Mozilla VPN: all you need to know and how new Firefox VPN compares to the rest

(Image credit: Mozilla)

The all-new Mozilla VPN joined the ranks of the best VPN services on the market in mid-2020, and the cyber-blockbuster release is bachelor in the Us, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and New Zealand, with more regions in the pipeline.

Previously known as Firefox Individual Network and Firefox VPN, and only available in the US, it lingered in closed beta for a off-white amount of fourth dimension, simply information technology'southward now a fully-functioning VPN that users are flocking to.

Late 2019 saw Mozilla launch its Firefox Private Network add-on – and yes, the add-on and VPN did confusingly share a proper noun for a while. The add together-on enables Firefox users to encrypt their browser traffic when they need extra security – such as when connected to public Wi-Fi – but is still in beta and limited to users in the US.

The costless (for now) browser extension is essentially a Mozilla VPN-lite, only protecting browser traffic while leaving the rest of the device vulnerable. While useful for coincidental users, the simple extension can't compete with a true VPN.

The 18-carat Mozilla VPN (check out our total Mozilla VPN review) was adult alongside this project – a fully-fledged virtual individual network which encrypts your unabridged device'southward traffic. Now launched, the production costs $4.99 a month with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux fully supported.

So, that's the full gamut of 'standard' devices at present supported, but unlike more than mature services, there'due south no Fire Stick VPN app, or any options for users of other streaming devices. We wouldn't put money on this happening whatever fourth dimension soon, though, thanks to the fact Mozilla VPN doesn't yet seem to be fully targeting streaming. Router back up nonetheless appears to exist a no-go, likewise.

A 'full-device' Mozilla VPN has been long-awaited and much anticipated by Firefox devotees, and below you'll learn how to download the software, what information technology offers, and how information technology fares against the biggest names in the VPN game.

Who tin go Mozilla VPN?

Every bit of July 15, 2020, individuals from the UK, The states, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand can sign up and access Mozilla VPN. Anyone in those countries who coughs up the princely sum of $four.99 a calendar month can download Mozilla VPN and install it on five devices. Those in the residue of the world will have to look.

Mozilla is providing fairly regular updates – split tunneling was recently introduced in the Android app, for example – then hopefully the brand-new Mozilla VPN will soon be available on a few more niche devices. Every bit for when the rest of the earth will be able to get involved? We simply can't say.

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Is Mozilla VPN a real VPN?

If y'all're able to sign upwards to the full version, and then yeah, the Mozilla VPN is a true VPN. Mozilla is using security-focused stalwart Mullvad'southward servers, and while in that location are similarities in the services, we're pretty sure users aren't getting a rebranded Mullvad tailored to Firefox users. For example, information technology looks like Mozilla is putting more endeavour into its iOS and Android VPN options than Mullvad has been known for.

Every bit you'd await, paying for this Mozilla VPN volition provide you no-holds-barred VPN usage, with unlimited data too as the option to use one subscription over five different devices.

Over again, information technology doesn't seem like Mozilla VPN is simply a badge-engineered Mullvad, and the services do announced to be fairly dissimilar, even though they share the aforementioned servers and toll. And that'south ane interesting note – Mozilla VPN retains the user-friendly flat-priced rolling contract scheme implemented by Mullvad, which is 1 of our favorite features of the Swedish VPN.

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What does Mozilla VPN offer?

Mozilla VPN only uses WireGuard, a fairly new and high-speed VPN protocol. Information technology forgoes the erstwhile favorites OpenVPN and IKEv2 for modern tech, and that's a bold motility. While WireGuard is inappreciably untested, it'southward not as well-known as the classic protocols – merely we all accept to move on sometime.

Wireguard's benefits include being written in much more concise lawmaking, which allows for easier auditing, and reliably swift connection speeds. In our testing, Uk speeds weren't incredible, just on an ultra-fast 800MB line in Europe Mozilla VPN impressed, delivering speeds topping out at 260MB. And, while it does but take a pocket-size server location listing of effectually 30 countries, these are evenly spread across the world – and again, this is indicative of Mullvad's interest.

If you sign upwards you'll also exist able to embrace v devices with your one subscription, which should exist plenty for almost, but isn't incredibly generous. It's as well worth noting that that's five registered devices, not five simultaneous connections. That's a little more restrictive than the policies we see from most providers.

All current versions of Mozilla VPN take a performance kill switch, and Android users tin can too set up a split tunneling role to choose what you lot route through the VPN. We tin can't wait to meet what else the service gets as information technology matures and we get used to using it a piffling more.

How does Mozilla VPN stack up confronting the competition?

The VPN market place is getting more crowded past the solar day, and a number of providers take cornered their niches and command imposing presences. We haven't had as much time to test Mozilla VPN equally we accept some other services, simply below we'll compare what nosotros do know nearly information technology with its three biggest rivals to see what the newbie's up against.

