Proton VPN Pricing 2024: Free vs Paid Plans (Worth the Cost?)

Proton VPN has earned its reputation as a secure, privacy-focused service. It’s known for prioritizing online safety and data protection, with strong security features and a strict no-logs policy — making it a top choice for privacy-conscious customers.

In 2024, Proton VPN offers both free and paid plans, each designed to meet different needs. I’m here to help you understand what's on offer in each plan, including server access, speeds, device connections, security features, and support for streaming and torrenting. We’ll also look at the difference between Plus and Unlimited Proton plans, and whether the company’s other security offerings are worth signing up for.

Proton VPN’s Plans: A Quick Overview

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Proton VPN Free vs. Paid Plans

Proton VPN’s pricing range is quite wide and suits different requirements. The free plan provides basic security features with some limitations, while the paid options offer more servers, enhanced privacy tools, and faster speeds.

Here are all the details to help you choose the best plan for your needs:

Proton VPN’s Free Plan and Its Limitations

The free Proton VPN plan offers basic functionality (like a kill switch/always-on feature) but it does come with restrictions. You only get access to servers in 5 countries, which can restrict your options when it comes to using global websites and services.

Additionally, the free plan lacks advanced features such as Secure Core, the NetShield ad-blocker, port forwarding, Tor over VPN, and support for streaming services. You can only use the VPN on one device at a time as well.

Speeds can also be hampered by the increased load on the free servers, which may affect activities like streaming or downloading large files. Upgrading to a paid plan is recommended if you’re planning on streaming, gaming, or torrenting.

Proton VPN Plus Plan Analysis

The Proton VPN Plus Plan costs $9.99 per month, with significant savings for longer-term commitments. Opting for an annual plan will cost you $59.88 ($2.99/month), while a 2-year subscription is available for $107.76 ($4.49/month).

The Plus Plan is best suited if you need access to advanced security features. It also includes a larger server network and fast speeds (up to 10Gbps with Proton’s VPN Accelerator), making it ideal for activities like secure streaming, torrenting, and browsing across multiple countries.

Proton VPN Unlimited Plan Analysis

The Proton VPN Unlimited Plan bundles the Plus plan with access to Proton’s other services. These include:

• Proton Mail
• Proton Drive
• Proton Calendar
• Proton Pass
• Proton Wallet

With this plan, you benefit from seamless integration across Proton's range, creating a unified platform for secure email, file storage (up to 50GB over all services), calendar management, and password management. You also get up to 25 shared calendars, 15 email aliases, and 20 vaults in Proton Pass.

The Unlimited Plan comes in at $12.99 if you pay monthly. Or, you can get a 1-year subscription at $119 ($9.99/month) or a 2-year plan for $96 ($7.99/month). Alternatively, there’s a duo plan for $14.99/month, or a family plan for $23.99/month (up to 6 users, with 3TB storage). Compared to subscribing to each service individually, the Unlimited plans work well as an all-in-one, cost-effective privacy solution.

Business Plans and Enterprise Solutions

Proton offers customized VPN solutions for businesses through its VPN Team pricing, with costs determined by team size and specific needs. Companies can choose from a range of packages including Essentials, Professional, Business Suite, and Enterprise.

Feature list:

• Centralized account management
• Dedicated account support
• Customizable security policies
• Integration with existing business infrastructure

Businesses can also take advantage of bulk pricing discounts, making it more cost-effective to provide secure VPN access to multiple employees.

Should You Go Premium? A Closer Look at Proton VPN Plus

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Tested December 2024

Works With:

Sky ESPN+ Dazn FIFA+

Netflix Disney+ APV More

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Proton VPN's Secure Core feature channels your data through servers with enhanced security when you select a location where your connection might be at risk (for example, countries with online surveillance). These servers are located in privacy-friendly countries such as Sweden, Iceland, and Switzerland. Secure Core is included with paid plans and can be easily enabled on the app’s home screen. During our tests, Proton VPN didn’t leak any IP, DNS, or WebRTC data.

This means Proton VPN won't reveal your location data

Proton VPN’s strict no-logs policy makes it a trustworthy option for secure browsing. This commitment was demonstrated in 2019 when a legal order required Proton VPN to provide user logs. The company was unable to comply because no identifiable logs existed. For added anonymity, you can also choose to pay with cryptocurrency or cash.

