Proton VPN 70% Off Deal: Is This Two-Year Plan Worth It?

Last week, I got three emails about VPN deals. Spam? Probably. But then I saw Proton VPN's latest offer: two years for

Here's the thing—I've tested a lot of VPNs. Some are faster. Some have more servers. But very few nail the combination that Proton nails: legitimate privacy focus, actual speed that doesn't feel like you're browsing from 2005, and pricing that doesn't require a second mortgage.

But before you throw

TL; DR

• The deal: Proton VPN Plus at
  $2.99/month for 24 months ($
  72 upfront) saves you roughly 70% compared to standard pricing.
• Real-world speeds: Download speeds averaged 88% of unprotected connections, upload at 98% – genuinely fast for streaming and gaming.
• Privacy structure: Proton's nonprofit ownership and Swiss jurisdiction matter if you care about who controls your data.
• 15,000+ servers across 120+ countries with double-hop Secure Core, split tunneling, and ad blocking included.
• Catch: Two-year commitment is long; after the first two years, renewal costs $83.88 annually (significantly more).

Proton VPN excels in privacy and jurisdiction due to its Swiss laws, while ExpressVPN leads in speed. Mullvad offers strong privacy features. Estimated data based on typical VPN evaluations.

Why VPN Pricing Matters More Than You Think

VPN deals are everywhere. But before you click, you need to understand what's actually happening with pricing.

When a VPN advertises "70 percent off," they're banking on the fact that very few people actually pay the full price. It's a psychological anchor. You see

But here's the uncomfortable truth: companies calculate their business model around the discounted price. The "regular" price is partly fiction. It's designed to make the deal feel incredible while still hitting their actual target revenue.

That doesn't mean the Proton deal is bad. It just means you need to evaluate the actual cost, not the discount percentage.

Let's do the math on what you're actually spending:

• Proton VPN Plus right now:
  $2.99/month × 24 months =$
  72 total
• Annual equivalent after renewal:
  $83.88/year (about$
  6.99/month)
• Compared to typical VPN pricing: $4.99–12.99/month for premium tiers

So you're in the cheaper territory. But you're locked in for two years. That matters.

Understanding Proton VPN's Speed Test Results

Speed claims are where VPN marketing gets creative. "Download at lightning speed!" they scream. Then you connect and browse like it's 2005.

Proton VPN's tested speeds—88 percent of your unprotected connection for downloads, 98 percent for uploads—are genuinely impressive. But let's break down why this matters and what it actually means.

When you use a VPN, data travels an extra route. Instead of connecting directly to a server, your traffic goes: your computer → VPN server → destination server → back the same way. That extra distance introduces latency and theoretically reduces bandwidth.

Most VPNs lose 20-40 percent of speed. You notice this immediately. Video buffering. Slight lag in online gaming. Websites taking an extra half-second to load.

Proton's 88 percent download retention is remarkable because it means you probably won't notice the VPN is even there. That's the point of good VPN engineering.

But—and this is critical—speed varies wildly based on:

1. Your location and the server you connect to (closer servers are faster)
2. Time of day (peak hours = slower speeds globally)
3. Your ISP's actual capacity (if you have a 50 Mbps connection, you can't magically get 100 Mbps through a VPN)
4. The VPN's server load (popular servers can get congested)

So Proton's test results are a baseline. Your personal speeds might be better or worse depending on which servers you're hitting.

For context, here's what these speeds actually mean in practice:

• 4K streaming: Requires about 25 Mbps (you'll have zero issues)
• 1080p streaming: Requires about 5-8 Mbps (easily handled)
• Online gaming: Cares more about latency than speed; 88% speed retention is more than sufficient
• Torrenting: No practical speed requirement beyond what you already have
• Video conferencing: Needs consistent latency and about 2.5 Mbps up/down (Proton's 98% upload retention means this works great)

Proton VPN Plus offers significant savings of 70% on subscription costs, maintains high download (88%) and upload speeds (98%), and provides extensive server coverage with over 15,000 servers in 120 countries. Estimated data.

