You searched for a Mozilla Firefox download online because you want to shift to this browser. Let's just say you got tired of the old ones you were using. Or perhaps, you just want to try it. Now, you found two download options: the regular and the portable versions. Which one should you download? Which one should you give a pass?

First of all, the Firefox download and Portable version look very similar. Everyone knows that. But the major difference between the two is the space where they are saved or installed. The regular version of the Mozilla Firefox download needs to be saved on your computer's hard drive. It needs to be there for you to be able to use it. On the other hand, the Portable is meant to be stored in a USD drive, a.k.a a thumb drive. It was, after all, developed by Portable Apps, a company that offers portable software for Windows operating systems.

Since the Portable is stored in a flash drive, you can easily bring it anywhere with you. This means that even if you're using a computer that's not installed with a Firefox browser, you will still be able to enjoy the benefits of the regular Firefox download browser. That also means that you can simply plug the USB to any computer and browse the Internet without leaving any trace. You'll be able to use this version without interfering with the computer's existing browsers, including a regular Firefox browser.

While the Portable is meant to be stored and used in a USB, this "mini version" can also be installed on the hard drive. This version will also require you to indicate where to save your downloads. Don't worry as there's no need for you to perform any complicated setup for this. All you need to do is to make a few clicks when the prompt appears.

There are, however, some know issues with the Portable version. The life of the USB flash drive may be shortened in the long run due to the constant read-writes. This is also one reason why the disk cache was disabled – to lessen the frequencies of writes to the disk. It's also meant to save USB memory. The Mozilla Firefox download regular browser, on the other hand, is cache capable.

Some users also note that installations of add-ons and extensions takes up more time, compared to installation in the regular browser version. For that reason, the portable asks users first if they want to update. It does not automatically update.