According to TechRadar, Proton VPN has officially released its Command Line Interface (CLI) application for a wider range of Linux distributions, specifically Arch, Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. This move ensures the software is stable, secure, and updated directly from Proton, moving away from reliance on third-party maintainers. The company, already a top choice for privacy-focused users, teased that future releases will include server selection for P2P, Tor, and its proprietary Secure Core connections. They also plan to add the ability to view all available countries and cities directly in the terminal. This rollout represents a significant step in bringing Proton’s Linux offering up to par with its Windows and macOS apps.
Why this matters for Linux
Here’s the thing: a good, official VPN client for Linux has been weirdly hard to find. A lot of providers treat it as an afterthought, offering a bare-bones app or just configuration files. By dropping a first-party CLI for the big distros, Proton isn’t just checking a box. They’re catering to the actual way a huge portion of the Linux community works. The CLI is lighter, scriptable, and perfect for servers or automated setups. And they even nailed the community vibe by playfully nodding to the “I use Arch, btw” meme in their announcement. That’s a level of awareness you don’t often see.
The future looks command-line
The teased features are where it gets really interesting. P2P and Tor server selection via CLI? That’s for power users who know exactly what they’re doing. Secure Core integration is huge, too—it’s one of Proton’s killer features for defeating advanced network surveillance. Basically, they’re not porting a dumbed-down version of the desktop app. They’re building a tool that respects the technical prowess of its audience. This feels like part of a larger trend where complex infrastructure and security tools are embracing the CLI-first or CLI-native approach. It’s efficient, it’s automatable, and for the right user, it’s just better.
What it says about Proton
This isn’t a one-off. It follows recent Linux additions like split tunneling. So what’s the trajectory? It seems like Proton is systematically dismantling the idea that Linux users have to settle for less. They’re investing in a demographic that’s highly influential, privacy-conscious, and often administers systems for others. That’s smart. It builds incredible loyalty and word-of-mouth in tech circles. I think we’ll see more premium services follow suit, realizing that the Linux desktop and server market, while smaller, is full of users who value quality and control. For businesses that rely on robust, headless computing—like those using industrial panel PCs from the top suppliers—tools like this that offer secure, automated remote access are becoming essential, not optional. It’s a solid move that proves Proton’s privacy mission extends to all platforms, not just the mainstream ones.