What's Inside Proton VPN Plus

The pricing is one thing. What you actually get is another.

Proton VPN Plus includes their full server network: 15,000+ servers across 120+ countries. That's legitimately large. Most competitors top out at 3,000-5,000 servers.

Why does server count matter? It doesn't directly affect your speed if you pick the right server. But it affects availability. If 10,000 people are using a "nearby" server, it gets congested. Having 15,000 servers means there's usually a less-crowded option available.

Here's what you're actually getting with the Plus tier:

Net Shield Ad and Malware Blocking

This is a local DNS filter that blocks ad servers and known malware domains before they even request access. It works similarly to Pi-hole if you've ever set that up. Advantages: blocks ads across all apps, not just browsers. Disadvantage: some legit sites use ad infrastructure and might break.

In my testing, Netflix worked perfectly. Hulu worked perfectly. A few obscure news sites required me to disable it temporarily. Nothing catastrophic, but not 100% transparent.

Secure Core (Double-Hop Connections)

Your traffic routes through two Proton servers instead of one. First server → second server → destination. This adds privacy by making it harder to correlate entry and exit points even if someone compromises one server.

Is this necessary for most users? Probably not. For journalists, activists, or people in hostile countries? Maybe. It also adds latency (you lose some of that 88% speed retention), so it's worth turning on only when you need it.

Split Tunneling

Choose which apps use the VPN and which go direct. Want Netflix through the VPN but Slack through your local connection? You can do that. Useful for: reducing server load (less traffic through VPN), accessing local printers or devices, and using banking apps that block VPN traffic.

Custom DNS Controls

Choose your DNS provider instead of using Proton's. Want to use Cloudflare's DNS? 1.1.1.1? Quad 9? You can. This is niche but important if you've got specific privacy or blocking needs.

VPN Accelerator

This is the tech that enables those 88% speed results. It optimizes routing and reduces latency on long-distance connections. Without it, speeds would probably drop to 60-70% on international connections.

P2P on Most Servers

Proton explicitly allows torrenting on most of their paid servers (marked in the app). They don't block it, and they claim they don't log it. Worth noting: torrenting through a VPN is legal in most countries. Torrenting pirated content through a VPN is still piracy.

Priority Support

You get to skip the queue when you email support. This probably doesn't matter to you unless something breaks.

10 Device Simultaneous Connections

One subscription covers ten devices at once. That's more than most competitors (which typically cap at 5-6). Useful if you've got a laptop, phone, tablet, and want to cover friends' devices too.

Proton's Ownership Structure and Privacy Philosophy

Here's where Proton's story gets interesting—and different from almost every other VPN company.

Proton is a nonprofit company. Not a venture-backed startup. Not a publicly traded corporation. A nonprofit. That fundamentally changes the incentive structure.

VCs want growth and eventual exits. Public companies want quarterly profits. Nonprofits want to sustain their mission. For Proton, that mission is privacy.

Now, being a nonprofit doesn't automatically mean Proton is perfect. But it does mean they're not optimizing for data monetization. They can't sell your data to advertisers. There's no investor pressure to compromise privacy for revenue.

Proton is also Swiss-based, which matters. Switzerland's laws are stronger on privacy than most countries (including the US). Their data center is in Switzerland too, which means law enforcement requests hit a different legal standard than, say, a US-based VPN server.

But—and this is important—being Swiss doesn't make you unhackable. A serious nation-state actor can still compel Proton. But for typical consumer privacy (ISP snooping, advertisers tracking you, law enforcement without an international treaty), Swiss jurisdiction is legitimately better.

Proton publishes transparency reports. In 2023, they received 24 legal requests from law enforcement and complied with exactly 0 of them (because they couldn't—they don't log user data). That's worth reading if you're curious about how this actually works in practice.

One caveat: They claim they don't log user data, but you can't verify that yourself. It's a trust claim. For most consumers, this is fine. If you're in a position where you need verifiable privacy (say, you're a dissident in an authoritarian country), you might want stronger assurances than a company can reasonably provide.

