Firefox Gains 6 Million Users Since EU Browser Choice Screen Rules Took Effect

[harlan4096]

Since 2024, Firefox has gained 6 million users, mainly due to browser choice screens introduced under the EU Digital Markets Act, according to data from The Register. Other independent browsers such as DuckDuckGo, Opera, Vivaldi, and Aloha have also experienced growth following the same regulatory change.

The Digital Markets Act mandates that gatekeepers like Apple and Google display alternative browser options to users on new devices through dedicated selection screens, rather than exclusively promoting their own browsers.

Where Firefox’s New Users Are Coming From

Firefox has experienced a 113% rise in users within Apple's ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. In contrast, the increase among Android users has been only 12%. Mozilla explains the difference by how each operating system handles browser selection.

When iPhone and iPad users open Safari for the first time, they see the browser choice screen, making the selection part of their usual experience. On Android devices, the selection screen appears only during initial setup or after a factory reset, which means fewer users encounter it during regular use.

Continue Reading...