Whether you want to improve your online privacy or bypass geo-restrictions, one of the best VPN services has just made it even easier to do so – and it won’t cost you a dime.
Proton VPN has finally released its browser extension for free. Until today, it was a perk reserved for paying subscribers only. This was one of the most requested features among its free VPN users, according to the provider.
Compatible with all Chrome and Firefox browser families, the release means you don’t need to download the dedicated app to enjoy the benefits of Proton VPN. Keep reading and I’ll walk you through the benefits of using a VPN browser extension instead of the full app.
Easier protection, for everyone
“Proton VPN’s browser extension makes it easier than ever for everyone to enjoy a secure, private internet and bypass censorship, wherever they are, completely free,” said David Peterson, General Manager at Proton VPN.
Proton VPN has become an indispensable tool for millions of people worldwide, especially when governments enforce strict censorship on the internet. In the latest case, Proton VPN signups in Venezuela spiked over 51000% above normal levels as President Maduro X banned the entire country for 10 days.
When authorities block certain platforms or websites, they often try to do the same to bypass tools like VPNs to prevent citizens from bypassing the initial blocks and bans. This is now happening in Turkey, for example, where access to popular VPN apps has reportedly been blocked.
While VPN services can be thwarted in a number of ways, one easy way to make it harder to download the VPN app is to ban providers from official app stores. China, Iran, Russia, and Turkmenistan are the countries that have adopted this tactic.
Did you know?
A VPN, short for virtual private network, is security software that encrypts your internet connection in a secure, encrypted tunnel to prevent third-party snooping. At the same time, a VPN also spoofs your real IP address to trick your ISP (internet service provider) into thinking you’re browsing from a completely different part of the world.
By making the VPN browser extension free, Proton can provide an additional distribution channel for users who have difficulty downloading the app due to blocks.
Using a VPN browser extension instead of the app can also improve overall performance. This is because it allows users to connect to VPN servers within their internet window while other applications on their device continue to operate using their local IP.
This means you can protect your activity without impacting your connection speeds. It’s also useful if you need to use your real IP address for certain applications, but still want to protect your browsing sessions. You can even surf the net through one server on your Chrome browser, and then connect to a different server (and a different country) on your Firefox browser.
As mentioned, the Proton VPN browser extension is compatible with all browsers in the Firefox and Chromium families. This includes Microsoft Edge and the more privacy-friendly Brave.
Although it is free for everyone, paying subscribers still have a few advantages. For example, they can run the browser extension on as many different browsers as they want with up to ten simultaneous VPN connections.
If you’re looking to upgrade, the carrier has just introduced a new discounted plan for two users. Proton Duo gives you all the benefits of Proton Unlimited, full access to all of Proton’s tools (Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, Proton Pass, and Proton VPN), and up to 1TB of storage while saving you $60 per year. You can find out more in the official blog post.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational use. For example:
1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy abroad.
We do not support or tolerate the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. The consumption of paid pirate content is not endorsed or approved by Future Publishing.