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Proton VPN is a premium provider with a strong emphasis on privacy and streaming support. With one of the highest overall scores (8.44) seen during testing, it narrowly misses out on a spot on our list of the top three best VPNs.
Positives include a strong company rating (10.0) as Proton VPN is leak free and hasn’t fallen afoul of any regulators. It loses marks due to a lower pricing score (7.75), as well as speeds (7.62) that leave a little to be desired. Proton VPN is not the slowest option by any means, but you might expect a bit more given the asking price.
A capable free tier gives basic VPN access to most users, and the Swiss provider comes with an audited no-logs policy. Key features include AES-256 encryption, split tunnelling, a kill switch, and its NetShield ad blocker. If you don’t mind paying a bit more per month, Proton VPN won’t let you down.
Here's where you'll find the criteria, evidence, and scoring for Proton VPN.
8.27
Privacy & Security
7.62
Speed
10
Content Access
7.75
Pricing
8.29
Usability
9.47
Features
10
Company
10
Customer Service
| VPN provider | Price | Free version? | Number of servers | Maximum number of devices | Netflix | BBC iPlayer | Disney+ | Amazon | HBO Max | Audit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | From €4.99 (£4.27)/m | Yes | 6,300+ | 10 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| ExpressVPN | From £5.36/m | No | 3,000+ | 8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| NordVPN | From £2.79/m | No | 6,300+ | 10 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| Surfshark | From £1.80/m | No | 3,200+ | Unlimited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| CyberGhost | From £1.85/m | No | 11,000+ | 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
Proton takes a different tack than many other VPNs, filling a unique space in the market. There aren’t many high-end VPNs that also offer a free tier, as this tends to be reserved for budget providers. The VPN was originally crowdfunded, and the company announced it would be transitioning towards a non-profit structure in June 2024.
It’s pricier than the competition, with the explanation being that paid accounts help to pay for free users. This makes sense to an extent, given all servers are protected by a watertight no-logs policy.
Secure Core servers are a great feature, expanding on traditional forms of multihop. These servers are used to chain your VPN connection, using two different layers of encryption. Rather than connecting to a single VPN server, Secure Core connects you to your intended location by routing your traffic through a country with strong data privacy laws. Your traffic will be routed through either Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden. These servers can be found on the main app window, alongside the kill switch. As you’ll be sending your traffic through multiple servers, you might see reduced speeds while connected to these servers. Helpfully, the app makes you aware of this when selecting the feature for the first time.
If you’re worried about performance, you’ll still be adequately protected if you connect to any of the normal Proton VPN servers.
One way in which Proton separates itself from the chasing pack is by offering free VPN servers. Another differentiating feature is that Proton VPN Free servers don’t come with a bandwidth cap. The vast majority of freemium VPN tiers will limit data to some degree, but Proton VPN allows free users access with no bandwidth restrictions. Another major difference with Proton VPN’s free plan is that there are no adverts. However, these free servers can’t be used for streaming, and you won’t get access to the full range of features and services offered with the premium plan.
Streaming is a great place to begin. Despite a clear emphasis on privacy, you’ll be able to watch content via lots of popular platforms. Proton scored perfect marks in terms of content access, while the same goes for criteria such as the company itself, as well as customer service. Live chat is reserved for paying users, but support staff offer a level of expertise that isn’t found with other providers.
Many of the more advanced features are clearly labelled and can be found across almost every version of the app. This includes Secure Core servers, and the kill switch is displayed prominently on the main page of the app.
Proton VPN has servers in 111+ countries and has continued to expand its server locations in recent years – it now includes places such as South America and Africa, which are often overlooked by other providers. Proton VPN offers as many server locations as the top providers, and it does have a free version available – something not many of the other providers we’ve reviewed offer.
It’s one of the newer providers on the market, and it has achieved a lot of credibility since starting out in 2014. The provider puts privacy at the forefront and the highest level of encryption is available for users, as well as an inbuilt NetShield – protecting users from malware, ads and tracking. In addition to this, Proton’s no-log policy has been independently audited, and even put to the test when the company was ordered to share a users’ data but was unable to comply because no data had been logged. Proton is a superb option if you’re worried about your online privacy.
