Energy Consumer Privateness With out Sacrificing Informal Use

Whereas most free VPNs are at finest underwhelming and at worst harmful, Proton VPN is the uncommon exception to the rule. Its free plan limits how one can join, but it surely doesn’t impose any month-to-month utilization restrictions, promote your knowledge or plaster your display screen with adverts, making it hands-down the very best free VPN available on the market. And for those who’re prepared to shell out for the corporate’s paid plan, you’ll get pleasure from an all-around excellent VPN.

I put Proton VPN by way of the wringer by operating over 250 web velocity assessments, making an attempt its apps on a number of gadgets and scrutinizing its privateness coverage. I additionally checked for DNS leaks, tried all main options and streamed a number of hours of flicks and TV reveals to evaluate its geo-unblocking capabilities. I talked with Proton VPN representatives through e-mail and over video calls throughout my analysis.

Whether or not you’re a Netflix streaming junkie, a frequent worldwide traveler or somebody with critical privateness issues, Proton VPN is a compelling alternative. Proton VPN’s premium tiers do nearly all the pieces effectively, from delivering quick speeds and wonderful streaming assist to offering options like discreet app icons and a proprietary VPN protocol that caters to privacy-critical customers.

Though Proton is intuitive, its apps aren’t fairly as user-friendly as these of rivals like NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark. And regardless of Proton’s concentrate on privateness, I used to be disillusioned in its MacOS kill change, which wasn’t as clear about its limitations when switching servers because it ought to have been. I introduced this to Proton’s consideration, and the corporate promised a repair with an appropriately worded warning between connections in its subsequent MacOS app replace.

Total, Proton VPN is the very best free VPN available on the market, with a stable premium tier for people who want extra servers and higher streaming capabilities.

Proton VPN

See at ProtonVPN

Proton VPN velocity: Lightning-quick

• Common velocity loss: 15.8%

• Variety of servers: 11,800-plus

Whether or not you’re on a blazing-fast fiber-optic connection, unreliable satellite tv for pc web or one thing in between, Proton VPN ought to provide the bulk of your customary bandwidth.

All VPNs lower your internet speed considerably. Usually, your internet-connected gadgets talk straight along with your ISP’s DNS servers, however while you’re utilizing a VPN, there’s one other cease your web visitors has to make, which slows it down. The quickest VPNs solely scale back your web obtain velocity by a median of 25% or much less, and Proton severely undercut that with a stable 16% common web obtain velocity loss. Although not fairly as speedy as NordVPN’s bewilderingly quick 3% common velocity loss, Proton isn’t any slouch, and one of many quickest VPNs on the planet.

For context, Netflix recommends an web velocity of 15Mbps or better for a 4K video stream. So even for those who’ve received a obtain velocity of 25Mbps — gradual by at the moment’s requirements — Proton shouldn’t have an effect on your every day actions.

Velocity assessments are nice, however real-world efficiency is what issues. In my testing, Proton VPN labored easily for all the bandwidth-intensive duties I threw at it, like downloading giant video games and watching films — I didn’t discover any buffering, even whereas streaming 4K movies.

Speeds stay snappy whatever the server or protocol

Two essential parts dictate speeds with a VPN: server location and VPN protocol. Primarily based on my expertise, Proton VPN ought to present the majority of your base web speeds whatever the VPN protocol or nation server you employ.

Often, you’ll expertise slower speeds on geographically distant servers as a result of your knowledge travels additional earlier than reaching its vacation spot. Whereas my benchmarking confirmed this, I didn’t expertise drastic drops, even when tunneling by way of a server on the opposite facet of the globe. I skilled a superbly respectable common 31% web obtain velocity drop on Singapore servers, as an illustration, that are pretty removed from my dwelling workplace in North Carolina. Certain, that’s almost twice as gradual as its whole 16% common velocity loss, but it surely’s nonetheless sooner than the general common velocity lack of some rival VPNs.

