Best VPNs for Firefox in 2026
NordVPN is our top pick for Firefox thanks to its strong privacy features and dedicated browser extension, followed by Surfshark for unlimited device connections and ExpressVPN for security.
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Last Updated on Oct 12, 2026
- Offers an extension specifically designed for working with Firefox
- Multiple tutorials available to improve your safety and security
- Lets you choose your server country in Firefox version
- Unlimited devices means you can use it on any device where you’ve installed Firefox
- No need for a desktop client to utilize the VPN
- Firefox version of the VPN includes a kill switch
- Native Firefox VPN extension featuring multiple encryption protocols
- Includes secure servers in over 100 countries
- Strict no-logs policy and headquartered in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction
the security.brief
NordVPN is our top pick for Firefox thanks to its strong privacy features and dedicated browser extension, followed by Surfshark for unlimited device connections and ExpressVPN for security.
Call it a habit, but I started using Firefox in college, and I’m not looking back. I know Chrome might be a little more popular, but like a first love, Firefox will always be the browser for me. It’s fast, it’s secure, it’s stable, it’s everything I need in a browser, and I’m not going to give Google any more of my data than they already harvest. Take that, Chrome.
And for that matter, I don’t want to give anyone any of my data. Not my internet service provider (ISP), not snooping intelligence agencies, not the hackers and scammers trolling my local coffee shop’s Wi-Fi network. To pull that off, I always connect to the internet using one of the best VPNs.
So right off the bat, let me make something clear. While some VPNs offer Firefox extensions, they’re really just proxies. They still hide your IP address by routing browser traffic through a middleman server, but they don’t encrypt your internet traffic at the system level. Considering what someone can do with your IP address, hiding your IP address is still important. Just for starters, if someone finds your IP address they can conduct a DDoS attack to shut down your network. However, we still recommend full VPN protection.
I’ve spent countless hours testing tons of VPNs for Firefox in order to determine which ones are the best, and which ones you can pass over. Before we get to my detailed list, though, here’s a quick peek at the criteria I used to judge them.
What to Look For in a VPN if You Use Firefox
| Performance |
You might have heard rumors that using a VPN to keep yourself safe online will slow down your connection speeds considerably. That’s true, to an extent, but modern VPNs have mitigated those slowdowns significantly. Find a VPN that has a reputation for being fast on Firefox — hint hint, I’ve speed tested all of the ones on this list multiple times. |
|---|---|
| Privacy |
The main reason most folks start using a VPN is to increase their anonymity online, so you don’t want to select a provider that logs everything you do, or that doesn’t use strong security protocols. And hey, you guessed it, all of my selections are locked up like Fort Knox. |
| Additional Features |
Although security is a top priority when purchasing a VPN for Firefox, there are plenty of secondary features that make them worth using. For instance, did you know you can use certain VPNs to unlock Netflix content from anywhere in the world? |
| Price | You might think that high-tech software like a VPN would cost a pretty penny, but it’s actually accessible for most budgets. Prices typically range from around $12 to $15 per month on a monthly plan down to just a couple of dollars per month for long-term subscriptions. |
| Firefox Extension |
A Firefox extension is nice to have, but remember, it’s just a proxy that’s masking the IP address of data coming through your browser alone. Any other internet-connected apps — like your email client, for instance — will be exposed unless you use a stand-alone VPN. |
The Best VPNs for Firefox
- NordVPN - Best for Privacy on Firefox
- Surfshark - Best VPN for Multiple Devices Running Firefox
- ExpressVPN - Best for Security on Firefox
- Proton VPN - Most Beginner-Friendly VPN for Firefox
- Private Internet Access - Best Customizable VPN for Firefox
- Ivacy - Most Affordable VPN for Firefox
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Firefox
| System |
NordVPN
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Surfshark
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ExpressVPN
|
Proton VPN
|
Private Internet Access
|
Ivacy
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| Ratings | 9.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunneling | Yes, on Windows and Androids | Yes | Yes, on Windows, Mac, and Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Torrenting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP addresses | Shared (static) or dedicated | Dynamic or static | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic or dedicated | Dedicated |
| Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, 14 Eyes member? | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Multi-hop | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Contract lengths | 1 month, 1 year, 2 years | 1 month, 1 year, 2 years | 1 month, 12 months, 2 years | 1 month, 1 year, 2 years | 1 month, 1 year, 3 years | 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years |
| Best monthly price | $3.49 | $1.99 | $2.44 | $2.99 | $2.03 | $1.69 |
| Read Review | NordVPN Review | Surfshark Review | ExpressVPN Review | Proton VPN Review | Private Internet Access Review | Ivacy Review |
Methodology: How We Ranked The Top VPNs for Firefox
Our Testing Principles
When we make VPN recommendations, we’re not just mirroring what VPN brands say about their products. In line with our Editorial Guidelines, we test VPNs from installation and setup to day-to-day use. Our VPN testing involves benchmarking real-world speeds to determine the fastest VPNs, running DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak tests, stress-testing the kill switch under forced disconnections, reviewing no-log policies and independent audit reports, and checking whether each VPN reliably bypasses streaming geo-restrictions. We also evaluate VPN pricing, device coverage per plan, refund windows, and the long-term value of each plan to ensure every VPN we list delivers performance that holds up under actual use conditions.
