ProtonVPN review
Our Verdict
With a class-leading unlimited-data free plan equally well every bit quick, private and powerful paid options, ProtonVPN is fast condign a force to be reckoned with. Premium plans aren't cheap, just when you consider what you're getting, ProtonVPN is a very attractive choice.
For
- Excellent unlimited complimentary program
- Apps are open source and secure
- Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, Disney+
- Incredible OpenVPN and WireGuard speeds
Against
- Plus plan a little expensive
- FAQ articles can be intimidatingly complex
Tom'southward Guide Verdict
With a class-leading unlimited-data costless program every bit well every bit quick, private and powerful paid options, ProtonVPN is fast condign a force to be reckoned with. Premium plans aren't cheap, merely when you lot consider what you're getting, ProtonVPN is a very attractive choice.
Pros
- +
Excellent unlimited free plan
- +
Apps are open source and secure
- +
Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, Prime number Video, Disney+
- +
Incredible OpenVPN and WireGuard speeds
Cons
- -
Plus programme a picayune expensive
- -
FAQ articles tin be intimidatingly complex
Privacy and security are priorities when searching for the best VPN, and keeping you lot safe online is ProtonVPN's core mission. However, unlike many security-focused services, the Swiss provider doesn't sacrifice annihilation in terms of solar day-to-day usability, and that rare combination alongside the best gratuitous VPN available today makes for a seriously attractive product.
Merely similar any software, though, ProtonVPN isn't absolutely perfect. So, in our comprehensive ProtonVPN review, nosotros'll exist taking a expect nether its skin to see what it tin really offering you, what it might lack, and whether it'due south the right VPN for you.
To bound to a particular section, head to the navigation bar at the top of the page. For the full review, just go along scrolling.
- Click to head directly through to the ProtonVPN website
Latest updates
ProtonVPN has steadily increased the number of servers it offers, and it'southward now upwards to a respectable ane,300+. That's still not as many as some rivals, only it's plenty to go by with, and the spread over 61 countries is better than many.
The biggest news, however, is the addition of WireGuard. The devs have evidently done a good job of it too, and with speeds of around 740Mbps, information technology's easily in the 5 VPNs nosotros've tested.
Another one of chief concerns from our last review has been addressed too. ProtonVPN has now added live chat, and while it's non still 24/seven, the fact it has been added at shows ProtonVPN has a clear intention to acknowledge issues and better weak areas.
Finally, you can now utilize the Plus plan on 10 devices simultaneously, which is up from v. Good stuff all round, then.
ProtonVPN on paper
Number of servers: 1,300+
Number of countries: 61
Platforms supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chromebook, Android TV
Simultaneous connections: 10
Split tunneling: Yep (Windows and Android)
Impale switch: Yeah
Supported protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec
State of registration: Switzerland
Back up: Email, knowledgebase, live chat (non 24/7 yet)
Plans and Pricing
ProtonVPN has ane of the most bonny free options we've seen from any provider. Without paying anything at all, you can get an ad-free service with no data logging and no bandwidth limits. The only take hold of is that you're limited to choosing from servers in just three countries.
For paid plans, pricing gets a picayune complex. A Basic programme costs $5/mo paid monthly, but is reduced to $4/mo paid annually and $3.29/mo on a ii-yr plan. This gives you lot P2P support, 2 simultaneous connections and access to servers in every country ProtonVPN operates in – but not the 'Plus' servers, which are designed for streaming every bit well.
For the Secure Core feature and content unblocking, yous'll need at least a Plus plan, which comes in at $10/mo ($viii/mo paid annually, $6.63/mo on a ii-year plan). You'll also get 10 simultaneous connections with this programme (that's up from five since our last review), but it'southward nevertheless somewhat expensive. It's probably the i you'll desire, though, as it enables ProtonVPN'due south great streaming power and enables admission to every server.
Information technology's worth noting that ProtonVPN has started to offer some discounts on special occasions, and at the time of writing, you can bag a 2-year Plus plan for but $4.99 a month. That's much more competitive, and is certainly worth the money.
If you want to get all-out, $30 a month volition go you the Visionary bundle, which includes everything from the Plus package also as a full ProtonMail subscription. The Visionary plan is reduced to $24/mo on a one-year plan, and $xix.96/mo on a two-year plan, but it still costs a hefty premium that we expect few people will pay unless they actually need encrypted e-mail support besides every bit a VPN.
As an aside, this is essentially the same equally the ProtonMail Visionary bundle, which includes the VPN. ProtonMail is one of the all-time email services, and focuses on security without sacrificing too much usability – and the Visionary plan does get you quite a lot of extras, if y'all demand them.
Notably, you can remain completely anonymous when signing up for ProtonVPN. The platform supports ProtonMail email addresses and accepts payment via Bitcoin. That'southward a big draw if you're looking to stay as anonymous as possible.
Finally, ProtonVPN offers a 30-twenty-four hour period coin-back guarantee. However, dissimilar most other providers, this refund is pro-rata. So, if you claim your refund after 20 days, you lot'd get your coin minus the effective cost of those 20 days. While that'south not going to break the depository financial institution, it'd exist dainty if ProtonVPN offered a total refund at any time inside the month, like almost all of its competitors.
