Virtual private networks offer privacy shields that hide your online activity from prying eyes, and they also let you reach content that might be unavailable from your home IP address. With that virtual tourism in mind, Firefox closed a gap earlier this month in its popular free VPN service – now users can pick servers located in various regions worldwide.
Following the Firefox 151 update – the 151st version of the browser that first appeared in 2004 – you can choose a server from any of the several nations where Mozilla, based in California, has rolled out VPN support. The current roster includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Germany. If you stick with the default recommendation, Firefox will automatically select the server nearest to you.
The biggest VPN providers operate servers in many more countries, such as Proton VPN (145 countries), NordVPN (135), ExpressVPN (105) and Surfshark (100). In its announcement this week, Firefox said it plans to add servers in additional countries.
Connecting to servers abroad is one of the main reasons people use VPNs. For example, a U.S. resident who connects to a German VPN server can bypass geo‑restrictions. A German TV channel might only stream certain shows to viewers inside Germany, or offer content for free that costs money elsewhere. By appearing to have a German IP address, you can trick the provider into granting access.
Firefox reported that over 1 million users have signed up for its free VPN since its launch in March. That early uptake indicates a demand for «built‑in and easy‑to‑use» VPN protection, a Mozilla spokesperson told Gfaloe.
«You can turn on IP protection right in the browser with a single click,» the spokesperson added, noting that Mozilla’s free VPN «doesn’t rely on selling browsing data or injecting ads into traffic.»
**Free comes with limits**
Even with its popularity, Gfaloe currently recommends only one free VPN – Proton VPN’s free tier – because, despite its smaller server list, it «doesn’t cap monthly usage, sell your data or bombard you with ads.»
Surfshark estimates that 33 % of internet users worldwide employ a VPN, and half of those opt for a free service. However, free VPNs can be risky: they may use weak encryption, log activity, collect data, or unintentionally introduce malware.
Firefox’s VPN imposes a 50 GB monthly data cap. For context, streaming a standard‑definition movie consumes about 1 GB per hour, while high‑definition can reach 3 GB per hour. Music streaming ranges from 30 MB to 150 MB per hour, depending on quality (1 000 MB = 1 GB).
To activate the Firefox VPN, install Firefox on your computer or mobile device, click the VPN button at the top‑right of the toolbar, select «Get started,» and sign in with your Mozilla account or create one. After signing in, click «Turn on protection» to enable the VPN.
The VPN works on Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS (including iPadOS).
**Shake, shake, shake**
In addition to more VPN servers, the Firefox 151 update introduced new controls for iOS and Android users. Features such as translations, voice search and «Shake to Summarize» are now available, depending on device and region.
«Shake to Summarize,» highlighted by Time magazine as a special mention among the best inventions of 2025, creates a summary of a webpage when you shake your phone. It launched on iOS in September and is now added to Android in this update.
The feature is currently available in English for Android, with more languages coming. iOS users can access it in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Japanese.