[badguybeetle]

they do use mullvad to provide this service and mullvad's pricing model is flat monthly rate at ~$5 and yet mozilla charges almost double the amount per month at $9.99 and you need to get locked in to 12 month subscription to get the same price as mullvad charges.

i don't get what is the reasoning behind this

[approxim8ion]

The approach seems two-pronged:

1. Those who are aware of VPNs but have the money and would like to support Firefox can do so by using their product.

2. Those who aren't very aware of the vpn scene can trust a relatively more prevalent name in Firefox while still getting a reliable service and giving them money.

It's not ideal from a value perspective but I don't feel like it is egregious.

[duxup]

>Those who are aware of VPNs but have the money and would like to support Firefox can do so by using their product.

That's me.

[vayeate]

Same.

[csande17]

Unlike Mullvad, Mozilla isn't just trying to run a VPN service profitably. They're trying to get reliable recurring revenue on the balance sheet to spend on other things, like redesigning Firefox over and over and increasing their CEO's salary. So they really want to lock people into longer-term subscriptions, whereas Mullvad is fine with users subscribing for a month and then leaving.

[thepangolino]

They’re trying to capitalise one their own brand.

[arbitrage]

Mozilla can't afford to work for free. They need to get paid, too.

[auslegung]

If I understand the OP well, the question is, how can Mozilla justify charging twice what Mullvad charges, and lock you into a 12-month contract, for what is largely a repackaging of Mullvad.

[vmoore]

So just use Mullvad instead. For those who want to support Mozilla's efforts, this is a good way of doing it. Think of your extra $5 as a sort of donation to them for building such a wonderful browser and browser ecosystem (Lockwise, extensions, Pocket etc)

[dweekly]

A $5 donation is at least tax deductible and comes with less overhead for the foundation to process.

[gruez]

But firefox is developed by mozilla corporation, and donations to mozilla foundation doesn't fund firefox development. It goes to various advocacy/activism causes.

[Shish2k]

Does mozilla corporation income necessarily go to firefox development though?

(I worry that foundation income goes to activism and corporation income goes to the CEO’s pockets...)

[nijaru]

For clarification, I believe he is saying you pay the same price as a mullvad subscription if you lock into a 12 month subscription, not that you pay double the price and are locked into that.

[fzzzy]

brand name