ProtonVPN Review

ProtonVPN Plans

It does not matter how many additional features a VPN offers if the price doesn’t suit your budget, so we considered all of the subscription plans as part of this ProtonVPN review. ProtonVPN operates a tier subscription system that includes four different plans: ProtonVPN Free, ProtonVPN Basic, ProtonVPN Plus, and ProtonVPN Visionary.

ProtonVPN Free Plan: ProtonVPN’s free service gives users access to one VPN connection on a single device, ProtonVPN servers in three server locations (the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands), and a limited medium connection speed (its higher speeds are reserved for paying customers).

The ProtonVPN free version does not include advanced features such as P2P or BitTorrent support, access to the ProtonVPN secure core servers, use of the ProtonVPN Tor server, or the ability to unlock blocked content.

It does offer a lot more than most other free VPN plans. However, it is important to note as part of this review that it is significantly limited compared to the paid versions and is likely not adequate for users who require fast connection speeds and sophisticated features.

ProtonVPN Basic Plan: ProtonVPN’s basic plan is slightly less limited than the free version. It offers access to two simultaneous connections and servers in 50 countries. Unlike the free option, ProtonVPN Basic utilizes high-speed connections. It also includes ProtonVPN’s no-log policy, P2P/BitTorrent support and is free from ads.

This plan is still somewhat limited and does not include Proton’s SecureCore VPN servers, Tor server, or access to restricted content.

• ProtonVPN Basic Plan: $4 a month or $48 a year (save $12)

ProtonVPN Plus Plan: We recommend ProtonVPNs Plus for the most cost-effective plan. With Plus, you will gain a higher speed connection, simultaneous connections for up to 5 devices, and access to servers in 50 countries. This option features P2P file sharing/BitTorrent support, SecureCore VPN servers, Tor server, and access to restricted content.

While it may not be the cheapest VPN plan available, it is a relatively good deal considering the number of advanced features.

• ProtonVPN Plus Plan: $8 a month or $96 a year (save $96)

ProtonVPN Visionary Plan: This plan comes in at an eye-watering $24 a month, making it one of the most expensive VPN plans on the market. This version will give you access to all of the features of Plus with the addition of ProtonMail, Proton’s encrypted mail provider. Users can also connect up to 10 devices on this plan.

While these additional features may not be necessary for everyone, they may be a good choice for journalists or activists who require extra protection.

• ProtonVPN Visionary Plan $24 a month or $288 a year (save $72)

Each of the ProtonVPN paid subscription plans come with a limited 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is ProtonVPN Trustworthy?

The VPN market is known to host untrustworthy and even dangerous providers, so it is understandable to wonder whether ProtonVPN can be trusted. As part of our review, we considered whether ProtonVPN is completely safe and trustworthy.

When looking for a VPN, it can easily become overwhelming to sort through endless amounts of information, including fake reviews. However, a few factors make ProtonVPN more trustworthy than many of its competitors, which are important to consider as part of our ProtonVPN review.

Proton has an extensive track record in the security industry, as it is also behind the popular encrypted mail provider, ProtonMail. Their mail service works to protect activists and journalists worldwide. The Swiss-based provider is committed to providing user privacy and anonymity. Users choose Proton because they want to keep their identity and personal information safe online.

The company decided to launch ProtonVPN to create a service that was free of malware and adware. Many VPN companies profit by selling user data to third parties, rendering them a threat to the users they claim to protect. However, Proton does not.

It is also important to point out during this review that the company’s strict no-logs policy is backed up by independent audits. It is proven that Proton has a good history when it comes to protecting rather than misusing customer information. So, you can trust that Proton will not sell your data to third parties for profit.

However, it is important to note as part of this review that ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, and the government may ask for data for anti-terrorist purposes. Also, U.S. intelligence agencies are at work in the country, and it appears that the company may be forced to hand over data should it be requested. The only data stored by Proton is session timestamps, so the company would only be able to offer this information.

The company is also largely more transparent than most of its competitors. Its company base, headquarters address, statutes, and directors are all available on the public record, freely checked at the Swiss commercial register. The names of team leaders, office locations, law enforcement data, and funding sources are also publicly available.

ProtonVPN is committed to its transparent code. Therefore, all of its VPN apps are open-source on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. Its apps have also been audited by an independent company, further adding to the level of transparency. Audits help Proton to identify and resolve any potential issues or weaknesses in their products.

