Mode, which forces sites to use secure connections.

Both browsers issue regular automatic updates, but Firefox can sometimes lag slightly behind Chrome, which has a very aggressive patching schedule.

Overall, both Chrome and Firefox offer excellent security. That said, Chrome’s pace of updates and extensive investment in threat detection give it a slight edge for users who want maximum protection with minimal effort.

Feature	Chrome	Firefox
Private Browsing Mode	✅	✅
Automatically blocks third-party tracking cookies	❌	✅
Automatically blocks hidden crypto-mining scripts	❌	✅
Automatically blocks social trackers on any platform	❌	✅
DNS over HTTPS (DoH)	✅	✅
Malware detection	✅	✅

Firefox vs. Chrome Features

Both Firefox and Chrome come packed with useful features that shape how you can customize your browsing experience. Some tools come built right into the browser, while others are available through add-ons and extensions. 

Standard Features

Firefox and Chrome share a bunch of default features that most users rely on every day. Both browsers offer tabbed browsing, private browsing modes, built-in password managers, syncing across devices, and automatic updates to keep you secure.

Each one also brings a few unique touches to the table. Chrome has deep integration with Google services like Gmail, Drive, and Calendar, making it incredibly convenient for users already invested in the Google ecosystem. Firefox, meanwhile, leans into customization to give you more control over your browsing environment.

Here’s a quick look at some of the core features side by side:

Utility feature	Chrome	Firefox
Auto-play blocking	❌	✅
Tab browsing	✅	✅
Bookmark manager	✅	✅
Automatic fill (forms)	✅	✅
Text to speech	❌	✅
Reader mode	✅	✅
Spell check	✅	✅
In-browser screenshots	❌	✅
Reverse image search	✅	❌
Translator tool	✅	❌
UI customization	❌	✅

Add-ons and Extensions

Most browsers can be customized with add-ons and extensions. Whether you want to block ads, improve productivity, boost security, or change how websites look, extensions let you tailor your browser to fit your needs.

Chrome has a massive extension library that offers everything from grammar checkers to dark mode themes. Here, there’s an opportunity to make the browser even more private and secure: you can download a VPN extension for Chrome to protect your session directly in your browser.

Firefox also has a rich extension library. Plus, it’s known for running super-strict security checks on these add-ons to ensure that they’re all completely secure. On top of that, you can add Mozilla’s own somewhat limited VPN or a fully functioning VPN extension for Firefox.

Both browsers make it easy to install and manage extensions, but Firefox tends to offer more control over what add-ons can access – something privacy-conscious users may appreciate.

The Verdict on Chrome vs. Firefox

Choosing between Chrome and Firefox comes down to what matters most to you. Chrome pulls ahead in performance and security, while Firefox offers stronger privacy and more customization. 

Whichever browser you choose, adding an extra layer of protection is always a smart move. PIA makes it easy to keep your data private with strong VPN encryption. The lightweight Chrome and Firefox browser extensions have advanced anti-tracking features that block tracking via scripts, cookies, and URLs, plus WebRTC protection to keep your IP address private, and much more besides.

FAQ