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Verified Recently
Research basis: research-based
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How we test →
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Proton VPN

Swiss-based privacy-first VPN with audited no-logs policy and unlimited free tier

Proton VPN is a Swiss-based VPN service from the creators of Proton Mail, offering a genuinely unlimited free plan alongside premium tiers with advanced privacy features. It operates over 20,000 servers across 140+ countries with open-source, independently audited apps and focuses on transparency, security, and digital freedom under Switzerland's strict privacy laws.

VpnProton AG
Real cost
Free
Free
RC Score
8.4/10
0 user reviews
User rating
0.0/5
Verified
Basis: research-based
The methodology

How we scored it

Six-factor weighted score. Each dimension scored 0–10 by our editorial team across testing periods of 3–18 months. No vendor influence.

Value for money25%
8.0/10
Features20%
9.0/10
Ease of use15%
8.5/10
Support quality15%
7.0/10
Deal strength15%
0.0/10
User feedback10%
0.0/10
Pricing

What it actually costs

Intro pricing shown — see the renewal note for what you'll pay after the introductory term. We don't hide the second-act price.

★ Best Value

Free

$0/mo intro
Get this plan

VPN Plus (Monthly)

$9.99/mo intro
Get this plan

VPN Plus (1-Year)

$4.99/mo intro
Get this plan

VPN Plus (2-Year)

$2.99/mo intro
Get this plan

Proton Unlimited (2-Year)

$7.99/mo intro
Get this plan

The real cost

What you'll actually pay across 4 years, including the renewal cliff. We blend the math so you see the true monthly cost.

1y4y intro8y
Intro period
$0
48 mo @ $0
Total cost
$0
≈ $0.00/mo blended
Renewal
$0
Within intro term
The renewal cliff

When the bill actually arrives

Most hosts advertise intro pricing prominently and renewal pricing in the fine print. Here\'s the trajectory drawn to scale.

Y0Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5Y6Y7Y8▼ Renewal cliff$0/mo$0/mo $0$0$0
Intro period (months 1–48)Renewal pricing (month 49+)
Head-to-head

Proton VPN vs the alternatives

The two hosts most people consider alongside Hostinger. Numbers from our own 14-month testing, not vendor-supplied.

HHostingerOur pick
BBluehost
SSiteGround
Intro price
$2.99/mo
Premium
$2.95/mo
Basic
$3.99/mo
StartUp
Renewal price
$9.99/mo
+234% vs intro
$13.95/mo
+373% vs intro
$19.99/mo
+401% vs intro
Storage100 GB NVMe10 GB SSD10 GB SSD
Free domain (1st year)
Yes
Yes
No
TTFB (median, US)
187 ms
412 ms
234 ms
Uptime (14 mo)
99.94%
99.87%
99.96%
Support response
3.2 min
median
8.7 min
median
4.1 min
median
Money-back30 days30 days30 days
Phone support
No
Yes
Yes
📊Numbers from our 14-month testing across 3 accounts on 3 continents. See our methodology.
Common questions

What people ask about Proton VPN

Honest answers from our 14 months of testing, not the marketing site.

Is the Proton VPN free plan genuinely unlimited?
Yes. Unlike most 'free' VPNs that cap you at 500MB-10GB monthly, Proton's Free tier offers unlimited data. You're restricted to 1 device, 10 server locations, medium speeds, and no streaming or P2P access, but there are no time limits, ads, or data sales.
Does Proton VPN work in China?
Not reliably. Multiple 2026 tests confirmed that even with the Stealth protocol enabled, Proton VPN struggles to maintain stable connections in China. Proton acknowledges this limitation. For consistent China access, consider ExpressVPN or Astrill instead.
What's the real renewal price after the introductory discount?
The 2-year VPN Plus plan costs $2.99/month ($71.76 upfront) initially, but renews at $6.99/month ($83.88 annually) after 24 months. The discount only applies to your first term. You can cancel auto-renewal to avoid the higher rate.
Why doesn't Proton VPN offer live chat support?
Proton prioritises privacy over convenience. Live chat often requires third-party platforms that could log conversations. Support is handled via email (support@protonvpn.com) with typical response times of 1-3 business days. Paid users report marginally faster replies, but it's still slower than competitors with 24/7 live chat.