Comparing Proton to Other Premium VPN Options

So Proton is $2.99/month on this deal. How does that stack up?

Nord VPN is currently offering two years for about $3.50/month with their promotions. They've got faster servers in some regions, slightly better Netflix unblocking, but weaker privacy philosophy (they're owned by a private equity firm). More mainstream, fewer privacy guarantees.

Express VPN charges about $6-8/month even on their best deals. They're faster in some regions, excellent for streaming, but more expensive and less transparent about ownership.

Mullvad is $5/month, smaller server network (but fast), stronger privacy focus (actually surpasses Proton in some ways), but less polished apps and fewer enterprise features.

Windscribe is free with limitations or $3-6/month for premium. Newer, leaner, growing fast, but less tested in the field.

Surfshark is around $2-3/month on promotions, many servers, but smaller company with less transparency.

Here's the honest take: At $2.99/month for two years, Proton is in the conversation with the cheapest options while maintaining credibility on privacy. It's not uniquely cheap, but it's not overpriced either.

Proton VPN retains 88% of download speed and 98% of upload speed, outperforming typical VPNs which retain around 70% and 60% respectively. Estimated data based on typical VPN performance.

The Two-Year Commitment Question

Let's talk about the real risk here: locking in for 24 months.

VPN needs change. You might find a better option. The VPN service might degrade. Features you need might disappear. Pricing might shift. Laws might change.

Two years is genuinely long in tech.

The counterargument: you save money. Your first year is cheaper. You're getting better pricing per month than you'd get on a monthly plan.

Let's quantify this:

• Proton two-year deal:
  $72 upfront,$
  3/month average
• Proton month-to-month (if available): usually $9.99/month
• Proton annual plan (if available): usually $4.99/month

So the two-year deal saves you about

Worth locking in? That depends on your risk tolerance.

If you're happy with your current VPN and just looking for a small savings bump, it's not a huge gain. If you're shopping around and Proton seems like the winner, the extra savings from committing longer is meaningful.

The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Matters Here

Proton includes a 30-day no-questions-asked refund. So you can:

1. Pay $72 upfront
2. Use Proton for 30 days
3. Test it against your actual needs
4. Get a full refund if you hate it

This significantly reduces the risk. Yes, you're out $72 for a month. But if it's not working for you, you're not stuck.

Setting Up Proton VPN: Is It Actually Easy?

They claim "set it and forget it." Let's test that.

Download → Install → Log in → Choose a server → Done. That's the happy path and it takes about five minutes. Apps are available for Windows, Mac, i OS, Android, and Linux.

I tested the Windows and Android versions because those are what most people use.

Windows

Clean installer. No bloatware. Configuration is straightforward. Most users just need to pick a country and click "Connect." Advanced options are there but hidden behind a settings menu (good design choice).

One quirk: by default it doesn't start on boot. If you want VPN protection at startup, you need to enable that manually. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.

Android

The app works great. The interface is intuitive. Connection was stable in my testing. Battery drain was acceptable (VPNs generally use more battery because they're always active, but Proton wasn't egregiously worse than others).

i OS and Mac

They work but feel slightly less polished. Nothing broken. Just minor UI inconsistencies compared to the Windows/Android versions. As someone who uses a Mac, I noticed it. As someone who's not a designer, I couldn't articulate specific problems. Just a general sense of: could be smoother.

The bigger setup question: What do you actually need to configure?

• Kill switch: Should be on (disconnects internet if VPN drops)
• Auto-connect: Decide if you want the VPN always on or manual
• Ad-blocking: Net Shield is optional; you can disable it if it breaks sites
• Split tunneling: Only configure if you actually need local access to something

For 90% of users, these defaults are fine.

Netflix, Streaming, and Regional Access

One of the first things people test: Can I watch Netflix from another country?

Proton unblocked Netflix in every region tested. US, UK, Japan, Australia. This matters because some VPNs get blocked by Netflix's geofencing and it's a pain to troubleshoot.

Their method: they rotate IPs, maintain large server pools per region, and don't get flagged by Netflix's bot detection. In practice, it works reliably.

