Proton VPN: what it is and how to use it

Proton VPN is the VPN from Proton, based in Switzerland, with many servers and a limited free plan. It is the easiest alternative to Mullvad, but it needs a Proton account, which asks for a recovery email or a Proton address.

Overview

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How do you use Proton VPN?

1. Open this site's affiliate link (jonataribas.com/r/protonvpn) or type protonvpn.com, and check in the address bar that the final domain is protonvpn.com.
2. Create the Proton account with an email from the right identity (or a new Proton address), with no real personal data.
3. To pay more privately, create a free account first; then Bitcoin (main network only, not Lightning) and cash mailed to Switzerland are available. Card and PayPal are accepted too, but leave a trail.
4. Download the app for your system from the official site or store, connect, and confirm with an IP, DNS and WebRTC leak test.
5. Review the plan and payment methods on the site before buying: prices and options change, and features such as multihop depend on the plan.

What are the limits and cautions?

• It is not a number-only account: sign-up asks for a recovery email or a Proton address, which fits less well with the goal of sharing the minimum of data. The book treats it as an alternative, not the default pick.
• KYC is rare and on demand, according to the book. A Monero option does not appear on the official payment page in Oct 2026; confirm on the site.
• Like any VPN, it does not hide who you are where you identify yourself. This site's link is an affiliate link and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Other VPN tools

• Mullvad VPN
• IVPN

See all tools

How to Buy Bitcoin Anonymously — See the book on Amazon