Psiphon
Free planAn open-source VPN from Toronto, built to keep connecting on networks that block sites and VPNs.
Best for people on censored or VPN-blocking networks who need a free way to reach the open internet
Facts checked November 4, 2026 · First written by Mutuo Mbilla
The short answer
Psiphon is a free VPN from Psiphon Inc. in Toronto, made for networks that block websites and VPNs. It tries several connection methods at once and keeps whichever one gets through, so you press one button and wait while it works out the route. Psiphon Basic is free with ads and fewer features; Psiphon Plus removes the ads, opens the full region list and starts from $2.88 a month through the App Store or Google Play. There is no Mac app yet, the Windows app is an older legacy client and there is no built-in kill switch, so if you mainly want a VPN for streaming and privacy at home, Surfshark or Proton VPN will suit you better.
Choose it if
- You live in or travel to a country where news sites, messaging apps or ordinary VPNs get blocked, and you need something that keeps finding a way through
- You want a VPN you can use for free without creating an account or giving an email address
- You cannot pay for a subscription where you live; Psiphon says it stays free and unlimited where payment restrictions make subscribing hard
- You need to get the app when app stores are blocked: Psiphon sends Android and Windows versions by email and publishes the Android APK for direct install
- You have a spare Android phone and want unlimited access in exchange for running a Conduit station that helps other people connect
Skip it if
- You use a Mac or Linux computer; Psiphon lists its Mac app as coming soon and has no Linux app
- You want a kill switch built into the app; Psiphon has none and relies on Android's Always-on VPN or iOS's Connect on demand settings instead
- You want to watch other countries' Netflix or Prime Video catalogs; Psiphon makes no claims about unblocking streaming services
- You want to try paid features with a money-back guarantee; Psiphon's terms say it issues no refunds itself, while Surfshark and Proton VPN give you 30 days
- You need anonymity rather than access; Psiphon says plainly that it is not an anonymity tool
Main features
Automatic connection
When you press Connect, Psiphon starts several connection attempts at once, some direct and some disguised, and keeps the fastest one that works. If the connection breaks, it runs the race again and switches without you choosing a protocol.
Disguised, encrypted tunnel
Every connection is an SSH session wrapped in an obfuscation layer so it is harder to spot and block. The encryption is AES-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305 or AES-CTR with forward secrecy, and the app checks it is talking to a real Psiphon server using pinned keys.
No account
You install the app and connect without signing up or giving an email address. If you subscribe, Apple or Google takes the payment and Psiphon only receives a receipt to confirm your plan is active.
Region choice
Psiphon picks a server for you, and you can choose from more than 30 countries if you want to appear somewhere specific. Psiphon says a subscription opens the full list, across a network of more than 50,000 servers in 33 countries.
Split tunneling
Choose which apps go through Psiphon and which use your normal connection. It works on Android and in the legacy Windows app; on iOS the VPN covers the whole device.
Conduit stations
Conduit lets people share spare bandwidth from their own phones so others can connect, which gives Psiphon more routes when its own servers get blocked. Running a station from the Android app gives you unlimited Psiphon access without a subscription.
Malware connection alerts
Psiphon's servers block connections to addresses and domains listed in daily-updated malware feeds and alert you when your device tries to reach one. It does not scan your phone or remove anything, so you still need a separate security app for that.
Ways in when the app is blocked
If you cannot reach an app store, you can download the Android APK from Psiphon's site or send a blank email to [email protected] for Android and Windows copies. Links inside the app use less recognizable addresses so they are harder to block.
Open source and audits
The apps and the core tunnel code are on GitHub. Psiphon publishes security reviews by Cure53 and others, most recently tests of its tunnel core and Conduit code in May 2024.
Leak handling
Psiphon blocks IPv6 leaks, and on Android it blocks all IPv6 traffic while connected. If the connection drops, traffic pauses while it reconnects instead of falling back to your open connection.
Pricing
Prices checked November 4, 2026, in US dollars. The $2.88 starting price comes from Psiphon's homepage. The weekly, monthly and yearly prices are the in-app purchases the US App Store lists, where the plans still carry the Premium name. Google Play shows only a range of $0.99 to $69.99 per item. Psiphon does not sell subscriptions itself, so Apple or Google handles billing, renewal and cancellation, and prices may differ by country.
Psiphon Basic
$0
Ads through Google AdMob, reduced features, automatic route choice and no account
Psiphon Plus
From $2.88 / month
No ads, every feature, the full region list and servers set aside for high-throughput traffic
Premium 1 week (App Store)
$2.99 / week
Paid features for one week, renewing until you cancel in your Apple account
Premium Monthly (App Store)
$4.99 / month
Paid features billed monthly through Apple
Premium Annual (App Store)
$34.99 / year
Paid features billed yearly through Apple, about $2.92 a month
Conduit Access
$0
Unlimited use while you run a Conduit station and share spare bandwidth; Android only for now
Reviews
Write a reviewNo reviews yet. If you use Psiphon, yours would be the first.
