- Proton releases an update to its Linux GUI VPN app in beta
- Proton VPN Linux CLI app also got an upgrade
- CLI users can choose between a stable and a beta update
Proton VPN has announced a significant push to modernize its Linux offerings.
The Swiss-based company has confirmed that a complete interface overhaul is in the works, while simultaneously dropping a massive feature update for command-line users.
For those relying on the best VPN for privacy, this is a welcome signal that the Linux ecosystem remains a top priority. While the provider has spent the last year bringing its Windows and Mac apps to new heights, the Linux VPN client is now getting the "speedrun" treatment to close the gap.
A fresh face for Linux GUI
David Peterson, General Manager at Proton VPN, took to social media to confirm that the company has heard the community's feedback loud and clear.
"With the speedrun of additional features added to the ProtonVPN Linux (GUI) client in recent roadmap cycles, most requests are now for a (overdue) GUI refresh," Peterson stated. "Work has been progressing on this behind the scenes, with the first milestone hit last week."
With the speedrun of additional features added to the @ProtonVPN Linux (GUI) client in recent roadmap cycles, most requests are now for a (overdue) GUI refresh.Work has been progressing on this behind the scenes, with the first milestone hit last week:https://t.co/QK4XT6m6AC pic.twitter.com/5fuySP79q8January 25, 2026
That "first milestone" has been identified in the official release notes as a major under-the-hood update for the Linux GUI beta (version 4.14.0).
The app has officially been updated to GTK4, a modern toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. While the release notes clarify that "the visual appearance remains unchanged" for now, this architectural shift is critical.
It "refreshes the underlying framework and paves the way for future UI enhancements," effectively building the foundation upon which the new, modern look will sit.
Power to the terminal
While the graphical update is setting the stage for the future, the immediate value for power users lies in the Command Line Interface (CLI).
"For non-GUI-enjoyers, we are also rapidly fleshing out the features for the Proton VPN Linux CLI that we relaunched last year," Peterson added.
According to the latest release notes, these updates are split between the stable and beta channels, addressing some of the biggest pain points for terminal users:
- Stable Release (v0.1.4): Users can now "browse available countries and cities to find your preferred location," rather than just selecting countries. This update also adds "improved server selection," allowing direct connections to specialized P2P, Secure Core, and Tor servers.
- Beta Release (v0.1.5): For those on the bleeding edge, the CLI beta channel has added support for a comprehensive list of configuration settings. These include "anonymous crash reports, custom DNS, IPv6, kill switch, NAT type, NetShield Ad-blocker, port-forwarding, and VPN accelerator."
Why this matters
This dual-pronged approach, modernizing the GUI framework for general users while supercharging the CLI for sysadmins, reinforces Proton’s standing in the open-source community.
Unlike competitors that often treat Linux as an afterthought, Proton has consistently pushed for better security by killing off legacy configurations and ensuring its Linux apps are officially supported on more distros.
For current users, the instruction is simple: if you are a CLI user, update your package via your terminal to pull the latest feature set. If you prefer the graphical app, you can test the new GTK4 framework via the beta repos, though the visual facelift is still to come.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
Source: TechRadar
