4 ms·

I use both Chrome (for work) and Firefox (personal) on Windows. Beyond a few specifics, I often can't remember which I am using. There might be many differences

I use both Chrome (for work) and Firefox (personal) on Windows. Beyond a few specifics, I often can't remember which I am using. There might be many differences under the hood, but in a regular usage Firefox is really damn good. Even on Google's properties. I also use Firefox exclusively on mobile, and same. At the end of the day, they are two very mature, slightly different executions of the same concept. I get the frustrations that may exist on the power user / dev side, but I think our crowd is generally not fair enough in recognizing the tremendous efforts it take to compete with Google with a fraction of its resources. Note: I use Chrome for work to 1/ isolate my work from personal sessions without the hassle of containers or profiles, and 2/ because I work for a web app targeting Chrome (per the market share).

aero-glide2 5y ago
In desktop, there is barely any difference now (Chrome's save as pdf feature is more accurate with tables). In mobile however, Chrome seems noticeably faster.
- alserio 5y ago
  Counter point: install ublock origin on firefox mobile (which you cannot do on chrome) and the web is very noticeably faster on firefox.
  - nsonha 5y ago
    this and "Video on background fix" which allows you to "listen" to youtube and multitask. I don't use the youtube app to avoid all the addictive features and tracking, and even it doesn't play in the background.
    - stjohnswarts 5y ago
      Newpipe is great for youtube background listening.
    - webmobdev 5y ago
      Install the Youtube Vanced app - https://vancedapp.com/ https://vancedapp.com/
      - nsonha 5y ago
        I know about this and New Pipe, but having tons of apps for every little thing I do on the phone is exactly what I avoid. All these apps do is supporting downloading and subscriptions, something I would care about if I submitted to the youtube time sink, which I do not. Besides, isn't this app a violation of Youtube's policies?
        aero-glide2 5y ago
        >isn't this app a violation of Youtube's policies? This is "hacker" news :)
- stjohnswarts 5y ago
  Graphics+javascript in firefox always feels a lot slower to me on firefox than on chrome (and chrome based browsers)
c0npr 5y ago
Similar experience here, except I used brave cuz I don't really like the Google service stuff. I am pretty okay with most of the existing browsers on the market (but not edge, again the force you to use ms service, and useless default news etc.) And I don't care about the gui that much cuz I am not storing bookmarks in the browsers, it's quite hard to search through and sync
jeffomatic 5y ago
This is my experience as well. I use both Chrome and Firefox across Mac and Windows, and I find the experiences to be pretty much interchangeable. I'm usually someone who gets annoyed at minor differences, but this really is one area where I'm not bothered at all. I use Firefox most of the time, out of a desire to support Mozilla and promote a non-Google browser. Admittedly, this is a political motivation, but it comes at pretty much zero practical cost. If you are interested in trying out Firefox, I think the only significant inconvenience is disabling Pocket. Like the parent, I'll occasionally switch to Chrome for separate profiles, or if I need something specific in DevTools. Chrome has much better multi-profile support, in the sense that it has it at all, but again, the differences between the two are so minor that I don't have any qualms switching back and forth.
- playpause 5y ago
  I agree it’s important for Chrome to have a competitor, but Firefox has proven itself not to be a successful one. I’ve lost faith in Mozilla’s ability to make decisions that win back users from Chrome. I wonder if Firefox shut down, the dispersal of its users to other non-Google browsers might create enough momentum that one of them could start to become competitive with Chrome.
GekkePrutser 5y ago
Same here but with Edge. Microsoft lobbied us extremely to make it our standard browser. But both are just fine. Never have issues with Firefox. But I do have issues with its UI. Too much wasted space, it's only useable in compact mode which they want to get rid of. And I hate that there's no clear visual separation between tabs anymore. Even Chrome and edge have this.

aero-glide2 5y ago

In desktop, there is barely any difference now (Chrome's save as pdf feature is more accurate with tables). In mobile however, Chrome seems noticeably faster.

alserio 5y ago
Counter point: install ublock origin on firefox mobile (which you cannot do on chrome) and the web is very noticeably faster on firefox.
- nsonha 5y ago
  this and "Video on background fix" which allows you to "listen" to youtube and multitask. I don't use the youtube app to avoid all the addictive features and tracking, and even it doesn't play in the background.
  - stjohnswarts 5y ago
    Newpipe is great for youtube background listening.
  - webmobdev 5y ago
    Install the Youtube Vanced app - https://vancedapp.com/ https://vancedapp.com/
    - nsonha 5y ago
      I know about this and New Pipe, but having tons of apps for every little thing I do on the phone is exactly what I avoid. All these apps do is supporting downloading and subscriptions, something I would care about if I submitted to the youtube time sink, which I do not. Besides, isn't this app a violation of Youtube's policies?
      - aero-glide2 5y ago
        >isn't this app a violation of Youtube's policies? This is "hacker" news :)
stjohnswarts 5y ago
Graphics+javascript in firefox always feels a lot slower to me on firefox than on chrome (and chrome based browsers)

c0npr 5y ago

Similar experience here, except I used brave cuz I don't really like the Google service stuff. I am pretty okay with most of the existing browsers on the market (but not edge, again the force you to use ms service, and useless default news etc.) And I don't care about the gui that much cuz I am not storing bookmarks in the browsers, it's quite hard to search through and sync

jeffomatic 5y ago

This is my experience as well. I use both Chrome and Firefox across Mac and Windows, and I find the experiences to be pretty much interchangeable. I'm usually someone who gets annoyed at minor differences, but this really is one area where I'm not bothered at all. I use Firefox most of the time, out of a desire to support Mozilla and promote a non-Google browser. Admittedly, this is a political motivation, but it comes at pretty much zero practical cost. If you are interested in trying out Firefox, I think the only significant inconvenience is disabling Pocket. Like the parent, I'll occasionally switch to Chrome for separate profiles, or if I need something specific in DevTools. Chrome has much better multi-profile support, in the sense that it has it at all, but again, the differences between the two are so minor that I don't have any qualms switching back and forth.

playpause 5y ago
I agree it’s important for Chrome to have a competitor, but Firefox has proven itself not to be a successful one. I’ve lost faith in Mozilla’s ability to make decisions that win back users from Chrome. I wonder if Firefox shut down, the dispersal of its users to other non-Google browsers might create enough momentum that one of them could start to become competitive with Chrome.

GekkePrutser 5y ago

Same here but with Edge. Microsoft lobbied us extremely to make it our standard browser. But both are just fine. Never have issues with Firefox. But I do have issues with its UI. Too much wasted space, it's only useable in compact mode which they want to get rid of. And I hate that there's no clear visual separation between tabs anymore. Even Chrome and edge have this.