Quick Verdict
ProtonVPN Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Swiss jurisdiction (strongest privacy laws)
- Fully open-source apps (all independently audited)
- Free tier with no data limits
- Secure Core multi-hop servers
- Tor over VPN built-in
- NetShield ad/malware blocker
- Part of the Proton privacy ecosystem
Where It Falls Short
- Higher price than budget competitors ($4.49/mo)
- Limited streaming (Hulu and DAZN blocked)
- No Smart DNS feature
- Free tier limited to 5 countries
- Fewer servers than larger competitors
Speed & Performance
ProtonVPN retained 82% of our 487 Mbps baseline using WireGuard - delivering 399 Mbps download and 372 Mbps upload with just 13ms added latency. This ranks 4th in our ratings, offering competitive speeds that handle 4K streaming and gaming without issues.
The low latency (13ms added) is notable - second only to NordVPN (12ms). This makes ProtonVPN a solid choice for gaming despite not having the highest raw throughput.
Privacy & Security
ProtonVPN has the strongest privacy credentials of any VPN we've tested. Built by the team behind ProtonMail (the world's largest encrypted email service), it benefits from Swiss privacy laws - widely considered the strongest in the world.
All apps are fully open-source and were audited by Securitum in April 2024. Unlike most competitors, you can read every line of code yourself on GitHub.
Security Features
- Encryption: AES-256-GCM
- Kill Switch: All platforms (always-on option)
- Secure Core: Multi-hop through privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden)
- Tor over VPN: Built-in Tor access without Tor Browser
- NetShield: DNS-level ad, malware, and tracker blocker
- Open Source: All apps, independently audited
- Split Tunneling: Available on all platforms
- Swiss Jurisdiction: Strongest privacy laws, no surveillance alliances
Streaming & Unblocking
On paid plans, ProtonVPN unblocks 8 Netflix libraries, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. Hulu and DAZN are not supported. Streaming is only available on Plus plan servers - the free tier does not support streaming.
| Platform | Works? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Yes | 8 libraries (Plus plan) |
| Disney+ | Yes | Plus plan only |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | Plus plan only |
| Hulu | No | Not supported |
| Amazon Prime | Yes | Plus plan, HD quality |
| DAZN | No | Not supported |
Free Tier
ProtonVPN offers the only genuinely usable free VPN tier from a major provider. There are no data caps or bandwidth limits - you can use it indefinitely without paying. Limitations include:
- 5 country locations (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland)
- 1 device connection
- Medium speeds (free servers are more crowded)
- No streaming or P2P support
- No Secure Core or Tor over VPN
For basic privacy browsing and light use, the free tier is excellent and completely ad-free.
Pricing & Plans
ProtonVPN Plus (the full-featured plan) costs $4.49/month on the 2-year plan (55% off). While more expensive than budget options, it includes the Proton ecosystem integration and the strongest privacy features available.
ProtonVPN Pricing Plans
Server Network
ProtonVPN operates 4,500+ servers across 100+ countries. Secure Core servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden provide extra privacy for sensitive connections.
- Total servers: 4,500+
- Countries: 100+
- Secure Core servers: Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden
- Tor over VPN servers: Available
- P2P support: Plus plan servers
- Free tier servers: 5 countries, 100+ servers
If ProtonVPN Isn't Right for You
ProtonVPN is the best choice for privacy purists and open-source advocates. If you need faster speeds, better streaming, or a lower price:
Strong Alternatives to ProtonVPN
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Try NordVPNPIA
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Try Surfshark