Proton VPN manage subscription
Learn how to manage, cancel, and renew your Proton VPN subscription with step-by-step guidance.
Proton VPN offers straightforward options to manage your subscription. Whether you want to check renewal dates, switch plans, apply credits, or cancel, Proton’s account dashboard is designed to keep these tasks simple. Below you’ll find a practical guide that covers common questions and actions, with direct steps you can follow in your Proton VPN account.
Proton VPN subscription models overview
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic access, limited servers | Casual users wanting no cost |
| Basic | $4.00 | Standard privacy, 1 device, fewer servers | Light users needing reliability |
| Plus | $10.00 | High-speed, more servers, 2-3 devices | Power users needing speed |
| Visionary | $30.00 | All features, family sharing, priority support | Teams / families needing max access |
| Annual plans | (discounted) | All features except none | Savings for long-term users |
Compiled November 2026; check the provider's site for current details.
Understanding the Proton VPN subscription model and where to start
What you’re managing
- Your current plan (Free, Plus, Visionary, or other tier)
- Renewal date and billing cycle
- Payment method and credits or gift cards
- Ability to downgrade, upgrade, pause, or cancel
- Auto-renewal status
Quick access points
- Sign in to your Proton VPN account at account.protonvpn.com or the main Proton account page.
- Navigate to the Subscription area in your account settings to view your current plan and renewal details.
- If you’re using Proton VPN as part of a broader Proton account (including Proton Mail), you’ll manage subscriptions from the same dashboard.
How to view and manage your subscription
Step-by-step: check renewal date and plan
- Sign in at account.protonvpn.com.
- Open Settings or the sidebar and select Subscription.
- Look for Your Subscriptions or Renewal date to see the next billing cycle.
- Note: Some plans display the next charge and cycle length, which helps you plan ahead.
How to downgrade or upgrade
- From the Subscription page, choose Change plan or Upgrade/Downgrade.
- Compare features between plans (e.g., number of devices, speed, or server access) and select the desired tier.
- Confirm your choice. The change is usually reflected on the next billing cycle unless otherwise specified.
How to cancel
- Go to account.protonvpn.com and sign in.
- In the sidebar, select Subscription.
- Scroll to Cancel subscription and click Continue.
- Confirm cancellation. You may retain access for the remainder of the current period or as defined by Proton’s policy.
- Note: Proton offers a money-back guarantee for all subscriptions if requested within the first 30 days.
Managing subscription actions in Proton VPN
| Action | Where to perform | Requires login | Supported billing methods | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View current plan | Account > Subscription | Yes | Credit card / PayPal / Gift credit | Current status shown |
| Upgrade/Ddowngrade | Subscription page | Yes | Same as above | Change takes effect next cycle |
| Cancel subscription | Billing settings | Yes | Same as above | Access denied during trial |
| Add/Use credits | Wallet or Credits page | Yes | Gift cards / promo credits | Redeem to balance |
| View invoices | Billing or History | Yes | - | PDF export available |
| Pause plan | Subscription options | Yes | - | Limited time only |
Compiled November 2026; check the provider's site for current details.
Using credits and gift cards for Proton VPN payments
What credits are
Credits are digital vouchers that can be applied toward a Proton subscription. You can add credits directly to your account or buy a gift card.
How to add credits
- Sign in to your Proton account.
- Navigate to the Billing or Credits section.
- Choose Add credits and select the amount or apply a gift card code.
- The added credits will be visible in your balance and can be used toward future renewals.
Gift cards
- Gift cards can be purchased and sent to another user or used by yourself.
- When you redeem a gift card, the value is added to your credits and applied to your next invoice or subscription renewal.
Important payment notes
- Credits and gift cards typically apply to the subscription charge at the time of renewal.
- If your balance covers the full amount, you may not be charged via your default payment method.
- If there’s any remaining balance after applying credits, the system will charge the remaining amount to your chosen payment method.
