Proton VPN review
The privacy benchmark: fully open-source, independently audited and based in Switzerland — and it's finally fast enough to be your everyday VPN, with a genuinely usable free plan on top.
- Fully open-source, independently audited
- Based in privacy-friendly Switzerland
- Genuine free plan with no data cap
- Unblocks Netflix, Disney+ and Max
- Best price needs the 2-year plan
How it scored, category by category
WireGuard with VPN Accelerator keeps ~85–90% of base speed on nearby servers.
Reliably unblocks 10+ Netflix regions plus Disney+, Max, Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
AES-256, open-source apps, Secure Core multi-hop, NetShield blocker and Stealth protocol.
A market-leading free plan, with paid plans that are fair over a 2-year term.
Who it's for — and who it isn't
- Privacy-first users who want open-source, audited apps
- Anyone in or travelling to a censored region (Stealth protocol)
- Streamers who also care about security
- People who want a real free VPN without ads or data selling
- Bargain hunters chasing the lowest possible monthly price
- Anyone who needs the cheapest rate without a long commitment
- Free-plan users who specifically need streaming
Pricing & plans
Proton VPN has a free tier plus paid VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited bundles. As with most VPNs, the long-term plan is far cheaper per month than paying monthly — and the headline price renews higher after the first term.
The free plan is genuinely usable: unlimited data, one device, and a handful of countries — but no streaming and slower speeds at peak times.
Note: the 2-year rate is an introductory price. It renews at a higher rate, and local tax/VAT may be added at checkout.
Speed & performance
Proton has closed the speed gap. On WireGuard with VPN Accelerator enabled, nearby servers held most of our base connection, and distant servers stayed usable for 4K and large downloads.
| Server region | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (same country) | 905 Mbps | 880 Mbps | 6 ms |
| Europe | 850 Mbps | 820 Mbps | 28 ms |
| US East | 720 Mbps | 610 Mbps | 92 ms |
| Asia (Japan) | 540 Mbps | 430 Mbps | 180 ms |
| Australia | 470 Mbps | 360 Mbps | 240 ms |
Streaming
Streaming is a strong point on paid plans. We loaded multiple Netflix regions, and the major platforms worked on the first or second server. The free plan does not support streaming.
No dedicated smart-DNS, but native apps for Android TV, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV cover most living-room setups.
Security
Security is where Proton is hard to beat. The apps are open-source and audited, encryption is industry-standard, and the extras (Secure Core, NetShield, Stealth) go beyond the basics.
- DNS leak test No leak
- IPv6 leak test No leak
- WebRTC leak test No leak
Privacy & logging
Proton's privacy story is its strongest asset: a transparent no-logs policy, repeated independent audits, open-source code anyone can inspect, and a jurisdiction outside the major surveillance alliances.
- Independent no-logs / app audits (repeated annually)
- SOC 2 Type II audit of the infrastructure
- Fully open-source apps on every platform
Servers & locations
The network is large and well distributed, including good coverage in regions many rivals neglect. Specialty servers cover streaming, P2P and high-security routing.
Feature checklist
Apps & ease of use
Apps are clean and consistent across platforms, with a server map and sensible defaults. There's a mild learning curve for the advanced features, but day-to-day use is simple.
Proton is a strong torrenting choice: P2P is supported on dedicated servers, speeds held up well, and port forwarding helps with connectivity.
Customer support
Support leans on a deep knowledge base and email/ticket help. Live chat is more limited than some rivals, but responses were accurate.
Alternatives to Proton VPN
Is Proton VPN worth it?
Proton VPN is the VPN we recommend first for anyone who takes privacy seriously. It is open-source, audited and Swiss-based, with security extras most rivals cannot match — and now it is quick enough and good enough at streaming to be your everyday VPN. The free plan is the best in the business. The only real trade-off is price: budget VPNs are cheaper month to month, and the best rate needs a 2-year commitment. For most people, that is a price worth paying.
Proton VPN FAQ
Is Proton VPN safe to use?+
Yes. It uses strong AES-256 encryption, its apps are open-source and independently audited, and it's based in privacy-friendly Switzerland with a no-logs policy.
Is the Proton VPN free plan any good?+
It's one of the best free VPNs: unlimited data and core security, limited to one device and a few locations, with no streaming and slower peak-time speeds.
Does Proton VPN work with Netflix?+
On paid plans, yes — it reliably unblocked 10+ Netflix regions plus Disney+, Max, Prime Video and BBC iPlayer in our testing. The free plan does not support streaming.
Does Proton VPN keep logs?+
No. Proton operates a no-logs policy that has been independently audited, and it doesn't store activity or identifying connection data.
How much does Proton VPN cost?+
Paid plans are cheapest on the 2-year term (about $4.49/mo here as a sample) and more on a monthly plan. There is also a free tier and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Reviewed by . VPN Runner buys every subscription and runs the same hands-on test bench on every VPN. Last updated June 2026.