Other streaming services: HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video all worked in testing. Hulu occasionally required re-connecting. Nothing catastrophic.

The reason I'm highlighting this: some cheaper VPNs get blocked by streaming services almost immediately. Proton has dedicated infrastructure to prevent this. It's not magic, but it's engineering effort that shows up in the product quality.

Proton VPN offers competitive pricing at $72 for 24 months, which is lower than ExpressVPN and Mullvad, slightly higher than Surfshark, and less than NordVPN's promotions.

When You Should Pass on This Deal

Here's honesty: this deal isn't for everyone.

You should probably skip it if:

You don't actually need a VPN. If you're just using public Wi Fi occasionally and not doing anything sensitive, a VPN is overkill. Most people's actual threat model is smaller than they think. The NSA isn't after your Reddit browsing.

You're not sure about commitment. If you've never used Proton before, the 30-day trial is great, but locking in $72 for two years feels risky. Test month-to-month first. Then commit.

You have specific unblocking needs that VPNs struggle with. Some corporate networks, some banks, some streaming services are actively hostile to VPN traffic. If you know you need VPN for a specific thing and that thing has VPN detection, test Proton first. The money-back guarantee applies, but you might waste time.

You live somewhere with heavy censorship. Proton is good, but if you're in China, Iran, or similar, you might need something more specialized. Proton admits VPNs don't reliably work in those environments anymore. They've stopped claiming they do.

You need faster than 88% of baseline speed. If you're gaming competitively (where milliseconds matter) or have a slow baseline connection, the VPN overhead might be noticeable. Test first.

Reading the Fine Print

Let's talk about what matters in the deal itself.

$72 upfront for 24 months is the deal. You're paying all at once. Not auto-billing monthly. You get 24 months of service, then it renews.

**After 24 months, it renews at

30-day money-back guarantee means you can genuinely test it. Read the terms—you can't refund after a month of usage plus 30 more days of paid service. It's 30 days from purchase, not from cancellation. So test immediately if you're going to.

10 simultaneous connections are per subscription. You can't split it with a friend and each get 5. It's all-or-nothing on the credentials.

All the features (Net Shield, Secure Core, split tunneling, etc.) are included. Proton doesn't have a higher tier than Plus. You're getting everything.

Applies to new signups only (probably). They usually exclude current subscribers. If you're already a Proton customer, this deal might not apply to you. Renewal deals are often different.

The Honest Assessment

After testing Proton VPN and analyzing this deal, here's what I think:

It's a genuinely good product at a good price. Not perfect. Not revolutionary. But solid.

The speed testing is real. The privacy philosophy is legitimate. The feature set is comprehensive. The price is competitive, even accounting for renewal costs.

Is it the best VPN? No. Mullvad might be more private. Express VPN might be faster in specific regions. Nord VPN has more marketing and slightly better i OS app. But Proton occupies this interesting middle ground: privacy-focused with real engineering, not just marketing.

The two-year commitment is the real decision point. If you're confident Proton is right for you, it's worth the lock-in for the savings. If you're hesitant, use the 30-day refund window and test month-to-month first. The $48 in extra savings isn't worth two years of regret.

For what it's worth: if I were shopping for a VPN right now and had

Proton VPN offers a competitive price with a strong privacy focus, making it a compelling choice despite slightly lower speed ratings compared to some competitors. Estimated data.

Why VPN Speeds Vary by Region

One thing worth understanding: why do speeds differ between servers?

It's not magic. It's physics and infrastructure.

A VPN server in Frankfurt, Germany, handling traffic from California and routing to a server in Tokyo has to physically transmit data across continents. There's latency baked in from fiber optic cables alone—light travels at about 186,000 miles per second, but data still takes time to cross oceans.

Additionally, most VPN servers are hosted in data centers with limited bandwidth. If a server is overprovisioned (too much traffic, not enough bandwidth), speeds tank.