Our Primary Review Criteria
Our digital privacy team spent over 2,000 hours researching and testing VPNs across PCs, Macs, iPhones, and Androids, with a specific focus on how well each VPN performed within the Firefox browser. Here’s what we looked for:
- Firefox Extension Quality and Compatibility: We installed and tested each VPN’s native Firefox extension, assessing how seamlessly it integrated with the browser, whether it conflicted with Firefox’s built-in privacy tools, and whether the extension functioned as a true VPN or simply as a browser-level proxy.
- Security Protocols and Privacy Verification: We examined each provider’s encryption standards, protocol options, and no-log policies. We ran DNS and WebRTC leak tests to verify that claims held up under real-world conditions, and cross-referencing privacy policies against independent third-party audits rather than taking self-reported assurances at face value.
- Speed and Real-World Performance: We established a baseline connection speed on both Windows and Mac devices, then measured the percentage drop in download and upload speeds with each VPN active.
- Features and Overall Value: We evaluated each VPN’s bonus capabilities, including split tunneling, multi-hop technology, torrenting support, and streaming unblocking, and weighed these against subscription pricing across monthly and long-term plans to determine which providers delivered the most meaningful protection per dollar.
Only VPNs that cleared a high bar across security, speed, and Firefox-specific functionality made our final list.
Why Trust Our Recommendations
Security.org is an independent editorial website consisting of more than 20 security and privacy experts working together towards the same goal: helping our readers make smart buying decisions. Our team has a combined 107 years of industry experience and we have clocked over 25,000 hours of hands-on testing and research.
For VPNs in particular, Brett Cruz leads our testing efforts. With over a decade in the cybersecurity space under his belt, he uses his experience and expertise alongside a methodical approach to testing to guide our VPN testing team. He has personally written over a hundred guides and reviews for Security.org, with the help of our broader team:
- Ozzie Enriquez: Former DHS Senior Watch Officer and DHS Duty Director for Current Operations with 30+ years of national security experience, contributing expertise in federal security operations and digital risk assessment as a subject matter advisor
- Gene Petrino: Former S.W.A.T. commander and law enforcement veteran, contributing three decades of crime prevention and security expertise as a lead advisor
- Cort Honey: Engineering graduate with over 1,000 hours of hands-on testing and a talent for making complicated security tech digestible for everyday consumers
- Corey Birnstengel: Editor, videographer, and product reviewer responsible for 200+ hands-on video reviews across eight product categories
Our recommendations are solely based on our hands-on testing results and are editorially independent. The brands we cover have no influence on our rankings, ratings, and recommendation lists.
A Detailed List of the Best VPNs for Firefox
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1. NordVPN - Best for Privacy on Firefox
Get NordVPN Links to NordVPN
Product Specs
Server locations 137 countries Average Speed Loss 6% download & 4% upload Apps Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, tvOS Best Monthly Rate $3.49/mo with a 2-year plan Money-Back Guarantee 30 days full refund
Why is NordVPN a great VPN for Firefox? Because it’s well-rounded. It balances performance and protection almost perfectly, it’s right in the middle in terms of costs, and it offers great features like streaming and P2P-optimized servers. In fact, it tops my list of the best VPNs for streaming as well. Whether you’re new to the VPN world or you’re a tech dork like me, NordVPN is a great option.
