Psiphon review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Free, open-source circumvention VPN with an ad-free paid tier
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Psiphon report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for a free VPN that keeps working on blocked networks
Psiphon is a free, open-source VPN for networks that block VPNs, and it needs no account. The free version has ads and reduced features, there's no Mac app yet, and the page never says what Plus adds beyond removing ads.
Who Psiphon is for
- Fits if you're on a network that blocks VPNs and need a free one with no sign-up
- Works for phone users who want ads gone for a low monthly price
Who Psiphon is not for
- Not for you if you're on a Mac, as the native app is still in development
- Too light for everything-on-the-device cover on iOS, where the browser only tunnels what it loads
- Tight if you stay free, because of the ads and the reduced features
- Watch out: the Plus price has no billing term and the page doesn't list what Plus adds
- Watch out: the Windows app is labelled a legacy client with some newer features missing
Why Psiphon gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for moneyPlus is shown as 'from $2.88 a month', which is inside the cheaper quarter ($3.99), but no billing term is given and there's no plan table.
- BFree plan and trialPsiphon Basic is free with no account. It shows ads and has reduced features, and the vendor says it is free without limits where paying is hard.
- CFeaturesIt tries several protocols on its own, has 50,000 servers in 33 countries and a Conduit sharing option. The gaps: no native Mac app, a legacy Windows client, and the iOS browser only tunnels its own traffic.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record, but you install it and connect without an account or any protocol to pick.
- BPlatforms and integrationsAndroid, iOS and Windows. Phones and a computer, but no Mac or Linux and no API.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Psiphon's own pages on 12 November 2026. 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/psiphon#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/psiphon.svg" alt="Psiphon: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Psiphon stands among VPNs
Psiphon's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 20 of the 27 other VPNs we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 23 of 27) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $2.88 a month, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 2 of the 26 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Psiphon’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 17 of 27, level with 8
- BFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 27, level with 3
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 27, level with 11
- BEase of useAbove 7 of 27, level with 18
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 27, level with 26
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 27 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 Psiphon, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Psiphon 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 20 of the 27 other VPNs we grade. It costs $34.56 a year. Psiphon is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Psiphon’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 Psiphon?
Psiphon is a censorship-circumvention VPN from Psiphon Inc. of Toronto, first released as open-source software in 2006. It tries several connection methods and obfuscation techniques until one works on the network you are on, and needs no account. The free version is ad-supported with reduced features, and Psiphon Plus removes the ads and unlocks every feature.
Worth knowing
- The free version shows ads and has reduced features; the page does not list which features Plus adds.
- The Plus price is shown only as "from $2.88 USD per month", with no billing term or plan table.
- There is no native Mac app yet (listed as in development), and the Windows app is labeled a legacy client with some newer features missing.
- On iOS, Psiphon Browser tunnels only traffic loaded inside the browser, not other apps.
Key features
- Automatic connection methods
- The app tries several protocols and obfuscation techniques in turn, with no protocol to pick, so it can keep working where VPN traffic is blocked.
- No account needed
- You install the app and connect without giving an email address.
- Large server network
- The vendor says its network spans more than 50,000 servers in 33 countries.
- Conduit
- Volunteers can share spare connection capacity from their own devices to help others connect; the vendor lists a Conduit station as an unlimited access route, on Android only for now.
- Open source and audits
- Clients and core tunnelling code are open source, and the vendor publishes independent security reviews, naming Cure53.
Psiphon pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Psiphon has a free plan, and paid plans start at $2.88 per month and up for Psiphon Plus; the billing term is not stated.
- Starts at
- $2.88 per month and up for Psiphon Plus; the billing term is not stated
- Free plan
- Psiphon Basic is free with no account: ad-supported, with reduced features. The vendor says it is free and without limits where payment restrictions make subscribing difficult.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Psiphon Basic | $0 | Free, ad-supported and with reduced features; no account needed. |
| Psiphon Plus | $2.88per month and up; billing term not stated on the page | The full network with no ads and every feature, no account needed. The page says only "from $2.88 USD per month". |
Read from psiphon.ca on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Psiphon before you buy.
Psiphon alternatives
- Psiphon vs Lantern
Free plan · from $3.63/mo
- Psiphon vs Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
- Psiphon vs Windscribe
Free plan · from $3/mo
- Psiphon vs TunnelBear
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
- Psiphon vs Cloudflare WARP
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Common questions
Does Psiphon have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Psiphon is listed for Android, iOS and Windows.
Does Psiphon have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Psiphon is listed for Android, iOS and Windows.
Is Psiphon open source?
Yes. Psiphon is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.