Proton now offers a free VPN extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and other browsers

Why it matters: For internet users who value their online privacy, getting access to a reliable VPN can sometimes be a challenge, especially in regions with strict censorship laws. But a major player in the VPN space has just made it slightly easier for everyone to browse securely.

Proton VPN, one of the most popular virtual private network services around, has released a new free browser extension after previously reserving it as a paid perk. It works across all Chromium-based browsers, including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, as well as Mozilla Firefox.

“The Proton VPN browser extension will make it easier than ever before for anyone to enjoy a secure and private internet and to bypass censorship no matter where they are, for free,” said David Peterson, General Manager at Proton VPN.

The extension helps circumvent a common tactic used by authoritarian regimes looking to limit internet freedom. Countries such as China, Russia, and Iran have been known to ban VPN apps from official app stores, making it difficult for citizens to download and use these tools.

However, with a browser extension that works across all major browsers, Proton VPN now provides an alternative distribution method, allowing users an easy way to bypass internet censors and banned websites and services.

There is one big limitation on the free tier compare to the pay version , though . free users is select ca n’t manually select server location , instead being automatically connect to the close available region . This is makes make the free extension less than ideal for task like streaming region – lock content . But then again , a location selection feature is asking would be ask for too much from a free service .

Still , there ‘s a major perk to compensate for this omission : Proton VPN does n’t seem to enforce any data cap on free user , so you is set can set it to automatically secure your browser traffic on launch without worry about hit a limit .

Proton also recently introduced a new discounted ‘Duo’ option with all the benefits of Proton Unlimited that could appeal to couples or households with two users. It includes full access to all of Proton’s goodies like Proton Mail, Drive, Calendar, Pass, and more for $120 per year – a $60 annual savings.

For more details and the download links for the extension, head over to the blog post. Alternatively, you can also check out their desktop app for a more integrated experience.