ProtonVPN
- Rank
(4.5/5)
- Reviews: 458
- License: Free Version
- Downloads: 23k
- Version: 2024
- Compatible: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Are you searching for ProtonVPN free download because you are interested in protecting your online activity, banking transactions, bypassing geo-blocks and unblocking private content? You can do this in a legal way since the developers have provided the ProtonVPN free version with some restrictions.
In this article I will tell you about getting free ProtonVPN with a full feature-set, several free alternatives, as well as risks and consequences of using an illegal service.
ProtonVPN Benefits:
- 7-day free trial, 30-day money-back guarantee
- OpenVPN Protocol, speedy client
- P2P filesharing, BitTorrent support
- Unrestricted bandwidth, 10 Gbps servers
- Secure core, no logs
- Kill switch, DNS leak protection
- Split tunneling, Tor over VPN
FAQ
- Is there an ad blocker and access to Netflix?
ProtonVPN doesn’t offer an ad blocker as part of its services. Instead, it doesn’t send or display intrusive and privacy-threatening ads in the free version or sell data to third parties.
It is one of the few free VPNs for Netflix that is actually able to bypass geo-blocking on such websites as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube in the USA.
- Is there a free trial or only a free version?
A 7-day ProtonVPN free trial of the premium Plus plan is included when you subscribe to the free plan, as well as an additional 30 days after with a refund guarantee. This will open access to all servers, covering up to 5 devices simultaneously, P2P torrent and dedicated Tor servers. You will be protected by 256-bit AES encryption and a unique Secure Core VPN architecture that directs your traffic through multiple servers.
At the end of a week, you will automatically switch to a free plan for one device with speed restrictions, servers in 3 countries (USA, Japan, the Netherlands) and will lose the premium protection capabilities. ProtonVPN doesn’t limit the daily traffic of its free version, so it is one of the best free VPNs for gaming.
- Does ProtonVPN work in China?
ProtonVPN may be an optimal choice for those who wish to bypass China’s strict censorship. Near China, including Hong Kong, there are several servers with decent speed. However, some servers may be blocked. You can contact customer support via email to request a list of recommended servers in China.
- Are there any discounts?
Yes, users can save up to 33% of the original cost of a monthly subscription by choosing a long-term service period of one to two years. Before choosing a plan, pick the appropriate billing cycle next to the currency selection drop-down list.
- Does ProtonVPN keep logs?
Situated in the private lives of people in Switzerland, where strict privacy laws apply, ProtonVPN is located outside the jurisdiction of the US and EU. It puts a strong emphasis on providing anonymity. The only saved data is the timestamp of the last login, which is overwritten the next time users log in.
ProtonVPN follows a strict and transparent no-registration policy, which is supported by legislation. It doesn’t require saving any information about your connection, session bandwidth, IP address or online activity.
Additional Ways to Get ProtonVPN Free
Proton Technologies AG has provided VPN service coverage for all well-known platforms and devices: Windows-based desktop PCs, macOS, Android and iOS-based mobile and tablet devices. Besides, it is one of the best VPNs for Linux. The company has even developed a VPN for routers and an extension for the Mozilla Firefox browser.
ProtonVPN Desktop App
- Rank
(4.5/5)
- Reviews: 865
- License: Free
- Downloads: 17k
- Compatible: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
The ProtonVPN client looks good with a professionally honed interface and quick installation. All server locations are marked on the zoomable world map. Users will find a separate list of countries, various menus and settings, as well as a quick Internet connection button.
The interface is relatively overloaded but highly customizable. Users can configure their own DNS servers, pick OpenVPN, UDP, or TCP connections, take advantage of split tunneling for individual applications, apply DNS and IPv6 leak protection and more. Collapse the map view, and you will still have a list of countries and the connect button.
The company requires an email address to create your account. Use a free encrypted email account with a child ProtonMail service, which doesn’t require another email address to authenticate it, and you can be completely anonymous.
ProtonVPN Mobile
- Rank
(4/5)
- Reviews: 21k
- License: Free
- Downloads: 30k
- Version: Mobile/Portable
- Compatible: Android, iOS
The ProtonVPN mobile app has an interface similar to that for desktop PCs, with a map view and a list of countries using the same graphics and color scheme. But it is reorganized into separate tabs to put them on the mobile phone screen. The app looks good and generally works well.
Even the iOS app is better than expected, with the latest update providing support for OpenVPN (previously only IKEv2). Both iOS and Android apps are updated regularly. They offer plenty of settings: DND leak protection, split tunneling, and such additional capabilities as MTU setup.
ProtonVPN as Browser Extension
- Rank
(4/5)
- Reviews: 12
- License: $10
- Downloads: 383
- Version: 0.5
- Compatible: Firefox
Mozilla has entered into a partnership agreement with ProtonVPN to create a shared service. Mozilla will promote and serve user subscriptions. Meanwhile, ProtonVPN will provide VPN services and technical support. Subscribers will directly support Mozilla while benefiting from one of the best VPN services. The subscription fees will be billed by Mozilla, and most of the subscription revenue will go to Mozilla.
