Best VPN for Firefox

NordVPN is a good choice for Firefox if your monthly budget doesn’t quite stretch to ExpressVPN. Speeds on local servers are some of the quickest we’ve seen so far in our tests, peaking at 296Mbps in some locations, making it ideal for streamers and torrenters. Performance on international connections is just as impressive, and NordVPN is also one of a handful of providers that still works reliably with both Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

Nord missed out on first place purely because the Firefox extension is a proxy rather than a full VPN extension, unlike the one offered by rival ExpressVPN. It’s a great lightweight solution for heavy browser users but doesn’t offer the same level of encryption as the desktop and mobile apps, therefore we’d advise caution when using it. Nord operates a strict zero-logs policy, which is great, and there are loads of advanced privacy features on offer too, including servers optimized for Double VPN.

There are loads of useful setup and troubleshooting resources on the website, however Nord loses points when it comes to email response times, which were pretty slow in most cases. Changing the VPN protocol isn’t as simple as our top pick, requiring some manual configuration, but at the ridiculously low price of just $2.99 per month on the three-year plan, we’re willing to overlook this.

HideMyAss! offers the biggest choice of server locations of all the VPN providers currently on our site. You can choose from over 190 different countries, and with speeds of up to 333Mbps on local connections, you can enjoy a seamless browsing experience no matter where in the world you’re connecting from. There are also servers optimized for popular streaming sites, such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, making watching your favorite shows quick and easy.

Like most other providers, HMA!’s Firefox extension is a proxy rather than a full VPN extension, so although your real IP address is hidden, your web traffic is not encrypted in the same way that it is with the desktop app. For this reason, we’d recommend it to heavy browser users but not really to anyone else. Also be aware of HMA!’s fairly intrusive logging policy, in which detailed connection metadata (including your originating IP address) is collected and stored for up to three months.

Customer support is pretty good, if somewhat poorly organized, but there is a live chat feature available 24/7. HMA! isn’t a budget provider, but you can save yourself 75% by signing up to the three-year plan, bringing the monthly cost down to just $2.99. A good choice if you’re looking for a huge server network and sleek, modern apps.

Private Internet Access will appeal to users looking for raw power and a ton of manually configurable options. It’s seriously fast on both local and international connections, peaking at an incredible 427Mbps down and 233Mbps up – this kind of performance is some of the best we’ve ever seen. It’s currently working with both Netflix and BBC iPlayer too, however a lack of dedicated streaming servers means access isn’t as hassle-free as it could be.

PIA’s proxy extension for Firefox is great for heavy browser users who want to mask their IP address but aren’t too fussed about encrypting their browser traffic. It does offer WebRTC leak protection, which is a useful feature that prevents your true IP address from being exposed, however it lacks some of the settings found on the desktop app, such as a VPN kill switch. A strict zero-logs policy makes up for the fact it’s based in the privacy-unfriendly USA.

The standard of customer support on offer is good enough but we really missed a live chat feature, and slow email responses meant that we were often left waiting for a really simple question to be answered. The old-fashioned software is perhaps aimed more at experienced users than VPN newbies, however the incredibly low price of $2.91 per month on the two-year plan means that most people will probably be able to overlook this.

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is a solid, well-rounded VPN with user-friendly software that’ll appeal to VPN newbies. Speeds are good enough on local connections but international performance is inconsistent, and high latency and P2P restrictions mean keen gamers and torrenters should probably look elsewhere. Optimized servers for popular services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer make streaming a breeze.

The proxy extension for Firefox is a great added bonus if you don’t need to encrypt your browser traffic and simply want to spoof your IP address in order to access blocked content. It also protects you against WebRTC leaks which is pretty useful. The other custom apps on offer by VPN Unlimited are sleek and modern but we really missed the VPN kill switch feature. Its logging policy is also pretty questionable, so steer clear if privacy is your top priority.

We were quite impressed with the customer support on offer, with super fast responses to email and loads of comprehensive, well-organized online resources – we’d love to see a live chat feature in the future though. The lifetime subscription is excellent value costing just a one-off payment of $199.99, so VPN Unlimited is well worth considering if you’re willing to continue using the service for the considerable future.