In this guide I’m looking at the leading VPN extensions for Firefox. If you’re confused by all the options, don’t have time to search around or just want pointing in the right direction, this guide is for you.

VPN services are great, but on their own, they can feel a little bulky. Often you won’t want to be using a fully-fledged VPN app that protects your entire connection but instead one that adds protection simply to your web-browsing.

This is where VPN extensions have come in and while many are made for Chrome, there is a good selection for Firefox too.

Finding the top Firefox VPN extension can be difficult, but after testing more than I care to remember I’ve concluded that ExpressVPN is about the best out there.

You certainly won’t just want one choice though or to just take my word for it so here are the seven leading VPN extensions for Firefox that you’ll want to check out.

Top 7 VPN extensions for Firefox

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s Firefox extension looks much the same as their full desktop app so if you’ve used that you won’t have any trouble navigating the extension.

I found it to work well, simply activate it from the top corner of Firefox, select a country and hit connect. I especially like the fact that the extension protects against certain leaks such as DNS leaks and WebRTC protection.

Couple that with the built-in Kill Switch and you’ve got a pretty feature-packed extension. Many other services just get you connected so these extra security features are a bonus.

The extension will also help you spoof your geolocation to match the VPN server you’ve connected to. This should thwart even the most invasive tracking. As a bonus, you should be able to unblock most streaming websites too!

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2. NordVPN

NordVPN comes a very close second in quality as a VPN plugin for Firefox. Just like the ExpressVPN Firefox VPN extension, there are plenty of options here to keep you secure.

Connecting is simple within a few clicks but it’s the extras that make NordVPN stand out. Not only does the extension protect you from various leaks but it also has an ad and malware blocker built in.

This may be overkill for some but if you want extra protection against online threats, then the NordVPN Firefox extension covers most angles.

They’re pretty cheap too, especially if you sign up for two years. Couple that with being able to use the service on six devices and a 30-day money back guarantee and you’ve got a great VPN extension for Firefox.

3. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN’s Firefox extension is another up there in the design stakes. Connection is quick and painless.

Simply activate the Firefox VPN add-on from the menu of Firefox, choose a country and press Connect. The Firefox VPN extension from CyberGhost VPN takes care of everything else.

One negative of the Firefox VPN plugin from CyberGhost is it doesn’t protect against some of the more common leaking issues such as WebRTC and Flash leaks.

This means your IP Address isn’t as secure as it could be by using one of the earlier providers.

On the plus side, the VPN plugin for Firefox will protect against some malicious content. If the leaks are a deal-breaker then you would be best sticking with ExpressVPN or NordVPN above.

4. VPN.ac

VPN.ac offers one of the best VPN services and in my tests, I’ve found them to be faster and more reliable than most.

It’s no surprise then that their Firefox VPN extension is one of the best available. Like the other providers simply select a country from the Firefox extension in the menu and hit Connect.

Your Firefox connection is then secure. One of the benefits of VPN.ac’s Firefox VPN plugin is that it can help you beat Firewall and DPI issues. The Firefox VPN extension doesn’t trigger alerts like a fully-fledged VPN client might allowing you to overcome certain restrictions.

On top of that, you can use the one service on up to 6 devices at the same time so not only can you secure Firefox via their VPN extension but you can also shore up the security of your other devices too.

5. ibVPN

ibVPN is yet another service with a reliable Firefox extension. They’re another premium provider that offers an extension which mirrors their full app.

Simply select from one of their 47 countries or individual locations and connect. Your Firefox connection is then secure. Even websites that don’t employ HTTPs are protected over your portion of the connection.

ibVPN has a guest mode which has limited access to their service, allowing you to trial the Firefox VPN extension before signing up and parting with your money.

Even if you do choose to sign up for the full service, they have a 15-day money back guarantee letting you change your mind.

6. PrivateInternetAccess

Next up is Private Internet Access or ‘PIA’. This VPN has a pretty simple-to-use Firefox extension, which is why many people rave about this service.

It is easy to navigate and switch between servers, and you should not have a problem using it even if you never used a VPN in this or any other way before.

PIA offers access to 3263 servers, located in 48 different countries. The standout feature is it also blocks ads, malware and trackers.

It also has the best security features that the VPN world has to offer, and it lets you use it on ten devices simultaneously, which is great for protecting all of yours, or even your entire family’s devices.

7. Surfshark

Lastly, there is Surfshark, an excellent VPN from the British Virgin Islands, that allows you to use it for protecting an unlimited number of devices per license.

Surfshark, of course, also has a Firefox extension, and it is very well-organised and easy to use.

Once you open it, half of the extension will be a list of recently-used servers, for quick connections, while the other half contains a large Surfshark logo that will let you know whether you are protected or not.

That way, there can never be a misunderstanding, and you will always know your possibilities. At the bottom of the app, there are four different tabs, including Surfshark, Locations, CleanWeb, and Settings.

How to choose a Firefox VPN addon

Choosing a Firefox VPN addon or extension can be a difficult task. There are plenty of services that claim to be ‘free’ but are anything but.