Usually, the WireGuard VPN protocol is quicker than OpenVPN, which remained true in my testing. The most important total common velocity loss I measured was 25% utilizing OpenVPN on Home windows (though some particular person server averages have been slower), which ought to nonetheless be usable, even on gradual or unreliable networks. By comparability, I clocked a median 19% web velocity loss with WireGuard on Home windows, and a blazing-fast 6% velocity loss utilizing WireGuard on MacOS. I didn’t expertise alarming web velocity reductions utilizing any mixture of servers and protocols.

Proton VPN’s giant worldwide server community is nice for journey and streaming

Boasting 11,800-plus servers throughout 117 nations, Proton VPN offers an intensive worldwide footprint, making Proton VPN probably the greatest VPNs for journey. For context, Proton affords extra total servers and nations than many of the VPNs we’ve examined, supplying you with extra connection selections than many rivals. While you’re visiting one other location, chances are you’ll need to use a neighborhood server for further privateness, or a server from your house nation to entry region-restricted content material. Due to its beneficiant server choice, Proton provides you loads of choices — to the purpose the place I’m contemplating utilizing it on my private gadgets once I galavant throughout the globe for my honeymoon later this 12 months. This implies you’ll be able to unblock tons of streaming companies, together with international Netflix libraries or region-specific websites resembling BBC iPlayer and CBC Gem.

Key takeaway: Proton VPN is quick and includes a huge server community, making it nice for journey and streaming. Its velocity efficiency improved meaningfully from my earlier 12 months’s testing. In my on a regular basis utilization, Proton didn’t noticeably have an effect on my web connection, and I used to be impressed with what number of completely different nation servers I might decide from.

Worth: Your cash goes a great distance

• Free, $10 a month, $60 for the primary 12 months or $108 for the primary two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $80 per 12 months)

• Cash-back assure: 30 days

• Cost choices: Bank card, debit card, PayPal, bitcoin

• Apps out there for: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Chromebooks, browsers

Should you determine to make use of Proton VPN’s paid plan, you’ll discover good worth with its wonderful mixture of quick speeds, stable streaming choices and robust privateness practices at a value that meets or beats rivals providing related service.

Proton VPN’s $10 a month plan is barely cheaper than Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN, however greater than the wallet-friendly Mullvad ($5 a month). Whereas a month-to-month plan will be nice for commitment-free VPN utilization, many suppliers provide discounted charges when signing up for a long run. Proton’s one-year plan begins at $60 a 12 months, which is lower than ExpressVPN ($100 for the primary 12 months), the identical as NordVPN and costlier than Surfshark ($48 for the primary 12 months). Like most rivals, Proton hits you with value hikes. Its one- and two-year plans renew at $80 a 12 months, which is significantly decrease than the astronomical $140 or $117 that NordVPN and ExpressVPN cost. I like that with Proton, I don’t must babysit my subscription.

The great thing about Proton is its delicate stability that caters to everybody from privateness fanatics to informal customers. You might be able to discover barely extra personal or user-friendly VPNs, but it surely’s troublesome to discover a rival that delivers each concurrently with out chopping corners.

Like Proton VPN, NordVPN is quick, wonderful for streaming and provides you beneficiant international server networks. Nord’s apps are a bit extra user-friendly than Proton’s, however Proton simply edges out Nord on privateness. Anybody who’s used a VPN earlier than ought to be effective with both, however I’d advocate Nord for absolute VPN rookies. You probably have critical privateness issues although, Proton VPN is the best way to go.

Whereas Proton ticks virtually each privateness field, Mullvad takes issues even additional. Should you’re involved about privateness to the purpose the place you don’t even need to have a registered account, Mullvad — in contrast to Proton — doesn’t require signing up for one. Nonetheless, Mullvad’s considerably smaller server community and unreliable streaming efficiency make it unsuitable for journey and leisure fanatics who need to unblock international Netflix libraries or watch BBC iPlayer, areas the place Proton excels.

Total, Proton VPN’s worth is hard to beat. For the cash, you get a quick VPN with stellar streaming chops that doesn’t sacrifice privateness.

