How to cancel Proton VPN subscription

How to cancel Proton VPN: quick steps

• Sign in to your Proton VPN account at account.protonvpn.com.
• In the left sidebar, click on Subscription.
• Scroll to Cancel subscription and click Continue.
• Confirm your cancellation.

A few tips:

• If you don’t see Cancel subscription, try a different browser or clear cache, then sign in again.
• If you’re on a corporate or managed device, ensure there are no policy blocks that could prevent changes to subscriptions.

What happens after you cancel

• Your subscription will stop at the end of the current billing cycle. You won’t be billed again after that date.
• You can continue to use Proton VPN on a Free plan after cancellation, if you prefer not to re-subscribe to a paid tier.
• Your data and settings are not immediately deleted. You’ll retain access if you return, but features tied to the paid plan will be unavailable.

If you need to keep using the VPN without interruption, you could downgrade to Free before the next renewal date, though Proton VPN’s official steps focus on cancellation followed by a Free downgrade if desired.

Refunds and the money-back guarantee

• Proton VPN provides a money-back guarantee for all subscriptions if requested within the first 30 days.
• If you’re within that window, you can request a refund by contacting Proton VPN support or following the refund process in your account (the exact path may vary by region and plan).
• Refund processing times vary by payment method but typically complete within a few business days to a couple of weeks.

Important caveats:

• Refund eligibility is generally tied to new subscriptions or recent renewals. If you’ve used the service extensively, there might be limitations.
• Gift credits or Proton Credits behave differently from standard subscriptions. Refunds on credits may follow separate policies.

Downgrading from Plus or Visionary to Free

If you don’t want to cancel entirely, you can downgrade to a Free plan to keep using Proton VPN with limited features. The general idea is:

• Sign in and go to Subscription.
• Choose Downgrade or switch to Free (exact wording may vary by region and interface).
• Confirm the downgrade. Your account will then switch to Free, with access to basic servers and features.

Note: Downgrading typically preserves access to your account and basic functionality, but you’ll lose priority access, higher speeds, and any specialized server options tied to paid tiers.

Common issues and how to troubleshoot

• Issue: “Cannot cancel subscription” or the Cancel button is missing.
• Try a different browser or incognito mode, clear cookies, or sign out and sign back in.
• Ensure you’re on the correct Proton VPN account (some accounts switch between personal and business profiles).
• If you’re using a third-party reseller, you may need to cancel through the reseller’s portal.
• Issue: Refund not showing or being denied.
• Check the 30-day window and your original purchase date.
• Contact Proton VPN support with your order number, email on the account, and a brief explanation.
• Issue: Auto-renew remains active after cancellation.
• Double-check the Subscription page to confirm the cancellation status.
• If it still shows as active, contact support with and ask them to confirm the cancellation and stop auto-renew.

Quick comparison: cancel vs. downgrade vs. refund

What to do if you’re locked out or can’t sign in

• If your account is inaccessible, try password reset from the Proton VPN login page.
• Check your email for any notices about billing or subscription changes.
• Contact Proton VPN support and provide your account email, the issue, and any error messages you’ve seen.

Aftercare: staying informed and safe

• Keep an eye on your email for confirmation of cancellation or refunds.
• Review your payment methods associated with Proton VPN. You may want to remove old cards or set a limit to prevent accidental renewals.
• If you’re switching providers, export any needed data or notes from Proton VPN if you’ve configured custom server lists or saved connections.

Final recommendation

Canceling a Proton VPN subscription is straightforward from your account’s Subscription page. If you’re within 30 days of purchase, you’re likely eligible for a money-back refund. If you’d still like VPN access but don’t need the paid features, consider downgrading to the Free plan as a low-friction transition. If you encounter any obstacles, Proton VPN support is the next best step, and they typically can guide you through cancellation, downgrade, or refund processes with clarity. Has NordVPN ever been subpoenaed