Vivaldi Bakes Proton VPN Into Browser To Boost Privacy

Vivaldi has become the latest browser to include a virtual private network (VPN) option with its product, working with Proton VPN to up user privacy.

Activating the VPN will, according to Vivaldi, provide "a truly private online experience with no surveillance, combining Proton VPN battle-tested security features and strict no-logs policy with Vivaldi's built-in tracker/ad blocker and private browser."

The feature currently applies only to the desktop browser.

That said, to access these privacy feature, a Vivaldi or Proton account is required, and customers will only gain access to the free version of Proton VPN's service. According to Proton, this means "medium" VPN speed and connection to servers in five randomly selected countries. Paying for the VPN Plus option equates to higher speeds and access to more than 11,000 servers across more than 110 countries.

Still, it may be a convenient option for users who would prefer not to have to fiddle around with a VPN client outside the browser.

As for the need for a login, a Vivaldi spokesperson told The Register: "Users need to log in with a Vivaldi account (or a Proton account) to access this feature. This is also true for services like Vivaldi Sync. The reason we require an account to access these services is to avoid fraudulent usage of the services we offer for free to our users."

Vivaldi is not the first company to offer in-browser access to a VPN. Microsoft, for example, has Edge Secure Network VPN for its Edge browser, although it only provides 5 GB of free VPN data protection each month and does not allow customers to select a specific region or location for their traffic to route from. It also does not route streaming sites, such as Netflix, through the service "to conserve your VPN data limit."

How very thoughtful.

The Vivaldi spokesperson acknowledged: "Browsers with built-in VPN usually provide a good way to protect users web browsing from snoopers."

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Even so, the spokesperson added that many "won't deliver the security, performance or unblocking abilities of the best VPNs, such as Proton VPN. They are often simple proxies, giving users a new IP address but do not encrypt users' traffic."

Microsoft is also one of the US tech giants, and Vivaldi's agreement with Switzerland-based Proton VPN is a clear statement of intent aimed at users looking elsewhere.

David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, said: "Consumers around the world are fed up with Big Tech's data collection, the problem is they haven't until recently had an alternative.

"Europe is perfectly placed to offer that alternative and this is what companies like Proton and Vivaldi are building." He claimed: "Together, Proton VPN and Vivaldi are setting a new standard that challenges the dominance of tech giants, providing a viable European alternative that helps people retake control of their digital lives."

Proton VPN is operated by the same company behind the encrypted email service, Proton Mail. The business found itself in hot water in 2024 after complying with a legal request to hand over the recovery email address for a Proton Mail account.

The VPN service is open source. Traffic is encrypted using AES-256 or ChaCha20.

Tatsuki Tomita, COO and co-founder at Vivaldi, claimed: "While innovation drives technology forward, we believe ethics must guide its path. We [Proton and Vivaldi] believe private and secure browsing isn't a luxury but a fundamental right for everyone. Together, we're creating solutions that prioritize users above all else, uphold higher ethical standards, and empower people to break free from tech giants who don't share these values." ®