ProtonVPN provides a higher level of privacy protection compared to many of its competitors.

Is ProtonVPN Free Safe?

When it comes to VPNs, there may be weaknesses in protocols that can cause data leakages. Even the most sophisticated protocols, such as OpenVPN, are not completely immune to such issues. ProtonVPN’s apps are open-source, meaning that their protocols can be freely checked for issues or defects. This makes sure that privacy issues are identified and solved relatively quickly.

ProtonVPN offers an extensive range of high-quality privacy features to ensure your personal information and identity are kept safe online. Your IP address is hidden from hackers and your ISP through encryption, and it is further protected by integrated DNS leak-protection.

With ProtonVPN, your identity and data are securely protected with advanced, industry-standard AES-256 encryption, as well as 4096-bit RSA key exchange. The VPN also offers a split tunneling feature on Android and Windows. Split tunneling works by sending your internet data through two encrypted tunnels.

Also, the VPN’s Perfect Forward Secrecy addition secures every connection by creating a new encryption key every time your device connects to a different server. So, even if one encryption key were decrypted or compromised, all of your personal data from past connections would remain secure and safe.

Proton uses OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec protocols. While it does not support such an extensive range of secure VPN protocols as some of its competitors, its use is extremely safe.

Additionally, ProtonVPN’s unique Secure Core servers automatically send your data through an encrypted VPN tunnel made up of multiple server locations in a range of privacy-friendly locations, such as Switzerland, Sweden, and Iceland, before it reaches its end connection. This feature offers an extra layer of protection for your personal data, changing your IP address several times.

That ProtonVPN owns its Secure Core servers is a significant security advantage. In most cases, VPN servers are located in places that cannot be accessed by the provider itself. Proton’s own servers are kept in a former military base in Switzerland, ensuring that they remain secure.

The client also includes a kill switch feature which ensures that your IP address will not be leaked should your connection fail. As soon as your server connection is lost, the kill switch will activate and lock the network, suspending unencrypted data transfer. Without a kill switch, if you were to lose your connection while downloading a file, your ISP would be able to see your activity and the data you were downloading.

Does ProtonVPN Log User Data?

It is important to point out as part of this review that ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which is an extremely privacy-friendly country. The company has a strong commitment to delivering complete privacy and anonymity to its users. Their no-logs policy is clear and transparent and is reinforced by Swiss law.

Unlike many other countries, Switzerland does not demand that data related to user internet activity is stored. Therefore, no information regarding your internet connection, browsing sessions, IP location, or activity is tracked or stored by ProtonVPN.

The only data that is stored by ProtonVPN is the email address and payment details that you used when you signed up, support queries, issue reports, as well as your payment information. However, this data is encrypted and locally stored on Proton’s secure servers, and when you delete your account, all of this data will be deleted.

When researching for this review, we noticed that for complete anonymity when signing up to the VPN, Proton recommends utilizing their encrypted mail provider. When signing up for the free option, no payment details are required. For the other plans, you can choose to pay anonymously with Bitcoin. If you decide to pay with PayPal or your credit card, your details will be processed by a third party, and Proton will not have access to your billing information.

If you require a further commitment to anonymity and privacy, consider using ProtonVPN’s Tor option instead of a VPN. This will give you access to the Tor network without it being necessary to download and install the Tor browser. Tor provides extra server connections between your actual IP address and your final server, keeping your internet activity completely hidden.

ProtonVPN appears to be one of the safest providers available. The company specializes in internet privacy, meaning that you can trust the VPNs commitment to user privacy and safety.

Is ProtonVPN Better than NordVPN?

ProtonVPN and NordVPN are typically considered two of the best VPN providers, but how do you choose the right one for you?

Upload/ Download Speed

Neither NordVPN nor ProtonVPN provides the option to choose a protocol to optimize speeds. However, according to a speed test, NordVPN offers significantly higher internet speed than ProtonVPN, making it the better choice for streaming content in high definition and without buffering.

As part of the upload/download speed test results that we carried out for this ProtonVPN review, we noticed that ProtonVPN was shown to reduce internet speeds by up to 42%, which is a lot more than a reduction of just 19% with NordVPN. Additionally, NordVPN’s server connections are generally considered to be more consistent and reliable.