The “manage subscription” options you’ll see in Proton VPN
What you can adjust in settings
- Renewal date and cycle
- Plan tier (upgrade/downgrade)
- Payment method (credit card, PayPal, or other supported methods)
- Auto-renew toggle
- Credits and gift card balance application
How auto-renew works
- Auto-renew keeps your VPN service active without interruption by automatically charging the renewal amount when your current term ends.
- You can disable auto-renew if you prefer to review options before each renewal.
Downgrade vs. cancel
- Downgrading changes your plan to a lower tier, often effective at the end of the current billing period.
- Canceling may end your subscription after the current period or immediately, depending on policy and timing.
- If you’re unsure, you can downgrade now and cancel later to avoid losing access unexpectedly.
Comparison: Proton VPN subscription options (summary)
| Feature | Free | Plus | Visionary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devices covered | Limited | 5+ | 10+ | Higher tiers offer more devices and features |
| Auto-renew | Yes | Yes | Yes | Automatic renewal is standard unless turned off |
| Price (typical) | Free | Paid (monthly/annual) | Paid (monthly/annual) | Prices vary by region and promotions |
| Credits/gift cards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Credits apply to renewals; gift cards are transferable |
| Money-back guarantee | Not always standard | 30-day guarantee | 30-day guarantee | Refund window applies to subscriptions started within policy |
Note: The table provides a high-level snapshot. Specific prices, device limits, and features can vary by region and promotional offers. Always confirm current details on the Proton VPN pricing page and in your account. Proton VPN cancel subscription
Using credits and gift cards for Proton VPN payments
| Credit type | Availability | Redemption method | Expiration | Usage limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton credits | Yes | Wallet balance | No expiration (varies) | Applies to subscription | Active |
| Gift cards | Yes | Redeem in wallet | None stated | Applies to balance | Available |
| Promo credits | Yes | Apply at checkout | Varies by promo | Applies to plan | Active |
| Bank transfer | No | - | - | - | Not supported |
| PayPal balance | Not a separate method | - | - | - | Used via PayPal |
Compiled November 2026; check the provider's site for current details.
Troubleshooting common issues while managing subscriptions
- Unable to sign in: Use the Sign-in page and reset your password if you’ve forgotten credentials. If you’re still blocked, contact Proton support.
- Renewal failed: Check your payment method, funds, and any bank flags or cards that require authentication. Retry the renewal from the Subscription page.
- Credits not applying: Ensure you’re applying the correct amount and that the credits are valid for the subscription type. If necessary, contact support for reconciliation.
- Gift card not recognized: Double-check the gift card code, ensure it hasn’t expired, and apply it in the Credits or Billing section.
| VPN | Obfuscation | From / month | Plan | Free plan | Refund | Alipay | UnionPay | Crypto | Website opens in China | Trustpilot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Proton VPN | Turn on manually Stealth, free plan too | $2.99/mo | 12 months: $35.88 | Yes | 30 days | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ Yes (2.5 s) | 2.1/5 (1,040 reviews) |
 ZoogVPN | Turn on manually Shadow | $2.49/mo | 27 months: $59.99 | Yes | 7 days | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Yes (2.5 s) | 4.2/5 (195 reviews) |
 NordVPN | Turn on manually Obfuscated Servers / NordWhisper | $3.49/mo | 27 months: $94.23 | No | 30 days | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ Blocked | 4.2/5 (51,628 reviews) |
 ExpressVPN | ✓ On by default all servers | $3.00/mo | 28 months: $84 | No | 30 days | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ Blocked | 4.4/5 (29,706 reviews) |
 Surfshark | ✓ On by default Camouflage, with OpenVPN | See site | See site | No | 30 days | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ Blocked | 4.3/5 (31,823 reviews) |
 Astrill VPN | Turn on manually StealthVPN / OpenWeb | $12.50/mo | 24 months: $300 | No | See site | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ Blocked | 1.3/5 (110 reviews) |
 Private Internet Access | Turn on manually Shadowsocks, OpenVPN only | $2.03/mo | 40 months: $81.2 | No | 30 days | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ Blocked | 4.2/5 (11,033 reviews) |
