Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
Proton VPN report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 17, 2026
Best for a free VPN with no data cap
Proton VPN has the best free plan among VPNs here: no data cap and no ads, from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Paying gets you 10 devices, servers in 140+ countries and ad blocking, at $83.76 for the first two years. Just know the free plan covers one device, and Proton picks the country.
Who Proton VPN is for
- Great if you want a free VPN that won't cut you off after a few gigabytes
- Handy when you already use Proton Mail and want the VPN on the same bill
- Good for people who'd rather their VPN apps were open source and audited
Who Proton VPN is not for
- Tight if you're staying free and need it on your phone and laptop, as it covers one device
- Skip it if you need to choose the country on the free plan, as Proton picks for you
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $9.99 a month
Why Proton VPN gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyVPN Plus bills $83.76 for the first 24 months, about $3.49 a month over two years, just above the cheaper quarter of VPNs, which tops out at $3.33. It then renews at $83.88 a year, above the middle. Monthly is $9.99, and Proton Unlimited adds Mail, Drive and Pass for $119.88 a year.
- BFree plan and trialFree for good with no card, no ads and no data limit, which is rare. One person could really live on it. The limits are one device, medium speed, and servers in 10 countries picked for you.
- BFeaturesSecure Core routing through Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden, the Stealth protocol, NetShield blocking, port forwarding, a kill switch and open-source apps with published audits, on 10 devices with Plus. It covers the whole job.
- BEase of use4.65 from about 120,000 App Store ratings, just under the 4.7 an A needs. On the free plan there's no card and nothing to set up.
- BPlatforms and integrationsMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Proton's own pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/proton-vpn#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/proton-vpn.svg" alt="Proton VPN: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Proton VPN stands among VPNs
Proton VPN's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 15 of 16) and worst on value for money (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $6.99 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 11 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 17 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Proton VPN’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 16, level with 9
- BFree plan and trialAbove 15 of 16, level with 1
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16, level with 11
- BEase of useAbove 6 of 16, level with 8
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16, level with 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Proton VPN, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Proton VPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade. It costs $83.88 a year. Proton VPN is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Proton VPN’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is a VPN from Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Its apps are open source and audited, and a free plan connects one device to servers in a handful of countries with no data limit. VPN Plus opens the full network, and Proton Unlimited bundles the VPN with Proton's mail, calendar, drive and password manager.
Proton VPN has a free plan. Paid plans start at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. See every plan
Good for
- Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- People who want open-source VPN apps
- Proton Mail users who want the VPN on the same bill
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Proton VPN pricing
- Starts at
- $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88
- Free plan
- Proton Free: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed and no data limit. No credit card needed.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Free | $0 | One device, servers in 10 randomly selected countries, medium speed, no data limit and no ads. |
| VPN Plus, 1 month | $9.99per month | 10 devices, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, streaming, P2P and the NetShield blocker, billed monthly. |
| VPN Plus, 1 year | $83.88per 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 | $83.88per 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 | $119.88per year | VPN Plus plus premium Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive (500 GB) and Pass. Also sold monthly at $12.99. |
| Proton Unlimited, 2 years | $119.88per 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. |
Read from protonvpn.com on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Proton VPN before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsVPN 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.
Stated on protonvpn.com - Other savingsVPN 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.
Stated on protonvpn.com - Other savingsProton 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.
Stated on protonvpn.com
How people rate the Proton VPN app
4.6
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
- 5 stars84%
- 4 stars7%
- 3 stars3%
- 2 stars1%
- 1 star5%
120,549 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 17, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Proton VPN alternatives
- Proton VPN vs Mullvad VPN
From €5/mo
- Proton VPN vs NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
- Proton VPN vs Surfshark
Free trial · from $79/yr
- Proton VPN vs Windscribe
Free plan · from $3/mo
- Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN
Free trial · from $99.95/yr
Common questions
Is Proton VPN free?
Proton VPN has a free plan. Proton Free: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed and no data limit. No credit card needed. Paid plans start at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88.
How much does Proton VPN cost?
Proton VPN lists 6 plans. Proton Free: $0. VPN Plus, 1 month: $9.99 per month. VPN Plus, 1 year: $83.88 per year at renewal, after a first year for $53.88. VPN Plus, 2 years: $83.88 per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months. Proton Unlimited, 1 year: $119.88 per year. Proton Unlimited, 2 years: $119.88 per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months. Prices were read from protonvpn.com on Oct 17, 2026.
What platforms does Proton VPN work on?
Proton VPN is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Proton VPN offer any discounts?
Proton VPN publicly lists the following: VPN Plus 2-year plan: first 24 months for $83.76; VPN Plus 1-year plan: first year for $53.88; Proton Unlimited 2-year plan: first 24 months for $191.76.
How is Proton VPN rated?
Proton VPN's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 120,549 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Is Proton VPN open source?
Yes. Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is made by Proton AG. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to Proton VPN?
The closest alternatives to Proton VPN in our directory are Mullvad VPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Windscribe and ExpressVPN. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Proton VPN.
How does Proton VPN compare with other VPNs?
Proton VPN's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 2. It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 15 of 16) and worst on value for money (C, above 1).
Is Proton VPN good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Proton VPN C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $6.99 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 11 of the 15 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Could I make my own version of Proton VPN?
To replace Proton VPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade. It costs $83.88 a year. Proton VPN is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself. What you could not make: Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other. The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.