- Proton VPN iOS users get a map overhaul and smarter sorting
- Proton is also in the midst of a “speedrun” to fix the Linux and Mac UX
- After Windows and Android, Proton is steadily renewing all apps
Proton VPN has announced a new wave of updates across its iOS, macOS and Linux applications aimed at unifying the user experience and bringing its desktop and mobile apps in line with its top-tier Windows and Android offerings.
For users of one of the best VPN services on the market, the update addresses long-standing requests for more granular control. It follows a similar revamp released on Windows and Android apps in early February.
Historically, VPN providers prioritize Windows, often leaving Apple and Linux users with fewer interface features. However, Proton is now signaling a major shift in its development priorities to ensure no platform is left behind.
David Peterson, General Manager at Proton VPN, detailed the progress on social media, highlighting that the iPhone ecosystem has actually overtaken other platforms in specific design aspects.
Linux and Mac VPN apps are next in line as the company is “working hard to bring the UX” to the same level across all apps, Peterson said.
iOS app ‘jumps ahead’ of Android
The most immediate functional improvements are live for iOS users. In a move that highlights Proton’s focus on visual precision, Peterson noted that the iPhone app has been given a unique design polish that its Android sibling currently lacks.
“In fact, if you look closely, you’ll see that for iOS the map pin is on the city instead of the middle of the country like it is on Android,” Peterson explained. “So actually the iOS card has jumped ahead of Android at the moment.”
We are constantly working to bring the UX of our @ProtonVPN iOS, Mac and Linux apps up to the level we have for Windows and Android. Latest Quality of Life tweak for iOS: You can now find servers by city/state and sorted by load. pic.twitter.com/cqv3BZwVuB24 February 2026
The new tools focus on precision and performance:
- Grouping at city level: Available from version 7.1.0, users can now see map pins located exactly at the city location instead of a generic pin in the middle of a country.
- Server Load Sorting: Users can now “sort servers by load (not just name),” a feature rolled out in version 7.0.0 to help avoid overloaded servers.
- OS Requirements: Peterson clarified that version 7.0.0 and above require the minimum iOS 17 to function.
Linux ‘Speedrun’
While iPhone users enjoy immediate updates, the Linux community has been vocal about their platform’s “basic” and “terrible” UX. Acknowledging these frustrations, Peterson stated that the Linux ecosystem is currently getting the “speedrun” treatment to catch up.
The first major milestone in this process was the migration to the GTK4 framework, a technical shift vi reported on last month, allowing for a much smoother, more modern interface.
While the visual overhaul is still being polished “behind the scenes,” this framework update is the essential foundation for a user interface that will eventually match the sleek design of Proton’s other apps.
