Proton VPN
Free planA Swiss VPN with audited no-logs servers and a Stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs.
Best for people who want a free VPN with no data cap, or a paid one from a Swiss company with audited no-logs servers
Facts checked November 4, 2026
The short answer
Proton VPN's free plan covers one device with no data limit and no ads, so you can use it for months before deciding whether to pay, although the app picks your server from 10 countries for you. VPN Plus adds 10 devices, Proton's full network of 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, P2P servers with port forwarding, Secure Core routing and the NetShield ad blocker. Securitum has audited the no-logs policy every year since 2022, and every app is open source. The cheap monthly rate needs two years paid upfront, and live chat is for paying customers only.
Choose it if
- You want a free VPN for one device with no data cap and no ads, and you don't mind the app choosing the country
- You travel to or live somewhere that blocks VPNs: the Stealth protocol works on every plan, the free one included
- You want a Swiss provider whose servers Securitum has audited for logs five years running
- You torrent on Windows, macOS or Linux and want port forwarding on P2P servers
- You also want encrypted email, cloud storage and a password manager: Proton Unlimited bundles them with VPN Plus
Skip it if
- You need more than 10 devices connected at once; Surfshark VPN sets no device limit
- You want to pick a country without paying: the free plan connects you to one of 10 countries at random
- You want split tunneling on an iPhone or iPad; Proton offers it on Windows, Linux, Android, Android TV and the browser extension, with an experimental version on macOS
- You plan to pay by cash or bank transfer and want the option of a refund; Proton says it can't refund those payments
- You want the low monthly rate without a long commitment: VPN Plus costs $9.99 month to month, and the $3.49 rate means paying $83.76 upfront for two years
Main features
Free plan with no data cap
Proton Free covers one device with no data, time or speed limits and shows no ads. The app connects you to a server in one of 10 countries (the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Canada or the United States), chosen at random, and Proton rates its speed as medium.
Stealth protocol
Stealth runs WireGuard inside TLS so your traffic looks like ordinary web traffic, which helps on networks and in countries that block VPNs. It works on every plan, the free one included, in the Android, Windows, macOS and iOS apps, and in the Linux desktop app once you switch on Proton protocols.
Secure Core
On paid plans, Secure Core sends your traffic through a server in Iceland, Sweden or Switzerland before it leaves from the country you picked. Someone watching the exit server can trace the traffic back only as far as Proton's Secure Core network.
NetShield ad blocker
NetShield filters DNS requests to block ads, trackers and malware domains while you're connected. It comes with every paid plan.
P2P servers and port forwarding
All paid plans allow BitTorrent on P2P servers, which carry a two-arrow icon in the apps. Port forwarding works on those servers in the Windows, Linux and macOS apps (macOS is early access), but not on NAT type 2 networks.
Split tunneling
Keep chosen apps or IP addresses outside the VPN on Windows, the Linux desktop app, Android and Android TV, or set rules by domain in the browser extension. On macOS it is experimental, excludes apps only and needs WireGuard or Stealth. It is a paid feature.
Kill switch
Every app blocks your connection if the VPN drops. Windows and the Linux desktop app also offer an advanced kill switch that allows internet access only through Proton VPN and stays on after a restart; Android uses the system's always-on setting, and the advanced option on iPhone and iPad is in beta.
Tor over VPN
Connect to a Tor server in the app and open .onion sites in your usual browser, without installing the Tor browser.
Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps
Securitum has audited Proton VPN's servers every year since 2022, and the 2026 report found no persistent records that would let Proton link a user to activity on the servers it reviewed. Proton publishes the source code of all its apps.
Proton Unlimited bundle
Proton Unlimited adds premium Proton Mail (15 addresses), Pass, Drive and Calendar to VPN Plus, with 500 GB of storage shared across them. It suits you if you were going to pay for private email or cloud storage anyway.
Pricing
US dollar prices checked November 4, 2026, on Proton's pricing page, which shows the 2-year plans by default; the 1-month and 1-year figures come from the pricing data that page loads. Proton runs frequent promotions, so the price at checkout can differ. Proton Duo, Proton Family and Proton Visionary also include VPN Plus; their prices aren't listed here. You can pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal, or with Proton credits bought with cash, bank transfer or Bitcoin.
Proton Free
$0
1 device, no data limit, no ads, a server in one of 10 countries chosen at random, Stealth protocol and kill switch
VPN Plus, 1 month
$9.99 / month
10 devices, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, NetShield, Secure Core, P2P, split tunneling and 24/7 live chat
VPN Plus, 1 year
$53.88 / first year
The same VPN Plus features at $4.49 a month, paid upfront with Proton's introductory discount
VPN Plus, 2 years
$83.76 / first 2 years
The same VPN Plus features at $3.49 a month, paid upfront; renews at $83.88 every 12 months
Proton Unlimited, 1 month
$12.99 / month
VPN Plus plus Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive and Pass premium plans, with 500 GB of storage
Proton Unlimited, 1 year
$119.88 / year
The same bundle at $9.99 a month, paid upfront
Proton Unlimited, 2 years
$191.76 / first 2 years
The same bundle at $7.99 a month, paid upfront; renews at $119.88 every 12 months
Reviews
Write a reviewNo reviews yet. If you use Proton VPN, yours would be the first.
