The Proton VPN Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Proton VPN in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Proton VPN
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Proton VPN’s own pages.
Made by Proton AG · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Proton VPN’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Proton VPN’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Proton VPN, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Just know the free plan covers one device, and Proton picks the country.
- 1
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.
- 2
Paid plans start at $6.99 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88.
- 3
There is a free plan
Proton Free: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed and no data limit. No credit card needed.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
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.
- 6
Secure Core
Routes traffic through Proton's own servers in hardened data centers in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden before it leaves the network.
- 7
Stealth protocol
An obfuscation protocol based on WireGuard tunneled over TLS, meant to get past firewalls and VPN blocking.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 13 of 16
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
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.
Proton VPN at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Proton AG, since 2014
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 120,549 ratings
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | VPN 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free 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. |
| Features | B | Secure 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. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.65 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$6.99
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
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.
Free for good with no card, no ads and no data limit, which is rare.
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.
The free plan
Proton Free: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed and no data limit. No credit card needed.
Read from protonvpn.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on protonvpn.comOther 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.
Stated on protonvpn.comOther 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.
Stated on protonvpn.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, vPN, ad and tracker blocking.
Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Proton VPN is made by Proton AG, and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/16
Other VPNs it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 15 of 16
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16
- BEase of useAbove 6 of 16
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Proton VPN is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Mullvad VPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Windscribe and ExpressVPN
The 5 tools Proton VPN is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Mullvad VPN
From €5/mo
Flat-rate Swedish VPN with anonymous numbered accounts.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. Mullvad VPN does not.
- Only Proton VPN lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. NordVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Surfshark
Free trial · from $79/yr
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Windscribe
Free plan · from $3/mo
- 2.4GPA
ExpressVPN
Free trial · from $99.95/yr
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
How much does Proton VPN cost?
Proton VPN lists 6 plans. Proton Free: $0.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Proton VPN’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Proton AG. Prices change, so check protonvpn.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Proton VPN, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/proton-vpn
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Proton VPN: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/proton-vpn
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/proton-vpn/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Proton VPN, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 17 VPNs we grade, compared
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- PrivadoVPN Insider's GuideVPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans2.8 GPA
- Surfshark Insider's GuideVPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Proton VPN’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Proton VPN is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Proton AG. Prices and plans change: check protonvpn.com before you buy.