Even though Mozilla will process these subscriptions, users will still receive the same benefits that are provided with a ProtonVPN Plus subscription. In terms of customer support, Mozilla subscribers will receive a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ProtonVPN Pricing
You must create a Proton account to access any plan. There is a 20% discount on an annual subscription. When you switch to 3 price levels from a free one, you open new or add advanced capabilities:
- Visionary plan – $30/month
- Plus plan – $10/month
- Basic plan – $5/month
ProtonVPN doesn’t limit the amount of data and speed. A free subscription for one device disappoints with a low speed due to the number of users on three VPN servers. The second layer of ProtonVPN Basic offers access to all VPN locations, which is limited to two simultaneously connected devices, allowing P2P file sharing, streaming and torrenting.
The Plus account is the third price level with access to five devices and access to the Tor anonymization network. Besides, it opens access to Secure Core servers with multiple switches, which are less loaded and located on secure objects. When you connect through the main servers, the VPN connection makes two transitions: first from your device to secure servers, and then to the VPN server of your choice.
Visionary’s top plan doubles the number of devices to 10 and opens access to the highest paid level of the ProtonMail encrypted email service. It boasts 20 GB of storage, 50 email aliases, support for 10 domains and 5 users per account.
ProtonVPN: Pirated Version
I wouldn’t recommend searching for unofficial links to download Proton VPN free for several reasons. First of all, the developers have provided the opportunity to test the commercial plan for free for 30+7 days (subject to subscription cancellation). This time is more than enough to determine whether this VPN service is suitable for you or not.
The developers are part of the CERN research center, the creators of one of the most secure ProtonMail projects. They are experts in security and Internet technology, so the users’ protection is a matter of their long-standing reputation. If these reasons aren’t convincing for you, then examine the following points.
1. Law Problems
By purchasing a service from Proton Technologies AG, you agree to comply with the following terms and conditions of service. They are supported by the legislation and substantive law of Switzerland. Therefore, if you use ProtonVPN unblocked under the guise of original service, particularly for illegal actions, you will be subject to the jurisdiction of international courts, not even local courts.
2. Viruses and Leakage
Under the guise of original service, you may be presented with a free VPN application that will simply, at best, get hold of the personal data, such as logins and passwords, IP address and location, and pass or sell them to third-party sites for mailing advertising offers.
Also, the pirated version will just give you a false sense of security. As a result, you can inadvertently infect your device with dangerous content. In the worst-case scenario, you may be blackmailed with extracted personal content. Or pirates may use bank data to empty or manipulate your accounts.
3. No Upgrades
You can easily upgrade to any plan within your existing subscription. To do this, you need to register your email via the off-site, and this will be your protected Proton services account. All transfers and payments will be made through your account, which, obviously, illegal users don’t have.
4. No Technical Support
For all registered users, an extended feedback form has been created for contacting technical support via email with the username of the Proton account. Due to the absence of such an account for illegal users, it is impossible to use it.
Free ProtonVPN Alternatives
It isn’t the only platform that offers a set of similar services in the free version. Below, I will review three alternative options in terms of their free versions.
1. NordVPN
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NordVPN is a leading VPN provider that guarantees military-grade online protection. With its help, users can access all their favorite sites without restrictions. If you can’t afford to buy privacy tools but wish to try them, Nord VPN will please you with such free security tools as Encrypted Chat, Secret Notes, Free Proxy List, Web Proxy, Google Chrome Web Proxy extension.
You can enjoy all the benefits of the premium plan with their 30-day refund guarantee policy. But there is a condition – you must register an account first and pay at least one month’s subscription fee.
2. OpenVPN
OpenVPN is a full-featured open-source SSL VPN solution that supports a vast array of configurations, including remote access, network-to-network VPN, Wi-Fi security, enterprise-level remote access solutions with load balancing, failover and fine-grained access-control.
OpenVPN offers a cost-effective and straightforward alternative to other VPN technologies. It is well targeted at small and medium-sized businesses and corporate markets.
3. Windscribe
Windscribe is a desktop application and browser extension that work together to protect your online privacy, unblock websites, eliminate ads and trackers that track you on the websites you visit. Minimalistic apps are designed in such a way that you can turn them on once and forget about them.
Users of this ProtonVPN free alternative can get up to 15GB of data for free on a permanent basis (monthly reset) by confirming an email and sending a tweet once. Best of all, Windscribe offers a free trial for 24 hours once for each account, just by asking the chatbot about it.
ProtonVPN Free Download
Get the latest ProtonVPN free download from the official website. You will find a ProtonVPN version for desktop PCs and ProtonVPN Mobile.