Browsing Disney Plus in the Netherlands using the Firefox NordVPN extension What We Like
- Has Firefox extension
- Headquarters in privacy-friendly Panama
- Strict logging policy
- Multi-hop technology
What We Don’t Like
- Torrenting only available on some servers
- No phone support
- Static IP addresses
- Unreliable kill switch on iOS devices
Standout Features
Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN uses RAM-only servers. It’s one of the main reasons we prefer NordVPN compared to ProtonVPN. What does Ram-only servers mean, exactly? It means that even if NordVPN wanted to share your data with a third party, there’d be no data to share. RAM requires power to store data, so when the servers are cycled down, they’re effectively wiped clean of all user information.
Nord’s split tunneling feature works really well on Firefox, too. That allows you to permit some traffic to bypass the VPN, while other traffic goes through it. If that sounds complicated, don’t worry, I made a guide on how VPN split tunneling works. This is handy for me because my work email client doesn’t really play well with VPNs, so I manually bypass it while routing all other traffic through Nord. Pretty handy!
Performance
As mentioned, NordVPN does a solid job of balancing speed and security. Yes, any VPN is going to slow you down to some degree, but understand that speed is a function of a number of factors — your proximity to the connection point, the server load at any given time, the protocol you’re using, etc. Still, when I look at our speed test results of the top VPNs, NordVPN consistently ranks near the top.
Speaking of protocols, NordVPN offers a proprietary protocol called NordLynx, which is based on the popular open-source protocol WireGuard. It’s super secure, super fast, and fine-tuned for Nord’s network. Overall, it’s a great VPN for Firefox.
NordVPN’s different protocols and encryption methods >> Check Out: VPN Protocols Explained
In terms of data, below is a breakdown of my latest NordVPN speed test. Keep in mind that your results are going to vary, but this will paint a pretty good picture of what you might expect:
NordVPN Speed Test
Device tested on MacBook Pro Acer Aspire 5 Ping without VPN (in ms) 42 5 Ping with VPN (in ms) 46 160 Ping difference 10% 3100% MacBook download speed without VPN (in Mbps) 54.86 23.49 Download speed with VPN (in Mbps) 41.37 21.7 Download speed difference -24% -8% Upload speed without VPN (in mbps) 33.86 24 Upload speed with VPN (in mbps) 27.21 7.91 Upload speed difference -20% -67% When we’re talking about performance, the trend I’ve noticed over time is that NordVPN’s slowdowns are almost imperceptible during regular, day-to-day browsing. There have only been a handful of times over the years that I’ve been using Nord and noticed a performance issue so significant that I became frustrated. Once steam started coming out of my ears, though, all I had to do was cycle over to a different server, and hey, problem solved.
Price
As you can see here, NordVPN offers three different tiers of service — Basic, Complete, and Prime. I go into more detail in my breakdown of NordVPN’s pricing, but if you’re just looking for a VPN, go with the Basic protection plan. The other service tiers offer things like password managers and cloud storage that are nice to have, but that you don’t really need. The month-to-month cost is a little expensive at $14.99, but if you sign up for a longer subscription term, that monthly cost falls right into the sweet spot (under $5 monthly).
>> Related Reading: The Best Password Managers for Firefox
There are certainly more affordable VPNs, but we’re talking about the difference of a few bucks over the course of a year or two. If you’re looking for a really cheap one, though, make sure you don’t skip reading about my No. 4 pick, Ivacy VPN. With a five-year subscription, Ivacy is just a buck a month.
NordVPN Prices
NordVPN plan Monthly costs 1-year plan 2-year plan Basic $14.99 $5.49 per month $3.49 per month Complete $19.99 $6.49 per month $4.49 per month Prime $29.99 $9.49 per month $7.49 per month Did You Know: Firefox is the fourth most popular web browser in the world, yet it only accounts for 2.29 percent of users.1
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2. Surfshark - Best VPN for Multiple Devices Running Firefox
Get Surfshark VPN Links to Surfshark.com
Product Specs
Server locations 100 countries Average Speed Loss 8% download & 50% upload Apps Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, Android TV, Fire TV Best Monthly Rate $2.49/mo with a 2-year plan Money-Back Guarantee 30 days full refund
In our modern world we’re all teched-out to the gills. Desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, smart TVs, talking refrigerators — you name it. But here’s the thing, you need a VPN for all of those internet-connected devices. For folks with a lot of gadgets in their life, I like to recommend Surfshark VPN. Unlike ExpressVPN and NordVPN, you can have unlimited simultaneous connections while using Surfshark.
