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VPN

ProtonVPN

Swiss-based

with Secure Core multi-hop routing and free tier available

Privacy score 89 Free Technical: Beginner
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ProtonVPN is a

service to hide your and encrypt your traffic. It helps you keep more control over your data.

🔀

Recommended alternatives

Mullvad VPN IVPN
Android iOS Windows Mac Linux

Who is this for?

✓ Good for you if:

  • • You want a free option (ProtonVPN has a free tier)
  • • You need Swiss privacy protections
  • • You want Secure Core multi-hop routing for extra security
  • • You prefer open-source clients
  • • You want regular independent security audits

⚠ Think twice if:

  • • You need maximum anonymity (free tier requires email signup)
  • • You want the fastest speeds (Secure Core adds latency)
  • • You need many server locations (free tier has limited servers)
  • • You want cash payment options (ProtonVPN doesn't offer this)
  • • You need streaming service unblocking (not ProtonVPN's focus)

Key qualities

✓ Open-source apps ✓ Secure core ✓ Independent audits ✓ Netshield (ad/malware blocking)

Overview

ProtonVPN is a privacy-focused VPN

service from the creators of ProtonMail. Based in Switzerland, which has some of the strongest privacy laws in the world, ProtonVPN offers both free and paid options. The free tier gives you access to servers in five countries with unlimited bandwidth, while paid plans unlock all 16,000+ servers across 127 countries. ProtonVPN's standout feature is Secure Core, which routes your traffic through multiple privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden) before reaching your final destination. This double routing makes it much harder for anyone to track where your traffic is really coming from. The service uses strong encryption (WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols) and includes NetShield to block ads and trackers, a kill switch to protect you if the connection drops, and DNS leak protection. All the apps are open source, so security experts can verify the code. ProtonVPN has been independently audited multiple times, confirming its strict no-logs policy. The service is part of the Proton ecosystem, which also includes ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, and ProtonCalendar.

Privacy highlight

This score will be updated after a full review.

Quick facts

Country:
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Pricing:
Free
Platform:
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux
Technical:
Beginner
:
Yes
:
Minimal telemetry
:
No
Open-source status:
Partially open source
:
No
:
No

Key features

  • WireGuard protocol support
  • No personal information required
  • Anonymous account numbers
  • No-logs policy
  • Cash payment option
  • Multi-hop connections
Security & encryption Click to expand
Yes
Encryption protocols
WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec
ProtonVPN uses WireGuard (ChaCha20-Poly1305, Curve25519, BLAKE2s) and OpenVPN (AES-256) protocols. The Secure Core feature implements multi-hop routing through hardened servers with full-disk . Keys are generated per connection with perfect forward secrecy. The service maintains a strict no-logs policy verified through independent audits.
Offline support
No
Telemetry & tracking Click to expand
Minimal telemetry
No
Ip no
ProtonVPN collects minimal for service operation. Tracks connection attempts, server load, and basic error information for troubleshooting. No user activity, traffic content, or personal information is collected.
Jurisdiction & compliance Click to expand
Global infrastructure with servers in 127 countries. Secure Core servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden.
ProtonVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy with zero . No traffic content, destination IPs, queries, connection timestamps, or user activity is logged. Minimal technical logs may be retained temporarily for troubleshooting but are not linked to user accounts.
Legal frameworks
GDPR (Switzerland-based company)
Revenue sources
Subscription, Freemium
Editorial signals Click to expand
89
Trust score
88
Trust breakdown (0–10)
Not specified
Editorial notes
Usability: , Performance: , Family friendly:
User experience Click to expand
Signup requirements
Email address required for account creation. Free tier requires email registration.
Onboarding difficulty (1-5)
1
Accessibility features
Support for modern accessibility features depends on the platform version.
Backup & portability Click to expand
No
Migration tools
May offer import or export tools; see official docs.
Account recovery options depend on the provider.

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