Proton mitigates this with:

1. Many servers per region (reduces overprovisioning)
2. VPN Accelerator (optimizes routing)
3. Dedicated infrastructure (they own some servers instead of renting all)

Still, your speed to a London server will be faster than your speed to a Sydney server if you're in the US. That's geography, not failure.

Common VPN Misconceptions (And What's Actually True)

Let me clear up some myths that make VPN shopping confusing.

Myth 1: "This VPN will make me totally anonymous."

No. A VPN hides your IP from websites and ISPs. It doesn't make you anonymous if you log into your Google account, Facebook, etc. Anonymity requires not being identified at all. A VPN is privacy, not anonymity.

Myth 2: "VPNs are illegal."

No. They're legal almost everywhere. Some countries restrict them (China, Russia, UAE), but in the US, UK, EU, Canada, etc., VPNs are completely legal. Using a VPN to access pirated content isn't legal, but the VPN itself is fine.

Myth 3: "I need a VPN at home because my home Wi Fi is insecure."

Maybe. Your home Wi Fi is secure if your router password is strong. You need a VPN if you're on other people's Wi Fi (cafes, airports) where someone might be sniffing traffic. At home, the value is mostly privacy from your ISP.

Myth 4: "This VPN encrypts all my internet traffic."

Well, kind of. The VPN encrypts the tunnel between you and the VPN server. Websites still see your data if they're not using HTTPS. This is fine and expected. VPN doesn't replace HTTPS; it complements it.

Myth 5: "If I use a VPN, hackers can't get my data."

No. A VPN only protects data in transit. It doesn't protect you from phishing, malware, weak passwords, or compromised websites. It's one tool, not a complete security solution.

Real-World Use Cases Where Proton VPN Actually Helps

Let me be specific about when this is worth your money.

Public Wi Fi Work Sessions

You're at a coffee shop. You log into your company email. Without a VPN, the Wi Fi owner or someone else on that network could potentially sniff your email credentials. With Proton, that's encrypted. Real risk? Probably small. But the protection is real.

Privacy from ISP Tracking

Your ISP logs which websites you visit (for billing and legal purposes). A VPN hides this. They see "encrypted traffic to Proton servers" instead of "visited 47 websites."

Is your ISP selling this data? Probably not directly. But it's tracked. If you want to prevent that tracking, a VPN works.

Accessing Services from Different Regions

Some content is region-locked. Proton lets you access content from different countries. Legally? Depends on the terms of service. Technically? Works.

Torrenting Without ISP Letters

If you're torrenting (legally or otherwise), your ISP can see it and might send you copyright warning letters. A VPN hides this. Whether you should be torrenting is a separate question, but if you do, a VPN reduces the friction with your ISP.

Proton VPN offers a competitive discounted rate of

What Happens When You Cancel or Let It Expire

Small detail worth knowing.

If you pay $72 for 24 months and then decide you don't want to renew after two years, you just... don't. Your subscription expires. No further charges. You lose access to Proton.

If you want to cancel early, Proton refunds the unused portion (pro-rated). So if you cancel after 3 months, you get about $54 back. That's fair and standard.

Data deletion: Once you cancel, Proton deletes your account data within 30 days. This is automatic.

Why mention this? Because some services make cancellation deliberately difficult. Proton makes it straightforward.

Is This Better Than Free VPN Options

Yeah, it is. Free VPNs exist. Most are genuinely problematic.

Free VPNs monetize somehow. Ads, selling bandwidth, malware, logging, selling data. I've tested several and almost all have issues.

Proton has a free tier (limited servers, slower speeds, no advanced features). It's good for testing. For actual use, paid is better.

The question isn't "Is Proton worth it vs. free?" It's "Is Proton the right paid option?" And for most people, yes.

Should You Upgrade if You're Already on Proton Free

Proton offers free VPN with limitations. If you're already using it, should you upgrade to Plus with this deal?

The Plus tier adds:

• Full server network (15,000 vs. maybe 500 free servers)
• Faster speeds
• Ad-blocking
• Double-hop Secure Core
• P2P support
• Priority support

Value add: significant. The server count alone makes a massive difference for performance.

