ProtonVPN native app or manual IKEv2 set up
ProtonVPN native client app or use manually IKEv2 set up? Here are my stories on how I have experience with both of them. Which one you should use: ProtonVPN native app or manual IKEv2 set up?
Native app
Let’s start with the native app. That is, the app I can download, install and run on my Mac and Android phone.
Then, I can sign in with my ProtonVPN account and just choose the option to connect:
Things are so easy when I use the native app. Everything went smoothly until I decide to upgrade to the Basic plan.
Connection somehow is slowing down to the point it annoys me. It even feels slower than it was when I still used the Free plan.
Not sure what’s going on and this what leads me to search another way to connect into the ProtonVPN server: manual IKEv2 set up on my Mac.
Manual IKEv2 set up
In the beginning, it works much better with the Basic plan credential I have.
But over days, the problem comes again: it’s slowing down to the point I can’t use it anymore.
Once I downgraded back to Free tier, I keep using this manual IKEv2 set up on my MacOS Mojave.
It works nicely for months until yesterday. I keep getting an error about:
Usually, I wait for several minutes before I tried to connect again, and it works most of the time.
But lately, the problem keeps raising.
Because I don’t have more time to tinker with the setup, I switched back to the native app for Mac.
And then, everything works smoothly again.
Comparison
And here are the comparison of both sides. If you don’t have time to tinker, most likely the native app is the best way to go.
But if you do have time and you don’t like an additional VPN app on your Mac, manual IKEv2 set up maybe better for you.
ProtonVPN native app
Easy to setup
Need to install additional app on your Mac.
Have nice UI
Easily to switch among server
There’s option to start and connect to VPN right away after your Mac starts.
Consume more resources on your device
ProtonVPN manual IKEv2
Difficult to set up
No need to install anything
No UI
Hard to switch among server. Need to change it manually.
No option to start and connect to VPN. You need to connect it manually.
Less resources to consume because it’s a native VPN app.
Conclusion
Personally, I left both set up on my Mac so that when one is having a trouble I can switch to another one.
Because, as I observed so far, both of those ways to connect to their VPN server are not always free from problems.
There is also another way using OpenVPN. However, I haven’t explored this way since it also required me to install additional app.
With such requirement, I prefer to install the
ProtonVPN official native app.
No more on Android phone
I gave up on using it for my Android phone. It’s just a cheap phone so running the VPN app there keeps causing the phone’s temperature to rise.
And it raised to the point where it worries me.
Relating stories:
Problems that forced me to leave ProtonVPN for Mullvad
This purely based on my own experience with both VPN apps. Others may find it different because there are so many factors involved. Please keep in mind that Mullvad doesn’t have an affiliate program at the time I write this. This means I am not writing this to promote their service. The comparison may not be apple to applesince I compare ProtonVPN free plan with Mullvad paid plan. This because Mullvad service only has a flat price: 5 EUR per month.
My experience with ProtonVPN basic plan
First-hand experience with ProtonVPN “Basic” plan, which is not good. Though, ProtonVPN did keep their promise about their money back guarantee. It looks like it’s better to go with their Free plan or jump to their “Plus” plan as they indicated on their pricing page, “BEST OFFER”
If you ever consider using the paid version of ProtonVPN, I would suggest you choose at least the Plus plan. Here are why.
My experience with ProtonVPN Free plan
Several days ago, I wrote my story about using ProtonVPN 7-days trial for their Plus plan. As you may have read it, it was not smooth sailing through their support is very responsive to direct me solving the problem. So, here’s my experience with ProtonVPN Free plan. Not a bad one but it’s not very good either.
At that time, I decide to subscribe to their Plus or Basic plan once the trial ended.
My story using ProtonVPN
This story is purely based on my own experience using ProtonVPN service.
I am starting with their 7-days free trial, which gave me the trial for their Plus plan ($8/mo).
In short, I am really satisfied with their 7-days trials but will give a try their free tier plan first once my trial period ends.
It’s still two days before my trial ends, so I’ll tell the story I’ve gone through during this trial.
How to prevent ProtonVPN auto-connect
I’ve been using Proton VPN since last year. I even have tried three of the plans: Free, Basic, Plus. Yet, I’ve never been able to prevent the Proton VPN app to keep connected when I just started my Mac. I fully know that there is an Auto-Connect menu. As shown in the image on the left, I had set it to Disabled. So, here are what I do to prevent ProtonVPN auto-connect.
How to to VPN off on iPhone
As the terrain becomes further and further technological currently, with 5G super-fast internet speed and the frequency of live-streaming platforms, VPN will come the most important foundation. Occasionally when we install VPN on iPhone, we frequently can not find the entrance to turn it off, although VPN is accessible, occasionally when we do not need it, we can not get into the web runners that we can get into my normal network.
Most private VPN I’ve ever seen: Mullvad
Some days ago, when Proton VPN’s free servers were very slow to the point I couldn’t use it, I looked at my suggestion note for another VPN. Then, my eyes caught this Mullvad on that note. With no hesitation, I fired up Firefox and looked for more information about it on DuckDuckGo. Here’s why I consider it as the Most private VPN I’ve ever seen.
Based on Sweden If Proton VPN based on Switzerland, this Mullvad based in Sweden.
If your ISP blocked the VPN you used
What to do when your Internet Service Provider (ISP) blocked the VPN you used? Just one thing, don’t ask them about this since you will just tell them that you’re using VPN on their service and this most likely against their interest. So, what shall you do if your ISP blocked the VPN you used?
Joe just bought his VPN and he’s prepared to use it to surf the internet. But he’s disappointed to find that his connection is much slower, and often disconnected.
Do I really need a VPN?
Recently, I often notice some scams e-mail on my spam box.That scam e-mail is claiming that they know my old password I’ve used several years ago. In fact, I never used that password anymore ever since I’ve used a password manager. Do I really need a VPN?
Which can be the same question for everyone like me, including you.
Let’s find this out, based on my research, exploration, and a bit of… contemplation:
Things to know before using VPN
Here are some things to know, before you decide to use a VPN. Those things I wrote based on my own experience after using a VPN for a month. I used ProtonVPN, but those things I mentioned below can be applied to any VPN provider you used.
More hurdles when login to your account (only once) This will happen for the first time when you used a VPN. Some major sites like Google, Facebook, Twitter, or PayPal will ask you to verify your identity through some ways like asking your phone number or asking you to input the codes they sent to your phone.