The Bottom Line
- Price
- From $4.99/mo (free plan available). Compare plans
Key facts
- Swiss-based VPN with strict no-logs policy verified by independent audit and 17,300+ servers in 127 countries
- Secure Core routes traffic through hardened data centers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden
- Open-source apps with AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and Stealth protocol to bypass censorship
Pros
- Secure VPN
- Swiss-based
- Good privacy
- Free tier
- Active development
Cons
- Slower than some
- Limited free servers
- Expensive premium
- Server availability
- Better alternatives exist
What is Proton VPN?
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome, Android, iOS
Ratings Across the Web
Proton VPN holds an aggregate rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 41,014 reviews across G2 and SourceForge, last checked May 29, 2026.
What people say
“I have experienced occasional crashes when using ProtonVPN on my MacBook, which can be frustrating.” via G2
“Easy to use, rock solid connection and good amount of locations to use.” via SourceForge
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
- Encrypted VPN
- No-logs policy
- Secure core servers
- Kill switch
- Split tunneling
- Free tier available
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Oct 11, 2026
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic VPN
+1 more Show less
|
| VPN Plus | $4.99/month | Full VPN
+1 more Show less
|
| Proton Unlimited | $9.99/month | Full suite
+1 more Show less
|
Is Proton VPN worth the price?
The free tier is genuinely usable, unlimited data with no ads, which no other major VPN matches.
VPN Plus delivers 18,700+ servers across 130+ countries, Secure Core multi-hop routing, and NetShield ad blocking, all wrapped in open-source audited apps.
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Monthly pricing ($9.99/month) is 3.3x more expensive than the 2-year rate. Casual users testing the service for a few months pay a significant premium.
Renewal pricing reverts to standard rates after promotional periods. Check your renewal price before your term ends, it may be higher than your initial sign-up rate.
The free plan limits you to 1 device and servers in only 5 countries (Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, US) with medium speed. Streaming services are not supported on the free tier.
No dedicated IP option. If you need a static IP for accessing corporate networks or whitelisting, Proton VPN does not currently offer this, NordVPN and others do.
How Proton VPN's pricing compares
At $4.99/mo, billing unit not specified, Proton VPN is mid-range of its 6 comparable direct competitors ($2.19 to $8/mo across the set).
Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Oct 11, 2026.
Reviews
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Across 41,014 verified user reviews on SourceForge, G2
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Best Proton VPN Alternatives
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Still deciding?
Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.
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Proton VPN FAQ
How does Proton VPN ensure user privacy?
Which teams would benefit most from using Proton VPN?
How is Proton VPN priced?
What kind of trade-offs should users consider with Proton VPN?
Can Proton VPN be used for secure browsing and data protection?
How does Proton VPN compare to NordVPN regarding server access?
Source: protonvpn.com