Alternatives to Proton VPN
| Product | Choose it instead if | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Windscribe VPN | You want a second free option, or to pay $1 a month per location for only the few countries you use (minimum $3) | Free |
| Surfshark VPN | You need more than 10 devices: Surfshark puts no limit on how many you connect | $2.49 a month on the 2-y... |
| NordVPN | You want the VPN app to scan downloads and warn about scam sites on a Windows PC or Mac | |
| Mullvad | You want to sign up with an account number instead of an email, pay cash by post and pay the same flat monthly price on any term | €5 a month |
Questions people ask
Is Proton VPN really free?
Yes. Proton Free has no data cap and no ads and covers one device at a time. The trade-offs are that the app chooses your server from 10 countries, speed is rated medium, and P2P, NetShield, Secure Core, split tunneling and live chat need a paid plan.
How much does Proton VPN cost?
On November 4, 2026, VPN Plus cost $9.99 month to month, $53.88 for the first year or $83.76 for the first two years ($3.49 a month), with the 2-year plan renewing at $83.88 a year. Proton Unlimited, which adds Mail, Drive, Pass and Calendar, cost $12.99 a month or $191.76 for two years. Proton changes its offers often, so check the price at checkout.
Does Proton VPN have a free trial or refunds?
There is no free trial of VPN Plus because the free plan fills that role. Paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee: ask support for a refund if you bought on Proton's website. App Store purchases are refunded through Apple, Google Play purchases through Proton support or Google Play, and Proton says it can't refund cash or bank transfer payments.
Can I choose a country on the free plan?
No. Free users get a server in one of 10 countries, chosen at random: the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Canada and the United States. Choosing from the full list of 140+ countries needs VPN Plus or a bundle that includes it.
Can I use Proton VPN for torrenting?
Yes, on any paid plan. Connect to a server marked with the P2P icon; on Windows and Android they sit under a P2P tab. Port forwarding is available in the Windows, Linux and macOS apps, and torrent apps aren't allowed in Apple's App Store, so iPhones are out.
Does Proton VPN work with Netflix?
Proton promotes streaming with Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ on its paid plans. On the free plan it doesn't block streaming sites but doesn't promise they'll work. We did not test streaming services for this listing.
Where is Proton VPN based, and does it keep logs?
Proton AG runs Proton VPN from Plan-les-Ouates, near Geneva, under Swiss law, and its main shareholder is the non-profit Proton Foundation. Proton says it keeps no logs of your activity, and Securitum's annual audits, the latest published in 2026, back that up for the servers it reviewed.
How many devices can I use with Proton VPN?
One at a time on the free plan and 10 at a time on VPN Plus, Proton Unlimited and the family plans. If you set Proton VPN up on your router, every device on that network goes through the VPN.
Sources we checked 25
- protonvpn.com for website checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/pricing for US dollar prices for every billing length (visible 2-year prices and the page's loaded pricing data), renewals, 30-day guarantee, payment methods, free plan speed checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/proton-vpn-plans for plan contents, free plan's 10 countries, device limits, router use, Duo and Family, company address checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/free-vpn/free-vs-paid for free versus paid limits, random countries, medium speed, streaming on free, Visionary plan checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/free-vpn for free plan has no data, time or speed limits and no ads; Stealth and kill switch on free checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/features for Secure Core, NetShield, Stealth, Tor over VPN, port forwarding, open-source apps, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/download for platforms and browser extensions checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/firestick for Fire TV Android app and Vega OS app checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/about for Proton founded in Switzerland in 2014, Proton AG, Proton Foundation, Geneva address checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/blog/launch-press-release for Proton VPN launch on June 20, 2017 checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit for fifth consecutive Securitum no-logs audit (2026) and earlier audits from 2022 to 2025 checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/blog/stealth-vpn-protocol for Stealth platforms and availability on the free plan checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/secure-core-vpn for Secure Core countries and paid-plan requirement checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/protonvpn-split-tunneling for split tunneling platforms, macOS limits, paid only checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/bittorrent-vpn for P2P on paid plans, P2P server icon and tab, App Store torrent rule checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/port-forwarding for port forwarding platforms, macOS early access, P2P servers, NAT type 2 checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/what-is-kill-switch for standard and advanced kill switch per platform checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/live-chat-support for 24/7 live chat for paid plans checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/support/cancel-vpn-subscription for refund routes, no refunds for cash or bank transfer checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/streaming for streaming services Proton promotes on paid plans checked November 4, 2026
- windscribe.com/upgrade for Windscribe Build A Plan at $1 per location a month, $3 minimum checked November 4, 2026
- windscribe.com for Windscribe free plan checked November 4, 2026
- surfshark.com/pricing for Surfshark unlimited devices checked November 4, 2026
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19508765521425-What-is-NordVPN-s-Next-gen-antivirus for NordVPN download scanning and scam-site warnings on Windows and Mac (as recorded in the NordVPN listing) checked November 4, 2026
- mullvad.net/en/pricing for Mullvad account number sign-up, cash by post, flat monthly price checked November 4, 2026