What's the deal with ProtonVPN on linux right now?

VPN
1

Howdy all,

My subscription for my current VPN is up in a couple weeks now and I’m looking for a new service. Frankly, what I use currently has scared the heck out of me for a while now and the only reason I’m currently using them is due to me forgetting to turn off my annual subscription last year. I’m looking for a service I can put a bit more trust into. Proton is a front runner for what I want to switch to, but it’s essential that whatever vpn I go with can run on linux. My understanding is that Proton’s linux support while being worked on is still a little lacking currently.

I was hoping people could share some of their experiences using both the current linux vpn gui, and this new pre-release alpha thing I’ve seen some talk about. Maybe even some opinions on how long it will be for this pre-release thing to turn into a final release. I don’t mind things being a bit messy for a little while as long as it’s not like that forever.

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

2

I have very simple needs, so I just download the config file and import it with:

nmcli connection import type wireguard file /path/to/file.conf

So I don’t even use their software on Linux and I’m happy with that.

However, I have used their Linux GUI client (not alpha) and found that it worked fine, but leaked memory (took about ~1.5G after a few days) and sometimes pegged one CPU core. It also lacked many features compared to the Windows GUI (no wireguard support, no profile selection, much slower GUI, etc.).

The protonvpn-cli client was better in that after you connected it stopped running (only the openvpn itself kept running) so there’s no extraneous of memory or CPU consumption.

3

I run Ubuntu desktop with the Proton GUI. It’s fine. The GUI itself is a touch slow and lacking some of the features in the Windows GUI. It’s much easier to specify US states to connect through in Windows; Linux GUI makes you scroll for US states, but countries can still be searched on easily.

But it’s functional and easy enough, there is a top-bar green/red/yellow icon that loads next to the other top-bar notifications. You can close the GUI and the notification icon (and connection, obvs) keep running.

It does enough. I have been on Proton/Ubuntu for years, no regrets.

4

Linux users amount to less users than android tv

5

Proton has said before that the Linux GUI isn’t a top priority because of all the different Linux distributions. The browser extension functions decent if that’s something that interests you.

6

I don’t usually have issues with PVPN on my linux boxes. Sure, the client is bare bones, but it still has secure core, net shield, and kill switch. Only real issue I’ve seen randomly is if the machine locks up/reboots while you have a session w/ perm kill switch enabled, You might have to clear out the pvpn kill switch / leak protection connection entries in your network interface config before you can pass any data through .

nmcli c delete proton [tab]

nmcli c delete pvpn [tab]

7

Linux support isn’t good and is highly dependent on which distro you use (worse with rolling release distros — on openSUSE Tumbleweed neither GUI nor CLI clients are supported).

8

Used the GUI on arch for a while. Worked fine. But very limited, like no port forwarding feature and other stuff others have mentioned.

9

Hey u/Maximus_Christophus :slight_smile:

I’ve recently shared some information on that regard, feel free to ask any questions: /updates_for_the_proton_vpn_linux_alpha/

10

The crazy thing is you cannot run their Linux cli app on a headless system.
Not supported.
So if you want to connect a Linux server to Proton VPN, you need to do it „manually“ using on of their config files for OpenVPN and Wireguard.

11

I’m on Arch Linux with KDE. I just go to protonvpn website download a wireguard config and import it with the network manager. Very easy, Protonvpn even tells you the fastest one for your location.I switched from openvpn to wireguard and the difference in speed is amazing. I’m on my 3rd year with protonvpn and really like it.

12

No wireguard support for the gui makes me slightly sad, but it’s helpful info about the cli and the wireguard config.

Thanks for the response

13

I’m not surprised. I should clarify that I’m not demanding better linux support or anything. Just trying to figure out if Proton is or isn’t the right fit for me is all.

​

Thanks for the response anyways

14

for my current VPN is up in a couple weeks now and I’m looking for a new service. Frankly, what I use currently has scared the heck out of me for a while now and the only reason I’m currently using them is due to me forgetting to turn off my annual subscription last year. I’m looking for a service I can put a bit more trust into. Proton is a front runner for what I want to switch to, but it’s essential that whatever vpn I go with can run on linux. My understanding is that Proton’s linux support while being worked on is still a little lacking currently.

I was hoping people could share some of their experiences using both the current linux vpn gui, and this new pre-release alpha thing I’ve seen some talk

To be fair, a new app is in development:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonVPN/comments/13xlaey/new_features_on_linux_alpha_application/

15

Thanks for the response. The browser extension does interest me, but I’d also like to have a solid client to work with as well.

Out of curiosity when you say it functions decent what exactly do you mean? Decent presumably implies that there are some things about it you like and other’s you don’t.

16

thanks for the reply. Are you running the pre - release version or the current stable version?

17

Thanks for the reply,

Do you happen to be aware of how well it runs on Fedora? That’s the distro I use currently, and probably will be using for the foreseeable future.

18

Thanks so much for the reply. I posted my questions over in the thread you mentioned.

19

Linux users use a config with openVPN or WireGuard. In general the gui apps shouldn’t be used for any VPN provider on Linux. Linux users less than 1% with all providers.

20

Thank you for the info,

I’m aware a new app is in development. Part of the reason I started this thread was to try and see if anybody would share their experiences with how well this new app has been working for them.

By chance, have you happened to try it out yet? If so how did it go for you?