this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
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  • Firefox 149 is adding a built-in free VPN starting from March 24
  • It has a cap of 50GB of monthly data in the US, UK, Germany, France to start
  • Mozilla is also rolling out a set of new tools to boost productivity
top 43 comments
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[–] spez@sh.itjust.works 15 points 7 hours ago

Firefox: introduces helpful, completely opt-in feature

Firefox users:

[–] webkitten@piefed.social 21 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] XLE@piefed.social -3 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] detren@sh.itjust.works 1 points 9 hours ago

Yeah they have TOO many features at this point.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 44 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I wonder if they're still using Mullvad on the backend for this free VPN.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

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.

[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 16 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] palordrolap@fedia.io 7 points 11 hours ago

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.

[–] yggstyle@lemmy.world 14 points 13 hours ago (3 children)

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.

[–] TheOctonaut@piefed.zip 33 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

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?

[–] yggstyle@lemmy.world 10 points 13 hours ago

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.

[–] dulce_3t_decorum_3st@lemmy.world 3 points 10 hours ago

At least they contributed

[–] 37x4H0nUPx0s@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

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 clear for anyone reading this later.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 8 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

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...

[–] yggstyle@lemmy.world 6 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 7 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

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.

[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago

Not if youre on your phone!

Why their desktop version needs to look good on your phone, I'll never figure out...

[–] yggstyle@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

We can sell 80 percent of the screen WITHOUT inducing seizures!

[–] john_t@piefed.ee 18 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

They're going to find a way to jam AI in it, aren't they?

[–] THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world 12 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

Yeah, but at least we can turn it off, I guess.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 8 points 13 hours ago

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.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 12 points 14 hours ago

Mozilla keeps adding so much new stuff into the browser. AI or not, good or bad, it is just getting so damn bloated.

[–] yggstyle@lemmy.world 5 points 13 hours ago

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.

[–] mech@feddit.org 13 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

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?

[–] XLE@piefed.social 6 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 8 points 13 hours ago

Mullvad is dirt cheap though? $5 a month? Isn’t that just like the minimum amount a vpn can even cost these days?

[–] Reygle@lemmy.world 7 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Reygle@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago
[–] YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca 10 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry Mozilla, I just switched to waterfox.

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 5 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Im so lazy and I've been pushed towards waterfox myself

[–] klu9@piefed.social 0 points 9 hours ago

Personally, I use Zen, and I wonder if the VPN will be included & accessible to the FF mods like Zen, Waterfox etc

[–] org@lemmy.org 6 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] 37x4H0nUPx0s@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

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).

[–] nulluser@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

If it's free, you're the product.

[–] mech@feddit.org 15 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Or it's supported by donations and volunteer time.

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 4 points 14 hours ago

But that wouldn't be a memorable meme 😜

[–] 37x4H0nUPx0s@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

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).

[–] jefferyjefferson@lemmy.org -4 points 12 hours ago

Try having an independent thought.

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

What are they going to do with all those VPN data?

[–] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 2 points 13 hours ago
[–] jefferyjefferson@lemmy.org 0 points 12 hours ago

Any chance this can be used for torrenting? 50GB for free is better than nothing.