VPN service from Firefox

Firefox releases an Android app for its VPN service

Mozilla Corporation, the organization that is primarily known for developing the free and open-source Firefox web browser, has been slowly releasing its own paid VPN service, known as the Firefox Private Network VPN, for more than a year now. It was launched as a full-device paid VPN service for Windows users, and now, Mozilla has released an Android app for it. The service still requires a closed invite as the beta nature remains, and it costs $4.99 per month. This differentiates it from free VPN services packaged with browsers such as Opera VPN.

The Firefox Private Network VPN is powered by Mullvad VPN. Mullvad VPN claims that it won’t log and monitor user data, unlike many other VPN services. Mozilla’s rationale for making its VPN service a paid one is to ensure that it doesn’t profit from user data, while still managing to have a revenue source. Firefox VPN uses Mullvad VPN’s servers that are located in over 30 countries, and all traffic is encrypted and private. Up to five simultaneous connections are supported.

The Firefox Private Network uses the new WireGuard standard instead of offering traditional protocols such as OpenVPN or IPsec. For more details on WireGuard, check out our past coverageon the standard. WireGuard offers performance, power efficiency, and privacy benefits over protocols such as OpenVPN, but it’s not in a stable form as of yet. Most commercial and free VPNs, therefore, don’t support WireGuard as of now. This is the primary differentiating factor for the Firefox Private Network.

Firefox’s VPN currently costs $4.99 per month, which sounds quite steep, but competing services that have the same functionality actually have similar prices. It also only works in the US for now, as Mozilla says expansion to other regions is coming later. It also notes that this is “limited-time beta pricing.” This note doesn’t make much sense as users are still asked to ask for an invite for a paid beta service, which is quite strange. Regardless, users can try their luck by downloading the Android app for the service.