Proton VPN 5.1.8 for Windows

Proton VPN 5.1.8 for Windows is the desktop app of the VPN service run by Proton AG, and you can download it free from protonvpn.com. The app is open source under the GNU General Public License version 3.0 and supports Windows 10 64-bit (build 19045) and later.

Specifications

What a VPN app does

A virtual private network sends your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server run by the VPN provider. Websites then see the server's address instead of yours, and the network you are sitting on, whether that is café Wi-Fi, a hotel or an office, cannot read what passes through the tunnel. The Windows app is the control panel for that: you pick a country or a server, click Connect, and all programs on the PC use the protected connection. Typical reasons to use it are privacy on public networks, keeping your internet provider from logging the sites you visit, and reaching services the way you would from home while travelling. The same Proton account works on every platform, so a laptop and a phone can share one subscription.

How to install

1. Go to the official Proton VPN download page.
2. Click Download for Windows and pick the build for your system, x64 or ARM64; most PCs use x64.
3. Run the installer and accept the network driver it adds.
4. Sign in with a Proton account or create one, then connect.

Proton's Windows app guide walks through the settings, and changes are logged in the release notes.

Security notes

Download only from protonvpn.com; fake VPN installers are a favourite way to spread malware because users expect them to change network settings. The source code is published on GitHub, so anyone can inspect it. Remember that a VPN protects the connection, not your behaviour: phishing pages and unsafe downloads remain dangerous with or without it.

Price

Proton VPN offers a free plan with a limited choice of servers, plus paid plans with more locations and features. The Windows app is the same download for both.

Pros and cons

• Pro: open-source apps that can be audited.
• Pro: usable free plan without ads.
• Con: free servers can be crowded at busy times.
• Con: some advanced features require a paid plan.

Alternatives

Windscribe VPN, TunnelBear, Mullvad VPN, NordVPN and Surfshark are other VPN services for Windows in the same security category.