Surfshark connected to Hong Kong What We Like
- Has Firefox extension
- Split tunneling
- Unlimited devices and unlimited simultaneous connections
- Torrenting capabilities
- Choice of static or dynamic IP addresses
What We Don’t Like
- Relatively slow speeds
- Must set up Windows kill switch manually
- No phone support
- Relatively high price
Standout Features
One of the first things I like to point out about Surfshark is how easy it is to use across devices running Firefox. You can even install Surfshark on most routers, so you won’t need to worry about having a client on all of your devices. Anything that’s hooked up to that connection — a phone, a TV, a smart washing machine — will be protected by the VPN. My sister isn’t a big tech person, so this is what I installed at her house. It’s not as simple as downloading Surfshark onto a desktop computer, but it’s not all that difficult if you follow our instructions for setting up a VPN on a router.
In terms of security, Surfshark’s server network is also RAM-only, which is quickly becoming the gold standard in the VPN industry. It also offers a camouflage mode — their term for server obfuscation — that makes it so ISPs, streaming platforms, and government agencies can’t tell that you’re using a VPN. It really comes in handy when you’re using it as an ESPN VPN to stream local games while abroad and trying to bypass geo-restrictions.
Performance
Like ExpressVPN, I’ve used Surfshark for a number of years, and I’ve always been impressed with its speeds. I’ve even compared NordVPN to Surfshark to see which one performs better. Note that it runs just as well on Firefox as it does other browsers, though it tends to work a little better on a PC than it does a Mac, but the discrepancy is usually pretty minuscule. The last time I tested both, I lost about 30 percent of my download speed on my MacBook Pro, and about 10 percent on my Acer laptop. Here’s a quick breakdown of the numbers from that speed test:
SurfShark Speed Test
Device tested on MacBook Pro 2011 Acer Aspire 5 (Windows 10) Ping without VPN 54 ms 7 ms Ping with VPN 53 ms 199 ms Ping difference 2% 2742% MacBook download speed without VPN 16.21 Mbps 23.69 Mbps Download speed with VPN 11.87 Mbps 19.61 Mbps Download speed difference 31% 17% Upload speed without VPN 22.01 Mbps 24.09 Mbps Upload speed with VPN 24 Mbps 10.58 Mbps Upload speed difference 9% 56% >> Further Reading: Top VPNs for Windows
Price
You can really dig into all the plans and pricing in my guide to Surfshark VPN costs, but if you’re only needing a VPN, the Starter package is a safe bet. It is a little pricey month-to-month at $15.45, but when you commit to a one- or two-year plan, the price drops significantly — it even undercuts ExpressVPN. Here’s the current pricing breakdown for Surfshark:
Surfshark Prices
Plan Monthly cost 1-year plan 2-year plan Surfshark Starter $15.45 $3.19 per month $1.99 per month Surfshark One $17.95 $3.39 per month $2.49 per month Surfshark One+ $20.85 $6.29 per month $4.19 per month -
3. ExpressVPN - Best for Security on Firefox
Get ExpressVPN Links to ExpressVPN
Product Specs
Server locations 105 countries Average Speed Loss 7% download & 24% upload Apps Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, tvOS Best Monthly Rate $2.79/mo with a 2-year plan Money-Back Guarantee 30 days full refund
Like our next pick NordVPN, ExpressVPN offers a native extension you can install in Firefox. The only difference is that to use the extension, ExpressVPN’s desktop app must also be running. That means all device data is routed through the VPN, which gives you access to extra customization features, like encryption protocols.