If you are looking for a provider for streaming purposes, a provider with a higher download speed will be preferable so that you can watch your favorite streaming sites, such as Netflix, in high definition.

Servers

NordVPN is known for its extensive range of servers and has more than most other VPNs on the market. So, it is expected that ProtonVPN has a much smaller range of servers.

ProtonVPN has expanded its range of servers in recent years and now offers 1,077 in 54 countries worldwide. Its servers are successful at unblocking streaming websites such as the United States and United Kingdom Netflix libraries, unlike many competitors who struggle to unblock such sites.

NordVPN is successful at unblocking streaming sites around the world and offers extremely reliable connections for streaming.

It is a good idea to choose a service with a range of servers in lots of locations. This means that no particular server becomes overwhelmed or congested because of a high number of users.

Customer Service

Both providers offer helpful guides on their websites. However, unlike NordVPN, ProtonVPN does not offer live chat support. The only way you can find an answer to your queries is through the troubleshooting guide on their website or via their email service.

Therefore, NordVPN offers superior customer service through its instant live-chat support 24/7, as you can contact them at any time in case an issue arises.

Ease of use

Setting up an account with NordVPN is quick and easy. After signing up, you can log in and connect to a server by selecting one from the main map. Nord offers a range of options to customize your experience. You can choose to activate different features to suit your needs. Despite the range of advanced features, the app remains user-friendly even for beginner VPN users.

ProtonVPN’s account setup is just as easy. Their apps are beautifully designed and easy to use. The client opens to reveal a server location map, enabling you to connect to your chosen server easily.

Proton usefully offers various profiles with settings, servers, and features to suit different needs. These profiles will allow you to quickly connect to a particular server depending on your desired task, whether streaming or office work. The profiles will be saved for you to use again and again.

Pricing

ProtonVPN offers a limited free plan which is surprisingly good for a free version. The plan comes with access to all of Proton’s basic security features, such as its no-log policy and kill-switch. However, it is limited to just 1 simultaneous connection and access to only 3 servers.

Proton’s paid plans are available from just $4 per month and include access to 5 simultaneous connections. There is only a limited 30-day money-back guarantee; however, you do have the option of testing the service with the free plan.

NordVPN’s most cost-effective plan will come in at just $2.99 per month, making it one of the cheapest high-quality VPN subscriptions available.

Privacy

One of the main purposes of installing VPN services is for the security and privacy they offer us. Both NordVPN and ProtonVPN have transparent no-log policies and good track records when it comes to protecting user privacy.

Conclusion

It is hard to outdo NordVPN when it comes to pricing. However, there is a range of factors when it comes to choosing a VPN service. We would still recommend ProtonVPN, and it is definitely worth considering for its free plan, as well as its excellent privacy policy.

Is ProtonVPN Good for Tor?

The Tor network is integrated into the ProtonVPN system. The Tor security feature is only available to paying ProtonVPN customers and is not part of the free option.

Tor is a free, worldwide network that enables users to browse the dark web privately and anonymously. However, it is important to remain cautious if you decide to do so. No matter what privacy tools you utilize, there is no way to remain completely secure on the internet. Even advanced Tor servers are not 100% immune to cyber threats.

However, using Tor through ProtonVPN is a good option if you require high levels of security. Connecting to Tor over VPN with ProtonVPN is easy. Choose a Tor over VPN server available in specific countries, and your data will be rerouted through the Tor service.

To select Tor over VPN, all you need to do is click on a Tor server on your chosen device. Open the ProtonVPN website client and search the location list until you find a server that supports Tor (this is indicated with an onion symbol). Select the chosen country and click to connect. Once the connection is made, you are ready to browse via Tor.

You can also connect to the Tor server via the ProtonVPN app, in the same way that you would connect to any other VPN server.

Is ProtonVPN Compatible with All of My Devices?

Depending on the subscription plan you choose, the number of simultaneous device connections will vary. ProtonVPN’s free plan will give you access to just one connection on a single device. However, if you are looking for online security on more devices, ProtonVPN’s Basic tier offers 2 device connections; the Plus plan allows protection for 5 devices, while the Visionary plan grants 10 simultaneous device connections. We considered the provider’s compatibility with a range of devices as part of our ProtonVPN review.

