Privacy and net neutrality went up in smoke across the pond, several governments insist on regulating the Web, and users feel increasingly unprotected. Virtual private networks have become a basic line of defense for anyone who wants to at least make online tracking more difficult, but not everyone is willing to take on an extra monthly cost. That's where ProtonVPN comes in — a new service created by the folks behind ProtonMail, with four different plans, including a free one.
From ProtonMail to ProtonVPN
The first time we talked about ProtonMail was back in May 2014, right after Lavabit had bitten the dust following the "Snowden scandal". In essence, those secure email alternatives beyond traditional tools like PGP had vanished. Lavabit announced a partial return in January of the previous year, but the original void gave rise to a new wave of services aimed at offering private, robust email without external snooping. One of those services is ProtonMail, created by the CERN research department. ProtonMail started with a very limited beta, opened to the public in March 2016, and today boasts more than two million users. A lot has happened since its debut, and having a secure email account is no longer enough. Millions of users out there are looking for a free VPN that doesn't stab them in the back — and that's exactly the demand ProtonVPN answers.
The free plan and its limitations
The service remained in beta for twelve months, protecting around ten thousand users, but its managers say everything is ready for the general launch. ProtonVPN is divided into four plans. Only one of them is free, and it comes with some important limitations, including the number of countries with servers (three), support for a single device, reduced connection speed, and the detail that it does not redirect IPv6 traffic. However, ProtonVPN stresses that free accounts will remain free forever, meaning no hidden costs or surprising restrictions.
Pricing and jurisdiction
ProtonVPN sustains its finances through donations and, of course, subscriptions to advanced plans, which range from $4 to $24 per month. In those cases it offers a higher number of countries, greater speed, and additional security measures. As with ProtonMail, ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, outside the jurisdictions of the European Union and the United States, so it's a good starting point for anyone looking to evaluate a VPN without committing financially.
