Proton runs a set of privacy-focused services on one account: Proton Mail, VPN, Drive storage, Pass, a calendar, documents, a Bitcoin wallet and the Lumo AI assistant.
It was founded in 2014 by scientists who met at CERN and is based in Geneva. Your safety net is the 30-day money-back guarantee, which covers subscriptions bought directly from Proton.
Proton was paid for at launch by a public crowdfunding campaign rather than investors. Its services are run by Proton AG, a Swiss company whose main shareholder is the nonprofit Proton Foundation; Proton says it takes no venture capital and that this setup is meant to keep people ahead of profits and shield the company from takeovers.
Beyond the core apps, the lineup now includes Proton Meet for encrypted video calls, Proton Sheets spreadsheets, Proton Authenticator for two-factor codes, Standard Notes for encrypted notes and SimpleLogin for hide-my-email aliases. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, as browser extensions, and on TV devices such as Apple TV and Firestick. For organizations, Proton for Business offers business editions of these tools, a trust center covering HIPAA, GDPR and ISO 27001, and special pricing for registered nonprofits and journalists.
When shoppers look for Proton coupons
Proton coupon searches stay fairly even all year: April leads, November trails.
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US Google searches, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. Search interest, not sales.
Does Proton have a student discount?
Yes. Student Beans verification gives up to 70% off the first 12 months: 70% on VPN Plus, 62% on Unlimited and 50% on Mail Plus.
What payment methods does Proton accept?
Visa, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal pay directly, gift cards and credits work too, and Bitcoin, cash or bank transfer can buy credits.
More about shopping at Proton
Personal plans
The Free plan has 1 GB and one address; Mail Plus bills $47.88 every 12 months for 15 GB, and Unlimited $119.88 for 500 GB.
Business plans
Workspace Standard bills $155.88 and Workspace Premium $239.88 every 12 months per user, with a 14-day free trial first.
Refunds
Cancel within 30 days of the initial purchase for a full refund, once per user; cash and bank-transfer payments can't be refunded.
Referrals
Friends get a two-week trial of select Plus plans and $20 off, and you earn $20 in Proton credit per paid sign-up, up to $1,000.
iOS surcharge
Subscribing in the iOS app may carry a surcharge, and Proton recommends subscribing on proton.me instead.
Nonprofits
Registered nonprofit organizations and journalists can get special pricing.
Proton's savings depend on where and how you pay more than on a typed code.
Subscribe on proton.me rather than inside the iOS app, which may add a surcharge.
Pick yearly billing to see the 12-month prices, where Mail Plus was listed at 20% off on the yearly plan.
Students should verify with Student Beans before checkout, and the student price renews at the regular rate after the first term.
Pay by card or PayPal if a refund might matter, since cash and bank-transfer payments aren't refundable.
More ways to save at Proton
Start on a Free plan for Mail, Calendar, Drive or VPN and upgrade only when you need more.
The referral program pays $20 in Proton credit for each friend who subscribes, up to $1,000, and that credit pays for your own plan.
Teams can test Proton Workspace for 14 days before committing to per-user billing.
Nonprofits and journalists should ask about the special pricing before paying list rates.
Proton questions, answered
Can a Proton subscription be refunded?
Cancelling within 30 days of the initial purchase brings a full refund, once per user, for subscriptions bought directly from Proton. After 30 days paid services are non-refundable.
How much does Proton Unlimited cost?
Proton Unlimited is billed $119.88 every 12 months and includes 500 GB and all services.
Is there a free Proton plan?
Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive and VPN each have a free plan. The Free plan includes 1 GB of storage and one address.
How does the Proton referral program work?
A referred friend gets a two-week trial of select Plus plans and $20 off. The referrer earns $20 in Proton credit per paid sign-up, up to $1,000.
Does subscribing to Proton in the iOS app cost more?
The iOS app may add a surcharge, so Proton recommends subscribing on proton.me.