Firefox Focus Review
Please note: This review of the Firefox Focus app is about the iOS version
Firefox Focus is a free mobile browser app available for ios and android. The app was created by Mozilla, the same team responsible for creating the Firefox browser. There are several differences between Firefox and Firefox Focus. First, while Firefox is available for mobile devices, tablets, and desktops, Focus is only available on mobile and tablet devices. However, the most significant and notable difference is that Focus has a default ad blocker, which will block all ads you encounter during your web browsing. Ads can be (and are) annoying when browsing as they can pop up on your screen, distracting you and taking over your screen, and just being a nuisance. With Focus, it takes all ads away, allowing you to read whatever content is distraction-free. This also includes stopping YouTube ads as well.
Focus is more than an ad blocker. It can also block trackers when you are browsing the web. This can give you peace of mind, knowing that trackers are being blocked when you browse the web. You can also go into “Settings” and customize the tracking protection even further if you want to stop specific tracking, but enhanced protection is on by default. It also tells you how many trackers have been blocked each time you close the tab.
The app also clears all browsing history, passwords, and cookies every time you close the tab. This means it cannot create or maintain any data about you, so you don’t have to worry about it creating a profile about your browsing habits and using that information to benefit itself. This is better than some browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, as even if you were browsing in incognito or private mode, they still collect some data on you. Also, those browsers do not have these protections by default.
Firefox Focus is a great mobile app browser, but there are some disadvantages. You can only open one browser at a time; therefore, you cannot have multiple browsers that you return to later. You do have a “Shortcuts” option. This allows you to save up to four sites, making it easier to access them. However, considering that the browsing app is supposed to clear all data, it seems odd that it gives you the option to save any sites. That being said, you can edit and delete these at any time.
You might also have to tweak the “Settings” in the app as well and opt out of certain options such as “Send usage data” and “Studies.” This also includes the “Search” section, where in “Search Engine” it is on Google by default, and “URL Autocomplete”, where it automatically generates URLs. Though if you use the Firefox browser already, you know that you need to tweak those settings to maximize privacy and security to your liking.
The Firefox Focus app is also only available for mobile devices and not on desktops, which is a shame because this would make a great option for desktops. However, It makes sense that Mozilla wouldn’t bring it to desktops since they have Firefox, which is a pretty good browser on its own and can be even better once you tweak the settings.
Overall, I recommend Firefox Focus as it provides a great browsing experience and robust privacy and security settings, though to get the maximum, they will need to be tweaked further. It’s also great to have a browser option that blocks ads on the spot, making browsing the web even better. It cannot be used to replace your desktop browser or multiple-tab browsing when on your phone, but it’s a great app. Firefox Focus is also a good option for your privacy and security. It’s a good browser for me, but that doesn’t mean it will be for you, depending on your needs. I encourage you to do your research and see what the best option is for you. Even so, it’s definitely worth trying out the app.
Additional Link for further reading:
8 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Firefox Focus as Your Smartphone Browser