A brand new version of ProtonVPN’s Android app is now available which includes OpenVPN support and better connection stability. If you are an Android ProtonVPN user, you can now choose between using IKEv2 or OpenVPN by installing the new 2.0 version of our app.

Most VPN providers only offer one major protocol, typically IKEv2 for mobile devices and OpenVPN for desktops. As a result, these VPN providers are more vulnerable to government censorship, ISP blocks, and technical problems. Supporting multiple protocols on Android will make it more difficult for ProtonVPN to be blocked or censored, and sets a new foundation for additional work we have planned in 2020 to make ProtonVPN even more censorship resistant.

Get the new app for Android

Because there are a number of new changes in ProtonVPN 2.0 for Android, we are releasing a brand new app. To get the improved ProtonVPN app, you need to download and install it from the Android Play Store. The existing app will not automatically update to the new one:

Download the new secure ProtonVPN 2.0 app

Or if you’re a beta tester, join the new open beta.

*Note: Remember that you must first disconnect from ProtonVPN before installing the new app from the Play Store. Additionally, the new app may take up to 24 hours to appear in Play Store search results, but you can access the app directly via the download link above.

Afterward, you can uninstall the old app, which will no longer be supported.

With the release of the new ProtonVPN 2.0 Android app, we will also be dropping support for the older Android 4.x operating system. Android 4.x is outdated, no longer supported by Google, and no longer a secure operating system, and we highly recommend that all Android 4.x users update their devices as soon as possible. Supporting only Android 5 or higher will also allow us to develop ProtonVPN faster.

If you are unable to upgrade, we will continue to support two ProtonVPN Android apps (the old v1.4, along with the new v2.0) for a period of time. However, we cannot promise long-term support, and we encourage all Android 4.x users to upgrade as soon as possible so you can install the new ProtonVPN 2.0 app for Android.

In the future, the new 2.0 app will also come with a number of additional improvements, such as enabling single sign on (SSO) for both the ProtonMail and ProtonVPN apps (and any other future apps, such as ProtonCalendar and ProtonDrive, which will be developed by Proton Technologies AG). We are also making some slight modifications to the ProtonVPN Terms and Conditions reflecting that the legal entity you are contracting with will be Proton Technologies AG (the parent company of ProtonVPN).

Benefits of OpenVPN support

Adding OpenVPN support in ProtonVPN 2.0 comes with several benefits. VPN protocols, like OpenVPN, manage the way your device transmits and encrypts data, balancing speed and stability to provide a consistent, secure connection. Offering OpenVPN alongside our existing IKEv2 protocol means you have greater choice and can adapt how you use our services depending on your needs. For example, IKEv2 has traditionally been seen as the go-to VPN protocol for mobile devices because it offers faster connections. This also makes it ideal for streaming and gaming.

However, IKEv2’s reliance on User Datagram Protocol (UDP) can be a weakness. Public WiFi providers looking to limit traffic on their networks will be more likely to limit IKEv2 access. Governments and ISPs trying to block VPN access may also block all UDP traffic because it is not necessary for regular web browsing. However, OpenVPN also supports Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) in addition to UDP, which makes it more effective at circumventing blocks placed on VPNs by Internet service providers or local networks.

Learn more: What’s the difference between UDP and TCP?

Each VPN protocol has distinct features, and which one is correct for you will depend on your situation. With two VPN protocols to choose from, the ProtonVPN Android app is now more flexible and adaptable.

What’s next?

We started ProtonMail and ProtonVPN because we want to make it possible for all citizens around the world to control their data and protect their privacy. We believe the launch of ProtonVPN 2.0 for Android and the other anti-censorship capabilities we are building in 2020 will bring us one step closer to that goal. Thank you for your continued support.

Best Regards,

The Proton Team

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