About Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the browser extension from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, and it is the one pick here with a free plan that has no data cap. It works as a browser proxy: it encrypts the connection between your browser and a Proton server and hides your IP address from sites. It is listed for Chrome and Firefox, and the Chrome version also installs in other Chromium browsers.
The extension has been open to Proton Free users since September 2024, and the Chrome listing says use has no bandwidth or speed limits. Paid plans add servers in more than 140 countries, more simultaneous connections, Secure Core double-hop routing and split tunnelling. The code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0. Securitum has audited Proton's no-logs claim every year, and the fifth, in 2026, found no logging of browsing activity or DNS queries on the infrastructure it reviewed.
The limits are plain. Like every extension here, it covers only browser traffic, and it needs a Proton account, which is free. An audit samples servers at a point in time, so it supports the no-logs claim rather than proving it. For most people who want a trustworthy VPN in their browser, this is where to start.
Pros and cons
- Free plan with no data or speed limits
- Extension source code is public under GPL-3.0
- Securitum has audited the no-logs claim five years running
- Backed by a Swiss company with a clear business model
- Covers browser traffic only, not other apps
- Needs a Proton account, and paid plans hold most of the extras
- Audits sample servers at a point in time
Permissions
Both the Chrome and Firefox versions request proxy, web request, tabs, privacy and storage permissions plus broad site access, which it needs to route browser traffic through the VPN proxy. We read the permission lists from the Chrome package and the Firefox listing.
