# Compare VPN Pricing **ProtonVPN** 580 Mbps · 15,000+ servers 88/100 [Read review](/content/vpn/protonvpn/index.html) **NordVPN** 730 Mbps · 8,900+ servers 94/100 [Read review](/content/vpn/nordvpn/index.html) **Surfshark** 695 Mbps · 3,200+ servers 85/100 [Read review](/content/vpn/surfshark/index.html) ## How Much Does ProtonVPN Cost? ProtonVPN offers 3 plans. The Free plan costs $0 forever with limited servers. VPN Plus costs $2.99/month on a 2-year plan or $9.99 monthly. Proton Unlimited costs $7.99/month on a 2-year plan or $12.99 monthly. All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. ## ProtonVPN Plans at a Glance ProtonVPN structures its pricing around 3 tiers with 3 billing cycles each. Longer commitments access steeper discounts. Here is what each plan includes at every billing interval. **Proton Free** stays at $0 across monthly, 1-year, and 2-year terms. You get access to servers in 5 countries, 1 device connection, and medium speeds. No credit card required to start. **VPN Plus** costs $9.99/month on a monthly cycle. The 1-year plan drops to $3.99/month ($47.88 total), a 60% discount. The 2-year plan drops to $2.99/month ($71.76 total), a 70% discount. You get 4,900+ servers in 110+ countries and 10 simultaneous connections. **Proton Unlimited** costs $12.99/month on a monthly cycle. The 1-year plan drops to $9.99/month ($119.88 total), a 23% discount. The 2-year plan drops to $7.99/month ($191.76 total), saving 38%. This tier bundles ProtonMail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. ## Intro Pricing vs Renewal: What You Actually Pay The advertised per-month prices assume you pay upfront for the full billing cycle. Many users miss this detail. A $2.99/month VPN Plus plan requires $71.76 paid on day one. Proton has historically honored the same pricing at renewal for existing subscribers. However, Proton reserves the right to adjust pricing between billing cycles. Check your subscription page 30 days before renewal to confirm your rate. ## Which Plan Fits Which User Type Not every user needs the same tier. Your usage pattern determines which ProtonVPN plan delivers the best value. ### Casual Users: Proton Free You browse occasionally and want basic IP masking. Proton Free covers 5 countries and handles light browsing. It works for checking email on public Wi-Fi or basic geo-restriction workarounds. Zero cost means zero risk. ### Privacy-Focused Individuals: VPN Plus You stream content across regions, torrent files, or travel frequently. VPN Plus opens 4,900+ servers in 110+ countries with full-speed connections. The 2-year plan at $2.99/month delivers serious value. This is the sweet spot for most users. ### Families and Power Users: Proton Unlimited You want a full encrypted ecosystem for multiple family members. Proton Unlimited bundles 500 GB of encrypted cloud storage, 15 email addresses, and unlimited hide-my-email aliases. At $7.99/month on the 2-year plan, it replaces separate subscriptions for email, storage, and VPN. ## Payment Methods Available ProtonVPN accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Bitcoin, and cash. Yes, actual cash mailed to their Swiss office. Bitcoin and cash payments maximize anonymity for privacy-focused users. Bank transfers are not directly available through the checkout page. Proton also supports payment through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Note that app store purchases may cost slightly more due to platform fees. ## Seasonal Discount Patterns Proton runs predictable sales during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and occasionally around its anniversary in May. Black Friday deals have historically offered the 2-year VPN Plus plan at roughly $2.99/month or lower. Summer months rarely feature discounts. If you are considering a purchase, November consistently delivers the best ProtonVPN pricing. Setting a calendar reminder for late October gives you time to compare that year’s deal. ## ProtonVPN vs Competitor Pricing ProtonVPN sits in the mid-to-premium range. Here is how its 2-year pricing compares against 4 major competitors. | Provider | 2-Year Monthly Cost | Servers | Simultaneous Connections | |-------------------------|---------------------|----------|-------------------------| | ProtonVPN Plus | $2.99 | 4,900+ | 10 | | NordVPN Standard | $2.99 | 6,400+ | 10 | | Surfshark | $2.19 | 3,200+ | Unlimited | | ExpressVPN | $4.99 | 3,000+ | 8 | | Mullvad | $5.50 (flat) | 600+ | 5 | ## Money-Back Guarantee and Refund Process All paid ProtonVPN plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee. This applies to direct purchases through Proton’s website. App store purchases follow Apple or Google refund policies instead. To request a refund, submit a ticket through the Proton support page. State your account email and reason for cancellation. Proton typically processes refunds within 5-10 business days. Credit card refunds may take an additional billing cycle to appear. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How Much Does ProtonVPN Cost? ProtonVPN Free costs $0. VPN Plus ranges from $2.99/month (2-year) to $9.99/month (monthly). Proton Unlimited ranges from $7.99/month (2-year) to $12.99/month (monthly). All paid plans require upfront payment for the full billing cycle. ### Is ProtonVPN Worth It? VPN Plus at $2.99/month on the 2-year plan delivers strong value. You get 4,900+ servers, a Swiss privacy jurisdiction, 10 connections, and a verified no-logs policy. ProtonVPN passed independent security audits by Securitum in 2022 and 2023. For users who value transparency, it justifies the cost over cheaper alternatives. ### Can I Switch Plans After Purchasing? Yes. Proton lets you upgrade mid-cycle and prorates the remaining balance toward the new plan. Downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle. Contact support for edge cases involving cross-tier changes. ### Does the Free Plan Have Data Caps? No. Proton Free has no data limits, no bandwidth caps, and no time restrictions. The main limitations are 5 server countries, 1 device connection, and lower priority during peak traffic. You never hit a wall that forces an upgrade.