Let me pay for Firefox

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Whether Firefox Should Be Paid or Donation-Funded

  • Many commenters say they’d happily pay (e.g. a few $/month, paid Firefox Account, paid sync) for:
    • No telemetry or data-sharing
    • No sponsored shortcuts/suggestions
    • Built‑in ad blocking and privacy features
  • Others argue a paywall or “Pro” core browser would crater adoption; most users expect browsers to be free and don’t care about Mozilla’s business model.
  • Several propose: keep a free version, add optional subscriptions (sync, VPN, Relay, extras) and a “clean” paid build; some suggest WinRAR/Sublime‑style nagware rather than enforcement.

Mozilla’s Funding, Spending, and Trust Problem

  • Firefox is heavily funded by the Google search-default deal; that income (and its legality) is seen as fragile.
  • Commenters note Mozilla’s large revenues and investment income but relatively modest spending on core software vs:
    • High executive compensation
    • A long list of failed or abandoned products and acquisitions
  • Many refuse to pay/donate because they don’t trust money to go to Firefox rather than “bullshit initiatives.”
  • Confusion and frustration over the Foundation vs Corporation split: donations to the Foundation mostly fund advocacy and research, not Firefox development.

Privacy, Telemetry, and Ads

  • Strong demand for a version with:
    • Zero data sale or sharing with advertisers
    • No Pocket pushes, sponsored content, or “experiments”
  • Several feel Mozilla broke past promises not to sell user data and undermined trust with stunts like bundled promotions.
  • Some are okay with strictly opt‑in, product‑only telemetry; the “red line” is sharing data with third parties.

Alternatives and Independent Engines

  • A number of commenters say they will fund or already fund:
    • Forks (LibreWolf, Waterfox, Floorp, Zen)
    • New engines (Ladybird, Servo, Flow)
    • Paid privacy‑oriented browsers/search (Orion, Kagi)
  • Others caution that forks piggyback on Mozilla’s engine work and lack resources for long‑term security and standards compliance; losing Firefox would mean losing a major non‑Chromium engine.

Meta: FOSS, “Free,” and Community Mood

  • Thread debates FOSS funding: donations, paid support, tax‑funded “public good” browsers, and whether VC‑backed “free” products distort markets more than donations do.
  • Long‑time users express both loyalty to Firefox and deep anger at Mozilla’s leadership, while some worry that constant anti‑Mozilla sentiment just strengthens Google’s browser monopoly.