Proton VPN is an open-source VPN that’s particularly designed for customers who’ve privateness and safety as their high priorities.
In this text, we stroll you thru tips on how to arrange and use Proton VPN. We additionally reply some ceaselessly requested questions on Proton VPN and its options.
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How to arrange and use Proton VPN
1. Deciding on a Proton VPN subscription
Proton VPN gives three tiers: Proton Free, Proton VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited. Both VPN Plus and Unlimited are Proton’s paid VPN subscriptions and supply month-to-month, annual and two-year plans.
Here’s a short overview of the three Proton tiers:
- Proton Free: Unlimited information with slower speeds; one machine connection; servers from solely 5 international locations.
- Proton VPN Plus: 3,000+ servers in 70+ international locations; 10 simultaneous machine connections; quickest VPN pace.
- Proton Unlimited: All VPN Plus options and entry to Proton Mail Plus, Proton Drive Plus and Proton Calendar.
In our hands-on evaluation, Proton VPN acquired a rating of 4.0 stars out of 5.
I discover the one-year $5.99 monthly plan for Proton VPN Plus to be the perfect stability of options and worth. But in case you’re already an avid consumer of Proton’s different companies, getting one of many Proton Unlimited bundles is a great alternative.
For this demonstration, I selected Proton’s free model. With its lack of an information cap, Proton Free is certainly one of my favourite free VPNs to make use of long-term.
If you’re on the lookout for different free VPNs, learn our rundown on the finest free VPNs in 2024.
2. Downloading and organising Proton VPN
To obtain Proton Free, I clicked on the Get Proton Free button discovered on Proton VPN’s pricing web page. From there, it requested me to create an account by offering my e-mail handle and a brand new password.
I like that Proton offers you the choice to allow them to generate a randomized password for you. Just just remember to copy it to a protected place, in case you decide to take action.
From there, I used to be redirected to Proton VPN’s obtain web page, which housed their totally different installer recordsdata for his or her supported working techniques.
Since I’m a Windows consumer, I downloaded the Windows file. Proton VPN helps Windows, macOS, Linux/GNU, Chromebook, iOS, Android and others.
Once downloaded, I ran the installer file and adopted the required steps. After going by way of the set up, the Proton VPN desktop app opened and requested for my account particulars.
Once logged in, I used to be led to the primary Proton VPN desktop app dashboard!
3. Using Proton VPN
Like most VPN apps, Proton VPN has a outstanding On/Off swap that robotically connects you to certainly one of their servers. In Proton VPN’s case, it has a Quick Connect button on the left aspect of their app (Figure H).
Clicking on that button will robotically join you to the quickest server primarily based in your location. Keep in thoughts that Proton Free customers will solely get linked to a server within the Netherlands, Romania, Japan, Poland or the United States.
In my case, clicking on Quick Connect linked me to the Proton VPN server in Japan.
At this level, I’m efficiently linked to a safe Proton VPN server.
If you need to verify in case you’ve correctly linked to certainly one of Proton VPN’s servers, I like to recommend utilizing a public DNS leak device. These instruments present you the present IP handle and site of your machine. A correct connection by way of a VPN ought to present the IP handle and site of the VPN server you chose. In this case, my IP handle ought to present that I’m in Japan.
To verify, I used DNSLeakTest.com. However, there are different comparable instruments on-line that may accomplish the identical perform.
When I checked, it confirmed that I had efficiently linked to a VPN server situated in Japan (Figure J).
Proton VPN FAQs
Is Proton VPN free?
Yes, Proton VPN has a free model that’s free ceaselessly. However, it does have limitations in comparison with Proton VPN’s paid plans. While it gives limitless bandwidth, it solely permits for one VPN connection, in comparison with 10 simultaneous machine connections on the premium plans.
In addition, free customers solely get entry to servers in 5 international locations: the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland and the US. With the premium plans, you get entry to over 3,000 servers unfold throughout 70+ international locations.
And, Proton Free has a slower VPN pace in comparison with each Proton VPN premium plans.
How many units can I take advantage of Proton VPN?
Paid customers of Proton VPN can have as much as 10 simultaneous machine connections. Meanwhile, Proton Free variations can solely join one machine at a time.
How many servers and places does Proton VPN supply?
As of March 2024, Proton VPN gives 3,428 servers in 71 international locations. Keep in thoughts that server community numbers normally fluctuate.
However, Proton VPN has persistently had round 3,000+ servers from round 65+ international locations as of late, per our analysis.
What working techniques does Proton VPN assist?
For the desktop aspect, Proton VPN helps Windows, macOS, Linux and Chromebook. It additionally has browser extensions for each Chrome and Firefox.
For cell, Proton VPN is offered on iOS, Android and Android TV.
What if Proton VPN isn’t working correctly?
If you encounter any points with Proton VPN, you possibly can go to their Help and assist web page, which has a wholesome quantity of assist articles masking ceaselessly requested questions and points.
For extra urgent issues, Proton VPN has a assist e-mail and a live-chat characteristic that’s unique to paid customers.
What we consider Proton VPN
In our full evaluation, Proton VPN acquired a score of 4.0 stars out of 5. Its operations being primarily based in privacy-friendly Switzerland was a spotlight in our evaluation, in addition to it being open supply.
We additionally favored Proton VPN’s beneficiant free model that comes with zero bandwidth restrictions — which is unusual in comparison with different free VPN choices.
If you need to study extra, learn our full evaluation and evaluation of Proton VPN right here.