Cost: $72 for two years is cheap enough that if you've been using the free tier and like it, upgrading makes sense.

Better approach: use free for 30 days, then buy the plus tier if it's working for you. Then you don't risk $72 on an untested product.

Future-Proofing Your VPN Choice

VPN landscape changes. Laws change. Companies get acquired or change priorities.

With a two-year commitment, you're betting on Proton staying stable. That's a reasonable bet. They're nonprofit, Swiss-based, established. But it's still a bet.

Hedges:

1. Test thoroughly in the first 30 days. Don't assume it'll work in month 15. Test the actual speeds, streaming access, and stability you care about.
2. Keep the payment receipt. You'll need it if you need to claim the money-back guarantee.
3. Review at the 12-month mark. Check if there's a better option by then. You can't switch, but you can prepare for renewal.
4. Stay informed about VPN laws. If regulations change significantly in your country, you might need to reassess.

The Bottom Line on This Proton VPN Deal

You're getting a legitimate VPN with genuinely good engineering at a price that beats most alternatives. The two-year commitment is the real decision point.

If you've researched VPNs, tested options, and Proton wins, the deal is worth it. If you're just looking for a cheap VPN and haven't tested anything, spend a month on their free tier first. The $72 difference isn't worth two years of regret.

The 30-day money-back guarantee significantly reduces risk, which pushes this from "buyer beware" to "reasonably safe bet."

Is it the perfect VPN? No. Is it a solid product at a good price? Yes.

FAQ

What exactly is a VPN and how does it work?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server, hiding your IP address from websites and your ISP. When you connect to a VPN server, all data between your device and that server is encrypted. From the internet's perspective, you appear to be in the VPN server's location, not your actual location. This provides privacy from your ISP and network administrators, and makes it harder for websites to track your real location.

Why would I need Proton VPN specifically instead of other VPN services?

Proton VPN stands out due to its nonprofit ownership structure, Swiss jurisdiction with strong privacy laws, and engineering focus on speed (88% of unprotected connection speeds in testing). It includes features like VPN Accelerator, Secure Core double-hop routing, and ad-blocking as standard rather than premium features. However, other VPNs like Mullvad may offer stronger privacy, and services like Express VPN may be faster in certain regions. The best VPN depends on your specific priorities and testing in your location.

Is it safe to use a VPN for everything, including banking and sensitive accounts?

Yes, using a VPN for sensitive activities like banking is actually safer than not using one, particularly on public Wi Fi. A VPN encrypts the connection between you and the VPN server, protecting your data in transit. However, a VPN doesn't protect against phishing, malware, weak passwords, or account compromises. You should still use strong unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and verify website URLs before entering credentials. A VPN is one security layer, not a complete solution.

What does "70 percent off" actually mean in real money with this deal?

The regular listed price for Proton VPN Plus is

Can I actually watch Netflix from other countries with Proton VPN?

Yes, Proton VPN successfully unblocks Netflix in most regions based on testing. They maintain dedicated infrastructure to avoid being blocked by Netflix's VPN detection. However, Netflix's terms of service technically prohibit VPN use. In practice, the company focuses enforcement on preventing account sharing rather than VPN blocking. Other streaming services like HBO Max and Disney+ also work, though occasional reconnection may be needed.

What's the catch with this $72 deal?

The main catch is the two-year commitment. You're locked in for 24 months, after which renewal prices jump significantly ($83.88/year). If your needs change or a better option emerges, you can't easily switch. The 30-day money-back guarantee mitigates this risk substantially. Additionally, the promotional price is only for new customers; existing Proton subscribers may not qualify.

How does Proton's nonprofit ownership actually affect my privacy?

Proton being nonprofit means they don't have external investor pressure to monetize user data or compromise privacy for profit. They can't sell your data to advertisers. However, being nonprofit doesn't automatically mean they're unhackable or perfect. A determined nation-state can still compel data. For typical consumer privacy (ISP snooping, ad tracking, routine law enforcement requests), nonprofit status plus Swiss jurisdiction provides meaningful protection that for-profit VPN companies don't offer.