Proton’s free plan is the very best (and solely) free VPN choice we advocate

Often, we at CNET don’t advocate utilizing free VPNs. Typically, for those who’re not paying money for a VPN, it’s costing you in another means, from gradual speeds or screens plastered with adverts to malware-infected apps. Proton VPN subverts that trope with its free VPN plan that doesn’t promote your knowledge or have any in-app adverts. Should you want a VPN and might’t or don’t need to pay, Proton VPN is the one choice we enthusiastically vouch for. You possibly can even begin utilizing Proton VPN’s free plan with out signing up for an account utilizing a visitor account on Android.

Though Proton VPN’s no-cost tier doesn’t skimp on privateness, it does have some limitations. There aren’t any month-to-month utilization restrictions, however you’ll be able to’t select a server manually, that means while you click on join, you’re robotically shuffled onto a server. Furthermore, you solely get entry to a fraction of the nations out there to its premium plan (Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland and the US). And you may solely join on one machine at a time as an alternative of the ten simultaneous connections with its paid plan. By comparability, PrivadoVPN’s free plan permits you to decide a server manually however limits you to 10GB of month-to-month utilization. Nonetheless Privado hasn’t been audited, making it unsuitable for people with vital privateness issues.

The shortcomings of Proton VPN’s free tier finally really feel affordable for a free service. Plus, you’ve received an ideal improve path in Proton’s stable premium plan.

Proton VPN apps are fairly refined however may very well be higher for rookies, and its MacOS kill change is complicated

Finally, Proton VPN’s apps aren’t dangerous, they’re simply not fairly as streamlined as some options.

Except its Linux app, Proton VPN affords a fairly uniform expertise throughout all platforms. Nonetheless, some options, like break up tunneling, are absent on iOS/iPadOS and MacOS, though that’s true of most VPN suppliers because it’s an Apple-side limitation. Cut up tunneling permits you to use a VPN for some apps however not others. I used split tunneling in Proton to stream an episode of The Jetty from BBC iPlayer on my Home windows PC whereas putting in Life is Unusual Remastered through Steam exterior of a VPN for sooner obtain speeds.

I appreciated the Proton VPN app’s slick interface, which feels trendy but comparatively intuitive. Important VPN duties like selecting a server, altering protocols and toggling on settings just like the kill change are pretty easy. With assist for Home windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone/iPad, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fireplace TV, Apple TV and web browsers, you’ll be able to set up Proton on just about any machine you personal. There’s even a graphical consumer interface for its Linux app, a rarity amongst VPNs, which makes it simpler to make use of for Linux newcomers than command-line interface apps.

Energy customers who need extra granular management over deciding on a server could recognize the power to tug up a listing of servers and look at server load info. Whereas I like this characteristic for superior privateness fanatics, it’s not as user-friendly as apps from NordVPN, Surfshark or ExpressVPN. For example, most of Proton’s rivals allow you to merely click on join on a location on the metropolis stage, and then you definately’re related to a server robotically. With Proton’s desktop apps, you’ll have to seek for a metropolis, then hook up with the nation, which feels counterintuitive. Alternatively, you’ll be able to scroll by way of a listing of particular cities and decide a server, however the selections will be overwhelming. Proton instructed me over a video name and reiterated over e-mail that it has an upcoming overhaul to its apps, beginning with Home windows, to lend them the easier-to-navigate design of its Android app.

Though the server load info in Proton’s desktop apps is useful, you’ll be able to’t inform what the server load is till you hover your mouse over that particular location. The expertise on cell is extra polished — you’ll be able to click on right into a metropolis to view all servers, with server load data clearly seen. I nonetheless recognize the superior handbook management Proton affords, however I stay up for upcoming refinements that can hopefully mimic the cell app expertise on desktop to make it much more intuitive for VPN rookies.

Your IP deal with is revealed when switching servers on Mac

Whereas most main options labored as anticipated, I skilled a complicated design oversight with Proton VPN’s kill switch on MacOS. A kill change cuts off your web connection in case your VPN unexpectedly disconnects, which ought to forestall your public IP address from being considered by apps you’re utilizing and web sites you’re visiting. The kill change prevented my public IP deal with from being accessible when switching servers or in case of an surprising web connection on Home windows, but it surely didn’t on Mac. My public IP deal with was unmasked whereas altering servers. Notably, that is an Apple limitation and never Proton’s fault. However I’d like extra transparency that your public IP deal with is unprotected when altering servers. I defined this to Proton over videoconference and e-mail, and the Proton group promised a repair in its subsequent MacOS app replace.

