The Psiphon Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Psiphon 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.
Psiphon
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source circumvention VPN with an ad-free paid tier
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Psiphon’s own pages.
Made by Psiphon Inc. · checked Nov 12, 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 Psiphon’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Psiphon’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 20 of the 27 other VPNs we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Psiphon, taken from its own pages and our grades.
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.
- 1
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.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.88 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $2.88 per month and up for Psiphon Plus; the billing term is not stated.
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Android, iOS and Windows.
- 5
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.
- 6
No account needed
You install the app and connect without giving an email address.
- 7
Large server network
The vendor says its network spans more than 50,000 servers in 33 countries.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 20 of 27
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
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.
Psiphon at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.88 per month and up for Psiphon Plus; the billing term is not stated
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Psiphon Inc., since 2006
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Plus 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Psiphon 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. |
| Features | C | It 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but you install it and connect without an account or any protocol to pick. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Android, iOS and Windows. Phones and a computer, but no Mac or Linux and no API. |
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 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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- People on networks that block or throttle VPNs
- Anyone who wants a free VPN with no sign-up
- Phone users who want ad-free use for a low monthly price
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.88
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Psiphon has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.88 per month and up for Psiphon Plus; the billing term is not stated.
It shows ads and has reduced features, and the vendor says it is free without limits where paying is hard.
Psiphon Basic
$0
Free, ad-supported and with reduced features; no account needed.
Psiphon Plus
$2.88
per 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".
The 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.
Read from psiphon.ca on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Windows, iOS and Android
Free, open-source circumvention VPN with an ad-free paid tier. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, vPN.
The gaps: no native Mac app, a legacy Windows client, and the iOS browser only tunnels its own traffic.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Psiphon is made by Psiphon Inc., and has been around since 2006.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
20/27
Other VPNs it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 27
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 7 of 27
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 27
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 27 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Psiphon 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 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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Lantern, Proton VPN, Windscribe, TunnelBear and Cloudflare WARP
The 5 tools Psiphon is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Lantern
Free plan · from $3.63/mo
Nonprofit, open-source VPN built to get past censorship.
- Only Lantern lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Lantern is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Lantern also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- Only Proton VPN lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Proton VPN lists a browser extension.
- Proton VPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.6GPA
Windscribe
Free plan · from $3/mo
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing.
- Only Windscribe lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Windscribe lists a browser extension.
- Windscribe also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.4GPA
TunnelBear
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans.
- Only TunnelBear lists a macOS app.
- Only TunnelBear lists a browser extension.
- Psiphon is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Cloudflare WARP
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Free Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier.
- Only Cloudflare WARP lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Psiphon is open source, according to its own site.
- Cloudflare WARP also covers malware protection.
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 Psiphon free?
Psiphon has a free plan. Psiphon Basic is free with no account: ad-supported, with reduced features.
How much does Psiphon cost?
Psiphon lists 2 plans. Psiphon Basic: $0.
What platforms does Psiphon work on?
Psiphon is available on Android, iOS and Windows.
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.
Who makes Psiphon?
Psiphon is made by Psiphon Inc. It dates from 2006.
What are the alternatives to Psiphon?
The closest alternatives to Psiphon in our directory are Lantern, Proton VPN, Windscribe, TunnelBear and Cloudflare WARP.
How does Psiphon compare with other VPNs?
Psiphon's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 20 of the 27 other VPNs we grade, and level with 4.
Is Psiphon good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Psiphon B for value for money. 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.
Could I make my own version of Psiphon?
To replace Psiphon 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 Psiphon’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. 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.
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 Psiphon Inc. Prices change, so check psiphon.ca before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Psiphon, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/psiphon
- 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, "Psiphon: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/psiphon
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/psiphon/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Psiphon, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 VPNs we grade, compared
- Cloudflare WARP Insider's GuideFree Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier3.2 GPA
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- X-VPN Insider's GuideVPN with an unlimited-data free plan and discounted first terms3.0 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 Psiphon’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. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Psiphon is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Psiphon Inc. Prices and plans change: check psiphon.ca before you buy.