- More: Save some greenbacks with the best cheap VPN
How private and secure is ProtonVPN?
Correct out the gate, ProtonVPN has an advantage over much of the competition, in that it'due south based in the security-friendly Switzerland. Unlike much of the remainder of Europe. Switzerland is non function of whatsoever intelligence-sharing alliance like the v or xiv Eyes, is outside the Eu, and generally protects its data jealously.
ProtonVPN'south no-logging statement is comprehensive, and that'southward reflected in practice – the but information stored is your very last timestamp, which is immediately overwritten the side by side time you connect.
On sign-up you tin can too utilize the company's secure ProtonMail as your e-mail, and while you lot can pay with PayPal and credit card (both handled past a third party and anonymous to ProtonVPN itself), yous can besides use Bitcoin, or even cold, difficult greenbacks. Autonomously from Mullvad, ProtonVPN is the only VPN worth signing upwardly to that does this, so compared to rivals, information technology's quite possibly the most anonymous from outset to finish.
One of the most exciting and unique features that ProtonVPN offers is what it calls Secure Cadre. This substantially means that when y'all connect to a server using ProtonVPN, your connection is first routed through several of ProtonVPN's most protected servers. As a issue, even if y'all access a malware-infected website, your truthful IP accost and browsing history can never be leaked to network attackers.
ProtonVPN too offers a built-in kill switch to protect your IP in case your connectedness drops. There's no option to take the VPN automatically turn on when yous connect to a public Wi-Fi network, but you can set ProtonVPN to open up a connexion automatically when you turn on your figurer.
- More than: See which services rank on our all-time Netflix VPN list
ProtonVPN's server network is a piffling smaller than many other VPNs that accuse similar or cheaper prices – the company has simply over 1,300 servers spread across 55 countries. However, with the server locations seemingly ever increasing – currently 61 – you'll accept a good spread worldwide.
Privacy obsessives volition exist pleased to notation that ProtonVPN offers Tor over VPN, which integrates your connection with the bearding Tor network. In a single click, all data is routed through the Tor network which gives the user an actress layer of privacy besides as access to Onion sites. Other than NordVPN, we can't proper noun many VPNs that offering this every bit an integrated characteristic.
And, finally, in Jan 2020 ProtonVPN went through an contained audit by SEC Consult. The results were impressive, with but 11 problems found over all apps, none of which being high-risk.
While that might audio worrying, these audits are incredibly thorough, and when vulnerabilities are identified, information technology allows the developers to address them. And, thanks to the fact the apps are all open-source too, anyone interested tin can verify the fixes made.
All in all, we're seriously impressed with ProtonVPN's privacy and security, from cash payments to the inspect, and if you're looking for a VPN to keep you lot rubber online, it'southward we're comfy saying it'due south easily one of the all-time secure VPN services around today.
How fast is ProtonVPN?
Across privacy, connectedness speeds are i of the most important features of whatever VPN, and can make or break a service. We tested ProtonVPN on 1Gbps lines in the U.k. and United states, and tested OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols.
To kick off with a bang, nosotros recorded OpenVPN speeds of up to 460Mbps in the Britain, and a massive 510Mbps in the United states. That's almost unheard of, and out of all the providers we tested, these results from ProtonVPN are the fastest OpenVPN speeds we saw, bar none. That's seriously impressive.
In our terminal ProtonVPN review, although OpenVPN speeds were adept, it was let down past the lack of WireGuard. This time, though, information technology's available, and it'south certainly potent.
In the Uk we saw speeds of up to 570Mbps, which is very good, but non quite meridian tier. In the US, though, WireGuard connections topped out at a mega 780Mbps. That'due south up there with the very best.
In our testing we likewise plant connections to be reliable, and it rarely took more than a few 2d to institute the connection. So, no thing which protocol you lot prefer to employ, ProtonVPN can certainly deliver the appurtenances, and can keep upwardly with the market place leaders similar ExpressVPN and NordVPN with ease.
How good is ProtonVPN for streaming?
ProtonVPN isn't just a super-private VPN – it also claims to be smashing for unblocking geo-restricted streaming content, too.
Netflix is probable to be most people's kickoff port of call, and it just and so happens that in mid-2021, it streaming site upgraded its VPN blocking tech. This thwarted just almost every VPN at the time, and we're merely now seeing improvements from a select few.
And, information technology seems, ProtonVPN is i of those select few. In our testing, information technology was able to unblock not only United states of america Netflix, but also UK and Canadian libraries, likewise. The only provider to beat that was ExpressVPN, but this impressive performance earned ProtonVPN 2nd spot on our Netflix VPN guide.
It'south expert news elsewhere, besides. Nosotros were able to unblock BBC iPlayer from outside the Britain, access Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. That's a coveted full business firm, and more evidence that the Swiss provider isn't resting on its laurels, and is investing in improving service across the board.