It’s not unusual for VPN suppliers to interrupt the encrypted tunnel when switching servers — just a few VPN suppliers, together with NordVPN and Mullvad — have applied safeguards. However most suppliers show a pop-up notification explaining that your public IP deal with is offered whereas altering servers. Technically, there is a notification exhibiting your unmasked public IP deal with, however as a result of Proton’s app blurs the display screen when leaping servers, the danger isn’t clear to customers. A easy resolution could be including a pop-up explaining that your IP deal with isn’t hidden, or having the app readable relatively than blurred so you’ll be able to inform that your IP is briefly seen to apps and web sites.

Contemplating Proton’s onus on critical privateness, I’d like a transparent, apparent notification for transparency that your IP deal with isn’t hidden when leaping from server to server on MacOS, and stay up for the forthcoming repair.

Proton VPN is an distinctive VPN for streaming

With its snappy speeds and terrific region-restricted content material unblocking, Proton VPN is a unbelievable VPN for streaming.

As a result of they masks your public IP deal with, VPNs could make it seem like you’re in a unique metropolis, state or nation. Accordingly, many of us depend on VPNs for streaming geographically restricted content material, like international Netflix libraries. (Chances are you’ll even be capable of lower your expenses using a VPN for streaming.) Proton VPN’s quick speeds make it a wonderful choice for watching 4K UHD and 1080p HD movies. I used to be capable of stream buttery clean 4K films on quite a lot of companies. With assist for Android TV, Amazon Fireplace TV and Apple TV, you’ll be able to simply use Proton in your smart TV.

In my testing, I used to be blown away by Proton VPN’s easy unblocking capabilities. I simply watched Murdoch Mysteries on a Canadian server from CBC Gem and Useless and Buried through BBC iPlayer. Amazon Prime Video US and UK streaming labored with Proton, so I loved Alex Garland’s Civil Warfare on Amazon Prime Video UK (on Max within the States).

For Netflix, Proton unlocked US, Canadian, UK, South African, Romanian, Australian and Japanese libraries. I even efficiently streamed from Netflix Egypt, which is notoriously troublesome to unblock — solely a handful of different VPN suppliers, together with ExpressVPN, loaded Netflix Egypt. Max US and worldwide streaming assist was fairly stable — utilizing a Romanian server, I streamed Interstellar (unavailable on Max US).

Hulu, Peacock, Paramount Plus and Crunchyroll all performed effective utilizing US servers. I skilled points with Hulu on my Android TV field — it detected a VPN connection — however I had no such issues on Home windows or MacOS. In a couple of uncommon situations, I encountered a hiccup, like Netflix Norway loading whereas tunneling by way of an Egyptian server (I think this was a digital server) or Japan Netflix initially not enjoying, however a fast server change sorted out any kinks.

Proton affords responsive assist, though it’s not 24/7 but

In an excellent world, your VPN ought to work flawlessly out of the field. However typically you’ll want help, whether or not that’s putting in a VPN app on a brand new machine, asking a query about billing or understanding how completely different options perform. Proton VPN has a robust knowledge base, an active blog with useful guides and stay chat. Its assist space is straightforward to navigate, protecting all the pieces from making a free account and troubleshooting frequent VPN points to utilizing Proton on completely different platforms. Its assist guides have loads of footage to enhance the written textual content, though I didn’t discover many movies, which may very well be useful for VPN newcomers.

In contrast to many VPN suppliers, Proton VPN doesn’t at the moment provide 24/7 stay chat. As an alternative, its customer support is offered from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. CET, and also you’ll have to be an present buyer to contact its assist group. Nonetheless, a Proton VPN consultant instructed me through videoconference and reaffirmed over e-mail that it plans to roll out 24/7 stay chat by the tip of the 12 months. Whereas many rivals, like NordVPN, first direct you to an AI chatbot, I received an actual particular person in underneath one minute. I requested about what encryption Proton VPN’s proprietary Stealth protocol used, and the customer support agent gave me an in depth but digestible reply inside lower than 5 minutes. Though it lacks round the clock stay chat in the intervening time, Proton’s quick, educated buyer assistance is nice while you want it.

