May 4, 2009
firefox at 270 million users
In previous blog posts, John Lilly has explained that we cannot identify precisely how many users Firefox has because there is nothing uniquely identifying in the Firefox browser and that's something we're not interested in changing just for the sake of better accounting.
Because of that, we can only estimate. The best method we've come up with is to count the number of security "pings" we get in one day. (Firefox pings a Mozilla server for security changes about once per day) and multiply that active daily users number by three to get active monthly users. (See John's blog post for more on this.)
Over the last couple of weeks, we averaged about 90 million of these pings per day. Multiplied by three, that gives us an active user base of approximately 270 million.
I think that number is probably a bit conservative but it's very likely in the ballpark. (See my earlier post What Does the Web Look Like for some broader estimates.)
We could get an even better number and make this all a bit less opaque and confusing if the other major browser vendors, Microsoft and Apple, would release some of their numbers and estimates. I can't see what value there is in keeping such things a secret so maybe we'll get lucky and they'll open up some.
(digg it)
Here's the graphic that some of you have been asking for:
And yes, the active daily users (ADU) number is an average. Yesterday we had over 98 million ADUs but, as I've discussed in a previous post, total Firefox and total Web users are highest on weekdays but drop sharply on weekends.
It really would be great if Apple and Microsoft would disclose more of their metrics. We'd be able to understand how the Web trends so much better. Until then, at least there's Mozilla metrics :-)
reactions, thoughts, comments, etc.
Posted by: Michael | May 5, 2009 4:27 PM
Michael, plenty of schools use Firefox. If your school doesn't, I recommend finding the IT person responsible for the computers and asking them to switch. Many have already made the switch for security reasons.
- A
Posted by: Asa Dotzler | May 5, 2009 4:34 PM
It took me a while to switch to FF but I'm glad I did (about 1 year ago). The plugin option just does it for me. This and the fact that FF is pretty much the only browser standing against IE, and now the evil Google!
Posted by: Sebastien | May 5, 2009 5:01 PM
Sebastian, yeah, the add-on ecosystem is pretty amazing. Over 7000 additional features for a browser just a click or two away really does make the difference.
- A
Posted by: Asa Dotzler | May 5, 2009 5:17 PM
You could have easily used the title from your latest post for this one.
I'm not surprised that Microsoft and Apple does not release any decent stats and I'm glad because it tells me that they're not worth exploiting because of Mozilla's impact. They're quick to jump out and spread the latest speed and security tests (that gets shot down anyway) so why not other stats? Oops, I answered that above.
What impresses and amazes me more than the fact that there are "Over 7000 additional features" is that most of them work just fine with Firefox combined with several (or in my case 103) other ones. I run Firefox hard and it consistently delivers without failing. The only other application that I can say that about just happens to be another Mozilla product, Thunderbird.
Posted by: Ken Saunders | May 5, 2009 6:25 PM
This is not surprising. Most everyone I know is making the switch. Yes, I have a lot to do with convincing them, but there are others figuring it out all by themselves.
One thing, I really wish there would be more support for getting the Koreans to make the switch. When they create websites, they only consider IE, rendering many of their features useless. I don't know how or why they have this love affair with IE, but their should definitely be more done to promote FF in the hermit kingdom (now the most wired per capita nation in the world).
Posted by: music player | May 5, 2009 7:08 PM
For me the selling point of FF is the range of add-ons. However IE is more stable and better with the use of CPU for me.
Posted by: Acronyms | May 5, 2009 7:18 PM
FF is the best...
i have asked all my friends to download FF and use it..
Posted by: d35i | May 5, 2009 9:35 PM
For me the selling point of FF is the range of add-ons. However IE is more stable and better with the use of CPU for me..
Posted by: file search | May 5, 2009 10:48 PM
To the comment about IE being more stable I think you perhaps my dear fellow are deluding yourself. Internet Explorer is the most unstable and least standards compliant browser on the market. It lacks features, security and I cannot count the numerous times that IE has locked my system up (when I used to use Windows).
Posted by: Gareth McCumskey | May 6, 2009 12:45 AM
Comments 2640482 and 2640494 are spam in disguise, to sneak their URL in. I wouldn't have noticed if the second one didn't say the exact same thing. Spammers are getting a bit smarter...
