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Brave is the best starting point for most Firefox switchers who want strong privacy defaults and broad desktop extension compatibility. DuckDuckGo Browser is a better fit if you prefer simpler controls and encrypted sync with no account. Neither is a universal winner: your operating systems, the exact extensions you rely on, and the data you need synchronized determine the right choice.
Choose by constraints, not by browser name
Replacing Firefox usually means preserving three things at once: privacy protections, the extensions that support your work, and a consistent setup on every device. Those goals overlap, but they are not identical. A browser may block more tracking by default yet offer fewer mobile extensions; another may synchronize bookmarks and passwords while leaving out the settings you expected.
Evaluate each candidate on these questions:
- Privacy defaults: What is blocked before you change a setting? Check third-party trackers, cross-site cookies, and fingerprinting separately.
- Extension fit: Does the specific extension you need run on your desktop operating system and on your phone or tablet? Desktop compatibility does not prove mobile availability.
- Sync fit: Which categories synchronize, are they end-to-end encrypted, and do all your platforms support the same categories?
- Recovery and account requirements: Can you restore the data if a device is lost, and does the service require an account or a one-time transfer code?
On the evidence available, Brave is the broadest Firefox replacement for Chromium-compatible desktop extensions, while DuckDuckGo is the simpler privacy-and-sync option. Firefox Sync remains the useful baseline for deciding which data you would gain or lose.
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Quick comparison
| Browser | Privacy information available | Extension position | Sync coverage and encryption | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave | Brave says Shields block trackers, cross-site cookie tracking, and fingerprinting by default. | Built on Chromium; Brave says Chrome extensions work in Brave. | Brave describes client-side encryption and profile syncing between desktop and mobile. | Users who need a large Chromium desktop extension catalogue with privacy protections enabled immediately. |
| DuckDuckGo Browser | Its comparison describes protections under default settings and warns that protection varies by platform; the comparison was last verified in September 2026. | Check each required extension and platform individually; mobile support cannot be inferred from desktop behavior. | Sync & Backup encrypts data on the device before upload. It covers bookmarks, autofill data, email-protection settings, and Duck.ai chats. Credit-card syncing is listed for Windows, macOS, and iOS; identity syncing is listed for Windows and macOS. | People who want straightforward controls and encrypted sync without creating an account. |
| Firefox | Use as the reference point for the data and settings you may be leaving. | Firefox extensions and settings synchronize only between desktop Firefox versions. | Firefox Sync can include open tabs, history, bookmarks, logins and passwords, addresses, payment methods, add-ons, and settings. Mozilla says the data is end-to-end encrypted before leaving the browser. | Users deciding which Firefox features are essential before migrating. |
The table combines vendor descriptions with a dated independent test snapshot; it does not establish a current overall ranking, speed advantage, or identical protection on every platform.
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Brave: the strongest general-purpose replacement
Why it suits extension-heavy desktop use
Brave is based on Chromium. Brave says Chrome extensions work in Brave, so a desktop extension that supports Chromium browsers is the most likely to transfer with little change. That is a compatibility claim, not a guarantee that every extension will behave identically. Extensions can depend on browser-specific APIs, enterprise policies, or mobile interfaces.
Before switching, write down the exact extensions you use and check their publisher pages for Brave or Chromium support. Pay special attention to password managers, developer tools, accessibility tools, and extensions that modify network requests. Install one non-critical extension first, test its main workflow, and only then move the rest of your profile.
Privacy defaults
Brave says its Shields feature blocks trackers, cross-site cookie tracking, and fingerprinting by default. Those are vendor statements; the material available here does not establish an independent, current comparison of Brave’s real-world performance or user experience. Shields can also be adjusted per site, so a troubleshooting change may alter the protection you receive later.
When a site fails, use the site-specific Shields control rather than disabling protections globally. Record any exception you make, because a global relaxation changes the privacy behavior of every site.
Sync and device coverage
Brave describes client-side encryption for Brave Sync and says it can synchronize profiles between desktop and mobile. Confirm that the versions you install expose the same profile categories before relying on sync as your only backup. Synchronization is a continuity feature, not a substitute for an export or independent backup of critical passwords and bookmarks.
