Mozilla VPN: A Comprehensive Overview of Its Features and Performance

Mozilla is widely recognized as a leading player in the browser market, alongside giants like Chrome and Safari. So when Mozilla introduced its own Virtual Private Network (VPN), it naturally drew attention from users and tech enthusiasts alike. Originally launched as a Firefox browser extension over five years ago, Mozilla VPN has evolved into a fully independent application, now available for various platforms like MacOS and Linux. In the years since its debut, Mozilla has expanded its server network and conducted independent security audits, positioning itself as a credible VPN option. But how does Mozilla VPN compare to more established VPN providers such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN? In this review, I dive into its features and performance to provide an in-depth analysis.

Features and Benefits of Mozilla VPN

When Mozilla VPN first launched, it was relatively basic compared to its competitors. However, over the years, the service has significantly expanded its feature set and is now on par with other top-tier VPN providers. Let’s take a look at what Mozilla VPN offers to its users.

One notable aspect is that Mozilla VPN allows up to five simultaneous device connections. While this is a decent offering, many other VPN services, such as Surfshark, TunnelBear, and Private Internet Access, have moved towards providing unlimited device connections. Still, for most users, five devices should be sufficient.

Upon opening the app, users are immediately greeted with a simple, clean design that makes navigation a breeze. The prominent on/off switch to activate the VPN is accompanied by an option to select a server location, along with a few additional settings at the bottom. The interface is user-friendly, even for those who may be new to VPNs. The message displayed above the switch—“Turn on to protect your privacy”—reinforces the service’s focus on user privacy and security.

When selecting a server location, users are presented with a drop-down menu displaying all available server options. You can filter them by “Recommended” or view “All” locations. While Mozilla VPN offers over 500 servers, it is somewhat disappointing that it only provides around 40 country locations, a smaller network compared to competitors. Hopefully, this aspect will be improved over time.

Mozilla VPN’s network is built on the foundation of Mullvad VPN’s infrastructure, which is not prominently advertised but can be discovered when checking the server status on Mozilla VPN’s website, which redirects to Mullvad’s server status page. This reliance on Mullvad’s network allows Mozilla VPN to offer a robust and secure service, though the smaller server network remains a limitation.

Advanced Features

Mozilla VPN includes several advanced features that improve the overall user experience. One standout feature is multi-hop connections, which is surprisingly rare among VPNs. With multi-hop, you can select both an entry and exit server location, routing your internet traffic through multiple VPN servers. This adds an extra layer of privacy by further obscuring your true IP address, making your connection even more secure.

The app’s settings menu provides additional privacy features, such as ad-blocking, tracker-blocking, and malware-blocking under the Privacy Features tab. These features are becoming standard across many modern VPN services, but it’s still a nice addition to have.

Another useful feature of Mozilla VPN is split tunneling, although it’s not labeled as such. Instead, the option is called “App Exclusions,” allowing users to choose specific apps to bypass the VPN. This is useful when you want to keep certain apps running at full internet speed, such as during gaming, while maintaining anonymity for other activities like browsing.

Mozilla VPN also includes a kill switch, which automatically halts your internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. The app doesn’t allow users to disable the kill switch, which is somewhat unique. While this ensures maximum privacy and security, some users may prefer the option to toggle it on or off. Nevertheless, the kill switch works flawlessly in my testing.

Integration with Firefox

Firefox users will appreciate the VPN’s integration with Mozilla’s browser. A standout feature is support for Multi-Account Containers. This allows users to connect different tabs in Firefox to separate VPN servers, which eliminates the need to change server locations for different websites. While this may seem niche, it’s a great quality-of-life feature for power users of Firefox who want enhanced privacy on a per-tab basis.

Speed and Performance

To assess Mozilla VPN’s performance, I tested its connection speeds across servers in six different countries and compared them to my baseline internet speed. Overall, Mozilla VPN’s speeds were average, with download speeds reaching 38% of my baseline and upload speeds at 47%. These speeds fall behind those of VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Hotspot Shield, all of which consistently achieve speeds above 60% of baseline. However, for basic tasks like casual browsing and streaming, Mozilla VPN is more than adequate.

One area where Mozilla VPN excels is its server connection time. Unlike some other VPN services that take several moments to connect to a server, Mozilla VPN connects almost instantly. This is a minor but useful feature for users who frequently switch between servers.

Streaming and Geo-Restrictions

Unfortunately, Mozilla VPN struggles with accessing geo-restricted content. It was unable to unblock major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or Disney Plus during my tests. This highlights Mozilla VPN’s focus on security and privacy rather than bypassing geo-blocks. If unblocking streaming content is a priority for you, you may want to consider other VPN services with better support for this.

Security and Privacy

Mozilla VPN uses the industry-standard AES-256 bit encryption and supports connections exclusively over the WireGuard protocol. WireGuard is a newer VPN protocol known for its speed and security, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize both. However, those who prefer more customization in their VPN connections may find this restrictive, as there is no option to switch to other protocols.

Mozilla VPN has strong privacy credentials, thanks to its transparent privacy policy and excellent DNS leak protection. The service does not track user activity logs, though it collects some basic information during registration, such as your IP address, operating system, and hardware configuration. Importantly, it does not track data like bandwidth usage, session times, or DNS requests, which is a significant plus for privacy-conscious users.

The service has also undergone two independent security audits by the cybersecurity firm Cure53, with the latest audit completed in December of last year. While a few vulnerabilities were identified, Mozilla VPN addressed and resolved them promptly.

Conclusion

Is Mozilla VPN the best VPN on the market? In short, no. While it offers solid privacy features and an easy-to-use interface, it falls short in terms of server coverage and its ability to unblock streaming content. However, fans of Mozilla’s free and open internet principles will likely find value in this VPN, especially if privacy is a top priority.

The app is simple enough for beginners to use while still offering advanced features for power users, and Mozilla’s commitment to privacy is evident throughout the service. Despite its drawbacks, Mozilla VPN has the potential to grow and improve over time. If you’re looking for a VPN that prioritizes security and ease of use, Mozilla VPN is worth considering—just be aware of its current limitations compared to other industry-leading VPNs.