Reviewers overwhelmingly report frustration with Proton’s billing and payment system, with 422 negative mentions compared to just 22 positive ones out of 486 total references. The sentiment has consistently been poor, with average ratings hovering below 2 stars across most of 2025 and early 2026. The lowest point came in December 2025 at 1.25 stars, reflecting widespread complaints about unauthorized charges, failed payments, and lack of response from customer support. While there was a slight improvement in July 2026, reaching 2.42 stars, the overall trend remains negative, with recurring issues in payment processing, subscription management, and transparency. Many users describe the experience as unreliable, confusing, and even deceptive, particularly around auto-renewals and cancellation processes. A small number of users still praise Proton’s security features, but these positive remarks are overshadowed by the volume and severity of billing-related complaints.

What customers praise

Customers frequently praise Proton’s strong security and privacy features, especially its end-to-end encryption and zero-access policy. Many users highlight the reliability of Proton Mail and Proton VPN as essential tools for protecting personal data. Some appreciate the company’s commitment to user privacy, calling it a genuine alternative to major tech platforms. These positive remarks often come from users who value privacy over convenience and are willing to overlook billing issues for the sake of security.

What customers said:

  • „it does hav a auto renewal, so please make sure to check if that's what you want.“ - Google Play · 4★ · ·
  • „It is very good to have elite security.“ - Google Play · 5★ · · translated · Portuguese ·
    „It is very good to have elite security.“

    Original„é muito bom ter segurança de elite“

  • „Truly a real alternative to Google.“ - Google Play · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „Truly a real alternative to Google.“

    Original„Wirklich eine echte Alternative zu Google“

Common complaints

The most common complaints center on unauthorized charges, failed payments, and delayed or nonexistent customer service responses. Users report being charged without permission, sometimes multiple times for the same service, and being unable to cancel subscriptions through standard channels. Many say they had to dig into Google Play or Apple accounts to find and cancel subscriptions, often after being charged unexpectedly. A recurring theme is the lack of clear communication and follow-up, with users stating they sent messages that were ignored or only met with automated replies.

What customers said:

  • „Account status did not change after making the payment“ - Google Play · 1★ · · translated · Indonesian ·
    „Account status did not change after making the payment“

    Original„status akun tidak berubah setelah melakukan pembayaran“

  • „I didn't do it. If any transaction is made without my knowledge, I will file a complaint.“ - Google Play · 5★ · · translated · Turkish ·
    „I didn't do it. If any transaction is made without my knowledge, I will file a complaint.“

    Original„yapmadım.Benden habersiz yapılan bir işlem olursa şikayetçi olurum“

  • „I’m very disappointed because this app charged my account ₱399.90 without my permission…“ - Google Play · 5★ · ·
    „I’m very disappointed because this app charged my account ₱399.90 without my permission or authorization.“

How it has changed over time

Billing issues have remained persistent over time, with ratings consistently low from late 2025 through mid-2026. The lowest score of 1.25 stars occurred in December 2025, followed by a slight recovery in July 2026, when the rating rose to 2.42 stars. This improvement may reflect a temporary fix or increased user awareness, but the overall pattern shows little long-term progress. The spike in negative feedback in June and July 2026 suggests ongoing problems, possibly tied to subscription renewals or payment processing failures. Despite brief improvements, the system has not shown sustained reliability.

What customers said:

  • „I feel cheated, it's been over an hour with no change“ - Google Play · 1★ · · translated · Indonesian ·
    „I feel cheated, it's been over an hour with no change“

    Original„saya merasa dirugikan sudah leih dari satu jam tidak ada perubahan“

  • „I urgently need the money back.“ - Google Play · 5★ · ·
  • „I made a subscription payment today on my Mac.“ - Google Play · 1★ · · translated · French ·
    „I made a subscription payment today on my Mac.“

    Original„J'ai effectué un paiement pour abonnement ce jour sur mon Mac“

Practical takeaways

Users should carefully review subscription terms before signing up and disable auto-renewal if not needed. It’s essential to check payment methods and subscription status directly in app store accounts, as Proton’s own interface may not reflect current billing details. If a charge appears unauthorized, users should act quickly and document all communication attempts. Given the slow response from support, it’s wise to keep records and consider reaching out through multiple channels. For those prioritizing privacy, the security benefits may still outweigh billing issues, but only for users comfortable with the risks.

What customers said:

  • „I can't cancel my subscription in my google play because it's not showing in my…“ - Google Play · 1★ · ·
    „I can't cancel my subscription in my google play because it's not showing in my subscription“
  • „just got charged $79.99“ - Google Play · 1★ · ·
  • „I contacted Proton customer service and explained the situation.“ - Trustpilot · 1★ · ·

Over time

Rating trend: 2.2 in 2025-09 to 1.9 in 2026-08.1.01.52.02.52025-092026-022026-08
Rating trend: 2.2 in 2025-09 to 1.9 in 2026-08.
Data as table
Monthly average rating
MonthAvg. ratingCount
2025-092.229
2025-101.9212
2025-111.5016
2025-121.2512
2026-011.8723
2026-022.2218
2026-032.0012
2026-041.6520
2026-051.9039
2026-061.9841
2026-072.4273
2026-081.9224

Sentiment over time

Sentiment over time: positive share from 0% (2025-09) to 4% (2026-08).0%25%50%75%100%2025-092026-022026-08
Sentiment over time: positive share from 0% (2025-09) to 4% (2026-08).
Data as table
Monthly sentiment (shares)
MonthPositiveNeutralNegativeCount
2025-090%0%100%9
2025-1017%0%83%12
2025-116%13%81%16
2025-120%8%92%12
2026-014%4%91%23
2026-0211%6%83%18
2026-030%0%100%12
2026-040%5%95%20
2026-050%10%90%39
2026-060%10%90%41
2026-077%15%78%73
2026-084%0%96%24

Customer voices

Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.

„I tried paying for the vpn but it didn't go“

„cancelling a subscription can be a pain in the ass with this shady platform“

„Not only that, you need to go lurking into your Google PlayStore account to dig into your "subscriptions" to cancel this VPN“

„They might as well offer you $1 VPN for the first month, and then bill you $30 monthly for as long as you do not terminate it.“

„Without warning, my limit was reduced to 500MB“

„I receive TWO attempted charges on my business card“

„forcing me to pay for the Plus membership to be able to receive or send emails“

„They were the absolute best option out there, and now they are scamming people into paying for something they shouldn't need“

Cite this page

Citatio (2026). Proton Billing & payment: customer reviews September 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026 from https://citatio.ai/proton-reviews/billing/

Data verifiable via our public audit log: Methodology · Transparency