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Proton VPN Pricing—What You Need To Know Before Subscribing

Written by

Ashley Ferraro, Product

Reviewed by

Jun 18, 2024

•

Min Read

Protect Your Payments

Cybercrimes are increasing at an alarming rate, with anticipated damages projected to reach $13.82 trillion by 2028. This unsettling trend makes virtual private networks (VPNs) an essential tool for safeguarding personal and business-related online activities.

While many VPN providers offer robust encryption and network coverage, Proton VPN stands out for its privacy features and Secure Core server architecture. But how much does Proton VPN charge for its services?

In this article, we’ll examine the Proton VPN pricing structure and discuss available discounts. We’ll also explain different ways to secure your financial details during online transactions.

Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is valid as of April 2024 and is subject to change. For the most recent information, visit the VPN’s website.

Proton VPN Subscription Models

Proton VPN offers the following three standard subscription models^[1], allowing users to choose a plan that best fits their needs and budget:

Proton Free
Proton VPN Plus
Proton Unlimited
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The table below breaks down the subscription costs associated with monthly, yearly, and bi-yearly commitment periods:

Proton Price Plans	1 Month	1 Year	2 Years
Proton VPN Plus	$9.99/month	$4.99/month (Billed at $59.88 per year)	$4.49/month (Billed at $107.76 for two years)
Proton Unlimited	$12.99/month	$9.99/month (Billed at $119.88 per year)	$7.99/month (Billed at $191.76 for two years)

Proton Free

The Proton Free plan is designed to provide users with the following features necessary for private and secure internet browsing^[2]:

Encrypted VPN servers in five countries
One device connection
Built-in kill switch
Strict no-log policy
Unlimited browsing data

Proton VPN Plus

The Proton VPN Plus plan enhances the user's online experience by offering access to exclusive Plus servers, unrestricted high-speed connections (up to 10 Gbps), and advanced features, including^[3]:

Secure Core servers—Proton VPN's Secure Core architecture routes user data through multiple servers, making it difficult to track users’ original locations or intercept their sensitive information, which can be used for advanced network attacks.
NetShield ad-blocker—This filtering feature blocks unwanted ads and malicious trackers for a safer browsing experience.
Tor over VPN—Proton VPN's Tor over VPN feature adds additional layers of anonymity and privacy by directing all traffic seamlessly through the Tor network.
Global networks—Proton VPN has over 4,900 servers spread across 91 countries^[4], allowing users to surf the internet without dealing with bandwidth throttling or high latency.
Multiple device connection—Proton VPN Plus allows users to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.
VPN accelerator—This premium feature boosts connection speeds by up to 400%, allowing high-speed browsing, streaming, or downloading while using less reliable internet connection.

Proton VPN Unlimited and Business Subscription Models

Proton Unlimited offers an extensive suite of features beyond conventional browsing privacy. It offers all Proton VPN Plus plan features, priority customer support, and end-to-end encrypted apps for email, data storage, and time management^[3]:

Proton Mail Plus
Proton Drive Plus
Proton Calendar Plus
Porton Pass

In addition to individual plans, Proton offers advanced network security and access management with dedicated getaways to SMEs and large corporations, protecting sensitive business data against potential data breaches and cyberattacks.

Proton VPN offers three different subscription models to businesses:

VPN Essentials
VPN Business
VPN Enterprise
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Here's the breakdown of their respective rates for different subscription periods:

Plan	1-Month	1 Year (Per Month)	2 Years (Per Month)
VPN Essentials	$8.99/user	$6.99/user	$5.99/user
VPN Business	$11.99/user	$9.99/user	$8.99/user

ProtonVPN for Enterprise offers tailor-made solutions to meet large businesses' specific security and privacy needs. Users interested in this model can contact Proton VPN for a quote.

A photo of a person holding a tablet displaying an active VPN connection — *Source:* *Dan Nelson*

Proton VPN Discounts and Promotions

Proton VPN offers special deals and promotions so that users can secure a premium VPN service at a fraction of the cost. These offers include:

Seasonal discounts
Special deals
Coupons
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Seasonal discounts might vary from one season to the next, and special deals might vary from one month to the next.

Seasonal Discounts

Proton VPN offers some of their best deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Proton VPN also launches year-end promotions with up to 90% off, which is how much users were able to get off the one-month plan in 2023, allowing them to start the new year with upgraded online privacy and security.

