Proton AG is famous for its suite of privacy tools, and Proton VPN stands out, excelling in privacy, compatibility, speed, and security. Before you get it, you’ll want to understand Proton VPN pricing and all the costs. The service is inexpensive, but there’s nuance worth explaining: multiple plans, a forever-free tier, renewal jumps, and bundle options that change the math considerably.
One thing to know upfront is that Proton VPN offers a coupon claimable through our site, so the prices in this guide reflect that exclusive discount. The buttons throughout apply it automatically; going directly to Proton VPN’s website means notably higher costs across all plans. Let’s examine the plans.
Proton VPN Pricing: True Cost in 2026
Proton VPN’s paid pricing revolves around one plan, VPN Plus, in three lengths:
Like most providers, the long-term option is the most affordable. At the time of writing, the best-value proposition is the 24-month deal at $3.59/mo, a 64% saving over the monthly rate, with the annual plan close behind at $3.99/mo and 60% off
Even the monthly plan holds its own. At $9.99, it’s one of the least expensive monthly VPNs, undercutting the monthly rates of NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Private Internet Access. The refreshing part: VPN Plus features don’t change with plan length. Monthly, annual, or biennial, you get the identical feature set, so the only question is commitment. The free plan and Proton’s bundle options are separate, which we’ll cover further down in this Proton VPN pricing.
Get the Best Price on Proton VPN
Does Proton VPN Offer a Free Trial?
When weighing the cost of Proton VPN, it’s natural to ask whether you can take a test ride first. The answer is yes, in two ways, though neither is a classic time-limited trial. The first is Proton VPN’s free plan, which is why we rank it among the top free trial VPN options. It requires no payment details, never expires, and includes unlimited data on a handful of server locations.
It’s a slower, stripped-down taste of the service, but it costs nothing forever. The second route is the 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans. Subscribe, test everything VPN Plus offers, and if it disappoints, request a refund within 30 days, no justification needed. It requires paying upfront, so it’s a refund window rather than a free trial, but the outcome is the same: you test Proton VPN risk-free.
Proton VPN Pricing: Features for Money
An affordable provider, Proton VPN doesn’t seem like it would be overrun with features. If that’s your first thought, we’ll prove you wrong. This pricing guide reviews the highlights briefly, with the deep dive in our full Proton VPN analysis.
✅ Secure Core Servers
Secure Core is Proton’s take on MultiHop, routing your traffic through two servers for a second encryption layer. The first server is always Proton-owned hardware in Sweden, Switzerland, or Iceland, with the exit server left for you to choose. Setup takes 3-5 seconds, after which two 256-bit encryption layers guard your identity. Premium plans only, though.
✅ NetShield Protection
Also premium-only, NetShield is a good ad-blocker that fights trackers and malicious sites too. One click enables it, and it immediately starts fending off the junk that threatens your privacy and performance alike.
✅ Serious Privacy Credentials
Privacy is Proton VPN’s main strength. Behind NetShield and Secure Core sits an industry-leading no-logs policy, independently audited every year since 2022, with so little data stored that the price you pay more than makes sense.
RAM-only servers, a kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and modern protocols (WireGuard) amplify things, and Forward Secrecy assigns a unique encryption key to every session, so no single key can unlock your history. It’s why this provider ranks among the most secure VPNs, alongside NordVPN.
✅ Limitless Streaming and P2P
The fun stuff doesn’t cost extra. Streaming-optimized servers let you watch Netflix, unblock BBC iPlayer outside the UK, and catch live sports at the drop of a hat. Torrenting servers bring 10 Gbps speeds and port forwarding, while Tor over VPN servers cover your dark web adventures on any device.
✅ Applications for All Devices
Proton VPN shows up everywhere: computers, tablets, laptops, phones, and even Linux, where its GUI spares you from living in the Terminal. A premium subscription protects 10 devices simultaneously at no added cost.
Is Proton VPN Free Plan Worth Your Time?
You don’t have to spend a dollar to use this provider. Sounds fishy? It’s the real thing. The free plan gives you unlimited data, real security, and the same no-logs privacy as the paid tier, a combination no other reputable free VPN matches. The dark side: torrenting is entirely blocked, streaming services rarely work, and you can’t select the server locations, as Proton VPN connects you to the fastest one.
Simultaneous connections? One device only. 24/7 live chat support? Paid users only. As a reputable free VPN for privacy and browsing, it has no equal. Whether it’s worth your time depends on your needs: as a permanent VPN, the low premium price makes the free tier hard to justify long-term, but as a zero-risk introduction to Proton VPN, it’s the best ad the company could ask for.
Proton VPN Pricing: Conclusion
How much does Proton VPN cost? On long-term plans, safely below $4/mo. The best value is the 24-month plan at only $2.99/mo, a symbolic price, while the annual plan at $3.99/mo is another tremendous saver. Even the monthly plan at $9.99 undercuts most big-name VPNs’ monthly rates. What makes Proton VPN’s pricing popular is its clarity. One paid plan, three lengths, excellent flexibility.
A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it entirely risk-free, too. No convoluted schemes, no feature hostage-taking. Hopefully you’ve got your answers, and the discount below to go with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
⚖️ Is Proton VPN worth it?
Yes, Proton VPN is worth it if you want high-quality service without overspending, with long-term plans below $3.5/mo. It also comes from a reputable Swiss company that specializes in online privacy well beyond the VPN, through Proton Mail, Proton Drive's encrypted cloud storage, and other productivity tools, all audited regularly and backed by the same no-logs philosophy.
👨💼 How much is Proton VPN for Business?
Proton VPN made our list of the best-rated business VPNs in [year]. Business plans cost $12.99/mo on the 1-year deal, pricier than consumer plans but bundled with the full Proton suite: Mail, Calendar, Pass, and Drive. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee plus business extras like dark web monitoring, 2FA, and encrypted storage.
🤔 Which Proton VPN plan is best for me?
Our Proton VPN pricing guide crowned the 24-month plan as the best deal at $2.99/mo, and we stand by it. That said, the monthly plan works excellently for short-term needs like a vacation abroad. Since every plan carries identical features, the choice comes down to commitment: pick the longest term your budget allows, because that's where the real savings live.