For the sliver of the market that opts for Firefox as an alternative of Chrome, the default browser on Android gadgets, the expertise simply bought higher. Firefox maker Mozilla introduced right this moment the launch of over 450 new extensions — aka browser add-ons — which are actually accessible on Mozilla’s Firefox Browser Add-ons web page. These extensions enable customers to customise the cell browser to their wants, whether or not that includes including anti-tracking privateness instruments, content material blockers, productiveness instruments, or different options that introduce new experiences, like streaming music, or those who enable customers to personalize the browser’s consumer interface — like switching all web sites to a darkish mode or providing a higher solution to handle tabs.
The shortage of extensions has been a difficulty for Firefox for Android customers for years following the 2020 launch of a rebuilt model of the cell browser that changed the app’s earlier codebase with “GeckoView,” a brand new, sooner, and extra customizable browser engine. On the time, the corporate stated it decided to restrict the supported extensions to solely these inside the “Advisable Extensions” program — that means those who have been generally put in by finish customers. This alternative allowed Mozilla to rapidly get the brand new browser into shoppers’ palms, however squashed the lengthy tail of extension growth — and alternative for software program builders centered on this market.
Whereas Firefox’s nightly builds later enabled extra extensions, the publicly accessible Firefox for Android browser didn’t have entry to those a whole lot of extensions, that means most of Firefox’s mainstream customers have been additionally with out.
In August of this 12 months, Mozilla stated it had lastly accomplished the infrastructure wanted to deliver the open extension ecosystem again to Firefox for Android. It then started to check and make a whole lot extra extensions accessible to Firefox for Android customers, culminating in right this moment’s information that there are actually 450+ extensions accessible.
The corporate careworn the significance of getting an open ecosystem, noting that just about half of all Firefox desktop customers have an extension put in to customise their expertise.
Most of the really useful extensions for the Android browser have consumer numbers within the six digits or extra, however the app itself solely retains a small slice of the cell browser market, as a result of traction that the default browsers, Chrome and Safari, have achieved on Android and iOS, respectively. On cell gadgets, Firefox has a mere 0.5% market share as of November 2023, in line with knowledge StatCounter. By comparability, Chrome has a 64.23% share. Safari, Samsung’s browser, Opera, and others are additionally forward of Firefox within the cell browser race.
Nonetheless, the app has a small however devoted following, together with those that are in search of various choices from others past the Large Tech giants. One in all its key promoting factors is automated tracker blocking, which appeals to the extra privacy-minded. Per Google Play Retailer knowledge, Firefox for Android has topped 100 million installs thus far.
“The chance for innovation is huge,” stated Giorgio Natili, Firefox’s Director of Engineering, in an announcement concerning the extensions’ launch. “It’s thrilling to see extension builders embrace this second and create novel looking experiences and options for Firefox for Android customers. Folks don’t should browse the cell internet in a strictly singular method anymore. With extensions, you’re free to vary the best way Firefox for Android seems to be and behaves. It’s solely going to get higher as extra builders innovate inside this thrilling new house,” he added.
