Cryptostorm vs Proton VPN (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Cryptostorm if

• Fits if you want to pay with a token or in Monero and not hand over an email address
• Works for people who want OpenVPN or WireGuard configs they can read

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a free trial, because it dropped the old one
• Tight if you have several devices: monthly tokens allow 1 at a time, and 5 needs the two-year token
• Watch out: the weekly token is not sold through every payment method
• Watch out: the company says it has no central office and keeps its entities' locations private
• Watch out: if a data center gets a spam complaint, the FAQ says all SMTP on that server may be blocked

Pick Proton VPN if

• Fits if you want a free VPN on one device with no data cap
• Works for Proton Mail users who want the VPN on the same bill, at $119.88 a year for Unlimited

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you stay free: one device, medium speed, and Proton picks the country from 10
• Skip it if you want ad blocking, streaming or P2P for free, as all three are paid features
• Pricey if you pay monthly, at $9.99 a month
• Watch out: the $3.49 a month is the first 24 months only; VPN Plus then renews at $83.88 a year
• Tight if you have more than 10 devices, the VPN Plus limit

Cryptostorm

• The number of devices connected at once depends on the term bought: 1 on weekly and monthly tokens, up to 5 on the two-year token.
• No free trial; the FAQ says the earlier trial was discontinued.
• The company says it has no central HQ and keeps its business entities' locations private.
• When a data center complains about spam, the FAQ says all SMTP on that server may be blocked until it stops.

Proton VPN

• The free plan covers one device and picks the server country for you from 10 countries.
• The headline $3.49 a month is the first 24 months of VPN Plus; it then renews at $83.88 a year, and the 1-year plan's $53.88 also covers only the first year.
• Ad and malware blocking, streaming and P2P are paid features; VPN Plus covers 10 devices.

Cryptostorm

Anonymous tokens

Access is by a token that is hashed before connecting, so a captured server cannot be used to identify clients, the site says. Monero payments need no email or JavaScript.

OpenVPN and WireGuard

Both protocols are supported, including OpenVPN ECC instances with post-quantum options, and connections can be made on any UDP or TCP port.

Multihop

Server-side multihop chains two endpoints, and the site says client-side multihop through another VPN or Tor is also possible.

Obfuscation

SSH, HTTPS and obfs4 tunneling make VPN traffic look like other traffic on restrictive networks.

DNS ad and tracker blocking

DNS-based blocking of trackers, plus DNS and WebRTC leak protection and a kill switch.

Port forwarding and BitTorrent

Port forwarding is supported and BitTorrent is allowed, with no data caps or throttling.

Proton VPN

Free plan without a data cap

Proton Free has no data or artificial speed limits, but connects one device to servers in 10 countries that you cannot choose.

Secure Core

Routes traffic through Proton's own servers in hardened data centers in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden before it leaves the network.

Stealth protocol

An obfuscation protocol based on WireGuard tunneled over TLS, meant to get past firewalls and VPN blocking.

NetShield

DNS filtering on paid plans that blocks ads, trackers and domains known for malware.

Open-source, audited apps

All apps are open source, and Proton publishes the results of the independent audits it commissions.

Port forwarding and kill switch

Port forwarding for P2P, plus a kill switch and always-on VPN in every app.

Cryptostorm

• One week$1.86

  for 1 week, as a recurring subscription or a single order

  1 device at a time. Not sold through every payment method.

• One month$6

  per month, as a recurring subscription or a single order

  1 device at a time.

• Three months$16

  for 3 months, as a recurring subscription or a single order

  Up to 2 devices at the same time.

• Six months$28

  for 6 months, as a recurring subscription or a single order

  Up to 3 devices at the same time.

• One year$52

  per year, as a recurring subscription or a single order

  Up to 4 devices at the same time.

• Two years$94

  for 2 years, paid once, with no renewal

  Up to 5 devices at the same time. Single order only, through PayPal, Monero, NOWPayments or BitPay.

Proton VPN

• Proton Free$0

  One device, servers in 10 randomly selected countries, medium speed, no data limit and no ads.

• VPN Plus, 1 month$9.99

  per month

  10 devices, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, streaming, P2P and the NetShield blocker, billed monthly.

• VPN Plus, 1 year$83.88

  per year at renewal, after a first year for $53.88

  The same features as monthly. The first year costs $53.88 ($4.49 a month), then it renews at $83.88 a year.

• VPN Plus, 2 years$83.88

  per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months

  The first 24 months cost $83.76 ($3.49 a month), shown against $9.99 a month, then it renews every 12 months at $83.88.

• Proton Unlimited, 1 year$119.88

  per year

  VPN Plus plus premium Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive (500 GB) and Pass. Also sold monthly at $12.99.

• Proton Unlimited, 2 years$119.88

  per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months

  The first 24 months cost $191.76 ($7.99 a month), then it renews every 12 months at $119.88.

Cryptostorm

No public discounts listed.

Proton VPN

• Other savings

  VPN Plus 2-year plan: first 24 months for $83.76

  The 2-year VPN Plus plan bills $83.76 for the first 24 months ($3.49 a month), then renews at $83.88 every 12 months.

• Other savings

  VPN Plus 1-year plan: first year for $53.88

  The 1-year VPN Plus plan bills $53.88 for the first year ($4.49 a month) before renewing at $83.88.

• Other savings

  Proton Unlimited 2-year plan: first 24 months for $191.76

  The 2-year Proton Unlimited plan bills $191.76 for the first 24 months ($7.99 a month), then renews at $119.88 every 12 months.