Posted by: Stifu | May 6, 2009 1:03 AM
Firefox is always the best, much stable and customizable according to the user requirement... either its a new bee or a pro... I recommend Firefox. Some addons such as AdBlock Plus, DownThemAll, XMarks(FoxMarks) are really the msot useful features you can find in a browser... and the best part is yet to come... Its FREE and Open Source :)
Posted by: Harry Vasanth | May 6, 2009 3:09 AM
Firefox is always the best, much stable and customizable according to the user requirement... either its a new bee or a pro... I recommend Firefox. Some addons such as AdBlock Plus, DownThemAll, XMarks(FoxMarks) are really the msot useful features you can find in a browser... and the best part is yet to come... Its FREE and Open Source :)
Posted by: Harry Vasanth | May 6, 2009 3:10 AM
Firefox is really great! This is the best web browser for me. Thanks for all!
Posted by: Jhelo Cruz | May 6, 2009 4:41 AM
The IE 8 is supposed to be MSs best bet ever. Lets see how it does compared to FF. I love my FF browser with it Redshift theme and SEO addons. IE is just popular with the internet noobs who just open explorer because it is on their machine. they dont even want to be bothered with downloading and installing FF. What if my system gets bad every other idiot will ask you. Easily satisfied mass.
Posted by: Underworld Wide Web | May 6, 2009 5:17 AM
Would be nice to see this graph in logarithmic scale.
Posted by: Joe | May 6, 2009 6:20 AM
I switched to Firefox a couple of years ago and there's been no looking back. Even the Mrs has switched over.
Posted by: South African | May 6, 2009 7:09 AM
Yay FF!
One thing I love about FF that's little mentioned is that it's the only browser on the market that allows for multiple profiles (that I can see). So right now I have a "personal" browser and a "Web Development" browser and a "beta" browser, all of which can have different extensions, themes, bookmarks, etc. They are all completely independent, which is wonderful. Moreover, you can run multiple profiles at the same time on Windows/Mac/?Linux by changing the command line, which is awesome.
Posted by: George | May 6, 2009 7:29 AM
Using Firefox is like having a wall of barricades surrounding you for protection. Using IE is like having unprotected sex with a hooker.
You choose.
Posted by: Chris | May 6, 2009 7:44 AM
As far as I can tell, the factor of 3 is a complete guess. The only published documentation I can find for it is two words from John Lilly: "we think". There's a simple way to measure it unintrusively, without significant privacy implications, if anyone cares.
Posted by: VanillaMozilla | May 6, 2009 10:27 AM
Posted by: Chris
"Using IE is like having unprotected sex with a hooker." LMAO!
Ya and most people think that because it's that hooker's first day on the job (new IE release) then they have nothing to worry about.
Posted by: Ken Saunders | May 6, 2009 3:30 PM
FireFox is the best browser !!
IE is good, but just to download FireFox :)
Posted by: elQuique | May 6, 2009 10:50 PM
lol, look @ netscape @ the bottom.
Posted by: Daniel [HiddenCSS] | May 7, 2009 12:03 PM
VanillaMozilla said: "As far as I can tell, the factor of 3 is a complete guess. The only published documentation I can find for it is two words from John Lilly: 'we think'. There's a simple way to measure it unintrusively, without significant privacy implications, if anyone cares."
I care. Vanilla, email me. ron@maxthon.com
Posted by: Ron White | May 9, 2009 4:15 PM
I use Firefox and it is the best as for me but then rarely use IE almost just for testing..
Posted by: Achel | May 13, 2009 5:58 PM
Wow that's an interesting news. Microsoft is loosing on lot of areas these days. The best thing i like about firefox is it's plugins
Posted by: bunny | August 16, 2009 7:08 AM
Microsoft losing its ground especially in web world. Its don't have a product whom you can say its on top. They are trying hard now to gain position, that's why they tie up with yahoo. No one can beat firfox in browser like in search google its fast, plugins availability make it better.
Posted by: Nits | August 27, 2009 2:52 AM
Ive turned a few people to the FireFox side.
Too bad schools dont implement it, and only use IE.