As an expert in cloud data security with over a decade of experience, I often get asked about virtual private networks (VPNs). Specifically, people want to know what happens if they need to cancel service from a leading provider like Proton VPN.
Can you get a refund? What are the steps to cancel? Luckily, I have the answers.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll use my insider expertise to walk you through everything you need to know about canceling Proton VPN and getting your money back.
Contents
What To Know About Getting a Proton VPN Refund
Before jumping into the step-by-step cancellation process, it‘s important to understand Proton VPN‘s refund policies. Here‘s a breakdown of what to expect:
Within 30 Days of Initial Purchase
The good news is Proton VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all new purchases. According to their Terms and Conditions, you can receive a full refund when you cancel and request your money back within the first 30 days after buying a plan.
This 30-day refund policy is quite standard in the VPN industry. Most leading providers I‘ve researched offer a similar timeframe.
For example, NordVPN also has a 30-day guarantee. Surfshark offers 30 days as well. This gives you adequate time to test drive the VPN service and determine if it meets your needs.
Key Takeaway: You have 30 days to cancel and get a refund from Proton VPN.
After 30 Days from Initial Purchase
Here‘s where things get trickier. Once you pass that 30-day mark, Proton VPN is no longer obligated to provide a full monetary refund.
According to the Terms and Conditions, their policy states:
"…the Service provided by the Company (is) generally non-refundable and any refund or credit given will be at the sole discretion of the Company."
What does this mean? Basically, if you cancel and request a refund after 30 days, Proton VPN can choose whether to refund your money or simply provide account credits instead.
And based on anecdotal reports from users online, it seems likely you‘ll only receive credits, not an actual refund, in this situation.
Key Takeaway: After 30 days, you risk only getting Proton VPN account credits when you cancel, not your money back.
What To Know Before Cancelling
If you do decide to cancel your Proton VPN subscription, there are a few other key details to keep in mind:
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One refund per account – Proton only allows a single refund request per account, according to users and staff on its forums. So think carefully before canceling if you may want to resubscribe later.
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Original payment method – Any refunds are returned using your original payment currency and method. So for example, refunds go back to the specific credit card used when buying the plan.
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Immediate loss of service – Upon cancellation, your VPN service ends right away even if you pre-paid for an entire year. You lose access immediately.
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Purchased directly – If you bought directly from Proton‘s website, you‘ll need to cancel directly through their site as well. You can‘t just cancel through your credit card company, for instance.
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Third party purchase – However, if you purchased through a third party like Apple‘s App Store, you may need to request the refund directly from that third party based on their refund policy instead.
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Keep account active – You can cancel Proton VPN but keep your basic Proton account active to retain access to free features like Proton‘s free VPN tier or ProtonMail. Your account only gets deleted if you specifically request it.
Key Takeaway: Know that you only get one refund per account, lose service immediately, and must cancel via the original purchase method.
Step-By-Step Guide to Cancel Proton VPN
Now that you know what to expect, let‘s walk through the process of actually canceling your subscription step-by-step.
Via the Proton VPN Website
If you purchased directly from Proton, there are two ways to cancel your subscription on their website:
Option 1: Outside the 30-Day Refund Period
Note: This method may affect other Proton services you use like ProtonMail. Get in touch with their support first if you use additional Proton apps.
- Go to ProtonVPN.com and log into your account dashboard.
- Under the Dashboard menu, click on "Billing".
- Select "Downgrade Account" to downgrade to the free plan.
- Follow the remaining prompts to confirm you want to downgrade.
- Since this is past 30 days, you will likely only get credits as a refund. You can try contacting support to request an actual refund, but there is a high probability they will deny the request according to their policy.
Downside: Higher likelihood of credits over refund
Option 2: Within 30 Days of Purchase
- Use this online support form to directly request a refund.
- You can also email their support team at [email protected] to submit a refund request.
- Explain you are within the 30-day window and want to cancel and get your money back.
Upside: Greater chance of getting an actual refund when within 30 days
Via iOS App Store
Did you sign up for Proton VPN using Apple‘s App Store on an iPhone or iPad?
If so, you need to request the cancellation and refund directly through the App Store based on their policies:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Choose Subscriptions.
- Select the Proton VPN subscription.
- Tap "Cancel Subscription" and confirm.
You‘ll then receive an email confirmation if your request was processed successfully.
Key Tip: You must manage cancellations for App Store purchases through Apple.
Via Android Google Play Store
Likewise, if you originally purchased your Proton VPN subscription on the Google Play Store from an Android device, you need to handle the cancellation and refund directly with Google:
- Visit Google Play‘s refund request page.
- Click "Continue" to proceed.
- Confirm the Google account used to make the purchase.
- Select the Proton VPN subscription purchase you want to get a refund for.
- Follow the remaining steps, including providing a reason for the refund request.
However, keep in mind that Google Play does not normally offer refunds for purchases more than 48 hours old. So you may be out of luck if it‘s been longer than that.
Key Tip: Request the cancellation ASAP as Google only refunds within 48 hours.
Check Subscription Status
Before canceling, you may want to double check your current Proton VPN subscription details:
- Tap the menu icon in the upper left corner of the Proton VPN app.
- Select "Account" from the menu.
- Choose "Manage Account" here to view your current subscription status, plan, and billing details.
Reviewing these details just gives you a clearer picture before moving forward to cancel the plan.
How To Change Your Proton VPN Subscription
Instead of fully canceling your account, another option is to simply change your existing subscription details.
