173
Mozilla is launching a free built-in VPN on Firefox 149 — but with some conditions
(www.techradar.com)
...free? Nuh uh, sus. Nothing is free.
this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
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Firefox: introduces helpful, completely opt-in feature
Firefox users:
True. But also fuck spez
What spez gotta do with this?
Look a little closer
Eh, never happens, so when it does, it’s suspicious
I wonder if they're still using Mullvad on the backend for this free VPN.
According to the page, it seems they wanna use their own servers for it.
I'm curious how well their own servers will handle that load, like sure they are used to web traffic but, there is a pretty big difference between downloading files and searches, and an always on VPN. I would expect traffic load to be way higher with the vpn. Granted the monthly cap will mean most will likely just only turn it on when needed like how samsungs free vpn was operated, but still.
Mozilla has always had a VPN offering; this is just doing the same thing that Vivaldi did with Proton. It's not designed for power users; it's designed for regular users to introduce them to more private browsing.
Vivaldi is an apt comparison because in my experience, it is really bloated compared to any other Chrome-based browser. Bloated to the point of feeling laggy on desktops.
Yeah they have TOO many features at this point.
It's entirely optional folks. No need to get all bitchy. FF is our only option against google, we need to stop criticise all they do. We asked for an AI opt-out option and they listened. Mozilla is far from perfect but we need them to keep developing, no forks are possible without FF.
Sometimes the only real options are "bad" and "less bad". An uncomfortable echo of something else we're all familiar with, perhaps.
This does not mean that we should not criticise the less bad option, only that we should not switch to the the bad option.
They aren't even in the same realm of bad though. Mozilla made a few tiny ai features. Google has spent hundreds of billions on it.
They're going to find a way to jam AI in it, aren't they?
Yeah, but at least we can turn it off, I guess.
Mozilla keeps adding so much new stuff into the browser. AI or not, good or bad, it is just getting so damn bloated.
You should have to turn shitty new features on, not turn them off. In fact, you should have to download them as an extension when you want them.
Not until the backlash. And the switch only will sorta turn it off. You'll need to change 15 flags in about:config while standing at a crossroad facing east while mercury is in retrograde.
50GB per month would be fine for me. But I'd want to know if it quietly turns off the VPN when the data cap is reached.
Does it have a kill switch that disconnects in time when the VPN fails?
And what would happen if authorities demand user data from Mozilla. Do they keep their logs?
Also, what's the current recommendation for a paid VPN?
Other comments kind of allude to it, but Mullvad is the go-to recommendation for private VPN services in general. It's not very cheap, but it's also not compromised like most of the ones you'll see on sketchy review sites and sponsorships.*
* Edit: including the VPNs TechRadar promotes in the middle of their own article.
Mullvad is dirt cheap though? $5 a month? Isn’t that just like the minimum amount a vpn can even cost these days?
First peddling AI. Now vpns. My money is on they include world of tanks with popups from hello fresh or whatever next.
Our metrics show that you drive the car to the grocery store once a week... So we started growing kale in your back seat. Just wait until you see our new model the chicken coupe.
Mozilla has had a VPN for years.
If your only exposure to the purpose of a VPN is via YouTube ad reads, why do you feel the need to contribute to discussion?
I use vpns daily. I'm quite familiar with their use.
I was pretty obviously poking fun at mozilla for some of their recent choices and rather iffy responses.
Humor is subjective. Just because a joke doesn't land for you doesn't mean it shouldn't be posted.
At least they contributed
The VPN that Mozilla (Firefox) has sold for years was rebranded Mullvad. Assuming they'll still use Mullvad for this, I wouldn't worry.
EDIT: I've since seen somewhere else that Mozilla may not be using Mullvad for this (just to be clear for anyone reading this later).
I'll be honest. If it were mulvad that'd be a definite plus... But I'm still pretty opposed to a browser building in hard coded things that should be leveraging their extension / plugin function.
It reduces attack surface, bloat, and base resource usage and I'd imagine would simplify code. It improves visibility on what has been "added" for users not reading patch notes and neatly dodges potential regulation issues to boot.
I daily drove firefox right up until the AI issues. It was efficient, transparent, and reliable. I have no issue with them taking money from wherever they can get it. I do take issue with bloatware being opt out: especially when I need to go digging through settings for a new toggle... Only to find out its still wasting resources until you dig in about:config for several more flags.
Looking forward - I think regardless of our views on where features go and what they do... We all can agree that especially now we should have developers looking to make their apps as efficient as possible. Because at least for the foreseeable future - resources aren't getting cheaper.
Gambling is pretty popular these days. I vote for a gambling sidebar. And if you don't like it, you can just turn it off...
Ugh. Sidebars. I feel like UI/UX ran out of good ideas and is staring to go full Caligula. A few more years and we'll be back to chonky xp UIs with 40% less space for the content you are trying to interact with.
We are already at chonky UIs, every webpage/app has 80% less information on the screen at any time than they did 20 years ago.
Not if youre on your phone!
Why their desktop version needs to look good on your phone, I'll never figure out...
We can sell 80 percent of the screen WITHOUT inducing seizures!
Sorry Mozilla, I just switched to waterfox.
Im so lazy and I've been pushed towards waterfox myself
Personally, I use Zen, and I wonder if the VPN will be included & accessible to the FF mods like Zen, Waterfox etc
But does it log?
The VPN that Mozilla (Firefox) has sold for years was rebranded Mullvad. So, as long as they're still partnering with Mullvad for this, I think logs are impossible, as Mullvad traffic all runs through RAM and that's been tested and proven.
EDIT: I've since seen somewhere else that Mozilla may not be using Mullvad for this (just to be clear for anyone reading this later).
set of new tools to boost productivity
I can't WAIT to hear what inane bullsh*t this will be. Haven't seen anything good from the 'Fox since the new CEO started steering the company at the nearest iceberg.
- To-do list and timer on the New Tab page
(why couldn't this be an extension?) - Tab Notes
(why couldn't this... wait, this already is a recommended extension!)
LOL
If it's free, you're the product.
Or it's supported by donations and volunteer time.
But that wouldn't be a memorable meme 😜
Typically, yes. But, unless things have changed, the VPN that Mozilla (Firefox) previously offered was rebranded Mullvad. Assuming they're going to use Mullvad for this offering as well, I don't think that saying will apply here.
EDIT: I've since seen somewhere else that Mozilla may not be using Mullvad for this (just to be clear for anyone reading this later).
Try having an independent thought.
What are they going to do with all those VPN data?
Pay rent.