Best Brave use case
Choose Brave first when your priority order is: Chromium desktop extensions, privacy protections enabled without extensive configuration, and a desktop-to-mobile profile that can be synchronized. It is less suitable if a particular extension is Firefox-only or if you need a mobile extension ecosystem that the browser does not provide.
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DuckDuckGo Browser: simple controls and encrypted sync
Privacy information is platform-specific
DuckDuckGo’s privacy comparison lists protections based on default settings and explicitly warns that they vary by platform. The company says that comparison was last verified in September 2026. Treat that date as a snapshot: a desktop result cannot be assumed to describe Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS.
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For a fair check, compare the same browser version and operating system on the same day. Look separately at tracker blocking, cross-site cookie handling, and fingerprinting protections rather than reducing them to one score.
What Sync & Backup stores
DuckDuckGo’s support documentation describes Sync & Backup as encrypting data on the device before uploading it. The documented categories are:
- Bookmarks
- Autofill data
- Email-protection settings
- Duck.ai chats
The same documentation lists credit-card syncing for Windows, macOS, and iOS, and identity syncing for Windows and macOS. That means a mixed-device household may see different fields on different platforms. Do not assume that an identity or payment record visible on one device will appear on another.
No-account, all-or-nothing behavior
DuckDuckGo describes the encrypted sync model as requiring no account and says the feature is all-or-nothing. The practical implication is that you should decide whether the complete documented set of fields is acceptable before enabling it; you may not be able to select only one category. Confirm the current setup and recovery flow on every platform you use, particularly after a major browser update.
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Choose DuckDuckGo when you want privacy controls that are easy to understand, device-side encryption before upload, and no traditional account for the sync feature. Choose another browser if you depend on a Firefox-only extension, require synchronized settings across desktop Firefox versions, or need every sync category to be identical on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.
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What Firefox Sync sets as the baseline
Mozilla says Firefox Sync can include open tabs, history, bookmarks, logins and passwords, addresses, payment methods, add-ons, and settings. Mozilla also describes the data as end-to-end encrypted before it leaves the browser. Those categories are the checklist to use before migrating: mark each one as essential, useful, or unnecessary.
There is an important platform limitation. Mozilla’s documentation states that extensions and settings synchronize only between desktop Firefox versions. A phone may still receive other supported data, but it should not be expected to reproduce a desktop extension set or every desktop preference.
If you rely on synchronized add-ons or settings, switching browsers changes the workflow even when bookmarks and passwords transfer successfully. Export or document the settings for extensions that control content filters, developer environments, or accessibility behavior.
Privacy test numbers: useful context, not a winner
An appendix published by the UK Competition and Markets Authority in 2025 reproduced PrivacyTests.org mobile results retrieved on 17 September 2024. The passed-test counts were:
| Browser | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Brave | 88 | 78 |
| DuckDuckGo | 36 | 52 |
| Firefox | 30 | 35 |
The same appendix says iOS had more unsupported features overall than Android. These figures are a dated 2024 retrieval reproduced in a 2025 publication, not a current 2026 ranking and not a complete measure of safety. Test suites change, browser versions change, and an unsupported feature is not necessarily a failed privacy control. Use the counts to ask better questions about platform differences, not to declare a permanent winner.
Extension compatibility: a migration method that avoids surprises
1. Build an inventory
On Firefox, list every extension and label it by importance:
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- Critical: your work stops without it.
- Important: you can work around it temporarily.
- Optional: convenience only.
For each item, record the publisher, the exact function you use, whether it handles sensitive data, and whether you need it on mobile.
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Check the extension’s official listing for the browser and operating system you plan to use. A Chrome-compatible desktop extension may have no mobile version. If there is no mobile listing, plan a browser-native alternative or a different workflow rather than assuming installation will be possible.
3. Test in a clean profile
- Install the candidate browser without importing your entire Firefox profile.
- Add one critical extension.
- Test sign-in, permissions, keyboard shortcuts, private-window behavior, and the task you perform most often.
- Check whether the extension’s privacy or content rules still work when the browser’s built-in protections are enabled.
- Repeat on each operating system that matters.
