Vivaldi and Proton have joined forces to make it easier for Vivaldi browser users to access the Internet privately without downloading a virtual private network (VPN). Starting today, the free version of Proton VPN is integrated directly into the Vivaldi browser and can be accessed by logging into your Vivaldi account.
Currently, this feature is only available in the desktop version of the Vivaldi browser. The free version of Proton VPN allows users to connect to servers in five randomly selected countries and provides “average VPN speeds.” Users of the Vivaldi browser can also upgrade to the paid version of Proton VPN starting at $10 per month, which provides faster VPN speeds, the ability to select servers to connect to in more than 110 countries, and other additional features.
Web browsers aren’t unique in having built-in VPN features – Microsoft, for example, has enhanced its Edge browser with the addition of Edge Secure Network VPN. Proton VPN can also be easily integrated into other web browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox, using downloadable browser extensions. This hurdle, while small, is removed for users of Vivaldi’s browsers, which could make the VPN more accessible to a wider audience.
Vivaldi also said that its partnership with Proton is based on shared “values,” citing that both European companies “proudly stand outside the orbit of Silicon Valley’s mining plans or China’s state surveillance.”
“As governments and users reassess their relationship with technology, especially in light of escalating geopolitical tensions, there is a huge increase in demand for independent, non-aligned and values-based solutions,” said Vivaldi CEO John von Tetchner. “Europe needs European alternatives. In fact, everyone deserves European alternatives. And with Vivaldi and Proton, you get exactly that.”
Although Techner claims that both Vivaldi and Proton are “politically neutral,” the statement seems like an obvious nod to the cracks that have appeared in the relationship between the US and Europe since President Donald Trump took office and surrounded himself with leaders of market-dominating tech giants. Combining Vivaldi with free privacy-focused programs could be a viable lure to attract new customers who already want to switch to a non-U.S. browser.