All of the ExpressVPN protocols you can use to secure your connection. What We Like
- Native Firefox extension
- 105 server locations
- Split tunneling available for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Dynamic IP address makes it harder to track you
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive subscriptions
- Limit on simultaneous connections
- Requires desktop to be running
- Slower on Macs compared to other VPNs
Standout Features
If you’re like us and play around with your VPN settings to get the best result, ExpressVPN is for you. The first thing we did was click on the hamburger menu and head to the preferences page. We jumped into protocols and chose the Lightway option. This is ExpressVPN’s own protocol that is lightweight and built for speed.
It’s also secure. You can choose between 256-bit AES or ChaCha20, which are two of the gold standards in encryption. We also like that you can refresh the connection without disconnecting if you’re having issues. Just tap the refresh button next to your VPN IP address and ExpressVPN does the rest.
FYI: Lightway protocols also send NAT heartbeats in case you walk away from your device and leave the VPN running. This way the connection won’t time out, keeping it secure.
Performance
All VPNs slow your connection down to some degree, but ExpressVPN holds up well compared to the competition. During our testing, our download speed dropped by only about eight percent — barely noticeable, even when streaming 4K content or downloading large files.
Upload speeds were slightly slower. ExpressVPN reduced uploads by 24 percent. This was still better than Surfshark, which reduced uploads by 50 percent. Your results may vary depending on which server you connect to. The good news is that ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries. All of them are RAM-only, which means all data is wiped on every reboot. It’s another way ExpressVPN protects your privacy.
Our ExpressVPN speeds were good enough to watch ESPN Plus in high definition. Price
There are three ExpressVPN plans to choose from, all of which include the same VPN features. One of the major differences is how many simultaneous connections you can have. The Basic plan offers 10, while the Advanced plan allows for 12 and the Pro plan offers 14.
The Pro and Advanced plans also protect you from trackers, malicious websites, and ads that can steal your data. You also get access to ExpressVPN Keys, a password manager, and identity theft protection services from Identity Defender. Here’s a breakdown of ExpressVPN’s plans.
ExpressVPN plan Monthly costs 1-year plan 2-year plan Basic $12.99 $3.49 per month $2.44 per month Advanced $13.99 $4.19 per month $3.14 per month Pro $19.99 $6.29 per month $5.24 per month FYI: The Pro and Advanced plans also offer discounts on Aircove. This is ExpressVPN’s router that has the VPN service built-in. It’s a clever way to get around the simultaneous connection limits.
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4. Proton VPN - Most Beginner-Friendly VPN for Firefox
View Plans Links to Proton VPN
Product Specs
Server locations 145 countries Average Speed Loss 8% download & 4% upload Apps Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, tvOS, Firestick Best Monthly Rate $2.99/mo with a 2-year plan Money-Back Guarantee 30 days
Proton VPN is the best VPN for Firefox users who are new to VPNs. Its desktop and mobile apps are very easy to use – connecting to a server usually takes less than ten seconds. Plus, all settings and features include helpful explanations to help first-time users.
What We Like
- Has intuitive apps for all desktop and mobile devices
- Desktop apps include a digital server map
- Can automate VPN connections via “Profiles” feature
What We Don’t Like
- Has a 30-day refund, but it’s prorated
- Its long-term prices are steeper than competitors
Standout Features
Use the Profiles feature to automate VPN connections for different online activities. Proton VPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chromebook. All apps have a quick-connect tool that automatically picks the fastest server, and the desktop apps include a digital map for quick server access.
Most apps also support “Profiles,” a feature that automates VPN connections. For example, we set up a Netflix profile that auto-connects to the fastest US server and opens Netflix’s site in our default browser.
Streaming Support: Proton VPN works with over 90 streaming platforms. It’s especially great for streaming Netflix, as it’s compatible with over 20 regional libraries.
Performance
VPN Accelerator allows you to significantly boost speeds across all VPN servers. Proton VPN is one of the fastest VPNs in 2026, closely rivaling NordVPN. Our most recent tests show that Proton VPN reduces download and upload speeds by no more than eight percent. When we used it, HD videos loaded in less than five seconds, and we experienced no lag while gaming online.
All of the VPN’s apps also support “VPN Accelerator,” a tool that boosts speeds – especially on distant servers. We tested the feature, and it increased our speeds by up to 50 percent.
