# Firefox VPN

16 Hacker News commenters recommended Firefox VPN and 22 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free VPN built into Firefox that lets people change apparent region and hide their IP from sites. Critics say it is only a browser proxy, not a full VPN.

## Why people recommend it

- Adds privacy, fits Mozilla's mission (3 comments): "This feature actually sounds like something that is aligned to Mozilla's mission of an open internet" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47437912)) "Firefox's VPN service also has its privacy-related uses" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48516102)) "This seems like a win for user-privacy" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47510220))
- Quick region switching for blocked content (2 comments): "Useful if you want to switch region quickly without the OS and many apps now thinking you're in a different country" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47437173)) "Firefox’s built in free VPN can usually access them" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50278008))
- Easy built-in use for non-technical users (3 comments): "for many non technical users that is very useful, if they can get that with a click" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47437574)) "Firefox has a built in VPN now... give it a try." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49891240)) "using the convenient Firefox VPN" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48973746))

## What people warn about

- Browser maker should not run VPN (4 comments): "Why does a browser need screen sharing built in? Why does it need a vpn client?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47436951)) "Gross. Browser, tracker blocking, and VPN should ALWAYS be different entities." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47508511)) "if I want a VPN I'll use an actual VPN. Focus on making a great browser" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47434873))
- Free model may not last (4 comments): "it ended up being abused, and a free VPN will go thought the same path" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47436806)) "I don't care who is running a free-only VPN is a huge red flag" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47434903)) "Another Mozilla project to be discontinued in 18 months" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47436714))
- Browser-only proxy, not a full VPN (3 comments): "I honestly find it distasteful that they may call it a VPN without it actually being one." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47435314)) "This looks like it's just a traffic proxy, and isn't actually a full VPN." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47437656)) "i want any VPN to cover the whole system, not just the browser" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47439318))
- Distrust of Mozilla's privacy record (3 comments): "What makes me not want to use it is I assume Mozilla has a legal presence all around the world." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47438865)) "ships its software with telemetry on by default and has a history of data-mining its users" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47436086)) "Another useless distraction which is only nominally privacy-focused" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47509370))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Mullvad VPN](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mullvad-vpn.md): 255 recommend
- [Proton VPN](https://hackerapproved.com/p/proton-vpn.md): 63 recommend
- [iCloud Private Relay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/icloud-private-relay.md): 26 recommend
- [Cloudflare WARP](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cloudflare-warp.md): 18 recommend
- [IVPN](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ivpn.md): 14 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/products/vpn/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Firefox VPN", https://hackerapproved.com/p/firefox-built-in-vpn/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).