For example, you may want to:
- Switch from monthly billing to a 1-year plan to lock in savings.
- Upgrade to a plan with more features and server locations.
- Downgrade to a cheaper basic plan if you don‘t need advanced features.
Modifying your subscription can be done easily via the Proton VPN website:
- Log into your account dashboard on ProtonVPN.com.
- Go to the "Plans" section.
- Select the new plan or billing cycle you want to change to.
- Verify the details of your new subscription selection.
When you switch subscriptions, Proton should automatically credit your account for any unused days remaining on your current subscription. This prorated credit gets applied towards your new plan so you don‘t lose any remaining subscription time.
However, if downgrading to their free plan, be aware Proton may revoke access to certain features like additional email addresses or storage capacity. Consider backing up any important data before downgrading just in case.
Key Tip: Change your subscription through the Proton website dashboard to avoid losing any remaining plan time.
Top 3 Proton VPN Alternatives Worth Considering
Maybe after testing it out, you find that Proton VPN isn‘t the right virtual private network for your needs and budget. That‘s okay!
There are still plenty of other excellent VPN providers to consider for protecting your privacy and securing your internet connection.
Based on my extensive experience evaluating VPNs, here are my top recommended alternatives to Proton VPN:
1. NordVPN
With over 5200 servers worldwide, NordVPN is a leading choice for those wanting maximum speed and global coverage. They claim to host servers in 59 countries spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
I like NordVPN for their focus on security. They offer high-end encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and specialty servers for P2P filesharing. Nord even offers dedicated IP addresses for purchase if you need a static IP.
While quite reliable, Nord does tend to cost more than competitors. Their 2-year plan costs $126 total or $5.29/month when discounted. Monthly plans go up to $11.95.
On the bright side, you can use one NordVPN account on up to 6 devices simultaneously. So you can protect your phone, laptop, and tablet for instance.
Nord is a good choice if you want premium security and widespread servers. Just be prepared to pay a bit more compared to alternatives.
NordVPN starting at $5.29/month for 2-year plan
2. Surfshark
If cost is your main concern, I recommend Surfshark as a more affordable alternative with unlimited device support.
Pricing starts at just $2.30 a month for their 2-year plan. Even month-to-month billing is only $12.95.
Despite the low cost, Surfshark doesn‘t compromise much on features. Their network includes over 3200 servers in 65 countries. You get standard VPN protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. And they also provide a SOCKS5 proxy for flexibility.
Unlimited devices on a single account make Surfshark a better value for larger families. Most other VPNs limit you to 5-10 devices or less.
Based on my analysis, Surfshark is ideal if you need to cover lots of devices on a budget.
Surfshark starting at $2.30/month for 2-year plan
3. CyberGhost
Finally, CyberGhost consistently ranks as one of the most affordable VPN options on the market while still delivering good speeds and reliability.
Their 1-year subscription comes out to just $2.25 per month, totaling $27 for the year. A 3-year plan is $2.00/month or $79 upfront.
CyberGhost operates over 7400 servers in 90 different countries, giving you plenty of global options. I like that they allow up to 7 device connections from a single account. Their apps also make it easy to connect on all major platforms.
Unique features include ad blocking, automatic HTTPS redirection, and the ability to minimize connection delays by choosing a streaming-optimized server.
Overall, CyberGhost succeeds in balancing affordability with performance. It‘s a cost-effective pick if you want to secure multiple devices.
CyberGhost starting at $2.00/month for 3-year plan
Common Proton VPN Cancellation FAQs
Still have some questions about canceling your Proton VPN subscription and getting a refund? Here I‘ve compiled answers to some frequently asked questions:
Can you cancel at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your Proton VPN subscription at any point. However, it’s easiest to get a full refund when you cancel within the first 30 days based on their policy.
What is Proton‘s cancellation and refund policy?
Proton VPN‘s Terms and Conditions state that service is "generally non-refundable" after the 30-day window. Any refunds or credits provided after that point are optional and at Proton‘s sole discretion.
How does Proton VPN process refunds?
Proton states that refunds are generally processed within 14 days when requested within the 30-day guarantee. Any approved refunds must be processed via the original payment method used when purchasing the plan.
Can I get a prorated or partial refund?
You can request a prorated refund covering any unused time remaining on your existing subscription. However, approval is not guaranteed. Proton may only offer credits equal to the unused amount rather than cash.
What happens when I cancel?
Once canceled, you immediately lose access to Proton VPN service. Any remaining subscription time is forfeited unless a refund or credits are provided. You can still keep your Proton account for free features.
Can I keep my ProtonMail if I cancel Proton VPN?
Yes, canceling the VPN does not automatically close your entire Proton account. You can keep access to free features like ProtonMail. Only a full account deletion would remove access to other Proton tools.
The Bottom Line
The ability to get a refund when canceling Proton VPN comes down to timing. Within the first 30 days, a refund is nearly guaranteed. Outside of that initial period, you risk only getting account credits instead of your money back.
Make sure to cancel the appropriate way based on where you purchased your subscription. Refunds must be handled through the original vendor (whether that‘s Proton directly or a third party like Apple or Google).
While Proton VPN is a reputable choice, it still may not fully suit your needs, budget, or device count. Luckily, leading alternatives like NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost offer similar security and privacy with competitive pricing.
Hopefully this guide gave you clarity on how to cancel Proton VPN and get a refund. And if you do decide to switch providers, there are plenty of other secure VPN options worth considering. Let me know if you have any other questions!
