Is Proton VPN Plus worth it? 5 checks before paying

Proton VPN Plus is worth paying for when Free cannot cover a specific job, such as choosing your VPN country or using several separate VPN app connections at once. If one connection and an automatically selected country meet your needs, start with Free.

This guide uses Proton’s documentation and Netflix’s rules to help you choose a plan and compare the bill. We have not benchmarked speeds or tested paid streaming access.

1. Name the job Free cannot do

These are plan differences from Proton’s plan documentation (opens in a new tab). If Plus fits your task, compare Proton VPN Plus plans and current prices (opens in a new tab), then use the billing checks below before paying.

1. For a particular country: check Proton’s server list (opens in a new tab) under Plus. Find the country, then expand its row to check the available cities and server features. A larger country total means little if your required location is missing.
2. For several devices: count the connections you need at the same time. For example, a laptop, phone and tablet each using its own VPN app need three simultaneous connections. Owning three devices but using the VPN on only one at a time does not exceed Free’s one-connection limit.
3. For ordinary browsing on one connection: read Is Proton VPN Free enough? Check these limits before buying.

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The expanded Australia row in Proton’s server list shows Adelaide and Brisbane at the start of its city list

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Expand a country under Plus to see its cities. This crop shows the beginning of Australia’s city list, not the complete list. Source: Proton VPN’s public server list.

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Then check what you already own. Proton Unlimited includes VPN Plus. Buy the bundle for the other included services you need; its VPN entitlement is already Plus. Proton also says you cannot combine separate Plus subscriptions on one account, so check the upgrade options if you already pay for another Proton service.

If blocking advertising and tracking domains across supported VPN apps is your reason to pay, read how NetShield works on your device (opens in a new tab). It filters requests to domains on its blocklists while you are connected. It does not remove every advertisement or make an account login anonymous.

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Proton’s plan documentation shows that Proton Unlimited includes VPN Plus

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Proton’s plans page shows that Unlimited includes VPN Plus. Cropped source: Proton VPN plan documentation.

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2. Check the streaming service’s restrictions

Proton lists supported streaming services (opens in a new tab), but that list does not guarantee a particular programme, catalogue or connection. A paid VPN also does not replace a separate streaming subscription.

1. Find your service: read Proton’s service-specific instructions, including supported devices and the recommended server location.
2. Check the service’s own rules: confirm what your subscription permits when travelling and using a VPN.
3. Check the content you need: a service working through a VPN does not establish that your chosen title or live broadcast will work.

For example, Netflix’s VPN guidance (opens in a new tab) says VPN use can restrict viewing to titles available worldwide. It also says VPN use is unsupported for an ad-supported experience and for live events. Paying for VPN Plus does not remove those restrictions.

3. Set a realistic speed expectation

Proton describes paid servers as less busy and likely to provide better performance. Any improvement on your connection depends on the conditions. Its speed guidance (opens in a new tab) also identifies your internet connection, server load and distance as factors.

Decide what “fast enough” means for your task before you buy. Keep a baseline measurement of your normal connection for comparison if you later subscribe. Proton’s advertised server capacity is not a promised speed for your device. VPN Accelerator is available on all plans, so access to that feature alone is not a reason to pay.

4. Read the first bill and the renewal separately

Before confirming an order, write these details down from the offer and checkout:

1. First payment: the total charged now, currency, tax treatment and number of months covered.
2. Renewal: the stated renewal amount, billing interval and renewal date. Check whether an introductory discount ends.
3. Comparison: divide each total by the months it covers. Compare equal periods, rather than assuming the headline monthly figure is a monthly payment.

Proton’s subscription terms (opens in a new tab) provide for automatic renewal and allow prices to change. Keep the terms shown with your order and later renewal notices. A promotional price should not be treated as a permanent renewal promise.

Worked example, not a Proton offer. Suppose an offer charges USD 72 for the first 24 months, then renews at USD 60 every 12 months. Assume both totals include all charges for this example.

The first payment is USD 72, even though the headline equivalent is USD 3 per month. Over the first 36 months, the example costs USD 132, or about USD 3.67 per month. Use your own checkout amounts, currency, taxes and renewal interval. A smaller renewal total can still mean a higher monthly cost when it covers fewer months.

5. Know how cancellation and refunds differ

Stopping renewal and asking for your money back are separate actions. For a website subscription, Proton’s cancellation instructions (opens in a new tab) take you through Subscription, Cancel subscription and the confirmation screens. Continue to the final reason selection and Submit; leaving midway does not finish the documented process. Check the confirmation and your plan’s end date.

Cancellation normally leaves access available until the paid period ends. If you want a refund, the refund terms (opens in a new tab) require cancellation and a refund request within 30 days of the initial purchase. The guarantee has conditions, including once per user and exclusions for cash and bank-transfer payments. Purchases through third parties follow their refund policies. Check the terms for your payment route before ordering; do not treat this as an unconditional free trial.

If Plus does not solve your problem

For streaming trouble, follow Proton’s troubleshooting guide (opens in a new tab) and the service’s own advice. Contact support while any applicable refund window is still open. If your reason to upgrade disappears, revisit whether Free covers the task instead of keeping a subscription by default.

A VPN also cannot make an account login or a tracking cookie anonymous (opens in a new tab). Keep the purchase decision tied to the specific job you wrote down in step 1.

Our recommendation. Choose Plus if a feature you need is supported on your device and the full first payment and renewal cost fit your budget. If one connection without country choice covers your task, stay on Free. If you already have Unlimited, check your included VPN Plus access first.

Ready to pay for country choice, several simultaneous connections or a supported paid feature? Compare Proton VPN Plus plans (opens in a new tab), then check the total charge and renewal terms before confirming an order.

Sources: Proton’s plan, speed, streaming, cancellation and subscription documentation linked above; Netflix’s VPN guidance. The cropped plan screenshot is from Proton’s documentation and shows an inclusion, not a task we tested.