Proton VPN stands out for two main reasons: it’s one of the only virtual private networks (VPNs) to include a free plan with no data limits, and it’s one of the few services majority-owned by a nonprofit. It’s the best VPN in both of those categories, and it makes a strong case for being the best overall.
Even if you don’t care about the work of the Proton Foundation, Proton VPN is a service worth using. It’s easy to install and manage, runs like the wind and meets high standards for security and privacy. It has more IP locations in Africa than any of its competitors. It’s even looking toward the future by working toward full IPv6 support.
In short, Proton VPN gets our enthusiastic recommendation, especially for torrenting (which it supports on almost every server). It’s not perfect — the apps for Apple systems lag behind their Windows and Android counterparts, and the free servers can be noticeably sluggish — but the cons pale in comparison to the pros. We’ll get into it all below.
Proton VPN is a superlative service that’s proven itself willing to fight for your privacy — plus, it unblocks Netflix and keeps your internet fast.
- Keeps internet speeds fast
- Physically secured data centers
- Free plan with unlimited data
- High proportion of virtual server locations
- Live chat support only for paid users
Table of contents
Findings at a glance
The table summarizes what we found while reviewing Proton VPN, both good and bad. Keep it open in a tab while you comparison shop for a VPN.
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Category |
Notes |
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Installation and UI |
Windows has the best interface, but all apps are smooth Android users get unique preset protocols Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox can be used for split tunneling on Mac and iOS |
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Speed |
Retains 88 percent of download speeds and 98 percent of upload speeds Global latency average stays under 300 ms, with 52 ms on the fastest server |
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Security |
No DNS leaks or WebRTC leaks on any servers Full IPv6 support is available on Android, Linux and browser extensions; Mac, Windows and iOS still block IPv6 to prevent leaks WireShark test showed active packet encryption |
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Pricing |
Best plan costs $81.36 for two years ($3.39 per month) Free plan includes unlimited data and critical security features, but you can’t choose your server |
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Bundles |
Proton Unlimited saves money if you want two or more Proton products |
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Privacy policy |
General Proton policy prevents collection of IP addresses unless a user has violated the terms of service (such as by using a Proton VPN… |