In an era where online privacy is paramount, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a crucial tool to have in your digital toolbox. One such tool, ProtonVPN, stands out with its promise of securing your online activity while providing a user-friendly interface and a a ProtonVPN free trial for you to test the service.
Key points of the ProtonVPN trial
Explore ProtonVPN’s free trial and start protecting your online privacy today.
- Transition to a paid plan after the trial period with a 30-day money back guarantee.
- Compare features, pricing, and security of different VPN services before making an informed decision.
Exploring ProtonVPN's Free Trial: What You Need to Know
ProtonVPN sets itself apart with its unique free trial policy. Where other VPN services offer limited-time premium features, ProtonVPN boasts a dependable Proton VPN free plan that can be tried out whenever you want with a Proton account. This gives you unlimited access to Proton VPN's free trial.
Starting Your ProtonVPN Free Trial
Getting started with ProtonVPN is as easy as signing up. No payment details are required, just a quick email verification and you’re ready to go.
Simply go to the website here and sign up for your free trial.
Navigating Through the Trial Period
During the trial, the service is unrestricted in terms of bandwidth or time. This is very different from most other free trial VPN services. For example, most other free trial VPN services:
- Offer a limited time free trial of the VPN (between 3 and 7 days)
- Only offer a money-back guarantee (usually 30 days), such as with NordVPN and ExpressVPN
Unlike with the unlimited ProtonVPN free trial, we do see a lot of VPNs with the limited 3 or 7 day trial. You can see this with the CyberGhost free trial, for example.
Below is the ProtonVPN app we tested out for the free trial. It performed well and met our expectations. You can see that the free VPN servers we tested are designated in the screenshot below as “US FREE” in the upper part of the VPN app.
Nonetheless, take note that the free plan, which offers a free account, has some limitations when compared to the paid version.
- Very few servers with the Proton VPN free trial
- Torrenting is not allowed (use the best VPN for torrenting here)
- Streaming does not work well and Netflix is blocked (grab the best VPN for streaming instead)
- Not the fastest VPN speeds
Due to these restrictions, we recommend going with the full paid version of Proton VPN and then taking advantage of the 30 day money-back guarantee if you find it doesn't meet your needs.
Transitioning Post-Trial
After the trial period, users have the option to continue using the free version or upgrade to a paid plan, with the assurance of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
As noted above, the free trial of Proton VPN is quite limited in terms of servers, speeds, and features. Therefore to get the full taste of Proton VPN, we recommend using the paid version.
Check out other options in our guide on the best free trial VPNs here.
Proton VPN Free vs Paid: A Comparative Look
Choosing between Proton VPN’s free and paid versions depends on your specific needs. Either plan provides a no logs VPN policy and access to servers across multiple countries. This is the same with the NordVPN free trial.
Security Features Across Plans
The free plan offers basic security features such as AES 256-bit encryption. However, the paid plan offers additional features such as access to the full server network, including the Secure Core double-VPN servers, improved speeds, and more support fore streaming.
Proton VPN also offers a VPN ad blocking feature called NetShield. It performed well in our tests.
Note that we also find double-VPN servers and also ad-blocking with Surfshark, which also has the Surfshark free trial offer.
Streaming with Proton VPN: Free vs Premium
When it comes to streaming, the free version of Proton VPN is quite limited. It has a much smaller server network and probably will not unblock regional streams. If you are looking for the best VPN for Netflix, you better go with a paid plan, or another VPN service.
The ExpressVPN free trial is more limited than Proton VPN in terms of bandwidth and time, but it does provide full access to all streaming channels. It is also one of the top VPNs for BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
Access to Global Servers
In terms of global server access, the free plan offers limited access. The Proton VPN paid plan offers servers in many other regions and countries around the world, as we noted in our Proton VPN review.
How to Maximize Proton VPN's Free Services
If cost-effectiveness is a priority, you can optimize the free version of Proton VPN to deliver a satisfactory level of service. To get a baseline of how Proton VPN performs during the free trial, you may want to follow our guide on VPN tests and checks to see how well it's working for you.
Enhancing Speed and Performance
While it’s true that Proton VPN’s paid plans offer higher speeds, the free version can still offer respectable performance by carefully choosing the server location.
Our speed tests for the Proton VPN review were not necessarily phenomenal.
If you want faster speeds, you may want to check out our NordVPN review.