There is a modest catch, though. This streaming performance is merely bachelor on the Plus programme, and while that's arguably the option nearly users volition become for, information technology's definitely worth knowing that the Basic and Free plans simply don't offer this sort of unblocking prowess.
How good are ProtonVPN'southward desktop apps?
ProtonVPN offers desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers as well every bit iOS and Android devices. The user interface is clean and mod, with a map displaying all the company's active server locations. If you're not a fan of the map, though, you can hibernate it and just see the server listing – merely we reckon it's ane of the amend cartographical interfaces on the market.
Aesthetically it's a cohesive and attractive interface, and those who capeesh a lot of info will like it. We can't help merely think that many users would prefer something stripped dorsum like ExpressVPN, though, merely it's all downwards to personal taste.
Connecting took most seven seconds, which is a little slower than some other VPNs nosotros've used, but slap-up enough to affect usability. We besides appreciated that the list of bachelor servers is color-coded to display their latency and load so you know what to expect before connecting.
You're also treated to a overnice amount of information about the servers themselves. Load is great to see (we wish more VPNs showed this), and you can as well tell which servers are optimized for P2P (as not every one is). That's now upwardly to 12, from 5 terminal time we checked.
ProtonVPN's 'profiles' features is a smashing usability trick that essentially allows y'all to save your oft used settings. For example, mayhap there's a particular server you've noticed works especially well for accessing The states Netflix or for P2P, simply you too regularly use a randomized Dutch connection for day-to-day browsing. Salve them both every bit profiles, and you'll exist able to connect to either in a single click.
In-app you'll likewise see tons of info, including your IP, time connected, data upwards and downloaded, plus your average connexion speeds.
In settings y'all can, surprise surprise, change settings like the kill switch, split tunneling, configure Quick Connect, and DNS protection. This was all smoothen sailing for the states, with no settings sticking or refusing to change (a surprisingly common issue with software similar this).
That impale switch, by the fashion, is genuinely effective. No matter what nosotros did to attempt to trip it up, it e'er worked as expected, and didn't leak our true IP.
New to the app is the VPN Accelerator. Activated by default, this uses some technical trickery to help speed up connections that might otherwise be sluggish – and judging from the speeds we saw in our testing, ProtonVPN'southward doing something correct.
At that place are a couple of limitations, like there being no autoconnect on insecure networks, but these are small gripes.
How skillful are ProtonVPN'due south mobile apps?
On Android, it's a bit like deja vu – information technology's almost identical to the Windows build. You'll get the same map, Profiles organization and country list. you'll besides be able to set upward split tunneling, a kill switch, NetShield, and a bunch more than – the simply missing characteristic is setting custom DNS servers, but on Android y'all can get up and running with IKEv2 far more easily than on desktop.
The iOS offer has a very slightly different aesthetic, simply it's still evidently the same software. Due to the inherent limitations of iOS, though, it'southward a slimmer build, with some features like carve up tunneling unavailable. Really, though, information technology'due south quite comprehensive and does much the same as the Android and desktop clients.
Overall, ProtonVPN'southward mobile VPN apps are well designed, powerful and usable, and the fact the experience is much the aforementioned beyond all platforms ways they're intuitive and pleasant to use.
Not a fan of Proton'southward apps? No worries. You tin download all of its OpenVPN config files and use them in an app or device of your choice. That'southward great flexibility, and it'll even allow you to download the lot as a .zero file.
How good is ProtonVPN'south back up?
Support was one area where we had some issues in our concluding ProtonVPN review, and thankfully our primary concern has been addressed. Proton now offers live chat, and while information technology'due south not 24/vii, when we spoke to the back up agent we were very impressed with the level of service nosotros received.
They were knowledgeable, friendly, quick to reply, and overall were very helpful in sorting out our trouble. At the end they even offered to catechumen the chat to a ticket so we could follow up at a later date.
Don't fancy talking to a real person? Well, ProtonVPN as well has a knowledgebase of articles to assistance you on your way. In that location's enough there to pick from, and many are very useful. All the same, we did detect they could be very technical, and while nosotros appreciate the provider all-around experts, the layman might struggle to parse the information.
On the whole, though, ProtonVPN has seriously improved its back up, and that hasn't gone unnoticed. If the articles were simplified a piddling and the live chat went 24/vii, information technology wouldn't be far off full marks.
ProtonVPN: Terminal verdict
ProtonVPN is ane of the best VPNs we've seen if you prize privacy and security. The Secure Core feature is unique and makes it nigh-on impossible for fifty-fifty highly sophisticated attacks to succeed in capturing your IP address. Plus, the ability to fix network profiles for quick access is a nice impact. Excellent streaming back up is a valuable cord to its bow, and the connections speeds are virtually-unbeatable.
Really, the merely downside to ProtonVPN is that the support still isn't absolutely top-notch, and getting access to the service's most exciting features is a little expensive, so it's well worth taking reward of any special offers if you lot find one.
Testing out the free service before committing is a smart move, and information technology's clear that any ongoing issues are existence addressed, and that this is a provider that's intent on improvement. While information technology can't quite claiming for the top spot withal, information technology really isn't far off.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/protonvpn-review
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