Which browser uses less battery on macOS?

Safari uses significantly less battery, providing 6-7 hours of usage compared to Firefox's 4-5 hours on a MacBook Air. This 25-30% improvement is due to Safari's native optimization for Apple's silicon architecture and lower memory footprint.

Can I use Firefox on iPad?

Yes, Firefox is available on iPad (iOS 14.4+), but it uses Apple's WebKit engine rather than Firefox's own engine due to App Store restrictions. Safari remains the native browser on all Apple devices and generally performs better.

How many add-ons does each browser support?

Firefox supports over 10,000 add-ons and extensions, making it highly customizable for developers and power users. Safari has approximately 1,500 extensions, focusing on quality and performance over quantity.

Which browser is better for privacy?

Both browsers offer strong privacy protection. Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks 2,000+ trackers by default with DNS-over-HTTPS standard. Safari offers Intelligent Tracking Prevention and iCloud Private Relay (requires iCloud+ subscription at $2.99/month). Firefox's open-source model allows independent security audits.

Is Firefox available on all operating systems?

Yes, Firefox runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS—making it the most platform-diverse major browser. Safari is exclusively available on Apple devices (macOS, iOS, iPadOS).

Firefox vs Safari

Updated May 2, 2026

Firefox

Open-source browser offering privacy-first features, extensive customization, and true cross-platform support.

Windows/Linux users, developers, privacy-conscious users needing extensive add-ons, and those wanting open-source software

Safari

Apple's native browser optimized for macOS and iOS with tight ecosystem integration.

MacBook and iPad users prioritizing battery life, seamless ecosystem integration, and native performance

Short Answer

Firefox prioritizes customization and cross-platform compatibility with extensive extension support, while Safari excels in battery efficiency and seamless macOS integration. Firefox is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, whereas Safari is exclusive to Apple devices.

Our Verdict

Choose Firefox if you need cross-platform compatibility, extensive customization through add-ons, and prefer open-source software—ideal for Windows/Linux users and power users. Choose Safari if you're in the Apple ecosystem and prioritize battery life, native performance, and seamless integration with macOS and iOS devices.

Firefox7.9

7.1Safari

Choose Firefox if

Windows/Linux users, developers, privacy-conscious users needing extensive add-ons, and those wanting open-source software

Key Differences at a Glance

🧠

Platform Availability: Firefox wins (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS vs macOS, iOS only)

🔹

Extension Ecosystem: Firefox wins (10,000+ add-ons available vs ~1,500 extensions)

🔋

Battery Life (macOS): Safari wins (6-7 hours per charge vs 4-5 hours per charge)

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	Firefox	Safari	Diff
Market Share	3%	—	—
Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)	7.1 hours	13.2 hours	-46%
Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)	~150,000+	~12,000	+1150%

Key Differences

Firefox

Attribute

Safari

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS🏆

Platform Availability

macOS, iOS only

10,000+ add-ons available🏆

Extension Ecosystem

~1,500 extensions

4-5 hours per charge

Battery Life (macOS)

6-7 hours per charge

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Platform Availability

Firefox

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS🏆

Safari

macOS, iOS only

Extension Ecosystem

Firefox

10,000+ add-ons available🏆

Safari

~1,500 extensions

Battery Life (macOS)

Firefox

4-5 hours per charge

Safari

6-7 hours per charge🏆

Privacy Features

Firefox

Enhanced Tracking Protection, DNS-over-HTTPS standard

Safari

Intelligent Tracking Prevention, iCloud Private Relay (paid)

Latest Version

Firefox

149.0.2 (January 2026)

Safari

26.4 (March 2026)

Memory Usage (Baseline)

Firefox

450-550 MB

Safari

300-400 MB🏆

Cost

Firefox

Free, open-source

Safari

Free (iCloud+ required for full privacy features)

Full Comparison

Attribute	Firefox	Safari

Market Share	3%	—
Global Market Share	Safari	—

Privacy Rating	High	—
Privacy Features	Privacy-first architecture	—

Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)	7.1 hours	13.2 hours
Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)	2.8GB	1.6GB
Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)	-12% slower	+8% faster
Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours)	4-5 hours	—
Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method)	Extension-based (slower, requires setup)	—
Show 2 more attributes Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness) More responsive — Memory Efficiency Optimized, lower usage —

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)	~150,000+	~12,000
Available Extensions(extensions)	10,000+	~1,500

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)	50GB free	None (no VPN)

Supported Platforms(platforms)	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS	macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)
Platform Support(platforms)	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	macOS, iOS only
Platform Support	Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)	—

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)	99.8% (ETP+VPN)	99% (ITP)
Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)	Total Cookie Protection (per-site)	—
Tor Integration(included/not included)	Not included	—
Default Privacy Mode(posture)	Privacy-conscious (requires customization)	—

Current Stable Version(version number)	149.0.2	26.4

Latest Version Release	149.0.2	—
Web Standards Compliance(level)	Good but trailing	—
Recent Updates (2026)(features)	Safari 26.4: 44 new features	—