Often these extensions are doing extra things in the background that you wouldn’t expect or storing details on you to pay for their service. It is my recommendation and others in the security industry that you only use Firefox VPN extensions from trusted and reputable VPN companies.

This means paying for a service. Thankfully though with so much competition, it means that VPN services are now cheaper than they ever were costing just a few dollars (or pounds) per month.

I’m not going to insult your intelligence by comparing the price of a VPN to an expensive coffee, but let’s just say, VPN services cost less and you get a lot more for your money than you would with a coffee, plus it lasts the entire month.

Above are my seven favourite Firefox VPN extensions but my overall choice is definitely ExpressVPN. It doesn’t really matter which you end up choosing as the seven above all offer good value for money and most importantly, a decent service.

How to install a Firefox VPN extension

Installing a VPN plugin on Firefox is effortless and straightforward.

You’ll first need to sign up for one of the VPN providers above. You can do that by clicking the orange link under each provider’s round-up above.

Then complete the sign-up process.

Once you’ve signed up visit the Firefox Add-on page. Here you can search for your VPN provider and install the VPN extension directly into your Firefox browser.

Simply click the VPN provider’s logo in the top-right corner of Firefox where you’ll be able to connect to a server of your choice.

What about the Firefox built-in VPN?

As you may know, Firefox has its own, built-in VPN that comes with the newer versions of the browser.

This VPN functions much like a VPN extension, although many would say that it works more like a proxy than a traditional VPN. However, since it does hide your IP address and it does keep your traffic private, it should be considered a VPN.

However, it doesn’t have much to offer when it comes to servers. In fact, it doesn’t even provide access to different countries.

You can opt to connect to different continents, however, which is not that precise. Pretty much all geo-restricted streaming services also block it, so you cannot use it to unblock content.

Firefox’s built-in VPN is a good thing to have as a last resort, although it is nowhere near the top when it comes to quality, features, or precision.

Differences between an add-on and a real VPN

For all their similarities, a browser VPN add-on and a full dedicated VPN app do have some critical differences that you should be aware of before choosing which one you wish to use.

Here’s a rundown of the four significant differences:

1. Browser VPN only protects your browser

We mentioned this briefly before, but a browser VPN only keeps your browser traffic safe and protected.

In other words, if you wanted to use a torrent client with only your browser VPN active, your torrenting activities would still be unencrypted, unprotected, and your real IP address will be displayed.

The same would be true if you were to use a streaming app or any other app that exists outside of the browser, and is installed on your system. A full VPN app would protect your entire device and all dedicated apps or games on it.

So remember, a Firefox extension only protects the websites you visit in Firefox.

2. Browser VPN is easier to add

VPNs are not that difficult to install and set up. If you have ever downloaded and installed an app, you will easily install a VPN as well, as the process is relatively straightforward.

However, with that said, adding a browser extension is much faster and it only takes a click or two.

You can add any of these without any technical knowledge, but browser VPNs are a bit quicker to add and set up.

3. Browser VPN can be slower than the app

In theory, the VPN app and an extension for your browser should be the same in terms of speed, although many have noticed that a browser extension has a more significant impact on your internet speed than the full VPN app.

Different VPNs were tested, and the results were usually quite similar, which leads to the conclusion that using a VPN app might be better for things like streaming, even if you are still using your browser, instead of a streaming service’s dedicated app.

4. VPN apps are more secure

VPN apps offer robust security, with their leak protections, encryptions, privacy protocols, and alike.

Once again, these are all the same features that are available within the browser extension, but the VPN app will protect the entire device, which makes it more secure.

If your entire PC is safe, the possibility of a leak is much lower, while the odds of having your data exposed is greater if you only use a browser VPN.

Any activity outside of the browser will still be recorded on your ISP’s server instead of on the VPN-owned one, so keep that in mind.

Can I unblock streaming sites?

Of course, Firefox extensions comes with all the capabilities as a regular VPN app that you may have on your phone or desktop.

Firefox extensions feature the entire list of servers that the VPN has to offer, and as long as those servers work, you can use them from your browser to reach all the content you could ever want.

So if you have specific streaming websites, then you can unblock most of them using a Firefox extension.

Of course, this does come with a specific limitations.

You see, when you have a desktop or mobile app for streaming, a Firefox extension wouldn’t be able to unblock that and you would need to use the fully fledged VPN app.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a Firefox VPN extension or Firefox VPN plugin and you’re confused then don’t worry, you’re not alone.

With hundreds of VPN companies out there and not all offering Firefox VPN extensions, it can be challenging to know where to start.

Without question, my favourite Firefox VPN extension right now is ExpressVPN. I like the simplicity of their Firefox VPN add-on plus you get the bonus of a proven no-log service and all the other benefits that come with it.

If you don’t like the sound of ExpressVPN, then you’ve got six other good options to choose from. Don’t stress too much over it, the seven listed above are all good choices, and have money back guarantees.