>> Related Reading: Proton VPN vs. NordVPN
Price
Proton VPN has two paid tiers: “VPN Plus” and “Proton Unlimited.” “VPN Plus” includes all core VPN features, and is the best choice for most users. “Proton Unlimited” adds additional privacy services, like Proton Pass and Proton Mail.
“VPN Plus” “Proton Unlimited” 1-Month $9.99/month $12.99/month 1-Year $3.99/month $9.99/month 2-Years $2.99/month $7.99/month Proton VPN also has one of the best free VPN plans in 2026, with unlimited data. It’s a great option to test the service before committing to a paid plan, although expect it to offer slower speeds.
Refund Policy: All Proton VPN plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, the refund is prorated, so you only get back the unused portion of the subscription.
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5. Private Internet Access - Best Customizable VPN for Firefox
View Plans Links to Private Internet Access
Product Specs
Server locations 91 countries Average Speed Loss 5% download & 84% upload Apps Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, tvOS Best Monthly Rate $1.98/mo with a 3-year plan Money-Back Guarantee 30 days full refund
The first two VPNs on our list are just like Firefox — they’re really simple to use, and the user experience is clearly priorized. And while Private Internet Access (PIA) is also super user-friendly, it also offers customers a deeper level of customization. This one’s for the folks that change their own oil — the people who want to pop the hood and see how everything works.
Connecting to Private Internet Access What We Like
- Has Firefox extension
- Fast speeds for Windows
- Dynamic IP addresses
- Intuitive, easy-to-use app
What We Don’t Like
- Located in the U.S., which means it’s a Five Eyes member (not great for privacy)
- Spotty customer service
- No multi-hop
- Slow speeds on Macs
Standout Features
The main draw of Private Internet Access is how granular users can get to fine-tune their VPN experience. But don’t let that scare you off. You don’t have to be super tech-savvy to get the most out of PIA. It’s just that the layer of customizability is there if you want it. It’s similar to ExpressVPN. You can learn more about the difference in customizations in my Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN comparison.
Cycling through protocols, in particular, is one of my favorite ways to adjust a VPN that I’m working with. I’ve experienced some hiccups in the past while streaming and torrenting with PIA, but usually picking a new server and a more appropriate protocol will take care of it.
>> Learn More: Best VPN for Apple TV
Performance
To get a full picture of how a VPN works, you really need to test it over the course of weeks and months to see meaningful patterns emerge. Lucky for you, I’ve done just that. I’ll say that PIA performs pretty well, but noticeably better on a Windows computer than it does on a Mac. For instance, my download speed on my PC only decreased by 10 Mbps, whereas on my Mac, it was cut nearly in half. That said, it’s not like the Mac performance is abysmal. It’s just edged out by the PC performance.
Here’s the information from my most recent speed test that illustrates what I’m saying above.
PIA Speed Test
Download Speeds on Mac
With VPN 12.93 Mbps Without VPN 37.05 Mbps Download Speeds on Windows
With VPN 61.67 Mbps Without VPN 72.48 Mbps Upload Speeds on Mac
With VPN 18.12 Mbps Without VPN 25.9 Mbps Upload Speeds on Windows
With VPN 39.13 Mbps Without VPN 41.37 Mbps Price
PIA’s pricing is another point in its favor. It’s not the cheapest VPN on this list — that honor goes to Ivacy VPN — but when you sign up for a long-term plan, the monthly cost is only about two dollars. That’s over a dollar less than the most affordable NordVPN plan. Here’s the full breakdown:
PIA Prices
Plan Monthly plan 1-year plan 3-year plan Monthly cost $11.95 per month $3.33 per month $2.03 per month Total cost $11.95 $39.95 $79.00 -
6. Ivacy - Most Affordable VPN for Firefox
Product Specs
Multihop No Camouflage Mode No Kill switch Yes Split Tunneling Yes Netflix Yes Torrenting Yes
Ivacy is another really strong VPN for Firefox loyalists who are looking to save some money. You will need to weigh that, though, against some question marks hanging over this VPN’s head. Overall, based on my hands-on testing of the VPN, it’s a pretty strong service all around. But in my research I found some items that might be concerning to certain users. More on that in just a bit.
