Proton VPN review
Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps and a transparency report with real numbers in it.
What we like
- Highest privacy score in our list, with open-source apps you can verify
- Swiss jurisdiction outside the EU, US and all Eyes alliances
- Free tier with no monthly data cap, unlike Windscribe's 10 GB or TunnelBear's 2 GB
- Stealth protocol works on restrictive networks that block WireGuard and OpenVPN
- Bundles with Proton Mail and Proton Drive
What we don't
- Servers are not fully RAM-only, so no-logs relies on policy plus audit
- Streaming catalogue is narrower than ExpressVPN or CyberGhost
- Free tier is good but rate-limited and excludes streaming
- 10-device limit
Our verdict
Proton VPN is one of four providers in this list whose clients you can read yourself, which turns the privacy question from a matter of trust into a matter of inspection. Its free tier is genuinely usable, so it is also the sensible first VPN to try before paying anyone. Choose it over NordVPN if verifiable code matters more to you than a structurally enforced no-logs claim.
Prices and facts last verified October 6, 2026
Score breakdown
The weighted total, and what each component contributed. Weights are published and identical across all eleven providers.
Why we scored it this way
The highest privacy score in the list. Open-source apps you can read, Swiss jurisdiction, five consecutive Securitum audits and a SOC 2 Type II. It loses points because the server fleet is not fully RAM-only, so log retention is enforced by policy rather than by hardware.
Privacy and logging
Audit evidence cited: Securitum (no-logs) and Schellman (SOC 2). We summarise publicly available reports and do not have access to the underlying working papers.
Network, protocols and speed
Pricing
| Term | From /month | Total price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 years Best value | $3.68 | $88 |
| 1 year | $7.92 | $95 |
| 1 month | $15.49 | $15.49 |
Prices change frequently and are set by the provider. The date above is when we last verified them; the provider's checkout is always authoritative, and you will never be charged the wrong amount because of an error here.
Who it suits
People who want to check the source code rather than take a promise on faith, and users in countries with heavy internet censorship.
How it compares
Where this provider wins and where it does not, against the two nearest alternatives on our list.
ExpressVPN
Our highest speed score at 9.6 and our highest streaming score at 9.4 — at the highest price.
CyberGhost
The longest money-back window in our comparison at 45 days, with servers labelled by purpose.
Proton VPN questions
How much does Proton VPN cost?
The cheapest plan we list works out at $3.68 per month for 2 years, which is $88 in total. That figure can change at any time — we last verified it on the date shown above — and it is the effective cost of the whole subscription rather than a headline monthly rate. You get 30 days to change your mind.
Can Proton VPN really be trusted not to log my data?
The claim is supported by 5 independent audit engagements with Securitum (no-logs) and Schellman (SOC 2), the most recent dated 2025-08. RAM-only servers: No. Intelligence alliance membership: Outside. Real-world legal test: not published. We rate what is verifiable rather than what is promised, which is why this answer scores the way it does.
Why does Proton VPN score what it scores?
Proton VPN scores 8.9 out of 10, which places it number 4 of the eleven we review, under the badge 'Best privacy'. The score is a weighted sum of privacy, speed, value, streaming and ease of use, with the weights published in full on our methodology page. Affiliate commission had no influence on any component of it.
Try Proton VPN
Check the current price and the terms of the plan you want before you commit. Every plan here includes a money-back window, so the first decision is reversible.