12 Private Chrome Alternatives That Keep Your Extensions

On Oct 15, 2026

Leaving Chrome for something more private sounds simple until you remember everything hanging off it: your password manager, your ad blocker, the single-sign-on extension your work or school requires. A privacy browser is only useful if your actual tools come along. The good news is that most do, but which ones depends on what the browser is built on, and Google’s Manifest V3 changes have quietly reshaped the picture. Here are twelve alternatives, grouped by exactly how your extensions will fare on each.

The short version of the technical bit: browsers built on Chromium can run your Chrome Web Store extensions, and browsers built on Firefox run Firefox add-ons, where most of the same popular extensions also exist. The twist is ad blocking, which Manifest V3 has weakened on Chromium while leaving it fully intact on Firefox. So the right choice comes down to which extensions matter most to you, and the sections below sort the twelve by that.

The Short Version

If you want to keep your exact Chrome extensions, choose a Chromium browser like Brave, Vivaldi, Edge, Opera, or Ungoogled Chromium, which all run Chrome Web Store extensions, though ad blockers there are now the Manifest V3 “lite” versions unless the browser blocks ads natively, as Brave does. If your top priority is the strongest ad blocking with full uBlock Origin, go Firefox-based, Firefox itself, LibreWolf, Waterfox, or the newer Zen, where the full extension still works. And if you want maximum privacy above all, Mullvad Browser, Tor Browser, and the DuckDuckGo browser deliberately limit extensions to protect against fingerprinting. Match the base to your must-have extensions and the decision gets easy.

Table of Contents

What “extension compatibility” really means after Manifest V3

Extension compatibility is not one thing, and Manifest V3 is why. Google finished moving Chrome to Manifest V3 and disabled the old Manifest V2 extensions in 2025, which weakened content blockers on Chrome and every Chromium browser, so the full uBlock Origin no longer runs there and its lighter “Lite” version is the path instead. Firefox kept the capability that powerful ad blockers rely on, so the complete uBlock Origin still works there at full strength. That single difference drives the grouping below: Chromium browsers keep the breadth of the Chrome extension library, Firefox-based browsers keep the depth of real ad blocking, and the privacy-maximalist browsers intentionally hold extensions back because each one added makes you easier to fingerprint. Decide which of those you care about most before you pick.

Chromium browsers that run your Chrome extensions

These run Chrome Web Store extensions directly, so your password manager, work SSO, and most tools install exactly as they did on Chrome. Brave is the standout, blocking ads and trackers natively through its Shields so you do not even need an ad-blocker extension, with Tor windows for extra privacy. Vivaldi is the power-user favorite, deeply customizable with built-in tracker and ad blocking on top of full extension support. Microsoft Edge is Chromium too and runs Chrome extensions with solid tracking prevention, though it comes with Microsoft’s own telemetry to weigh. Opera adds a built-in ad blocker and VPN and runs Chrome extensions, with ownership questions worth reading up on. And Ungoogled Chromium strips Google’s services out of Chromium for the privacy-minded, running extensions with a small manual step, best for the technical.

Firefox-based browsers with full ad blocking

These run Firefox add-ons rather than Chrome extensions, and the trade is worth it if ad blocking matters, because the full uBlock Origin works here at full power. Firefox itself is the anchor, with a huge add-on library, strong Enhanced Tracking Protection, and the complete uBlock Origin, and most popular extensions like password managers have Firefox versions. LibreWolf is a privacy-hardened Firefox fork with no telemetry and sensible defaults, running the same add-ons. Waterfox is another Firefox fork, privacy-minded and add-on compatible, with a long track record. And Zen is the newer, modern-feeling Firefox-engine browser that keeps full add-on and uBlock Origin compatibility while adding a fresh interface, a good pick if standard Firefox feels dated to you.

Maximum-privacy browsers, with an extension trade-off

These put privacy first, which means they deliberately limit extensions, so weigh that before switching your whole workflow. Mullvad Browser is built by Mullvad with the Tor Project to resist fingerprinting, and because every added extension makes your browser more identifiable, it is designed to be used mostly as-is rather than loaded with add-ons. Tor Browser takes anonymity furthest by routing traffic through the Tor network, and it strongly discourages extra extensions for the same fingerprinting reason, so it is a companion browser for sensitive tasks rather than a daily driver full of tools. The DuckDuckGo browser is a simpler privacy-first option with built-in tracker blocking, though its desktop extension support is limited, so it suits people who want privacy with minimal add-ons rather than a full extension setup.

Main Takeaways

Chromium browsers like Brave, Vivaldi, Edge, Opera, and Ungoogled Chromium run your Chrome extensions directly.
After Manifest V3, ad blockers on Chromium are the limited “lite” versions, while Firefox keeps the full-strength uBlock Origin.
Firefox, LibreWolf, Waterfox, and Zen run Firefox add-ons, and most popular extensions have Firefox versions.
Brave blocks ads and trackers natively, so it needs no ad-blocker extension at all.
Mullvad, Tor, and the DuckDuckGo browser limit extensions on purpose to resist fingerprinting, trading tools for privacy.

For more privacy and security guides, browse the DelightfulBlogs Tech section, or see our guide to password manager alternatives for families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Chrome extensions work in these browsers?

On the Chromium-based ones, yes. Brave, Vivaldi, Edge, Opera, and Ungoogled Chromium all install Chrome Web Store extensions directly, so your password manager, work sign-on, and most tools carry over. On the Firefox-based browsers you install the Firefox version of each extension instead, and most popular extensions offer one.

Why do ad blockers work differently now?

Because of Google’s Manifest V3 change, which disabled the older extension type that powerful content blockers relied on. On Chrome and other Chromium browsers, the full uBlock Origin no longer runs, and a lighter version is used instead. Firefox kept the needed capability, so the complete uBlock Origin still works there at full strength.

Which browser is best if ad blocking is my priority?

A Firefox-based one, because the full uBlock Origin runs there with all its features. Firefox, LibreWolf, Waterfox, and Zen all support it. Alternatively, Brave blocks ads and trackers natively without any extension, which makes it a strong Chromium option for people who mainly want ads gone with no setup.

Why do Tor and Mullvad Browser limit extensions?

To protect your anonymity. These browsers resist fingerprinting by making all their users look as identical as possible, and every extension you add makes your browser more unique and easier to track. So they are designed to be used mostly as they come, which is a deliberate trade of extension freedom for stronger privacy.

Is Brave or Firefox the better Chrome replacement?

It depends on your extensions. Brave keeps your exact Chrome extensions and blocks ads natively with no setup, ideal if you want the closest Chrome-like experience. Firefox gives you the strongest ad blocking with full uBlock Origin and a non-Chromium engine, ideal if blocking and browser diversity matter more to you. Both are excellent privacy upgrades.

The Bottom Line

Switching away from Chrome does not have to mean losing the extensions you depend on; it means choosing the right base for them. If you want your Chrome extensions untouched, a Chromium browser like Brave or Vivaldi keeps them, with Brave handling ads natively. If real ad blocking is the point, a Firefox-based browser like Firefox, LibreWolf, or Zen keeps the full uBlock Origin. And if privacy trumps everything, Mullvad and Tor trade extensions for anonymity by design. Start from your must-have extensions, pick the group that keeps them, and the move off Chrome becomes an upgrade rather than a compromise.