Alternatives to Psiphon
| Product | Choose it instead if | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Surfshark VPN | You want apps for Mac, Linux and TVs, a 30-day money-back guarantee and a NoBorders mode that switches on when Surfshark detects a restricted network | $2.49 a month on the 2-y... |
| Windscribe VPN | You want a free tier from a mainstream VPN, or a Build A Plan option that charges $1 a location a month with a $3 minimum | Free |
| ExpressVPN | You want 10 or more devices connected at once and 30 days to ask for a refund as a new user | $2.99 a month on the 2-y... |
Questions people ask
Is Psiphon free?
Yes. Psiphon Basic is free, needs no account and shows ads. Psiphon Plus removes the ads and opens every feature from $2.88 a month, and Android users can also get unlimited access by running a Conduit station. Psiphon says it stays free and without limits in places where payment restrictions make subscribing difficult.
Is Psiphon safe to use?
Psiphon encrypts your traffic between your device and its servers, so your internet provider cannot see the sites you visit or what you send. Its apps and tunnel code are open source, and Cure53 and other firms have audited parts of them. It is not an anonymity tool, it has no built-in kill switch, and the free version carries Google ads, so weigh those before you rely on it for sensitive work.
Does Psiphon keep logs?
Psiphon says it never stores your IP address, the sites you visit or the content of your traffic. It does keep your approximate city, internet provider and session statistics such as duration and data used, and deletes them on a rolling 90-day schedule, except for some data kept longer around major censorship events. It says it receives about 20 requests for user data a year and has handed over nothing.
Is Psiphon a VPN or a proxy?
Both. Psiphon calls itself a VPN and on phones it tunnels your whole device, but it also runs local HTTP and SOCKS proxies, and the legacy Windows app only covers the whole computer in VPN mode. What sets it apart is the circumvention layer that disguises the traffic and keeps switching methods until one gets through.
Does Psiphon work in China?
Psiphon does not promise that it works in any particular country and says performance depends on local network conditions. Its About page cites heavy use in Iran, Myanmar and Cuba during blocks and shutdowns. We have not tested it in China, and using an unapproved VPN there carries legal risk, so check the rules that apply to you.
Is there a Psiphon app for Mac?
Not yet. Psiphon's download page lists the Mac app as coming soon. The current apps are for Android 7.0 or later, iOS and iPadOS 16 or later, and Windows 10 or later through the legacy client.
How do I cancel Psiphon Plus or get a refund?
Cancel in your Apple account or the Google Play subscriptions screen, because Psiphon does not bill you directly. Psiphon's terms send refund requests to the store. On Android, its Help Hub says you can get a refund in Google Play within 48 hours of buying, and email [email protected] after that.
Who makes Psiphon?
Psiphon Inc., a Canadian company in Toronto. Psiphon started in 2006 as a research project at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, and the company was incorporated in February 2007.
Read the full Psiphon review
Psiphon is the free VPN to install when your network blocks websites and ordinary VPNs. It tries several disguised connection methods at once, needs no account, and can be sent to you by email when the app stores are blo...
Read the full reviewSources we checked 15
- psiphon.ca/en/index.html for Basic, Plus and Conduit Access tiers, Plus from $2.88 a month, network size, user figures, no account, platforms checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/why-psiphon.html for how connections are chosen, region selection and the full list on a subscription, split tunneling platforms, high-throughput servers, Conduit, limitations checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/faq.html for protocol and encryption, logging and 90-day retention, ports, hotspots, kill switch and leak handling, malware alerts, email responder, refunds, support email, Windows legacy client, legal requests checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/download.html for platforms and minimum versions, Mac app coming soon, Windows legacy client, APK download checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/about.html for founded 2006 at the Citizen Lab, incorporated February 2007, Toronto headquarters, usage milestones, release dates by platform checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/trust-center.html for security audit list and dates, open source repositories checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/privacy.html for data collected, third parties including Google AdMob, Canadian jurisdiction, subscription receipt data checked November 4, 2026
- psiphon.ca/en/terms.html for subscription tiers, store billing, no direct refunds, 18 and over checked November 4, 2026
- conduit.psiphon.ca/en for what a Conduit station does, Hosted Conduit, Private Pairing checked November 4, 2026
- apps.apple.com/us/app/psiphon/id1276263909 for US in-app purchase prices ($2.99 a week, $4.99 a month, $34.99 a year), current iOS version checked November 4, 2026
- play.google.com/store/apps/details for contains ads, in-app purchase range $0.99 to $69.99, 100M+ downloads, last update checked November 4, 2026
- surfshark.com/features/noborders for Surfshark NoBorders mode, app platforms, 30-day money-back guarantee checked November 4, 2026
- protonvpn.com/pricing for Proton VPN free plan limits, VPN Plus price, 30-day money-back guarantee checked November 4, 2026
- windscribe.com/upgrade for Windscribe paid prices and Build A Plan checked November 4, 2026
- expressvpn.com/pricing for ExpressVPN devices per plan and 30-day money-back guarantee for new users checked November 4, 2026