ProtonVPN Review

ProtonVPN comes from a team with a strong privacy pedigree, and it shows. Open-source apps, a genuinely usable free plan, and Secure Core routing make it the pick for people who put privacy first.

#4 overall Best for privacy 4.5 illustrative $4.99/mo on a 2-year plan

The privacy purist's choice — with a real free tier.

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Placeholder data: the rating, prices, and specs in this review are illustrative only and do not reflect real measurements or current offers.

Servers

3,000+

Countries

70+

Devices

10

Logging

No-logs (open source)

Streaming

Good

Speed

Fast

Kill switch

Yes

Why privacy fans love it

Proton's apps are open source and independently audited, so anyone can inspect how they work. Its Secure Core feature routes your traffic through privacy-friendly locations before it leaves the network.

Speed and streaming

Paid speeds were fast in our impressions and good enough for streaming on the higher-tier servers. The free plan is slower and limited to a few countries, but it is honest and has no data cap.

Security and privacy

Alongside the no-logs policy you get a kill switch, strong protocols, and the rare reassurance of code you can actually read. It is the most transparency-focused option on our list.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Open-source, audited apps
  • Genuinely useful free plan with no data cap
  • Secure Core for extra-private routing
  • Strong, transparency-first reputation
  • Based under privacy-friendly laws

Cons

  • Streaming is good, not best-in-class
  • Top speeds need higher-tier servers
  • Interface is more utilitarian

ProtonVPN pricing

Illustrative plans — longer terms cost less per month.

Free

$0

Limited servers, no data cap

Monthly

$9.99 / mo

Most flexible

2-year

$4.99 / mo

Best value

Our verdict

4.5 illustrative Best for privacy

ProtonVPN is the choice when privacy is the whole point. The open-source apps and free tier set it apart, even if streaming is a small step behind the leaders.