- 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
Firefox is gearing up for its biggest browser update in years, and privacy advocates have a major reason to celebrate.
Starting March 24, Mozilla is introducing a free built-in VPN for Firefox 149, allowing users to mask their online activities without needing to install external software or pay for a premium subscription.
The virtual private network (VPN) feature works seamlessly in the background by routing your browser traffic through a proxy, effectively hiding your IP address and location from the websites you visit.
Article continues below
Finding the best VPN can often be a minefield of hidden costs and security risks, but Mozilla claims its native tool is entirely different.
According to the company’s official blog post, the feature actively avoids the “sketchy arrangements” associated with some free services, noting that the new VPN is “built from our data principles and commitment to be the world’s most trusted browser”.
However, this new privacy perk comes with some notable strings attached. At launch, the free VPN will exclusively roll out to users in the US, the UK, Germany, and France. Furthermore, Mozilla is imposing a data cap, limiting users to 50 gigabytes of protected browsing data every month.
Alternatives and data limits
If you only need a tool to securely check emails or read the news on public Wi-Fi, a 50GB monthly cap is a generous allowance. But if you plan to stream HD video or download large files, you will likely burn through that data long before the month ends.
If you fall into the heavy-usage camp, you may want to look at dedicated standalone software. Providers like Proton VPN Free and Hide.me Free offer superb alternatives for users in need of more data without spending a dime.
Cheap VPN services like Surfshark and Private Internet Access may also be valuable alternatives for those in need of a reliable streaming or P2P VPN tool, starting at the equivalent of $1.99 and $1.98, respectively.
What else is coming to Firefox?
The introduction of a free VPN is just one part of a much broader browser overhaul. As we previously reported, Mozilla is putting a heavy emphasis on giving users control over their browsing experience, including strict opt-in controls for its latest generative tools.
Alongside the VPN, the upcoming Firefox 149 update will introduce Split view, allowing users to put two web pages side-by-side in a single window to easily multitask. A new Tab Notes feature will also roll out, alongside an opt-in Smart Window tool that uses AI to summarize articles and provide quick definitions directly on the page.
Ajit Varma, head of Firefox, emphasized the scale of the upcoming release, arguing the Firefox roadmap for 2026 “is the most exciting one we’ve developed in quite a while.”
“We’re solely focused on building the best browser, and our features over the next few months and beyond are driven by the feedback from our community,” she added.
Varma also noted that Mozilla is “prioritizing features that give users real power, choice and strong privacy protections, built in a way that only Firefox can.”
With a fresh new visual layout and a brand-new mascot named Kit, the revitalized browser officially launches on March 24.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
