Proton VPN roadmap: Product updates coming this winter

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Good to know they have a plan. Let’s wait and see then.

Still nothing about Proton VPN’s disgusting interface on Linux as far as I can see, nothing about their roadmap.

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Great news!

They mention a new Linux CLI coming. That should be enough for most linux users imo.

I hate that I’ve almost given up using VPN on my computer bc the app is utterly unusable on Linux. I pay too much for Proton Ultimate to pay for a standalone VPN.

Does your provider let you set up your own config files? That’s really the best way to connect to a VPN anyways. The apps are typically always bloated. I’ve monitored htop while playing around with various connections and wg-quick config files are pretty much the lightest weight option.

Should I setup a separate WLAN on my DDWRT router and just use OpenVPN with that connection?

Sure that will work, especially if you have more than one device you wish to connect to the WLAN. There may be some performance diminishing depending on the router. I can’t say for sure, but some routers lack sufficient processing power to preform encryption and decryption at high speeds. In those cases, it’s probably best to just use the VPN on your computer.

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Taste is the most subjective thing ever, but sure.

It’s not just a question of taste, in fact it’s not normal for Proton VPN to be completely different from the Windows and Mac versions.

I don’t see it written anywhere, Proton doesn’t care about the Linux version

Actually they are working on a lot of improvements for Linux, read further down in the webpage:

Custom DNS for Android, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, and Linux

We recommend that everyone allow Proton VPN to resolve DNS lookups(new window) for maximum privacy and security and use NetShield Ad-blocker(new window) to block ads, trackers, and malware. However, for those who prefer using a third-party DNS service, we’ll bring the Custom DNS option currently available in our Windows app to Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux.

IPv6 support in more apps

We already support IPv6 on our browser extensions and Linux app. We’ll start releasing it over the next few months.

Port forwarding on macOS and Linux

Port forwarding routes connections through the firewall that Proton VPN uses to protect our customers. It’s a feature that’s mainly useful to people who download and share files using P2P protocols such as BitTorrent, although it can also improve performance for online gamers.

It’s currently available on our Windows app, with partial support on our Linux app (which requires some manual configuration). Over the next few months (potentially into spring), we’ll introduce full port forwarding support on our macOS and Linux apps.

Split tunneling on macOS (with Linux to follow)
Split tunneling allows you to route some connections through the VPN tunnel and some connections outside it. Already available on Windows and Android, this popular feature will soon be coming to macOS. We’re also not leaving Linux users out, although this will follow later.

There are certainly new features on Linux, and fortunately so, but nowhere do I see that the Proton VPN user interface will be overhauled to bring it closer to the Windows and Mac versions.

Why?

Android apps use Jetpack Compose and follow Material You guidelines.

iOS and MacOS apps use SwiftUI and follow Apple’s guidelines.

For Linux, there is GTK and Qt.

Apps should feel and look as native as possible instead of looking the same across all platforms.

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Most Linux users aren’t terminal fans, despite what cliches is saying.

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In the future their GUI could benefit from the updated CLI. Proton’s somewhat slow with their releases so we’ll have to wait and see.

I hope so. Proton VPN on Linux is very barebone. For example, it has no split tunneling, no local network access. Plus, if you put your device in airplane mode, it will not restart properly when you reconnect.

I am happy they have a flatpak though. And it works fine.