Proton VPN
by Proton AG
Privacy-first VPN from the makers of ProtonMail.
Score
Score
Our verdict
Proton VPN is the most privacy-focused VPN on the market, backed by Swiss privacy laws, open-source apps, and the only major VPN offering a genuinely unlimited free tier with no data caps. It excels for privacy-conscious users. The main caveat is slower speeds on the free tier and fewer servers than NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Overview
Screenshot
Score breakdown
Overall score
Scores are editorial assessments by the Compare Best AI team on a 0–10 scale.
Expert review
CBAI Editorial Team
Compare Best AI · Editorial Team
Proton VPN stands out for its uncompromising privacy stance. Based in Switzerland (strong privacy laws), all apps are open-source and independently audited, and the company has a proven track record from ProtonMail. The free tier is genuinely unlimited — no data caps, no speed limits on free servers, and no ads.
How we tested
Days tested
30 days
Tasks evaluated
- ·Speed tests across 20 locations
- ·Free tier reliability
- ·Secure Core performance
- ·Streaming unblocking (Plus)
- ·Privacy audit review
- ·App stability
Method
Head-to-head with NordVPN and Surfshark on speed, privacy, and features
Reviewer
CBAI Editorial Team
Plans & pricing
Free
Anyone wanting basic VPN protection with no data limits
- Unlimited data
- 1 device
- Servers in 5 countries
- Medium speed
- No ads or tracking
- No streaming support
- No Secure Core
VPN Plus
Users wanting full VPN with streaming and advanced features
- 9,000+ servers
- 110+ countries
- 10 devices
- Highest speed
- Streaming support
- Secure Core
- NetShield
- P2P support
Proton Unlimited
Users wanting complete Proton privacy suite
- Everything in VPN Plus
- ProtonMail (encrypted email)
- Proton Drive (encrypted storage)
- Proton Calendar
- Proton Pass (password manager)
Pricing may vary by region. Always verify on the vendor's website.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Proton VPN | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy | |||
| Open-source apps | |||
| Swiss jurisdiction | |||
| Secure Core (multi-hop) | |||
| Free | |||
| Unlimited free tier | |||
| Features | |||
| Ad/malware blocker | |||
| Speed | |||
| Fastest connections | |||
| Pricing | |||
| Free tier available | |||
Is it right for you?
Good fit for
Privacy advocates
Swiss-based, open-source, audited no-logs — the most transparent VPN available.
Free VPN seekers
Only major VPN with truly unlimited free tier — no data caps, no speed throttling, no ads.
Journalists and activists
Secure Core routes through privacy-friendly countries; Tor over VPN for maximum anonymity.
Proton ecosystem users
Proton Unlimited bundles VPN with encrypted email, drive, calendar, and password manager.
Less suited for
Maximum speed seekers
NordVPN and ExpressVPN generally deliver faster speeds, especially on distant servers.
Streaming-first users
Free tier doesn't support streaming; NordVPN and Surfshark are more reliable for Netflix/BBC iPlayer.
Users wanting most servers
NordVPN has 7,000+ servers; Proton VPN Plus has 9,000+ but free tier is limited to 5 countries.
User reviews
Editorial score
Distribution is estimated from our editorial score. Verified user reviews coming soon.
Use cases
Typical ways teams rely on this tool — from everyday tasks to specialized workflows.
- Online Privacy
- Censorship Bypass
- Secure Browsing
- Streaming
- Journalism
- Activism
Integrations
Reported connectors
Apps and services commonly connected out of the box or via official connectors.
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
- Chrome Extension
- Firefox Extension
- Routers
Privacy & compliance
Security & data practices
Highlights we track from the vendor's documentation. Always confirm current terms, subprocessors, and regional policies on their official site.
- GDPR-ready
- Data not used for training
- SSO/SAML
Details
Category
Price
- Free (unlimited)
- VPN Plus $4.99/mo (2yr)
- Proton Unlimited $7.99/mo (2yr)
Free version
Best for
- Privacy-first VPN use
- Free VPN access
- Secure browsing with strong trust posture
Frequently asked questions
Proton VPN
Security & IT
Ready to get started?
Visit the Proton VPN website to explore plans and start your free trial.
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