Proton VPN Plus: $47.88 First Year, Then $83.88—Do You Need More Than Free?

Start with Proton Free before paying

Proton Free currently provides unlimited data, one simultaneous device, kill-switch and leak-protection basics, and access to a limited randomly selected server set. It is a meaningful long-term free plan rather than a timed trial. If one device and the free routing choices solve the job, there is no need to buy Plus just to remove a monthly data allowance.

VPN Plus expands the scope to up to 10 devices at once and a much larger server network. Current Plus documentation also includes NetShield, Secure Core, streaming and P2P support, split tunneling, browser extensions, and priority support/live chat. Those are documented entitlements, not Toolnavia measurements of speed or privacy outcomes.

Four reasons Plus can justify the upgrade

**Use up to 10 devices simultaneously.** Free is limited to one active device; Plus supports up to 10. That matters when a phone, laptop, tablet, TV, or other supported clients need VPN access at the same time. Count actual concurrent use rather than the number of devices you own.

**Choose from the paid global network.** Plus currently lists access to 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries on Proton's plan pages, while Free uses a restricted randomly selected server set. The benefit is control over server selection and paid network availability, not a promise that every route will be faster for every user.

**Use NetShield and Secure Core.** NetShield is included in paid plans and filters known ad, tracker, and malware domains through Proton's DNS infrastructure. Secure Core routes traffic through additional hardened servers before the exit server. These features change the workflow and network path; this article does not claim Toolnavia has independently measured their blocking accuracy or threat protection.

**Keep a Free landing point after canceling.** If you cancel Plus, future renewals stop, paid features continue through the current billing period, and the account then downgrades to Proton Free. That is different from a service that simply closes access at the end of the paid term. Check the Free limits before relying on the downgrade as your long-term fallback.

$47.88 first year, then $83.88 at the current renewal

The current one-year USD checkout displays $3.99/month equivalent, billed $47.88 for the first 12 months. It then states that the plan automatically renews at $83.88 for the next 12 months, subject to future pricing changes under Proton's terms. The second-year current annual amount is therefore $36 higher than the introductory first year.

The monthly plan currently displays $9.99/month. A one-year buyer should compare the actual first charge with the later renewal instead of extending the $3.99 introductory equivalent indefinitely. Save the checkout summary and review the renewal date inside the Proton account before the first term ends.

Proton's support says subscriptions can be canceled at any time; canceling disables future renewals and preserves Plus through the paid cycle. A refund is a separate request. Proton's 30-day money-back guarantee can apply to recent eligible purchases, but current support says cash and bank-transfer purchases cannot be refunded, and App Store/Google Play refund paths differ.

For context, PIA's current one-year direct plan is $47.88 and currently renews at $47.88/year with unlimited simultaneous VPN devices; CyberGhost's current long offer is $51.74 for the first 26 months then $51.74/year with seven VPN connections; Mullvad uses a flat €5/month and five-device cap; Surfshark's current official comparison lists Starter at $2.49/month on a two-year plan and unlimited simultaneous connections. These are billing-and-device comparisons, not performance or privacy rankings.

Suggested rehearsal: Free first, then one paid-only feature

Use Proton Free on one noncritical device first. Confirm that the free server-selection workflow, connection behavior, and one-device limit are acceptable. If you consider Plus, identify one paid requirement that Free cannot satisfy—such as simultaneous use on several devices, choosing a specific broader server location, NetShield, or Secure Core.

After upgrading, test that exact requirement rather than assuming the entire experience improved. Also locate the renewal date, cancel control, and support route before the 30-day refund window closes. These are proposed acceptance checks, not Toolnavia test results.

Upgrade only when Free's boundaries are the problem

Choose Plus when the 10-device allowance, wider network, or paid features solve a recurring need. Stay on Free when one device and its limited server-selection model are sufficient. Most importantly, budget the current $83.88 annual renewal separately from the $47.88 introductory first year.

Proton's Partners Program is currently open and publicly advertises cash commissions, up to 100% on some new referrals, plus recurring revenue on renewals. The exact Proton VPN rate approved for Toolnavia is unverified, so affiliate tracking remains disabled.