Speeds are quick enough for the majority of online tasks, but you’d be forgiven for expecting more in terms of performance given the asking price. That’s not to say that Proton VPN isn’t quick, just that it isn’t one of the fastest providers on the market. Another way to look at it is that there are cheaper VPNs available that are able to match up to Proton when it comes to speeds and streaming. Options like Surfshark were actually faster than Proton VPN, and can be found for a fraction of the price.
It would be great if there was a trial of Proton VPN, even if the free version allows the user to test out the service to an extent. For example, if you’re aiming to access a specific streaming service or platform, a trial would be helpful. Instead, you’ll have to hand over your payment information, even if there is a 30-day money-back guarantee just in case.
The asking price is going to be an issue for some users, especially if you’re comparing Proton to any of our best cheap VPNs. It’s all well and good to offer a range of advanced privacy features, but will they be helpful for the average user? It’s true that Proton VPN offers more than the average provider on desktop and mobile devices, but that is reflected in the fee.
One clear drawback was a lack of any notable features found on Fire Stick apps. You’ll be able to connect to the VPN, and stream content, but it’s a basic experience compared to desktop and mobile apps. It’s all the more disappointing considering you’d expect it to match up similarly on all devices.
Here’s a rundown of the factor-by-factor scores in our latest round of testing.
Proton VPN uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys – most commonly known as AES-256. By using these encryption ciphers, which have so far proven to be robust and unhackable, Proton VPN ensures a high level of security and privacy for its users. A no-log policy means that none of your data or IP addresses are stored anywhere, and when it comes to cyber security, this is crucial. Proton VPN has a strict no-logs policy whereby users’ privacy is protected and no online activity or metadata is stored.
Proton VPN adheres to its strict no-logs policy and this was tested in a legal case in 2019. The provider was ordered to hand over data in order to identify a user but was unable to comply since it keeps no logs. This was also supported by the Swiss jurisdiction, which does not have forced logging obligations.
A VPN Accelerator is built-in into all of Proton VPN’s apps, and is advertised as being able to boost speeds by up to 400 per cent. It was reasonably fast with the third-quickest MacOS connection speeds (383Mbps), but I wouldn’t expect Proton VPN to increase your baseline by any means. The WireGuard protocol was used for our speed tests, and we connected to a trio of locations at different times of the day.
In comparison to other providers, Proton performed well, although it was slightly slower than NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark on average. For example, Windows speeds (157Mbps) are decent, but are significantly slower than NordVPN (227Mbps) or Surfshark (222Mbps). Even so, Proton is quick enough for 4K streaming, no matter which device you’re using.
Content access is an area in which Proton VPN scores perfect marks. It had no trouble with accessing any of the popular streaming platforms I tested, working with every service listed below:
It’s a great result for the provider, and shows that it’s a great pick if you’re hoping to watch content securely with a VPN. Bear in mind that no VPN can reliably access streaming platforms 100 per cent of the time. Even so, Proton VPN is likely to work more often than not.
There are various ways to pay for a Proton VPN subscription, including an option to purchase Proton Credits. As well as the standard ways to pay via credit card and PayPal, users can purchase Proton Credits using cash, bank transfer or Bitcoin once they have created an account with the provider. Anonymous payment methods are always a good option to have, and it allows the user to pay by sending cash directly to Proton VPN’s offices. The asking price itself is fairly high, even if you decide to opt for Proton’s 24-month plan.
Its full, paid-for subscriptions can be taken out on a monthly basis, but users will find the cheapest monthly prices on the 12-month and two-year plans, which are paid for in one lump sum up front.
| Subscription term | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | €9.99 (£8.55) / month |
| 12 months | €5.99 (£5.13) / month (€71.88/£61.50 up front) |
| 24 months | €4.99 (£4.27) / month (€119.76/£102.47 up front) |
Proton VPN loses marks here because of the high cost for 12-month and 24-month subscriptions, as well as a lack of a trial version to test out the premium version for yourself. Regardless, it’s still a solid pick if you don’t mind paying a bit more each month.
Proton VPN can be used with up to 10 devices at the same time. You’ll find a selection of apps and support for every operating system you can think of:
Proton VPN does not recommend attempting to configure your router yourself if you’re not tech-savvy, but it does have guides for its compatible routers on its website.