 CyberGhost | Turn on manually selected servers | $2.19/mo | 28 months: $61.32 | No | 45 days | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ Blocked | 4.0/5 (24,178 reviews) |
 PureVPN | Turn on manually switch to OpenVPN | $1.69/mo | 60 months: $101.55 | No | 31 days | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ Yes (2.6 s) | 4.4/5 (17,994 reviews) |
 AdGuard VPN | ✓ On by default TrustTunnel | $2.99/mo | 24 months: $71.76 | Yes | 30 days | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Official site blocked; our special link opens (2.3 s) | 4.3/5 (290 reviews) |
 Mullvad | Turn on manually QUIC / Shadowsocks / LWO | $5.61/mo | €5/mo | No | 14 days | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ Blocked | 3.2/5 (192 reviews) |
 Windscribe | Turn on manually Stealth / WStunnel | $5.75/mo | 12 months: $69 | Yes | See site | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ Blocked | 4.7/5 (13,355 reviews) |
 StrongVPN | Turn on manually Scramble, OpenVPN TCP | See site | See site | No | 30 days | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ Blocked | 4.4/5 (2,695 reviews) |
 LightXtreme 闪连 | Not listed | $7.08/mo | 12 months: $84.99 | Yes | 30 days | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Yes (2.3 s) | No page |
Prices checked 2026-11-10 on each vendor's pricing page (cheapest long plan, USD). Check the vendor's checkout for the final price.
Obfuscation checked 2026-11-14 on each vendor's site and help center: "on by default" = nothing to set; "turn on manually" = switch protocol or mode in settings; "not listed" = the vendor describes no obfuscation.
Payment methods checked 2026-11-10 on each vendor's payment pages: all 14 take cards and PayPal; ✗ = not listed, ? = the vendor's own pages disagree.
China access: whether the official website opens from mainland China networks (tests the website only, not the VPN connection). Last checked 2026-11-11 04:07 Beijing time.
Trustpilot score and review count checked 2026-11-10.
Frequently asked questions about managing Proton VPN subscriptions
Q: How do I manage Proton VPN subscription? A: Sign in to account.protonvpn.com, go to Settings → Subscription, and you’ll find options to view renewal dates, change plans, enable or disable auto-renew, manage payment methods, and apply credits or gift cards.
Q: What is the Proton VPN money-back guarantee? A: Proton offers a money-back guarantee for all subscriptions if requested within the first 30 days of purchase. If you’re within this window, you can request a refund from the Subscription page or contact support. Proton VPN allow local network
Q: How do I disable auto-renew on Proton VPN? A: In the Subscription settings, toggle Auto-renew off. Confirm the change to prevent automatic charges at the end of your term.
Q: Can I downgrade from Plus to Free? A: Yes. You can downgrade from the Proton VPN Subscription page. The downgrade typically takes effect at the end of the current billing period, while you retain access to the Free features after cancellation.
Q: Do credits expire? A: Credits generally apply to your next invoices, but you should check the terms in your Billing section for any expiration policy tied to your account.
Final recommendation: how to approach Proton VPN manage subscription
If you’re actively using Proton VPN and want to optimize value, start by auditing your current plan and renewal date. Sign in to account.protonvpn.com and pull up your Subscription details. Compare your current plan with the features you actually use, especially if you have multiple devices or need higher speeds for streaming or secure work. If you foresee a lower need in the near future, consider downgrading or turning off auto-renew rather than letting the subscription renew automatically. Proton how to cancel subscription
Utilize credits and gift cards to cover upcoming renewals, particularly if you anticipate a change in your budget or want to lock in a longer-term rate via annual plans. If you’re unsatisfied or experience a billing issue, don’t hesitate to use Proton’s 30-day money-back guarantee or reach out to customer support for reconciliation.
In short, Proton VPN’s subscription management is designed to be accessible from your main account dashboard. By regularly reviewing renewal dates, plan features, and payment options, you can tailor Proton VPN to your needs and save money without sacrificing security. If you’re new to Proton VPN, start with a Free plan to explore the service, then upgrade when you’ve determined the best fit for your browsing and privacy requirements.