Proton VPN refund policy: who qualifies and how to request it

Proton returns the full subscription price if you cancel and request a refund within 30 days of the initial purchase. The guarantee works once per user, applies only to direct purchases through Proton, and never covers cash or bank transfer payments. App Store plans are refunded by Apple, while a Google Play purchase can go either through Proton customer support or through Google itself.

Who gets a full Proton VPN refund

The 30-day rule in Proton's terms of service starts the clock with the initial purchase, not with your decision to cancel. Monthly, 1-year and 2-year subscriptions all fall under the same rule. Two details catch people out. First, cancelling and requesting must both happen inside the window: cancel on day 28, send the request on day 33, and you are out. Second, the once-per-user limit means it does not reset if you subscribe again under a new account. Purchases from intermediaries follow that intermediary's refund policy, not Proton's.

Requesting your money back after a website purchase

1. Check when the money left your account so you know how much of the window remains.
2. Sign in to the dashboard, open Subscription and run the cancellation steps.
3. Pick a reason and hit Submit; the cancellation is not final until that step is done.
4. File the refund request via the support form, stating the account it concerns.

Deleting the app does nothing. Without the form, the request never reaches Proton and the plan keeps renewing.

Payment method decides speed and eligibility

Proton sends the money to the original payment method, in the original currency, and processes the request within 30 days.

Subscriptions bought through the App Store or Google Play

For iPhone and iPad purchases the money sits with Apple, so the refund comes from Apple, not Proton. Cancel the subscription in iPhone Settings (Apple Account → Subscriptions → Proton VPN) and then submit your case on Apple's Report a Problem page, where the request is usually updated within 24–48 hours. With Google Play there are two doors: write to Proton customer support, or cancel and ask Google Play directly. Anything bought from a reseller goes back through that seller.

Past day 30: renewals, credits and plan switches

After the window closes, services are non-refundable and any refund or credit is at Proton's discretion. Renewal charges sit outside the guarantee, which counts only from the initial purchase. On the 2-year plans the jump is steep: VPN Plus costs $83.76 for the first 24 months and then renews at $83.88 every 12 months; Proton Unlimited costs $191.76 for the first 24 months and then renews at $119.88 every 12 months. VPNRadarLab counts that as a ×2.0 renewal jump and docks the price-and-terms score accordingly.

Credits from a plan switch stay on the account they were issued for and cannot be moved. Our page on turning off Proton VPN auto-renewal walks through that flow.

Testing Proton VPN on the free plan first

There is no trial period. Proton offers the free plan instead: unlimited data on one device, with 10 randomly selected countries.

Proton VPN refund FAQ

Does cancelling give my money back?

No. Cancelling stops the next renewal. Inside the 30 days you still need the support form to trigger the refund.

Can I get a refund on a renewal charge?

The guarantee follows the initial purchase, so renewals sit outside it. You can still ask; the outcome is discretionary.

Is there a phone number for refunds?

Proton publishes none. The channels are the support form and live chat on a paid plan.

What happens if I file a chargeback?

You give up the refund from Proton, and the account can be suspended while the dispute with the issuer or PayPal is open.

How do I check my refund status?

Watch the original payment method listed in the table above.

Proton VPN refund at a glance

A month from the first payment, a single refund per user, direct purchases only. Cash and bank transfer payments stay with Proton; cards, PayPal and Bitcoin are returned by the route they arrived. After day 30 Proton may grant a refund or credit at its discretion but owes you neither.