Chromium as a Linux alternative to Mozilla Firefox

Updated October 23, 2026

Our verdict

Chromium is a solid replacement for Firefox if you prioritize raw JavaScript performance and access to the vast Chrome Web Store. It handles modern web standards, including WebGL and complex HTML5, with excellent stability on Linux. However, it is not a drop-in swap for privacy-focused Firefox users. You lose the built-in, aggressive tracking protection and the native, easy-to-use Firefox Sync ecosystem. If you rely heavily on Firefox-specific extensions or value a browser that defaults to strict privacy without manual configuration, sticking with Firefox is better. Chromium suits developers and power users who want speed and don't mind setting up sync alternatives like PasswordStore or manual exports.

Feature parity85%

License: BSD-3-Clause and LGPL-2.1+ and…
Price: Free
Latest version: 156.0.8078.79 (October 29, 2026)
Rating: —

Install Chromium Website ↗

What works the same

Both are free, open-source web browsers available on all major Linux distributions.
Both support modern web standards like HTML5, CSS3, and WebGL for rich web applications.
Both offer robust extension ecosystems, allowing users to customize functionality significantly.
Both include built-in password managers and bookmarking systems.
Both receive regular security updates to patch vulnerabilities in their rendering engines.

What is different

Chromium uses the Blink engine, while Firefox uses Gecko, leading to slight rendering differences on some sites.
Firefox Sync is a native, seamless service; Chromium requires third-party tools or manual exports for cross-device sync.
Firefox has built-in, aggressive tracking protection enabled by default; Chromium's privacy controls are more basic and less intrusive by default.
Chromium has full compatibility with Chrome Web Store extensions, whereas Firefox requires separate, often less frequent, updates for its add-ons.
Chromium is slightly faster in JavaScript-heavy tasks, while Firefox often uses less RAM for multi-tab browsing.

Opening your Mozilla Firefox files

Chromium can import bookmarks and passwords directly from Firefox during the initial setup wizard. It reads Firefox's standard export formats (HTML for bookmarks, CSV or encrypted JSON for passwords). However, it cannot directly read Firefox's internal profile database files without conversion. Extensions installed in Firefox will not automatically transfer; you must manually install compatible versions from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons site. If you use Firefox Sync, you will need to export your data manually to migrate it to Chromium, as there is no native bridge between the two sync systems.

Switching from Mozilla Firefox to Chromium, step by step

Open Firefox and go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Security > Saved Logins to export your passwords to a CSV file.
Go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks, then select Export to HTML to save your bookmark collection.
Install Chromium via your package manager (e.g., sudo apt install chromium-browser or via Flathub).
Launch Chromium for the first time and select 'Import bookmarks and settings' from Firefox, choosing the HTML file you exported.
Install necessary extensions from the Chrome Web Store, ensuring they are compatible with your specific workflow.
Configure your password manager in Chromium by importing the CSV file exported from Firefox.

Key features of Chromium

Open-source core of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge
Fast rendering engine with strong JavaScript performance
Full support for Chrome Web Store extensions
Regular security updates and stable release cycles
Available via Flathub, Snap, and native distro packages
No proprietary telemetry or forced Google account sign-in

How to install Chromium on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromium

Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install chromium-browser

Debiansudo apt install chromium

Fedorasudo dnf install chromium

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S chromium

openSUSEsudo zypper install chromium

Frequently asked questions

Will my Firefox extensions work in Chromium?

No, not directly. Firefox uses its own add-on format and API. You must find equivalent extensions in the Chrome Web Store. Many popular extensions have versions for both, but some Firefox-specific tools may not have Chromium counterparts.

Is Chromium as private as Firefox?

Chromium is open-source and lacks Google's proprietary telemetry, but it does not have Firefox's built-in, aggressive tracking protection. You may need to install privacy-focused extensions in Chromium to match Firefox's default privacy stance.

Can I sync my tabs and history between Firefox and Chromium?

No, there is no native way to sync between the two. You can manually export and import bookmarks and passwords, but real-time sync of tabs and history requires third-party tools or manual management.