How to Cancel Proton VPN, Get a Refund, and What to Consider Next

Proton VPN remains a top recommendation for many users, but it’s not a perfect fit for everyone. This guide explains how to cancel a Proton VPN subscription, request a refund within the 30-day window, downgrade or delete accounts, and what to do if you bought your subscription through an app store.

Quick steps to cancel via browser

• Sign in at protonvpn.com and open your account dashboard.
• Go to the Subscription tab and choose Cancel subscription — this stops auto-renewal but keeps paid features until the period ends.

Canceling this way does not immediately terminate service; you retain access until the current billing period expires and the account will then revert to the free plan.

Downgrade Proton Unlimited to VPN-only

If you subscribed to Proton Unlimited (which covers Mail, VPN, etc.), first downgrade Unlimited to Proton Free via account.proton.me. Then sign up for a Proton VPN plan on the VPN site to keep just the VPN under the same email.

Deleting your Proton account (mobile)

Deleting your Proton account from the mobile app is permanent and irreversible — your username will be burned and cannot be reused. The app links into your account page where you must confirm deletion and provide a reason before the account is removed.

Refunds and app-store subscriptions

Proton offers a 30-day refund policy: request a refund via the contact form or email protonvpn@support.zendesk.com if you paid less than 30 days ago. Refunds are prorated for unused time by default, but you can request a full refund.

If you purchased via the Apple App Store or Google Play, Apple or Google handled the payment — follow their subscription and refund flows in iOS or Google Play settings.

Alternatives to consider

• Surfshark — often praised for speed and value.
• ExpressVPN — known for user-friendly apps and strong streaming unblocking.
• NordVPN — feature-rich with a large server network.

For refunds or account issues, start at Proton’s account portal (account.proton.me) or contact support via their site.

Discussion: Have you canceled a VPN subscription before? What pushed you to switch — price, speed, or privacy concerns?