4. Recreate settings deliberately
Do not copy every exception from Firefox automatically. Re-enter only the permissions, site rules, and integrations you can explain. This reduces the chance of carrying an obsolete allow-list or granting a new browser more access than intended.
Sync migration: protect continuity and recovery
Before leaving Firefox
- Confirm that bookmarks, passwords, addresses, payment methods, open tabs, and history are actually present and current.
- Export bookmarks to a safe local file.
- Ensure you have a recovery method for passwords; do not depend on a browser account you are about to close.
- Note which Firefox add-ons and settings you must recreate manually on desktop.
When enabling the replacement sync
- Install the same browser on each supported device.
- Read the sync categories shown in the setup screen instead of accepting an assumed match with Firefox Sync.
- Verify the encryption and recovery wording supplied by the browser.
- Connect one secondary device first and compare bookmarks, autofill, and other expected fields.
- Only after verification, connect additional devices and remove the old browser’s sync session.
Mixed-platform checks
For DuckDuckGo, specifically verify credit-card and identity fields against the documented platform limits: credit cards are listed for Windows, macOS, and iOS, while identity data is listed for Windows and macOS. For Brave, verify that the profile categories you need are present on both desktop and mobile because Brave’s description covers profile syncing, not an identical field-by-field guarantee for every platform.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Decision guide
Pick Brave if
- Your must-have extensions are available in Chromium format.
- You want tracker, cross-site-cookie, and fingerprinting protections enabled by default according to Brave’s documentation.
- You need one browser family across desktop and mobile and are willing to verify sync categories.
Pick DuckDuckGo Browser if
- You prefer a simpler privacy interface and platform-specific documentation.
- You want device-side encryption before sync upload and do not want to create an account for the sync model.
- Your required sync data fits its documented categories and platform limits.
Stay with Firefox if
- A Firefox-only extension is critical.
- You depend on Firefox’s combination of synchronized add-ons, settings, and broad data categories.
- You want Mozilla’s documented end-to-end encryption model and do not have a migration benefit large enough to justify rebuilding your setup.
Common failure modes and fixes
An extension installs but does not work
Check whether it relies on Firefox-specific APIs, whether the browser’s privacy setting blocks a required request, and whether the extension supports your operating system. Test in a clean profile and consult the extension publisher before weakening browser-wide protections.
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Compare the replacement browser’s documented sync categories with the data you expected from Firefox. Recheck whether the device is listed as supported and whether the import was completed separately from sync. Keep the exported Firefox data until the new browser has been verified.
Best Value
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A privacy feature behaves differently on mobile
Platform differences are expected. DuckDuckGo explicitly says its protection comparison varies by platform, and the CMA appendix notes more unsupported features on iOS than Android. Compare settings and test results for the exact mobile operating system rather than copying desktop assumptions.
A site breaks after switching
Identify whether the failure comes from tracker blocking, cross-site-cookie controls, fingerprinting defenses, or an extension. Use a narrowly scoped site exception, test the site again, and remove the exception if it is no longer needed. Avoid disabling privacy protections globally to solve one compatibility problem.
Bottom line
For most people replacing Firefox, start with Brave if Chromium desktop extension compatibility is the deciding factor, and start with DuckDuckGo if simple controls and encrypted, account-free sync matter more. Audit your critical extensions and sync fields before committing. The dated PrivacyTests.org counts reproduced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority provide context, but they cannot replace a current, platform-specific check of the browser and version you will actually use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I assume a Chrome extension will work on every Brave device?
No. Brave says Chrome extensions work in Brave, which primarily addresses Chromium compatibility. Verify the specific extension on each desktop and mobile platform; desktop support does not establish mobile availability.
Does DuckDuckGo sync every Firefox Sync category?
No. DuckDuckGo documents bookmarks, autofill data, email-protection settings, and Duck.ai chats, with credit-card syncing listed for Windows, macOS, and iOS and identity syncing for Windows and macOS. Firefox Sync covers a different, broader set of categories.
Are the PrivacyTests.org counts a current ranking?
No. The counts were retrieved on 17 September 2024 and reproduced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority in 2025. They are a dated snapshot, not a 2026 ranking or a complete safety measurement.
Quick Recap
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