ProtonVPN is compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems. However, there is no ProtonVPN app for your Smart TV or gaming console, restricting your options when it comes to online protection while gaming and streaming.

Proton’s mobile and desktop clients are well-designed and simple to use. Although the company’s main focus is privacy and advanced technologies, the VPN has a range of useful features and is extremely user-friendly.

The desktop client opens to reveal a slim window, reflective of their mobile app. There is a clear connection button, ensuring you can start browsing safely with a single click. The app also shows a list of servers, allowing you to change your VPN location easily. There is a simple switch to view the Secure Core servers. A small arrow at the top of the screen reveals Proton’s server map.

The ProtonVPN app also enables you to set Profiles for specific tasks. Two default profiles are already available for connections to the fastest server as well as a random server. You can create profiles for various needs by choosing a location, a specific server location, or even a secure core server. Your new profile can be named and marked with a color.

The VPN is available on most browsers, including Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. However, it is not compatible with the older browser, Internet Explorer.

The ProtonVPN app is quick and simple to download and install. Once the client is downloaded, most of the settings will already be optimized, so you can begin to browse safely almost immediately. Upon installation, Proton offers a user guide, which is great for beginner users.

Proton’s apps and clients are now available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese, ensuring more users can use the service in their native languages.

Is ProtonVPN Good for Streaming?

Although ProtonVPN’s main priority is to provide the highest levels of security and privacy, many users opt for a VPN that will unblock streaming websites such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer. So, how does ProtonVPN fair when it comes to unblocking these sites?

Accessing geo-blocked content through a VPN works by masking your IP address. Many users change their apparent location by using a VPN to access Netflix libraries in different countries.

ProtonVPN is generally successful at unblocking sites including YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and even the more troublesome BBC iPlayer. When testing Proton as part of our review, we noticed that it might be necessary to try several servers before finding one that grants you access to your desired site.

However, ProtonVPN does not offer the same VPN download speed that other services such as NordVPN. Thus, you may encounter some occasional buffering and be unable to stream in high definition with Proton. This unblocking feature is only available with Proton’s Plus plan. Streaming is not possible with free or basic Proton plans.

It is also important to note in this review that Netflix and other sites are constantly enhancing their VPN blocking technologies, meaning that some VPN servers are blocked by the sites. In response, VPN services need to improve their own technology constantly, so a server that gives you access to Netflix on a given day may not work on another occasion.

Does ProtonVPN Have Good Customer Support?

ProtonVPN, unfortunately, does not offer live chat support. Many other VPN providers offer 24/7 live chat support, where you will get a response to a query in a matter of minutes.

The lack of a live chat customer support on Proton’s website means that you may have to wait several days before receiving an email response.

However, there is a generous support section on ProtonVPN’s website, which contains a wealth of information regarding common issues and frequently asked questions. The request form option also enables you to contact their customer service team directly, but it is likely to take a few days.

While it is disappointing that there is no instant response option, ProtonVPN’s customer service is still relatively good. The information section of their website is constantly updated to ensure relevancy, and the customer support team is relatively fast at replying to email queries.

What is ProtonMail?

Swiss-based company Proton Technologies AG is also behind the popular email provider ProtonMail. It is a secure email service that uses PGP standard encryption.

Their secure email provider was launched before its VPN in 2014. It offered an encrypted, end-to-end service that protects user’s emails and data. The service was initially started to protect activists’ and journalists’ data and anonymity from ISPs and hackers when working on confidential projects.

Proton’s mail service is committed to the same level of privacy as ProtonVPN. The mail service is free from ads and malware and does not sell user data to third parties for profit.

The encrypted email service is offered on a tiered subscription basis, similar to its VPN. The free plan offers a limited service with a restriction on storage and the number of emails sent by the user each day. With the highest level plan, ProtonMail Visionary users can send an unlimited number of emails and make use of 20GB of storage.

The web client reflects the simple interface of Proton’s VPN service, ensuring ease of use. Some apps are compatible with Android and iOS devices that are also extremely user-friendly.

If you need the highest levels of security, ProtonVPN and ProtonMail can give you the online anonymity and security that you require.

Author Cliff Durward

Hi, I'm Cliff. I'm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife and two kids. I have a keen interest in cybersecurity and have been writing about it for around a decade now. Due to my background in computer science, I am familiar ...
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