Mozilla gave Firefox a free VPN, and it changes how much privacy a regular browser user gets without paying anything. The tool hides your IP address while you browse, needs no extra download, and costs nothing up to 50GB a month. It also has real limits, and you should know them before you rely on it.
What Is Firefox's Free Built-In VPN?
The feature sends your Firefox traffic through a Mozilla-managed proxy. Websites see the proxy's IP address instead of yours, so they cannot easily pin down your location or link your visits across sites. On public Wi-Fi, people on the same network can see that you connected to a proxy, but they cannot see which sites you opened.
Mozilla launched it with Firefox 149 in March, first for desktop users in the US, UK, France, and Germany. Mozilla says the service does not sell browsing data and does not inject ads into your traffic, which is the usual trap with free VPNs. You can read the full announcement on the Mozilla Blog.
Firefox Built-In VPN vs Mozilla VPN: Key Differences
This point matters most. The built-in VPN covers only traffic that starts inside Firefox. Your email app, messaging clients, other browsers, and background processes keep using your normal connection.
A paid, full-device VPN works at the operating system level and tunnels everything. Firefox's version relies on the same HTTPS encryption your browser already uses, and it adds no extra encryption layer. It also has no kill switch. If you need email, cloud sync, or games protected, you still need a system-wide VPN.
Mozilla sells that option separately as Mozilla VPN, a paid subscription with unlimited data and device-wide coverage.
Firefox VPN 50GB Limit and Server Location Options
Free users get 50GB of VPN traffic per month. The meter runs only while the toggle is on. When you hit the cap, protection pauses and Firefox asks you to confirm before it lets you keep browsing without the VPN.
Server choice has changed since launch:
- At launch, Firefox picked your server automatically and gave you no control.
- Since May, users in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Canada can choose their browsing location, which can help with geo-blocking.
- Over the summer, Mozilla lifted the data cap and opened 28 countries as a limited promotion. That promotion ended on August 31, and the 50GB cap and shorter location list returned on September 1.
The feature also reached Firefox for Android users in late July, in the same supported countries as desktop.
Which Countries Support the Firefox Free VPN?
Mozilla rolls the VPN out in stages, so some people in supported countries still do not see it. The supported list now covers Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and the US. Mozilla's Android notice also lists Japan, Poland, and Switzerland. If you live outside these countries, the VPN will not appear.
How to Enable the Firefox VPN (Desktop and Android)
- Update Firefox to version 149 or newer.
- Look for the VPN icon in the top-right toolbar.
- Sign in with a Mozilla account. Firefox walks you through creating one if you do not have it.
- Click Turn on VPN.
On Android, the same toggle arrives with the gradual rollout, so update Firefox and check the menu. Our Firefox built-in VPN guide walks through picking a server location.
You can also exclude specific sites. Open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to the VPN section, and choose Manage website settings. This acts like VPN split tunneling and helps when your bank or a streaming site blocks proxy traffic.
Why Is the Firefox VPN Not Showing Up? Fixes That Work
If you live in a supported country and still see nothing, check these causes:
- Staged rollout: Mozilla has not enabled the feature for your account yet.
- Studies turned off: Go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Data Collection and Use, and enable the option that lets Firefox improve features between updates.
- Holdback study: Type
about:studiesin the address bar and look for a "VPN - MVP Beta Holdback" entry. - Work or school policy: Type
about:policiesand look for theIPProtectionAvailablepolicy. - Hidden icon: Right-click the toolbar, open the customization menu, and put the VPN button back.
- Account glitch: Sign out of your Mozilla account and sign back in.
Is the Firefox Free VPN Safe? Logging and Privacy Explained
The VPN is not anonymous. Your Mozilla account, cookies, and device fingerprinting can still identify you. Turning on Global Privacy Control adds a little extra protection against tracking. The proxy provider can see connection metadata such as destination hostnames, timing, and data volume, but not page content, form entries, or passwords.
Mozilla says it collects only technical data needed to run the service, such as whether connections succeed and how much data you use. It says it does not log the sites you visit or the content of your communications.
Mozilla has not named the infrastructure provider behind the proxy. Independent testers confirmed it does not run on Mullvad, which powers the paid Mozilla VPN. No named third-party VPN audit has been published, so the no-logs VPN claim rests on Mozilla's word and its nonprofit reputation.
Some websites also challenge or block proxy IP addresses, which can break logins or trigger extra verification.
Does the Firefox VPN Slow Down Browsing?
For everyday browsing, you should notice little difference. Mozilla says you can browse normally with the VPN on, and hands-on testers report minor changes in speed. Your results depend on server load and the distance to the server you pick. The bigger constraint is the 50GB monthly cap, not speed, especially if you stream video or download large files in Firefox.
Should You Use It or Keep Your Current VPN?
Turn it on if you use Firefox, do not run any VPN today, and browse on public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes, or on hotel Wi-Fi. You gain real IP protection and lose nothing.
Skip the swap if you already pay for a system-wide VPN. The built-in tool gives you less coverage, not more. Heavy streamers and large downloaders will also burn through 50GB faster than they expect.
Best Free VPN Alternatives for Firefox
If you need more than a browser proxy, you have two routes.
- Full-device free VPNs: Proton VPN and Windscribe rank among the few free services that reviewers trust. Free tiers usually trade away something, such as speed, server choice, or device limits.
- Browser extensions: 1VPN and Planet VPN offer unlimited data and manual country choice inside Firefox. They also ask for broad permissions, so your privacy depends fully on each provider's policy.
Android users can compare free VPN for Android apps too. Treat any free VPN with caution. Many make money by collecting and selling user data, so check how a provider pays for its servers before you sign up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Firefox free VPN protect my whole device?
No. It protects only traffic that passes through Firefox. Other apps and browsers on your device use your regular connection.
How much data do I get?
You get 50GB per month. The allowance resets at the start of each calendar month, and the meter counts data only while the VPN is on.
Do I need an account?
Yes. You must sign in with a Mozilla account to use the feature.
Can I choose my server country?
Yes, in supported regions. Users in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Canada can pick a location from the countries where Mozilla runs the service.
Is the Firefox VPN safe on public Wi-Fi?
For Firefox traffic, yes. It hides your IP address and the sites you visit from other people on the network. It does not cover non-Firefox apps, and no independent audit exists yet.
Is it different from Mozilla VPN?
Yes. The built-in VPN is a free browser proxy with a monthly cap. Mozilla VPN is a paid, full-device service with unlimited data.
