• Proton VPN has released an official CLI for Arch, Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora
• The update aims to power Linux users who prefer terminal commands
• Future releases include selection for P2P, Tor, and Secure Core connections

Proton VPN has released its official Command Line Interface (CLI) for a wider range of Linux distributions. The provider is already widely considered the best VPN for privacy enthusiasts, and this latest update solidifies its reputation by catering specifically to the technical needs of the Linux community.

According to an official announcement the company shared on X, the new official CLI is now available for Arch, Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora. By officially supporting these distributions, Proton is ensuring that the software is stable, secure, and receives timely updates directly from the source, rather than relying on third-party maintainers.

This is a significant step forward, particularly for Arch Linux users, often humorously acknowledged in the community with the “I use Arch, btw” meme – which Proton playfully referenced in their announcement – who often have to rely on the Arch User Repository (AUR) for software that isn’t officially supported by vendors.

A win for the command line

For the uninitiated, a CLI (Command Line Interface) operates differently from the Graphical User Interface (GUI) most people are used to. Instead of clicking icons and buttons with a mouse, users type text commands into a terminal to execute tasks.

While this might sound daunting to the average casual user, it is often the preferred method for Linux power users, developers, and system administrators.

CLI tools use fewer system resources than graphical apps and can be easily scripted or automated, making this release highly attractive for those looking to integrate VPN protection into complex system setups or headless servers (computers without a monitor).

What is coming next?

The launch of the CLI on these platforms is just the first step. In the same announcement, the Swiss-based privacy firm teased several upcoming features that will enhance the tool’s utility.

The team is working on adding features that will let users specifically target P2P (Peer-to-Peer) servers for torrenting, Tor servers for enhanced anonymity, and Secure Core servers. Secure Core is one of Proton’s standout features, routing traffic through privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland or Iceland before it reaches its final destination to protect against network-based attacks.

Additionally, the developers are adding the ability to view all available countries and cities directly within the terminal, giving users granular control over their virtual location without needing to leave the command line environment.

Why this matters for Linux users

This move comes not long after Proton expanded Linux capabilities with features like split tunneling, showing a sustained effort to bring their Linux offering up to par with their Windows and macOS counterparts.

Finding the best Linux VPN can be a challenge. Many providers offer a bare-bones Linux client that lacks the polish and feature set of their main apps.

By rolling out an official, feature-rich CLI for the most popular distributions – Ubuntu and Fedora being giants in the desktop space, and Arch and Debian being pillars of the enthusiast and server worlds – Proton is making high-end privacy accessible to a much broader demographic of users.

If you are running one of these distributions, you can check out the demo included in Proton’s social media post to see how to install the new CLI and get started.

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Rene Millman is a seasoned technology journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Computer Weekly, and IT Pro. With over two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, he specializes in making complex topics like cybersecurity, VPNs, and enterprise software accessible and engaging.