Waterfox for Android is a web browser built on the same Fenix/GeckoView foundation as Firefox for Android, maintained by the Waterfox team at BrowserWorks. People choose it when they want an alternative to Firefox or Chrome that is built from open source code they can inspect and compile themselves.
Developer: BrowserWorks (Waterfox project) · License: NOASSERTION (open source) · Price: Free
Official file from the developer's release · Nov 6, 2026 · SHA-256 891ff7b291577f87…
Screenshots
Key features
- Based on Fenix, the same engine architecture that powers Firefox for Android
- Uses GeckoView as its rendering engine
- Builds the accounts and Sync native library from in-tree application services sources
- Excludes Nimbus from the build
- Source code and build instructions are fully published for anyone to compile
Why isn’t Waterfox for Android on Google Play?
This app is published by its developers on GitHub rather than distributed through Google Play. It is not listed on F-Droid either, so the GitHub releases page is the official source for the APK.
Is Waterfox for Android safe?
The source is released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and is available on GitHub for anyone to review or build themselves. We link to the official releases published by BrowserWorks; as with any browser, it will request standard permissions like internet and storage access to work. Waterfox for Android comes straight from its developer rather than through Google Play, so it hasn’t gone through Google’s app review. As with any app, check the permissions it asks for and install it if you’re comfortable with them.
How to install
- Tap the download button above: the APK file downloads straight to your phone.
- When Android asks, allow your browser to install unknown apps.
- Open the file and tap Install.
FAQ
Is Waterfox for Android free
Yes. It is open source software released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, and the code is published publicly on GitHub.
Is Waterfox for Android available on Google Play or F-Droid
No. It is not currently listed on Google Play or F-Droid. You can get the official APK from the GitHub releases page of the BrowserWorks/waterfox-android repository.
How is Waterfox for Android different from Firefox for Android
It is based on the same Fenix codebase and uses GeckoView as its engine, but it builds its own Sync and accounts library from in-tree sources and excludes Nimbus, Mozilla's experimentation framework.
More free apps you won’t find on Google Play: Open Source Apps · Best Android apps not on the Google Play Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waterfox for Android free
Yes. It is open source software released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, and the code is published publicly on GitHub.
Is Waterfox for Android available on Google Play or F-Droid
No. It is not currently listed on Google Play or F-Droid. You can get the official APK from the GitHub releases page of the BrowserWorks/waterfox-android repository.
How is Waterfox for Android different from Firefox for Android
It is based on the same Fenix codebase and uses GeckoView as its engine, but it builds its own Sync and accounts library from in-tree sources and excludes Nimbus, Mozilla's experimentation framework.
Leave a Comment