Updated on: August 15, 2024
Proton VPN has made its Chrome extension free for all users.
In case you haven’t kept up with modern tech trends, a virtual private network (VPN) is used to improve your online privacy by encrypting your network data. This prevents it from being unreadable by any prying eyes.
Proton VPN is one of the top VPN companies on the market, with an expansive list of server locations and fast speeds. The only drawback is that the app is unavailable for purchase in some countries, leaving many users to rely on the company’s VPN browser extension.
Historically, its Chrome extension has only been available as a premium service for paying customers. Now, anyone can install Proton VPN onto their Chrome or Firefox-based browsers.
There are a few notable drawbacks to the free extension. Running multiple VPNs at once isn’t usually possible, due to the changes they make to your network data and the contradictions multiple connections cause. This means that if you use the desktop Proton VPN app, you can’t use the browser extension at the same time.
Another slight issue is that you can’t select your server locations. You’re automatically assigned to a nearby server location. You can reconnect and try to get a new location after a bit of time passes, but you can’t manually choose which server to connect to.
Still, the free extension for Chrome lets anyone protect their online privacy without worrying about a subscription cost.
“The Proton VPN browser extension will make it easier than ever before for anyone to enjoy a secure and private internet and to bypass censorship no matter where they are, for free,” explains David Peterson, General Manager for Proton.
Alongside the extension, Proton VPN also just released a new premium plan, the Proton Duo plan. This plan offers access to all of Proton’s tools, including the VPN, Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Pass, and 1 TB of shared online storage for two people per plan.