Proton VPN is packed with notable features. It comes with a kill switch, AES-256 encryption, split tunnelling, and its NetShield ad blocker, which protects users from ads and stops trackers from monitoring their browsing history. Its VPN Accelerator claims it has the ability to boost your connection speed by up to 400 per cent, smoothing out buffering time when streaming and improving connection stability. Perfect forward secrecy reduces the risk of being compromised by creating a unique set of encryption keys each time users connect to the service.
Proton VPN’s inbuilt NetShield ad blocker, which blocks malware, ads and trackers, is automatically turned on, but you can turn this off in the settings. There are also options to toggle the kill switch, which you can turn on all the time or just as and when suits you. Connecting to a Secure Core server is easy, and you are warned about your internet speed dropping by doing this. However, I didn’t find much difference in speed when turning this feature on.
In the system preferences, users can change protocols and choose to turn on the VPN Accelerator. The DNS leak protection is always toggled on, which is ideal, meaning users need not worry about privacy. Proton VPN earned one of the highest scores for Features (9.47), so you’re not going to be disappointed.
Proton was founded by a team of scientists who met at CERN (the European Centre for Nuclear Research) in 2014. They first created ProtonMail, the largest encrypted email service, and later came Proton VPN, which was initially intended to protect activists and journalists who use ProtonMail.
As well as Proton VPN, owner Proton AG operates ProtonMail, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, and Proton Pass. It’s a solid suite of online security products, designed to be helpful for the average user. Proton VPN had no issues relating to the company, steering clear of any infractions from the likes of the ASA. It also earns marks for being based in Switzerland, outside of the jurisdiction of any Five Eyes countries.
Proton VPN scores perfect marks for customer service (10.0). There is a slight caveat. Live chat support is reserved for paid users, but that does mean that you’ll be able to get in contact with Proton’s staff with no delays. Responses were more personalised than you’ll find with other VPNs, who prefer to rely on bot support for basic queries. Proton VPN is definitely deserving of full marks in this regard.
If you’re not sure about Proton VPN, here are some of the best alternatives to consider:
No, Proton VPN doesn’t offer a trial, or access to any of its premium features for free users. If you’d like to try it out yourself, you’ll have to pay for a subscription, or you can use the limited free version to get a feel for the service.
It’s hard to say that any VPN is 100 per cent safe with any certainty. At best, you can look at how a VPN has operated in the past, including how well they protect user data. An audited no-logs policy is all well and good, you should also consider whether a provider will actually keep your data safe. Proton VPN will cooperate with authorities if compelled to do so under Swiss law.
There’s always a chance that a VPN will slow down your connection speeds. It’s to be expected as your data has to be encrypted while it travels to and from the VPN server. You can also expect to see slower speeds while you’re connected to Secure Core servers. Proton VPN scored well in terms of connection speeds, even if it’s not the fastest VPN overall.
It’s legal to use Proton VPN in most countries worldwide. This includes the UK, the United States, and entire regions such as the EU. Be aware that this isn’t the case in some countries, which have chosen to block or ban VPN usage. For example, you’re not allowed to use a VPN in countries like Russia or China.
The free version of Proton VPN is a decent solution if you’re in need of free coverage, especially as it doesn’t come with a bandwidth cap. Even so, many premium features are missing, including the ability to select which server you’re connecting to. Steaming support is also reserved for paid users, and you won’t see the same connection speeds as you’ll be assigned to a location at random. Even so, it’s a decent solution due to no adverts.
Proton VPN is trustworthy to the extent that it has been audited, and the company has a decent reputation within the industry. I’d be wary of trusting any VPN completely, but it does have a better track record than most.
Yes, Proton VPN says that it’s fine for you to share a paid account with others. You’ll be able to use up to 10 devices simultaneously while you’re connected to the same Proton VPN Family account.
If you don’t see much difference in connection speeds, it makes sense to use Proton VPN as much as possible to obscure your IP address and keep your data secure.
The data in this review is reported from a neutral stance and should be used for informational purposes only. We review VPN services from the perspective of:
Independent Advisor strongly recommends that you follow the local laws in your region whilst using a VPN. We do not condone the use of a VPN to bypass copyright restrictions, or to stream content without a valid subscription in your current region. Make sure to comply with any and all applicable laws and regulations whilst using a VPN with streaming services, and any other relevant platforms.