Ivacy’s kill switch and protocol selection screen What We Like
- Has Firefox extension
- Low prices
- Access to Netflix
- Split tunneling
What We Don’t Like
- Unclear privacy audit trail
- Only offers dedicated IP addresses
- Clunky Mac app
- Slow download speeds
- Located in Singapore, a Five Eyes partner
Standout Features
Ivacy isn’t the most feature-rich VPN around, but it does execute the features it has well. Its split tunneling feature is decent, but it does things a little backward, asking you to select the apps you want encrypted as opposed to asking you which apps you want to white-list. That can mean a lot of clicking if you’re only trying to isolate one or two apps that you don’t want to use. When I set it up on my PC, it was a little annoying to have to go through every internet-connected app, and once I was done, it didn’t save those settings.
>> Learn More: Best VPN for the Brave Browser
The biggest draw of Ivacy is its rock-bottom price. It has an unheard of five-year subscription term that only costs a $1.69 per month. I’ll talk more about that in the pricing section, but that’s the primary reason it’s showing up on this list.
Performance
So here’s where you need to use your best judgment. Ivacy makes a lot of claims about how secure it is, how fast it is, and how private their user’s data is, but the only information about any auditing performed is on Ivacy’s own website. They don’t give specifics, either — they just say they undergo “regular auditing.” Other VPNs like ExpressVPN and Nord are really upfront about who audited them, when they were audited, and the specifics of the findings. Heck, most VPNs issue press releases when they’ve successfully passed one. Ivacy’s vagueness around this is a little off-putting to me.
That said, in my personal experience using Ivacy VPN, it performs just fine. Leak testing shows that it’s working, and it never degraded my speeds all that much.
>> Learn More: Understanding WebRTC Leaks
For context, here’s the data from my most recent Ivacy speed test:
Ivacy Speed Test
Download Speeds on Mac
With VPN 290.15 Mbps Without VPN 81.62 Mbps Download Speeds on Windows
With VPN 191.71 Mbps Without VPN 81.22 Mbps Upload Speeds on Mac
With VPN 27.62 Mbps Without VPN 26.32 Mbps Upload Speeds on Windows
With VPN 28.95 Mbps Without VPN 20.58 Mbps As you can see, the speeds aren’t terrible. When I tested things on Firefox, my download speeds decreased dramatically, but that’s only because I was on a really fast connection at the time. On both Mac and PC, my download speeds were still significantly north of 60 Mbps, which means the slowdown was pretty much imperceptible, unless I was downloading a large file. So, pretty good in terms of performance. I just wish they were a little more transparent about how they handle user data.
Price
This is the primary reason for using Ivacy. At $1.69 per month, it’s dirt-cheap when you sign up for a five-year subscription. To put that in perspective, if you signed up for five years with Surfshark, you’d be paying $18 more in total. You have to weigh that against how comfortable you are with a company that’s vague on how it handles user privacy (which is really a VPN’s only job). You can read all about their pricing in my guide to Ivacy’s costs, but here’s a quick rundown for you:
Ivacy Prices
Plan Monthly 2-year plan 5-year plan Price $12.95 $2.14 $1.69 Also worth noting, Ivacy throws in a free password manager with that five-year subscription, which is a premium feature you see in ExpressVPN and Nord’s upper subscription tiers. Just something to consider.
Do I Need a VPN if I Use Firefox?
This is a bit like asking, “do I need to lock my doors if I live in a condo?” The short answer is no, you don’t need to, but you’ll certainly be more protected if you do.
The same goes for VPN use. While Firefox is a relatively secure browser, there are still threats out there it won’t be able to protect you from. The best way to stay safe online is to use a robust VPN. Not only will it help you stay completely anonymous online, it will encrypt your data so that anyone attempting to intercept it won’t be able to decipher anything meaningful.
>> Check Out: Is a VPN Something You Need?
This is doubly important if you’re ever using public Wi-Fi networks, and even more important if you’re doing important things like banking or checking your work email away from home. You never know who you’re sharing that network with, and with just a little know-how and nefarious intention, they could swipe your most sensitive information.
Thankfully, a solid VPN will stop ‘em dead in their tracks.
What is a VPN in Layman’s Terms?