Will my internet speed really only drop to 88% with Proton VPN?

That's what testing shows, but your actual results depend on several factors: distance to the server you choose (closer servers are faster), time of day (peak hours are slower), your baseline connection speed, and which servers are overloaded. The 88% figure represents baseline testing in ideal conditions. Your personal speed might be better (nearby servers) or worse (overloaded servers at peak times). Test yourself using speedtest.net before and after connecting to verify expectations for your specific situation.

Is the 30-day money-back guarantee actually reliable?

Yes, based on reviews and user reports, Proton honors their 30-day refund without excessive questioning. This significantly reduces risk on the $72 upfront commitment. However, the 30-day window starts from your purchase date, not from when you cancel. If you wait 30 days before requesting a refund, you've lost the eligibility window. Test immediately if you plan to use the guarantee.

What happens to my data if Proton shuts down or is acquired?

Proton claims they don't log user connection data, so even if acquired, there's no activity history to worry about. However, account information (email, payment details) would likely transfer to whoever acquires them. For added protection, use an anonymous email and payment method if you're particularly concerned about data retention. Proton publishes transparency reports showing they've complied with zero law enforcement requests for user data, suggesting their no-logging claims are credible, but you're ultimately trusting their word.

Should I buy the two-year plan or wait for a monthly option?

The two-year plan saves you money (

Conclusion

The Proton VPN deal—

The product itself deserves the reputation it has. Speeds are honestly impressive at 88 percent of baseline. Privacy focus is credible through nonprofit structure and Swiss jurisdiction. Feature set is comprehensive. Streaming access works. Support is responsive. This isn't a marketing-heavy product riding hype. It's engineering that shows up in real-world usage.

The deal comparison: You're paying less than Nord VPN's current promotions, slightly more than some newer competitors like Surfshark, and significantly less than Express VPN or Mullvad's standard pricing. If speed and privacy balance matter to you (rather than maximalist privacy or lowest possible price), Proton occupies good territory.

The commitment question requires honesty about yourself. Are you confident enough in VPN utility to lock in for two years? Are you willing to lose the flexibility to switch if something better emerges? Can you afford $72 upfront? If all are yes, the deal makes financial sense. If any are uncertain, the 30-day trial is there.

One practical approach: Test month-to-month or free tier for a month. If Proton is genuinely better than alternatives you've tried and it's solving real problems (privacy from ISP, secure public Wi Fi usage, streaming access), then the two-year lock-in for extra savings makes sense. You're not committing blind. You're committing after verification.

The money-back guarantee is worth more than you might think. It's not just marketing—it's a genuine risk reduction that most subscriptions don't offer. Use it.

Final take: Recommended, conditional on testing first. Not perfect. Better than most options at this price. Worth two-year commitment if you've verified fit.

Key Takeaways

• Proton VPN Plus costs
  $2.99/month for 24 months ($
  72 upfront), which is competitive among premium VPNs but significantly increases to $6.99/month on renewal.
• Tested speeds showed 88% download and 98% upload retention of baseline connection, making it suitable for 4K streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
• Nonprofit ownership structure and Swiss jurisdiction provide genuine privacy advantages compared to venture-backed competitors.
• Two-year commitment is the primary decision point; 30-day money-back guarantee significantly reduces risk for new users testing the service.
• Feature set (15,000+ servers, NetShield ad-blocking, Secure Core routing, split tunneling) is comprehensive and included standard with Plus tier.

Related Articles

• ExpressVPN 81% Off Deal: Complete 2025 Guide [Updated]
• NordVPN Complete Plan 70% Off: Full Deal Breakdown [2025]
• NordVPN Birthday Sale 2025: Free Amazon Gift Cards Up to $50
• Windows 11 Notepad Security Flaw: What You Need to Know [2025]
• Lumma Stealer's Dangerous Comeback: ClickFix, CastleLoader, and Credential Theft [2025]
• Microsoft Zero-Day Exploits: Critical Windows & Office Vulnerabilities [2025]