One downside is that the Secure Core feature can slow your connection (because your traffic is traveling through more than one server). Our speeds dropped by 25% when connecting with Secure Core. That said, the VPN’s speeds on the Plus servers were great during testing. These servers are also optimized for fast and reliable streaming, torrenting, and Tor use.

You can try the Plus service for free as Proton offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not completely happy, claiming a refund is easy.

Useful Features

• Stealth protocol. Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol is designed to conceal VPN usage, making it perfect for browsing in countries with restrictive internet policies.
• Perfect forward secrecy. This feature regularly changes your encryption keys. It ensures that, even if one key is compromised, both past and future VPN sessions remain secure, as they’ll use different keys.
• NetShield. This is Proton VPN's advanced ad-blocking and malware protection feature. It works by blocking harmful websites and intrusive ads, preventing you from encountering malicious content while browsing. It also improves page load speeds since fewer ads load.
• Tor over VPN. Servers with the Onion logo allow you to access the deep web through a regular browser, eliminating the need for the Tor browser.

Payment Options

Proton VPN provides several payment methods, including credit and debit cards:

Proton VPN Deals, Discounts, and Promos

Most Proton VPN subscriptions are discounted throughout the year. You can expect the following deals:

• Current deals: Proton VPN is offering up to 70% off on its Plus plan, reducing the price to $2.99/month per month if you opt for a 2-year subscription. This deal is available to both new and existing customers.
• Student discounts: Proton offers exclusive discounts for students through Student Beans. Offers include 50% off Proton VPN Plus, 80% off Proton Mail Plus for one month, and 50% off Proton Drive Plus for 12 months. Student Beans verification is required to access these discounts.
• Black Friday: During the Black Friday period, Proton VPN usually offers significant discounts on its plans.
• Coupons. Proton VPN also provides coupon codes, which can be granted by the support team to reduce costs on paid subscriptions. Just be aware of fake Proton VPN coupon codes on third-party sites, as these can sometimes be phishing scams.

At the time of writing, the service doesn’t offer a lifetime subscription.

How to Sign Up For Proton VPN

To sign up for Proton VPN, follow these steps:

1. Go to the official site. Navigate to the Proton VPN sign-up page.
   Make sure to use the official Proton VPN site, to avoid fakes or scams
2. Choose a plan. You still need to register, even if you’re only opting to use Proton VPN for free.
   You can also opt to create a free account
3. Create an account. Enter your email address and come up with a strong password.
   Even free Proton VPN accounts require email registration
4. Confirm your account. You’ll be asked to verify your account with a security code sent to your email address.
   This code is only valid for a short period of time
5. Download the Proton VPN app. After account creation, download the Proton VPN app compatible with your device from the downloads page.
   You can also download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store
6. Log in and connect to a server. Open the app, select a server from the available list, and connect to start using Proton VPN.
   If you experience any hiccups or delays, just switch the server

Proton VPN vs. Top 5 Competitors: Price and Features Comparison

Here’s a comparison table highlighting Proton VPN alongside its top competitors — ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, and Surfshark — focusing on pricing and key features to help you make an informed decision.

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

FAQs on Proton VPN Pricing

Is ProtonVPN completely free to use?

There’s a free plan, but it comes with limitations. The free version has fewer servers, slower speeds, and only supports one device connection. For faster speeds and more server options, you’re better off opting for ProtonVPN’s paid plans.

Does ProtonVPN support Netflix streaming?

Yes, ProtonVPN works with Netflix, but only on premium servers. The free plan does not support streaming, but paid plans allow access to Netflix and other streaming services with optimized servers for better performance.

Will ProtonVPN share my data?

ProtonVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not collect or store your data. It is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws. Even if required by law, ProtonVPN can’t provide your data as it doesn’t store it.

This is because Proton VPN secures all its server disks using an AES 256-bit cipher and encryption keys that are long enough to resist any practical brute-force attack. In simple terms, it’s extremely difficult to crack. Additionally, the encryption keys are stored off-site, not directly on the server.

Conclusion

Proton VPN’s free plan is a decent offering, but the paid subscriptions are much better for safe streaming, torrenting, and accessing international sites and services. The Plus plan gives you more server options, faster speeds, and the reliable security features Proton is known for. That said, Proton VPN’s paid plans can be pricey, and there are other VPN services out there that offer similar features for less.