Very simply put, a VPN creates a secure channel from your computer to your digital destination, and encrypts the traffic traveling through it. If someone wants to see what you’re doing online, they’d first have to punch a hole in that tunnel and then decode your information. There’s really no way to do this through brute force, and it’s only through really sophisticated exploits that hackers are able to pull it off. If you just want something to keep your banking information private while you’re connected to the hotel Wi-Fi, a solid VPN is a great option.
Does Firefox Have a Built-In VPN?
Firefox’s parent company Mozilla offers its own VPN product called Mozilla VPN. It gives you access to servers in over 30 countries, which is fine for casual use — but it’s a pretty lean network compared to the heavy hitters. For context, NordVPN runs over 9,300 servers across 137 countries, and Surfshark covers 100+ countries with thousands of servers as well.
On the pricing front, Mozilla VPN costs $9.99 for a single month or $4.99 per month on an annual plan. That’s reasonable, but the VPN services on this list generally offer more features, broader server coverage, and better overall value for the money.
» Further Reading: Mozilla VPN Review
How Do I Add a VPN Extension to Firefox?
Assuming your VPN offers a Firefox extension or add-on, the process for installing it is relatively straightforward:
- Find the add-on or extension in the Firefox add-on library.
- Click “add to Firefox.”
- Allow the extension to run in private windows.
- Click on the VPNs icon in the top-right corner of your browser window.
- Log on to the VPN.
Keep in mind though, a VPN extension isn’t really a VPN — it’s a proxy server that only hides your IP address. It won’t encrypt your data or offer any of the other security benefits a true VPN will.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using a VPN on Firefox?
There aren’t that many drawbacks of using a VPN, particularly in the United States, where their use is perfectly legal. The primary issue is performance slowdowns, but as you can see from the charts above, most of the time these slowdowns are pretty much negligible. Sure, you can get hung up on the numbers — Ivacy, for instance, slowed my connection speed by more than half, but that’s because I was on a crazy-fast connection to start with. On the day-to-day, it’s tough for me to tell I’m using a VPN most of the time.
Another potential drawback of using a VPN on Firefox (or Chrome, or Safari, or any browser) is a false sense of security. Sure, a solid VPN is one of the best tools available for staying safe while browsing on Firefox, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t fall victim to things like social engineering attacks. In fact, the FBI received nearly 860,000 complaints of cybercrimes in 2024, with phishing being one of the most common attack vectors.2 If someone phishes you and you give them your password or credit card information, a VPN isn’t going to be much help.
>> Learn More: Best VPNs for Chrome
Frequently Asked Questions
Have even more questions about the best VPNs for Firefox? We’ve collected some of the questions we get asked most frequently and provided answers.
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What’s the best free VPN for Firefox?
Proton VPN offers the best free plan for Firefox users, as it comes with unlimited data. Also, the free version delivers very fast speeds, and provides strong privacy via an audited no-logs policy and kill switch.
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Are VPNs hard to use on Firefox?
Years and years ago, you had to have a pretty extensive knowledge of networking to set up and use a VPN effectively. That’s not the case today, though. Modern VPNs are extremely user-friendly and take most of the technical work out of the equation.
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Are VPNs expensive?
You might think that with the protections they provide, VPNs would cost quite a bit of money. But even the most advanced, top-of-the-line VPNs on the market today are relatively affordable, particularly if you sign up for a long-term service agreement. Expect to pay between $5 and $15 per month, depending on your provider, the services you select, and the duration of your subscription.
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Are VPNs legal?
In most places, yes, VPNs are perfectly legal to use. Some really restrictive countries like North Korea, Iraq, and Belarus have outlawed their use, but other than that, you’re free to use your VPN how you see fit. That said, you still can’t go around doing illegal things online hoping that your VPN will protect you — they’re not a get-out-of-jail-free card.
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What will a VPN not protect you from?
While a VPN helps make you more anonymous online, it can’t shield you from every digital threat out there. Even with a VPN running, you’re still vulnerable to social engineering attacks and scams like phishing. A VPN doesn’t stop you from clicking a bad link or handing over your credentials to a fake login page.
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StatCounter. (2026). Browser Market Share Worldwide.
https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share -
Federal Bureau of Investigations. (2025). FBI Releases Annual Internet Crime Report.
https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-annual-internet-crime-report