Special Deals

Proton VPN occasionally has special deals that allow users to acquire various extended subscriptions at a reduced cost. At the time of writing, these deals offer 3, 15, 18, or 30-month subscription plans at discounts of 20%, 60%, 50%, and 64%, respectively^[5][6].

Coupons

Proton VPN also provides coupon codes to customers in case of a billing error^[7]. These codes can be redeemed in subsequent transactions, ensuring that customers are fairly compensated for discrepancies. Proton VPN's coupons, available on platforms like CNET^[8], offer substantial savings on various subscriptions.

An image of red and black cards with 'sale' and discount percentages of 10%, 30%, and 50% written on them — Source: Karolina Grabowska

Does Proton VPN Offer a Money Back Guarantee?

Proton VPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee^[9], allowing users to test its various features. If, for any reason, users don’t like this service, they can submit a refund request through the official support channel. It’s important to note that the refund is not for the full subscription amount—it's calculated based on the unused days left in the subscription cycle.

According to their policy, this guarantee applies exclusively to subscriptions acquired through Proton's official website and apps. If the Proton VPN subscription is purchased via an external vendor or a third-party service, users must contact that specific provider for any refund-related queries.

Need More Choices?

With its robust security features and global coverage of high-speed servers, Proton VPN provides good value for the money. Still, the decision depends on the user's specific security needs, budget limitations, and expected usage patterns. If users are evaluating Proton VPN and wish to explore other options, the following VPN alternatives might be worth considering:

A photo of a person wearing a white shirt and holding a tablet that displays a VPN app — *Source:* *StefanCoders*

How To Maintain Privacy During Online Transaction

VPN services significantly contribute to your online security, but there are a few steps you can take to fortify your privacy when making online purchases or transactions. These include only connecting through secure networks, being cautious about unsolicited emails or messages, and using 2FA whenever possible.

One of the most effective ways of keeping your actual financial information safe during an online transaction is to use virtual cards. They provide a secure way to shop online without exposing your actual bank account or card information.

Different card issuers and banks, such as American Express, Capital One^®, and Citi^®, offer virtual card service to their customers, but dedicated virtual card providers like Privacy are not specific to one bank and offer advanced card control settings.

A close-up image of a person holding a smartphone with card information over a POS machine — *Source:* *naipo.de*

Keep Your Financial Data Secure With Privacy

Privacy Virtual Cards mask your real financial information with randomly generated numbers at checkout. Accredited by the BBB^®, Privacy leverages advanced encryption techniques and upholds stringent security standards to protect your sensitive data. This includes two-factor authentication, 1Password integration, a transaction monitoring system, and regular third-party audits.

Privacy Virtual Cards and Features

Privacy allows you to create two types of virtual cards, as presented in the table below:

Card Type	Description
Single-Locked Cards	Designed for a one-time transaction, these cards become invalid shortly after the first purchase. They are most suitable for purchases on unfamiliar platforms.
Merchant-Locked Cards	These cards are designed to work exclusively at one designated merchant. Even if stolen, they could not be used elsewhere. This type of card is especially beneficial for recurring payments such as subscriptions.

Privacy also makes it easy to pause or close your virtual card to limit unexpected charges. You can set a spending limit on your card, and Privacy will decline all transactions that exceed the limit. This feature helps you control your expenses while protecting you against accidental or unexpected charges.

Besides securing your financial data, Privacy offers different convenience features. Privacy mobile app, compatible with both Android and iOS, allows you to request new cards, provide real-time transaction notifications, and manage your cards on the go.

The Privacy Browser Extension, available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, as well as Safari iOS for iPhone or iPad users, autofills your virtual card details at the checkout for seamless transactions.

How To Sign Up for a Privacy Virtual Card

To obtain your Privacy Cards, take the following steps:

Create an account
Enter the KYC information to verify your identity
Connect your funding source (bank account or debit card)
Request and generate your first virtual card
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Privacy offers the following three monthly plans to its customers:

Personal Plan ($0 per month)—Free for domestic purchases, this plan allows the creation of up to 12 new cards per month while offering card control features and access to the mobile app and browser extension.
Pro Plan ($10 per month)—This plan provides up to 36 cards a month, 1% cashback on eligible transactions (up to $4,500 per month), no foreign transaction fees, and priority customer support.
Premium Plan ($25 per month)—This plan offers up to 60 cards per month while providing all the Pro plan features.