Unfortunately, there simply aren't many choices for servers with the Proton VPN free trial. To get the full access to server locations, you'll need a paid plan.
Content Access on a Budget
With Proton VPN’s free version, users might be able to access content from other locations. However, keep in mind the restrictions with fewer servers and the likely fact that these servers are blocked by streaming services. If you want a free trial VPN that performs very well with streaming, check out the IPVanish free trial.
The Ins and Outs of Proton VPN's Money Back Guarantee
If you decide to upgrade to a paid plan, Proton VPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, offering a safety net for those who might reconsider. This is the same that we saw in our guide on the Mullvad free trial.
Claiming Your Refund
If you’re not satisfied with the Proton VPN service, a refund can be requested within 30 days of purchasing the plan. You will get 100% of your money back, simply cancel your subscription and request a refund. The same policy also holds true for NordVPN and Surfshark.
Understanding the Terms
Keep in mind that the money-back guarantee has its own terms and conditions. For example, it doesn’t apply if you paid with cash or a bank transfer.
Can I get a refund under your 30-day money-back guarantee if I pay by cash or bank transfer?
No. Our 30-day money-back guarantee is only available if you pay using:
– ProtonVPN support page
– Credit or debit card
– PayPal
– Bitcoin
Downloading and Installing ProtonVPN
Setting up Proton VPN is a straightforward procedure, whether you intend to use it on your desktop or mobile device.
Below are the setup options depending on the device you are using.
Desktop Client Setup
Proton VPN’s desktop client can be downloaded directly from their official website here and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Security Tip: Never download VPN apps from shady third-party websites. Always get it from the original source.
Mobile App Installation
For those on-the-go, the Proton VPN app can be installed from either the Google Play Store for Android users or the App Store for iOS users.
Alternatives to Consider: Other VPN Services
Although Proton VPN is a reliable VPN service, considering other options can be beneficial. Other VPN services may have diverse features, pricing, and trial periods that might better align with your needs.
Comparing Free Trials and Guarantees
VPN services differ in their trial periods and money-back guarantees. Reviewing these terms before deciding is advisable.
Evaluating VPN Features and Pricing
When selecting a VPN service, consider key aspects such as main features, extra benefits of premium VPN services, speed, and server coverage.
Aside from using the free trial VPN offer with Proton VPN, you may also want to consider taking advantage of different VPN coupons.
Proton VPN Extras: Beyond Basic VPN Use
Beyond its primary VPN service, Proton VPN provides some added features to improve your online experience, including access to the Tor network. To access these features, download Proton VPN and enhance your browsing security with the reliable proton vpn service.
Secure Email with Proton Mail
One of these extras is Proton Mail – a secure email service that provides encryption, ideal for those seeking additional online privacy in their digital communications. See our Proton Mail review for more details.
Organizing with Proton Calendar
Another handy feature is Proton Calendar, a privacy-centric calendar service that enables secure schedule management.
Summary of the Proton VPN free trial
In conclusion, Proton VPN offers a robust and user-friendly VPN service, with the added benefit of a free plan. Whether you’re a casual user looking to protect your online privacy or a power user in need of high-speed streaming, Proton VPN has a plan to suit your needs.
Check out our other free trial VPN guides below:
- Best Free Trial VPNs
- Free Trial VPNs with No Credit Card
- NordVPN Free Trial
- Surfshark Free Trial
- ExpressVPN Free Trial
- IPVanish Free Trial
- CyberGhost Free Trial
- Mullvad Free Trial
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Proton VPN have a free trial?
Yes, Proton VPN does offer a free trial. The premium plan used to provide a seven day trial period but is now replaced with the free forever plan.
Is Proton VPN not free anymore?
Proton VPN offers free access to servers in the United States, Netherlands, and Japan, so it is still a free service.
Is Proton VPN safe?
Proton VPN is a reliable, fast and safe service, offering high-strength encryption protocols, no-log policy, open source code, Secure Core servers, automatic kill switch to stop web traffic, and IPv6 leak protection. Its paid plans provide an additional layer of physical security with military-grade server shelters.
What are the key differences between Proton VPN's free and paid plans?
Proton VPN's free plan offers basic security features and access to servers in three countries while the paid plan has additional features, faster speeds, and over 50 country locations.
How can I install the Proton VPN mobile app on my Android device?
To install the Proton VPN mobile app on your Android device, simply search for it in the Google Play Store and click install.
This Proton VPN free trial guide was last updated on December 1, 2024.
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