Vivaldi as a Linux alternative to Firefox

Updated October 21, 2026

Our verdict

Vivaldi is a solid replacement for Firefox on Linux for users who want deeper control over their browsing experience. It matches Firefox’s core functions—HTML5 rendering, tabbed browsing, extensions, password manager, private mode, hardware‑accelerated video, and sync—while adding advanced tab management, built‑in mail and calendar, notes, and a powerful ad/tracker blocker. Power users who need custom toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, or integrated productivity tools will appreciate Vivaldi more than the stock Firefox experience.

Feature parity80%

License: LicenseRef-proprietary
Price: freemium
Latest version: 8.2.4133.89 (October 17, 2026)
Rating: —

Install Vivaldi Website ↗

Vivaldi screenshot — Vivaldi browser with a unified theme to showcase how a darker background image looks covering the whole UI.

What works the same

Both use the same Chromium/Gecko‑like rendering engine for HTML5/CSS3 support
Both provide tabbed browsing with close, reopen, and pin features
Both support extensions/add‑ons (Firefox via its own store, Vivaldi via Chrome Web Store)
Both have a built‑in password manager and private/incognito mode
Both offer cross‑platform profile sync (Firefox Sync, Vivaldi E2EE sync)

What is different

Vivaldi offers advanced tab management (Workspaces, Stacks, Tiling) while Firefox does not
Vivaldi integrates Mail, Calendar, Tasks, and Feed Reader; Firefox has no native email or calendar client
Vivaldi’s UI is fully customizable with themes, shortcuts, and macros; Firefox’s customization is more limited
Vivaldi includes a built‑in ad/tracker blocker and Notes app; Firefox relies on extensions for these
Vivaldi requires a Vivaldi account for sync and Proton VPN integration; Firefox uses Mozilla’s account system

Opening your Firefox files

Firefox profile data (bookmarks, passwords, extensions, settings) can be exported from the Firefox profile folder (usually ~/.mozilla/firefox) and imported into Vivaldi by copying the relevant files into Vivaldi’s profile directory (~/.config/vivaldi). Vivaldi will detect and migrate most data automatically. For email or calendar data, Vivaldi’s built‑in clients use standard protocols (IMAP/POP3/CalDAV) so you can simply re‑add your accounts.

Switching from Firefox to Vivaldi, step by step

1. Back up your Firefox profile folder (~/.mozilla/firefox) and any extensions you want to keep.
2. Install Vivaldi from Flathub or your distribution’s package manager.
3. Run Vivaldi once to generate its profile directory (~/.config/vivaldi).
4. Copy the bookmarks, logins.json, and extensions folder from the Firefox profile into the Vivaldi profile, preserving sub‑folder structure.
5. Restart Vivaldi; it will detect the copied data and import it. If needed, re‑add email accounts in the Mail client.
6. Verify that bookmarks, passwords, and extensions work before uninstalling Firefox.

Key features of Vivaldi

Fully customizable UI, including themes, toolbars, and keyboard shortcuts
Advanced tab management with Workspaces, Stacks, and Tiling
Integrated Mail, Calendar, Tasks, and Feed Reader (IMAP/POP3/CalDAV/RSS)
Built-in Notes, Tracker blocker, and ad blocker
End-to-end encrypted sync across desktop and mobile
Support for Chrome extensions via Web Store
Mouse gestures and programmable macros
Proton VPN integration (requires account)

How to install Vivaldi on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub com.vivaldi.Vivaldi

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S vivaldi

Frequently asked questions

Does Vivaldi support Firefox extensions?

Vivaldi does not natively run Firefox add‑ons. It supports Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store, which covers most popular add‑ons, but some Firefox‑specific extensions will not work.

Will my Firefox bookmarks sync automatically with Vivaldi?

Vivaldi has its own sync service. After importing bookmarks, you must set up a Vivaldi account and enable sync; bookmarks will then sync across devices. Firefox Sync will not sync to Vivaldi.

Is Vivaldi free on Linux?

Yes. Vivaldi is free to download and use on Linux. It is distributed under a proprietary license but does not require payment for any features.