I don’t thoughts Proton VPN’s present lack of 24/7 stay chat. Its customer support representatives have been educated and responsive in my expertise, and limiting its stay chat hours in all probability saves Proton — and accordingly you because the buyer — some money. Absolute VPN rookies anticipating lots of off-hours buyer assist could take into account another, however as long as you’re comfy getting your fingers soiled and digging into Proton’s huge FAQ part for some DIYing, you’ll be effective. Plus, 24/7 stay chat is a deliberate improve that ought to be out there by the tip of 2025.

Key takeaway: Mac customers ought to pay attention to an unclear design alternative that doesn’t clearly spotlight your unmasked public IP deal with when switching servers, even with the kill change enabled. Except for that, Proton VPN has nice machine assist, and even features a uncommon Linux GUI app. Whereas its apps are respectable, they might be overwhelming for VPN rookies. Quick speeds and unbelievable unblocking capabilities make Proton probably the greatest VPNs for streaming.

Privateness and transparency: Among the many finest within the recreation

• Jurisdiction: Switzerland (Not within the 5, 9 or 14 Eyes)

• Encryption: AES-256 or ChaCha20

• Protocols out there: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEV2/IPSec or Stealth

Proton VPN has constructed its popularity round privateness and transparency. Its privacy-friendly jurisdiction, which is exterior the Five, Nine and 14 Eyes data-sharing alliances, is complemented by its open-source apps and nifty privateness options. In my testing, I didn’t expertise any DNS leaks, though I did encounter a difficulty with the kill change on MacOS, which suggests your public IP deal with could also be uncovered when altering servers.

Its apps are open-source, so anybody can examine the supply code to search for vulnerabilities — an ideal transfer for transparency. Solely a handful of our different VPN prime picks, together with PIA and Mullvad, have open-source apps. You’ll discover a alternative of various VPN protocols, together with OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 and Proton’s proprietary Stealth. The aptly named Stealth protocol masquerades as customary internet visitors to bypass VPN blocks, so that you might be able to use Stealth on faculty Wi-Fi or different networks that limit VPN utilization.

Except for the usual privateness suite, Proton affords specialty servers, nifty platform-specific options and robust transparency.

Superior options: Safe Core servers and Tor over VPN servers

A typical VPN connection routes your web visitors by way of an encrypted server earlier than it reaches its vacation spot and will suffice for the common consumer who wants important privateness. However for people with critical privateness issues — like asylum seekers or political activists — Proton VPN packs a privateness punch.

Its Safe Core servers are double VPN, or double hop, servers, that means a second VPN connection makes it even more durable to hint your knowledge again to its supply (your machine). Safe Core servers doubly encrypt your internet visitors and are bodily situated in Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland, with further protections in place, like biometric safety to protect your knowledge privateness.

You additionally get entry to Tor Over VPN servers, which ship related advantages to Safe Core servers — enhanced privateness in comparison with a regular VPN connection — however utilizing The Onion Router as an alternative of an extra VPN server. Each its Safe Core and Onion servers can be slower than a conventional VPN connection since your knowledge makes further “stops” with detours by way of extra servers. However for those who’ve received vital privateness wants, Tor over VPN and multi-hop servers are good inclusions.

Discreet app icons conceal the truth that you have got a VPN put in in your machine

One in all my favourite Proton VPN options is its discreet app icon performance. You possibly can change the Proton VPN app icon on cell gadgets to seem like a unique utility, like a climate or notes app. Accordingly, in case your telephone or pill is seized and searched, it’ll look as if you don’t have a VPN put in. I might see this being a useful choice for people touring to nations that frown upon VPNs. This type of considerate design units Proton aside from many rivals. At the moment, its discreet app icons are solely out there on Android.

Proton VPN has a reader-friendly privateness coverage, undergoes common third-party audits and publishes a good transparency report

Privateness insurance policies will be almost inconceivable to decipher and typically make me really feel like I’ve stumbled headlong into the maze from The Shining. Fortunately, Proton VPN’s privateness coverage is without doubt one of the most reader-friendly — not simply amongst VPN firms however basically.

The corporate is fairly clear that it doesn’t log any consumer knowledge:

“Account exercise: Proton VPN is a no-logs VPN service. While you use the Service, we do NOT do any of the next:

• Log customers’ visitors or the content material of any communications

• Discriminate towards gadgets, protocols, or purposes

• Throttle your web connection”

Like most VPN companies, Proton maintains a strict no-logs coverage, however you need to remain skeptical of these claims from any VPN service. That stated, Proton undergoes common audits by dependable third events to again up its zero-log claims. I recognize its annual cadence: Proton underwent a profitable no-logs audit in July 2024 performed by Securitum, which discovered no proof of logging practices. This adopted up audits in 2022 and 2023. Though audits don’t paint an entire image, they’re an essential belief sign that VPN firms can present.

Proton’s transparency report states that it acquired 27 authorized orders in 2024, denying all 27. I like that 100% completion fee as a result of it signifies that Proton VPN has your again when different folks come in search of knowledge.

With its clear, concise privateness coverage and commonly audited no-logging coverage, Proton VPN ought to put even essentially the most privacy-conscious customers comfy.

Proton’s non-VPN choices could log IP addresses in uncommon circumstances

Though Proton VPN doesn’t log your session knowledge, its non-VPN choices — like its e-mail shopper — could log your IP deal with. Its privateness coverage states: “IP logging: By default, we don’t preserve everlasting IP logs in relation along with your Account. Nonetheless, IP logs could also be stored briefly to fight abuse and fraud, and your IP deal with could also be retained completely in case you are engaged in actions that breach our Phrases of Service (e.g. spamming, DDoS assaults towards our infrastructure, brute pressure assaults).”

Basically, Proton doesn’t log IP addresses out of the field, however could underneath sure circumstances with its non-VPN product suite, like its Proton Mail e-mail shopper. As TechCruch reported in 2021, Proton Mail complied with a request from Swiss authorities for a consumer’s IP deal with. That’s as a result of underneath Swiss Legislation, VPNs and e-mail are handled in a different way. Underneath Swiss Legislation, VPN companies are exempt from IP deal with logging, whereas, with e-mail, IP logs will be requested by legislation enforcement companies.

Whereas IP logging could not have an effect on VPN customers, I can see how somebody with strict privateness issues could also be nervous about signing up for Proton Mail or Proton Drive. Nonetheless, all of your information, together with emails, are encrypted, so the identifiable info Proton has about you is proscribed to IP addresses.

Key takeaway: Proton affords a slew of privateness facilities, together with specialty servers, discreet app icons, third-party audits and one of the crucial reader-friendly privateness insurance policies I’ve encountered. Total, it’s a wonderful choice for people with critical privateness issues, though the MacOS kill change design oversight could also be worrisome to Apple aficionados till the app replace repair rolls out.

Proton VPN is superb for privacy-conscious folks and streaming junkies alike

Due to its free plan that doesn’t sacrifice privateness, Proton VPN is the very best free VPN supplier out there. However, whereas true, that superlative does its premium plan a disservice. Quick speeds, excellent streaming service unblocking plus wonderful privateness and transparency make Proton VPN a compelling different to rivals like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Proton does nearly all the pieces effectively; whether or not you need to watch international Netflix libraries, have vital privateness issues or need to journey internationally, it’s a stable alternative.

Though its apps aren’t fairly as user-friendly as they may very well be, they’re not troublesome per se, simply not as polished as choices from NordVPN, Surfshark or ExpressVPN. The massive draw back is Proton’s unclear kill change on MacOS. I don’t anticipate each VPN supplier to take care of an encrypted tunnel when altering servers, however the kill change revealing public IP addresses when altering servers with out an apparent warning is a blemish contemplating Proton’s popularity for privateness. I’d wish to not less than see a pop-up warning of us that their IP deal with could also be briefly unmasked. Notably, Proton promised a repair to the MacOS app in its subsequent replace, so I used to be impressed (though not shocked) with its receptive response to my suggestions.

In any other case, Proton VPN is a terrific VPN that works for numerous conditions, from journey and streaming to critical privateness.