ProtonVPN is a privacy-focused VPN service based in Switzerland, operating under Swiss privacy law. If you've decided to cancel your subscription, the process is handled entirely through your Proton account dashboard online. There is no need to contact customer support to initiate a cancellation.
How to Cancel ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN subscriptions are managed through the central Proton account system, which also covers other Proton services such as ProtonMail. Follow these steps to cancel:
- Go to protonvpn.com and sign in to your account.
- Click on your username or account icon in the top-right corner and navigate to Account Settings.
- Select the Subscriptions or Plans section from the left-hand menu.
- Locate your active ProtonVPN plan and click Manage Subscription or Cancel Subscription.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the cancellation. Proton may ask for a reason for cancelling as part of a short survey.
- You should receive a confirmation email once the cancellation has been processed.
After cancelling, your paid plan will remain active until the end of the current billing period. At that point, your account will revert to the free tier rather than being deleted entirely. ProtonVPN offers a permanent free plan, so you can continue using basic features without paying.
Managing Auto-Renewal
By default, ProtonVPN subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle. To prevent an unwanted charge, you should disable auto-renewal before your renewal date rather than waiting until after the charge has been applied.
To turn off auto-renewal, follow the same steps outlined above. Within the Subscriptions section of your account settings, there is typically an option to disable automatic renewal separately from a full cancellation. Disabling auto-renewal means your subscription will expire at the end of the paid period without being charged again, but you retain access until that date.
It is advisable to check your renewal date before making changes, as refunds for charges that have already been processed are subject to specific conditions.
ProtonVPN Refund Policy
ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscribers. If you cancel within 30 days of your initial purchase, you are generally eligible to request a full refund. This policy typically applies to first-time purchases and may not apply to renewals or upgrades.
To request a refund, you will need to contact Proton's customer support team directly. This can be done through the support portal on the Proton website. Simply cancelling your subscription through the dashboard does not automatically trigger a refund — you must submit a separate request.
Refunds are generally returned to the original payment method. Processing times can vary depending on your payment provider. Payments made through third-party platforms such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store are subject to those platforms' own refund policies, which may differ from Proton's direct refund terms.
Cancelling via Mobile App Stores
If you subscribed to ProtonVPN through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you cannot cancel through the Proton website. In these cases, cancellation must be handled through the respective platform:
- Apple App Store: Go to Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions, find ProtonVPN, and select Cancel Subscription.
- Google Play Store: Open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon, go to Payments & Subscriptions > Subscriptions, find ProtonVPN, and cancel from there.
Refund requests for app store purchases must also be directed to Apple or Google, not to Proton directly.
After Cancellation
Your Proton account remains active after cancellation. Any data stored in associated Proton services is not automatically deleted. If you wish to fully delete your account, that is a separate process available within account settings. Downgrading to the free plan allows continued access to ProtonVPN's free servers without any ongoing charges.