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ExpressVPN vs Mozilla VPN

Mozilla VPN - ExpressVPN — (Image credit: ExpressVPN)

First up is ExpressVPN – probably the most respected and capable VPN on the market today.

In terms of price, Firefox seems like the better proposition – you'll get a cheaper monthly toll alongside a commitment-gratuitous rolling contract, whereas y'all'll have to sign up for a year of ExpressVPN to go anywhere near $5 a month. Tom's Guide readers can claim three free months on a 12-month plan, though.

However, when we start to dig a little deeper we can see what that money gets you. Mozilla offers 280+ servers in forty+ locations over 31 countries. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, runs over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. That ways you lot'll have a much meliorate gamble of finding a great connection wherever you're based.

Mullvad has always prioritised privacy to a higher place everything else, and while we'd accept expected this to have rubbed off on Mozilla, you'll demand to submit your electronic mail address to sign up, different its partner that offers anonymous logins besides equally gift card and even postal cash payments. However, that's not something ExpressVPN offers either.

What we do trust is Limited'southward commitment to privacy. Mozilla VPN's privacy policy isn't the near in-depth, but combined with Mozilla's general privacy rules and a rumoured upcoming independent inspect of the service, we trust Mozilla VPN a fair bit more than plenty of other VPN providers.

Finally, ExpressVPN offers a range of first-class browser add-ons – including ane for Firefox – and these extensions appear far more fully-featured than the free Firefox Individual Network add-on. Mozilla VPN itself doesn't offer defended add-ons yet, only if they turn up in the time to come, we can only hope that they're more than simple proxies and deliver genuine in-browser ability.

Although there'south a lot going for it, the new Mozilla VPN can't quite stack up against Limited – but for commitment-phobes its rolling contract will exist a big draw, and there's certainly promise in the privacy section.

Surfshark vs Mozilla VPN

Mozilla VPN - Surfshark — (Image credit: Time to come)

Surfshark has adult a large following in contempo years, not least due to the fact it offers a truly premium production at a rock-bottom toll. For effectually $2.50 a month you'll get pretty much everything you could desire from a VPN – just again, you'll only get that price if you lot sign a long contract, and shorter contracts are actually a niggling on the expensive side.

Seeing as Mozilla's browser is still a large hitter, many VPNs offering Firefox-compatible add-ons. Surfshark's Firefox extension is one of the best, and fits nicely within the ecosystem. Over again, we'd expect any Mozilla VPN add together-ons to be incredibly well-integrated with its native browser, possibly offering defended functions non available in regular VPN extensions. Another option here is the free Firefox Private Network, which is a good selection for exceptional users.

While we know from experience that even the biggest VPN providers can accept problems making their clients convenient, Mozilla has developed an attractive and simple UI design. Still, it currently lacks an automatic fastest connection choice, and y'all'll also have to do without favorites or a search box – if yous desire a specific server, you'll take to scroll for information technology.

On the other hand, 1 of Surfshark's strongest suits is its fantabulous app design, which makes accessing its numerous features a breeze. As we'd expect, the established provider is more polished, but in time we await Mozilla will bring in these features that are missing.

Even though it requires a lengthy contract, Surfshark'southward cost is unbeatable – and seeing as y'all become ane of the very best VPN packages for less than $2.50 a calendar month, information technology'southward hard to recommend Mozilla VPN over Surfshark in its electric current form.

NordVPN vs Mozilla VPN

Mozilla VPN - NordVPN — (Prototype credit: Future)

A huge name in the VPN market, NordVPN has over 10 million customers and a powerful suite of security-focused VPN clients and apps. However, Mozilla has a good share of the browser market place and prides itself on existence a proponent of a safer, more than secure internet, so it'due south in a good position to get a foot in the door.

Nord has a massive number of features, just Mozilla has been quietly rolling out updates and new functions for its VPN at a good speed – some apps have split tunneling and all feature a kill switch. While Mozilla VPN just uses Wireguard, that's by blueprint and we can't hold that against the developer.

Currently we can't encounter whatsoever burning reason why you'd choose the Mozilla VPN over a giant like NordVPN – unless, perhaps, you're an avid Firefox user. However, we're excited to come across where Mozilla takes its VPN in the coming months, and if it can create something that really can challenge the very best VPNs available today.

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Mo is VPN Editor at Tom'due south Guide. Day-to-day he oversees VPN, privacy, and cybersecurity content, and besides undertakes independent testing of VPN services to ensure his recommendations are authentic and up to date. When he'due south not getting stuck into the nitty-gritty settings of a VPN you've never heard of, you'll discover him working on his Peugeot 205 GTi or watching Peep Show instead of finally putting up those shelves.