Mozilla just dropped its biggest Firefox update in years, and it is packed with features that could change how millions of people browse the web. Firefox 149, set to roll out on March 24, 2026, brings a free built-in VPN, split view browsing, tab notes, new AI controls, and a fresh visual identity complete with a brand new mascot named Kit.
Here is everything you need to know about this update and why it matters.
Free Built-In VPN Comes to Firefox 149
The headline feature is a free VPN baked directly into the browser. Mozilla acknowledged the sketchy reputation of free VPNs and said its own version is built from the company’s data principles. It routes browser traffic through a proxy to hide your IP address and location while you browse.1
Users will get 50 gigabytes of monthly data in the U.S., France, Germany, and the U.K. to start. The feature arrives in Firefox 149 starting March 24.1
There are a few things worth knowing before you get too excited:
- The VPN only handles browser traffic, not full device protection.2
- You will need a Mozilla account to use it.3
- Any data tied to your account gets deleted after three months.3
- Mozilla has not announced pricing or availability for users outside those four markets.4
How does this compare to the competition? Firefox’s 50GB monthly cap is considerably more than the 5GB Microsoft Edge caps its own built-in VPN at.3 That is ten times the data, which makes a real difference for everyday browsing.
| Feature | Firefox VPN | Microsoft Edge VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Data | 50 GB | 5 GB |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Coverage | Browser only | Browser only |
| Launch Markets | US, UK, France, Germany | Broad |
| Account Required | Mozilla Account | Microsoft Account |
This new built-in VPN is separate from the paid Mozilla VPN, which covers up to five devices system wide.3 The Firefox version is free and browser only.
Last October, Mozilla started testing the feature with a small group of Firefox users. Now, it is coming for everyone.5
Firefox 149 free built-in VPN split view update March 2026
Split View and Tab Notes Boost Productivity
Version 149 introduces a native Split View mode that lets you put two different web pages side by side in a single window. This productivity feature is becoming increasingly popular in other browsers, and now Firefox users will be able to try it soon.6
Think of it this way. You can compare prices on two shopping sites, read a research article while writing notes, or reference one page while working on another. No more toggling back and forth between tabs.
Tab Notes lets you add notes to any tab, another tool to help with multitasking and picking up where you left off. It will be available in Firefox Labs 149 starting March 24.1
Tab Notes sounds less flashy, but it could be handy for people juggling research, shopping comparisons, or just too many tabs.7
AI Controls Give Users Real Choice
Mozilla is not ignoring AI. But it is doing things differently.
Firefox is adding granular controls for generative AI features, allowing users to turn individual AI functions on or off rather than applying a single toggle to all AI capabilities. Mozilla frames this as giving users control over which AI tools are active in their browser.4
Firefox 148 already added AI controls in Settings so users can manage or shut off AI enhanced features.7 Version 149 takes this further.
Smart Window is the most interesting AI addition. Previously called AI Window, it uses AI to give quick help while you browse, like definitions, article summaries, product comparisons, and more, without leaving the page.1
Smart Window is opt in and currently in a waitlist phase for early access. Mozilla has not confirmed which Firefox version will include it broadly.4
“We’re prioritizing features that give users real power, choice and strong privacy protections, built in a way that only Firefox can.” — Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox
This approach stands apart from competitors like Google Chrome with Gemini, Microsoft Edge with Copilot, and Brave with Leo, all of which push AI more aggressively. Mozilla is trying to make Firefox feel more useful and distinct at a time when every browser maker is talking up AI. The difference here is that Mozilla keeps stressing choice.7
Meet Kit, Firefox’s New Mascot
The update also comes with a visual refresh and a brand new face for Firefox.
The independent browser is doubling down on its privacy first challenger spirit with the launch of its first ever mascot, Kit.8
Mozilla describes Kit as a companion, not a commentator who is there to deliver punchlines.9 In the browser, Kit can be found in places like the onboarding screen when you first install Firefox, pop ups that introduce a new feature, or little confirmations you see after successfully changing a setting.10
Mozilla said that Kit was generated by humans, not AI, through hundreds of small choices including tail flicks, textures, gradients, and proportions.10 That detail matters for a company that is asking users to trust it with their privacy.
Interestingly, Mozilla says Kit is not a fox or a red panda, but a unique Firefox creature that brings elements from both, including the element of fire.11
The creative concept behind the rebrand is called “More Fire. More Fox.” Fire is the combative energy, Firefox as a genuine alternative to the algorithm driven, data harvesting status quo. While Fox is the protective instinct, the thing that has always set Firefox apart.12
Can This Update Save Firefox’s Shrinking Market Share?
All of this arrives at a critical moment for Mozilla. Firefox has lost around 25% of its market share since 2020. It currently commands 5% of the global desktop browser market and just 0.5% of the mobile market.13
With more than 362 million users, Firefox is the fourth most popular browser worldwide. The browser is heavily used in America and Russia. But Firefox’s market share decreased from 3.04% in 2022 to 2.37% in 2025.14
Meanwhile, Google Chrome controls over 64% of the global browser market. The gap is massive.
But Mozilla is clearly not giving up. “The roadmap for Firefox this year is the most exciting one we’ve developed in quite a while,” said Ajit Varma, head of Firefox.15 Varma also said Mozilla is launching new open standards in its Gecko engine to ensure the future of the web is open, diverse, and not controlled by a single engine.15
Firefox is one of the few major browsers not built on Google’s Chromium engine. That independence has long been central to Mozilla’s pitch. The VPN addition now gives Firefox another feature it can use to distinguish itself in a market shaped by AI tools, ad tech, and platform lock in.2
Firefox 149 is not just another browser update. It is Mozilla’s strongest push in years to prove it still belongs in the conversation. A free VPN with 50GB of data, side by side browsing, smarter AI controls, and a mascot designed by humans rather than machines. Whether you are a long time Firefox user or someone thinking about switching, March 24 is the date to watch. What do you think about these new features? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let us know if Mozilla is doing enough to win you back.
