Proton VPN Review
Verdict: Proton VPN earns 4.6/5 from 7,400 reviews, ranking #2 of 5 VPN tools we track. It suits Privacy purists best. Genuine free plan is its standout strength, while free tier limited servers is the main trade-off to weigh.
Our take on Proton VPN
Proton VPN comes from the makers of Proton Mail, with a strong privacy reputation, open-source apps, and the only reputable unlimited free plan.
Key features
- Unlimited free tier
- Secure Core
- Open-source apps
- No-logs (audited)
- Tor over VPN
Pros & cons
Pros
- Genuine free plan
- Strong privacy ethos
- Open source
Cons
- Free tier limited servers
- Fewer streaming optimizations
Who Proton VPN is for
A good fit if…
- • You are privacy purists.
- • Your use case is privacy & activism.
- • Your use case is free VPN.
- • Your use case is secure browsing.
- • Genuine free plan matters to you.
Look elsewhere if…
- • Free tier limited servers would be a dealbreaker.
- • Fewer streaming optimizations would be a dealbreaker.
Proton VPN pricing
Full pricing breakdown →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| VPN PlusPopular | $5/mo | $60 |
| Proton Unlimited | $10/mo | $120 |
How Proton VPN compares
| Measure | Proton VPN | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Starting price | Free | $5/mo |
| Rank by rating | #2 of 5 | — |
| Public API | No | 0 of 4 offer one |
Integrations
Alternatives to consider
All Proton VPN alternatives →Bottom line on Proton VPN
4.6/5 · Freemium · best for Privacy purists
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton VPN worth it?+
Proton VPN is rated 4.6/5 across 7,400 reviews and is best suited to Privacy purists. Genuine free plan is the standout strength; the main trade-off is free tier limited servers.
What do users like most about Proton VPN?+
Genuine free plan, Strong privacy ethos, Open source.
What are the downsides of Proton VPN?+
Free tier limited servers, Fewer streaming optimizations. Whether these matter depends on your use case — see who it is and isn't for above.
How much does Proton VPN cost?+
Proton VPN offers a free plan, with paid plans from $5/mo.
How does Proton VPN compare with other VPN tools?+
Among the 5 VPN tools we track, Proton VPN ranks #2 by rating (4.6/5 vs a 4.5/5 category average).
What is Proton VPN best used for?+
Privacy & activism, Free VPN, Secure browsing.