Choose a server, any server. Firefox filled the gap this week in what was a popular new feature free VPN service — allowing customers to choose between servers in different regions.
With its Firefox 151 update — that is, the 151st version of the browser, which came out in 2004 — you can now choose a server in any of the several countries where Firefox’s owner, California-based Mozilla, has introduced VPN support. The list includes the US, UK, Canada, France and Germany. If you go with its recommended setting, Firefox will automatically choose the server closest to your location.
The most popular VPN providers have servers in many countries around the world, including Proton VPN (145 countries), NordVPN (135), ExpressVPN (105) and Surfshark (100). In this week’s announcement, Firefox said it will add servers in more countries.
Logging into servers in different countries is a thing one of several reasons why people use VPNs. If, for example, you live in the US but log into a VPN server in Germany, you can avoid geo-restrictions. Maybe a German TV station or broadcast channel only allows people living in Germany to watch, or it shows something for free that costs money in the US. By joining a server in Germany, your IP address will show that you are there, even if you are not, allowing you to trick media providers into letting you view their content.
Firefox said more than a million people have signed up to use its free VPN, which it is launched in March. That early response shows that customers want VPN protection that’s “built-in and easy to use,” a Mozilla spokesperson told CNET.
People “can turn on IP protection directly in the browser with one click,” the spokesperson said, adding that Mozilla’s free VPN “does not rely on selling browsing data or placing ads on traffic.”
Free has its limitations
Despite the initial popularity of a free VPN for Firefox, CNET currently recommends one free VPN service — Proton VPNFree class plan. We found that, except for Proton’s limited server, the service “does not limit your monthly usage, sell your data or bombard you with ads.”
Surfshark estimates that 33% of internet users worldwide use a VPN, and that half of those people use a free one. But you should be aware that free VPNs can be very dangerous to use. Some have weak encryption, can hack into your work, collect your data or inadvertently introduce malware, among other problems.
Read more: I took Amnesia for Spin. Now I See The VPN Complaint
VPN for Firefox has a monthly data limit of 50GB per month. From an average usage perspective, streaming a movie can use around 1GB per hour in standard definition and up to 3GB per hour in high definition. Music streaming can range from 30MB to 150MB per hour, depending on audio quality. (1,000MB equals 1GB.)
To get Firefox VPN, you need to install Firefox on your computer or mobile phone. Then, while using Firefox, click the button VPN button at the top right of the toolbar. Next, click Get started then sign in to your Mozilla account or create one. After logging in, click Open the protection to enable VPN.
Firefox VPN can work on operating systems including Windows 10/11, MacOS, Linux, Android and iOS (including iPadOS).
Shake, shake, shake
Besides adding more VPN servers, the Firefox 151 update added new controls for iOS and Android mobile users. Now you can use features like translation, voice search and Shake to Zoom, depending on your device and location.
Shake to Summarize, which Time magazine chose as a special mention on its list of the best inventions of 2025, will summarize a web page when you shake your phone. The feature was only available on iOS when it launched in September, but this week’s 151 update adds it to Android devices.
Shake to Summarize is available in English for Android users, with more languages to come. For iOS customers, this feature is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Japanese.
