Mozilla is set to launch a paid version of its popular browser, Firefox and will be coming later this year. The premium version of Firefox will come with new features according to Chris Beard, Mozilla’s CEO as the company looks for new ways to generate income and ensure open source and non-profit software development gets the resources that it deserves.
Firefox makes money by using Google as a default search engine and through Pocket, a content curation app with 90% of revenue coming from search.
Mozilla is already in partnership with Proton and uses Proton VPN to bring privacy to its users online. It’s still experimental with a $10 monthly subscription cost available to select users in the USA for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Firefox is thinking of offering a certain amount of free VPN bandwidth and will then start charging you for metered access through the monthly subscription. Plus its also testing the possibility of secure cloud storage for its premium users.
In his interview with T3N, Chris Beard clarified that users won’t be chared for the free features Firefox currently offers.
It is not clear if the premium version of Firefox will be a separate app or the new features will be add-ons. A Firefox spokesperson said that they would first begin by unveiling individual services and then figure out which model works best for them.
The new features are quite enticing as Firefox continues to improve privacy for users. The browser recently got new privacy focussed improvements including making Enhanced Tracking Protection turned on by default, the Facebook container extension got better, Firefox Lockwise Password Keeper got a desktop extension, Firefox Monitor now supports multiple email addresses and more which you can check out the full details here.
What they’re saying:
“So, what we want to clarify is that there is no plan to charge money for things that are now free. So we will roll out a subscription service and offer a premium level. And the plan is to introduce the first one this year, towards fall. We aim for October.” ~ Chris Beard, Mozilla CEO