Engine Base(engine type)	Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)	—

Organization Type(type)	Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)	—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)	~85%	—

AI Features (2026)	Apple Intelligence Safari Summary	—

Firefox

Safari

Market Share

—

Global Market Share

Safari

—

Privacy Rating

High

—

Privacy Features

Privacy-first architecture

—

Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)

7.1 hours

13.2 hours

Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)

2.8GB

1.6GB

Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)

-12% slower

+8% faster

Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours)

4-5 hours

—

Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method)

Extension-based (slower, requires setup)

—

Show 2 more attributes

Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness)

More responsive

—

Memory Efficiency

Optimized, lower usage

—

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)

~150,000+

~12,000

Available Extensions(extensions)

10,000+

~1,500

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)

50GB free

None (no VPN)

Supported Platforms(platforms)

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS

macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)

Platform Support(platforms)

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

macOS, iOS only

Platform Support

Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)

—

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)

99.8% (ETP+VPN)

99% (ITP)

Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)

Total Cookie Protection (per-site)

—

Tor Integration(included/not included)

Not included

—

Default Privacy Mode(posture)

Privacy-conscious (requires customization)

—

Current Stable Version(version number)

149.0.2

26.4

Latest Version Release

149.0.2

—

Web Standards Compliance(level)

Good but trailing

—

Recent Updates (2026)(features)

Safari 26.4: 44 new features

—

Engine Base(engine type)

Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)

—

Organization Type(type)

Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)

—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)

~85%

—

AI Features (2026)

Apple Intelligence Safari Summary

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	Firefox	Safari

Market Share	3%	—
Global Market Share	Safari	—

Privacy Rating	High	—
Privacy Features	Privacy-first architecture	—

Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)	7.1 hours	13.2 hours
Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)	2.8GB	1.6GB
Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)	-12% slower	+8% faster
Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours)	4-5 hours	—
Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method)	Extension-based (slower, requires setup)	—
Show 2 more attributes Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness) More responsive — Memory Efficiency Optimized, lower usage —

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)	~150,000+	~12,000
Available Extensions(extensions)	10,000+	~1,500

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)	50GB free	None (no VPN)

Supported Platforms(platforms)	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS	macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)
Platform Support(platforms)	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	macOS, iOS only
Platform Support	Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)	—

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)	99.8% (ETP+VPN)	99% (ITP)
Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)	Total Cookie Protection (per-site)	—
Tor Integration(included/not included)	Not included	—
Default Privacy Mode(posture)	Privacy-conscious (requires customization)	—

Current Stable Version(version number)	149.0.2	26.4

Latest Version Release	149.0.2	—
Web Standards Compliance(level)	Good but trailing	—
Recent Updates (2026)(features)	Safari 26.4: 44 new features	—

Engine Base(engine type)	Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)	—

Organization Type(type)	Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)	—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)	~85%	—

AI Features (2026)	Apple Intelligence Safari Summary	—

Firefox

Safari

Market Share

—

Global Market Share

Safari

—

Privacy Rating

High

—

Privacy Features

Privacy-first architecture

—

Battery Life on MacBook Pro(hours per charge)

7.1 hours

13.2 hours

Memory Usage (10 tabs open)(GB)

2.8GB

1.6GB

Page Load Speed vs Chrome(relative performance)

-12% slower

+8% faster

Battery Life (MacBook Air)(hours)

4-5 hours

—

Ad Blocking Speed(blocking method)

Extension-based (slower, requires setup)

—

Show 2 more attributes

Speedometer 2.1 Performance(responsiveness)

More responsive

—

Memory Efficiency

Optimized, lower usage

—

Available Extensions/Add-ons(count)

~150,000+

~12,000

Available Extensions(extensions)

10,000+

~1,500

Built-in VPN Data Limit(GB per month)

50GB free

None (no VPN)

Supported Platforms(platforms)

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS

macOS, iOS, iPadOS (Apple only)

Platform Support(platforms)

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

macOS, iOS only

Platform Support

Apple platforms only (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)

—

Tracking Protection Coverage(% of trackers blocked)

99.8% (ETP+VPN)

99% (ITP)

Cookie Isolation Strategy(method)

Total Cookie Protection (per-site)

—

Tor Integration(included/not included)

Not included

—

Default Privacy Mode(posture)

Privacy-conscious (requires customization)

—

Current Stable Version(version number)

149.0.2

26.4

Latest Version Release

149.0.2

—

Web Standards Compliance(level)

Good but trailing

—

Recent Updates (2026)(features)

Safari 26.4: 44 new features

—

Engine Base(engine type)

Gecko (Mozilla proprietary)

—

Organization Type(type)

Nonprofit (Mozilla Foundation)

—

Mobile Feature Parity(percentage)

~85%

—

AI Features (2026)

Apple Intelligence Safari Summary

—

Firefox vs Safari

Firefox

Safari

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Software

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Firefox

Pros

Cons

Safari

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison