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Proton VPN pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $12.99 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: Yes
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

Proton VPN offers 7 pricing tiers: Free, VPN Plus (Monthly), VPN Plus (1-Year), VPN Plus (2-Year), Proton Unlimited (Monthly), Proton Unlimited (1-Year), Proton Unlimited (2-Year). Standard paid plans include Free at $0/month, VPN Plus (Monthly) at $9.99/month, VPN Plus (1-Year) at $4.99/month. The VPN Plus (Monthly) plan is users who want premium vpn features without a long commitment.

Compared to other vpn software, Proton VPN is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

Proton VPN is a Swiss-based VPN service developed by Proton AG, the same company behind the popular encrypted email service Proton Mail. It is one of the few VPN providers that offers a genuinely free tier with unlimited data, no ads, and no data selling. The paid VPN Plus plan provides access to 17,200+ servers in over 120 countries, supports 10 simultaneous devices, and includes advanced features like Secure Core (multi-hop routing), NetShield (ad/malware blocking), and a proprietary Stealth protocol designed to bypass VPN blocks in restrictive countries.

Proton VPN's pricing is structured around two paid tiers: VPN Plus (VPN only) and Proton Unlimited (VPN bundled with Proton Mail, Pass, Calendar, and Drive). The VPN Plus 2-year plan at $2.99/mo is competitively priced, and the free tier makes it uniquely accessible. Proton's Swiss jurisdiction, open-source codebase, and independent audits make it a top choice for privacy-focused users, though it lacks features like dedicated IPs that competitors offer.

All Proton VPN Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Free Free Free 0 Casual users who want a trustworthy free VPN with no data limits or ads
VPN Plus (Monthly) $9.99 /month Custom Users who want premium VPN features without a long commitment
VPN Plus (1-Year) $4.99 /month $59.88 /month Privacy-focused users who want a trusted Swiss VPN at a good annual rate
VPN Plus (2-Year) $2.99 /month Custom Long-term privacy advocates who want the best rate from a Swiss-based provider
Proton Unlimited (Monthly) $12.99 /month Custom Users who want the full Proton privacy ecosystem in one subscription
Proton Unlimited (1-Year) $9.99 /month $119.88 /month Users committed to the Proton ecosystem for email, VPN, storage, and passwords
Proton Unlimited (2-Year) $7.99 /month Custom Privacy-first users who want the best long-term rate on Proton's complete suite
View all features by plan

Free

  • Unlimited data (no bandwidth cap)
  • 1 device connection
  • Servers in 5 countries (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland)
  • Medium-speed access
  • No-logs policy
  • No credit card required
  • No ads or tracking

VPN Plus (Monthly)

  • 10 simultaneous device connections
  • 17,200+ servers in 120+ countries
  • Highest VPN speeds
  • NetShield ad blocker and malware protection
  • Secure Core (multi-hop VPN routing)
  • Streaming and P2P support
  • WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Stealth protocols
  • No-logs policy (independently audited)
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

VPN Plus (1-Year)

  • 10 simultaneous device connections
  • 17,200+ servers in 120+ countries
  • Highest VPN speeds
  • NetShield ad blocker and malware protection
  • Secure Core (multi-hop VPN routing)
  • Streaming and P2P support
  • WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Stealth protocols
  • No-logs policy (independently audited)
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

VPN Plus (2-Year)

  • 10 simultaneous device connections
  • 17,200+ servers in 120+ countries
  • Highest VPN speeds
  • NetShield ad blocker and malware protection
  • Secure Core (multi-hop VPN routing)
  • Streaming and P2P support
  • WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Stealth protocols
  • No-logs policy (independently audited)
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Proton Unlimited (Monthly)

  • Everything in VPN Plus
  • Proton Mail (encrypted email with 500 GB storage)
  • Proton Pass (password manager)
  • Proton Calendar (encrypted calendar)
  • Proton Drive (encrypted cloud storage)
  • 10 simultaneous VPN connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Proton Unlimited (1-Year)

  • Everything in VPN Plus
  • Proton Mail (encrypted email with 500 GB storage)
  • Proton Pass (password manager)
  • Proton Calendar (encrypted calendar)
  • Proton Drive (encrypted cloud storage)
  • 10 simultaneous VPN connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Proton Unlimited (2-Year)

  • Everything in VPN Plus
  • Proton Mail (encrypted email with 500 GB storage)
  • Proton Pass (password manager)
  • Proton Calendar (encrypted calendar)
  • Proton Drive (encrypted cloud storage)
  • 10 simultaneous VPN connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 7 hidden costs
  • The free plan is limited to 1 device and 5 countries with medium-speed servers -- usable but restrictive
  • The 30-day money-back guarantee is prorated, not a full refund -- you only get back the unused portion of your subscription
  • Proton Unlimited bundles services you may not need (Mail, Drive, Calendar); the VPN Plus plan is better if you only want VPN
  • Student discounts (50% off) require verification and are only available on 1-year VPN Plus plans
  • Secure Core routing (multi-hop) reduces speeds significantly due to double encryption
  • No dedicated IP option available -- unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Proton VPN does not offer static IPs
  • Port forwarding is limited to specific servers and protocols, which may affect P2P performance
Tip

Ask your Proton VPN sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does Proton VPN cost in 2026?

Proton VPN ranges from free to $12.99/mo. The Free plan costs $0 with unlimited data. VPN Plus costs $2.99/mo (2-year), $4.99/mo (1-year), or $9.99/mo (monthly). Proton Unlimited (VPN + Mail + Drive + Pass + Calendar) costs $7.99/mo (2-year), $9.99/mo (1-year), or $12.99/mo (monthly).

02 Is Proton VPN free plan actually free?

Yes. Proton VPN's free plan is genuinely free with unlimited data, no trial period, no credit card required, and no ads. It is limited to 1 device, medium speeds, and servers in 5 countries (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland). It is one of the only reputable free VPNs that does not sell user data.

03 What is the difference between Proton VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited?

VPN Plus ($2.99-$9.99/mo) includes only the premium VPN service with 17,200+ servers, 10 devices, NetShield, and Secure Core. Proton Unlimited ($7.99-$12.99/mo) adds Proton Mail (encrypted email), Proton Pass (password manager), Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive (encrypted storage).

04 Is Proton VPN good for privacy?

Proton VPN is widely considered one of the most privacy-focused VPNs. It is based in Switzerland (strong privacy laws), is open-source, has been independently audited, uses Secure Core multi-hop routing, and offers a Stealth protocol designed to bypass deep packet inspection in restrictive countries.

05 Does Proton VPN offer student discounts?

Yes. Proton VPN offers a 50% student discount on the 1-year VPN Plus plan, bringing the price down to approximately $2.49/mo (from $4.99/mo). Student verification is required.