BestVPNsLAB

Proton VPN Review 2026

By Sheilaupdated facts checked 2026-11-08 to 2026-11-13

Proton VPN · editorial score

9.1 / 10

  • Privacy and logging30% of the total8.0 / 10
    • YesPublished no-logs policy covers browsing activity and connection IP addressesProton says it logs no websites visited, traffic or its content, IP address, session lengths or location.protonvpn.com/support/no-logs-vpn · checked 2026-11-134 / 4
    • YesIndependent audits of the no-logs policy in the last 3 years: 3 or more years 4 points, 2 years 3, 1 year 2No-logs audits in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · protonvpn.com/blog/open-source · checked 2026-11-134 / 4
    • NoRAM-only servers on every server, per the providerProton says it does not use RAM-only servers and secures all its server disks with full-disk encryption.protonvpn.com/blog/ram-only-servers · checked 2026-11-130 / 2
  • Security features20% of the total9.0 / 10
    • YesKill switch in both desktop and mobile appsThe kill switch is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android; the advanced one is on fewer platforms.protonvpn.com/support/what-is-kill-switch · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
    • YesWireGuard or a WireGuard-based protocol of its ownWireGuard and Proton's Smart Protocol are offered.protonvpn.com/support/how-to-change-vpn-pr… · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
    • YesSplit tunneling by appSplit tunneling is on Windows, macOS (experimental, apps only), Linux, Android and Android TV, on paid plans.protonvpn.com/support/protonvpn-split-tunn… · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
    • PartlyIndependent security audits in the last 3 years: apps and infrastructure both 2 points, one of them 1Security audits since 2023: apps (2025).protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · protonvpn.com/blog/open-source · checked 2026-11-131 / 2
    • YesOpen-source client apps: all five main apps 2 points, at least one app or the protocol code it uses 1Proton says all its VPN apps are open source.protonvpn.com/blog/open-source · checked 2026-11-132 / 2
  • Transparency and incidents20% of the total10.0 / 10
    • YesOwner or parent company stated publiclyProton names Proton AG and says the Proton Foundation is its primary shareholder.protonvpn.com/support/who-owns-protonvpn · checked 2026-11-133 / 3
    • YesAt least one audit report published in fullProton publishes the full Securitum no-logs reports (2022 to 2026), which open without logging in.protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · protonvpn.com/blog/open-source · checked 2026-11-132 / 2
    • YesNo security incident listed in the last 3 yearsNo incident listed since 2023; the ones listed are older.therecord.media/protonmail-forced-to-colle… · cyberscoop.com/protonmail-swiss-court-ip-f… · proton.me/blog/climate-activist-arrest · checked 2026-11-133 / 3
    • YesProvider responded publicly to every incident of the last 5 yearsProton published its own statement on the 2021 case on 6 September 2021 (proton.me).therecord.media/protonmail-forced-to-colle… · cyberscoop.com/protonmail-swiss-court-ip-f… · proton.me/blog/climate-activist-arrest · checked 2026-11-132 / 2
  • Apps and devices15% of the total9.0 / 10
    • YesOfficial apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux (1 point each)The platform list names apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone and iPad.protonvpn.com/download · protonvpn.com/support/linux-vpn-setup · protonvpn.com/download-linux · checked 2026-11-135 / 5
    • PartlySimultaneous connections: unlimited 3 points, 10 or more 2, 5 to 9 1The smallest figure listed is 10 simultaneous connections.protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-132 / 3
    • YesOfficial app or guide for a router or a TV (Fire TV, Android TV)The platform list names Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV apps.protonvpn.com/download · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
  • Price and terms15% of the total10.0 / 10
    • YesRefund period of 30 days or moreThe refund period is 30 days.protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-134 / 4
    • YesA verified price states the renewal priceA verified price states what each renewal costs.protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-133 / 3
    • YesA monthly plan or a free planThe provider offers a free plan.protonvpn.com · checked 2026-11-083 / 3

Editorial score based on published features and policies. Speed and streaming tests are not scored. How we score.

Proton VPN is a VPN service run by Proton AG, the Swiss company that also makes Proton Mail. This review covers its free and paid plans, who owns it, its audit and incident record, its apps and its prices, using the figures Proton publishes itself, its public audit reports, and other sites’ tests, credited to those sites. We have not run our own speed or streaming tests, so this review makes no claims about either.

What does Proton VPN offer at a glance?

Servers
22,116protonvpn.com/vpn-servers · checked 2026-11-13
Countries
149protonvpn.com/vpn-servers · checked 2026-11-13
Devices per plan
10 (VPN Plus)protonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13
Money-back
30 daysprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13
Jurisdiction
Switzerlandprotonvpn.com · checked 2026-11-08
Owner
Proton AG (Switzerland). Proton says its primary shareholder is the Proton Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit; employees own most of the other shares, with the rest held by the nonprofit FONGIT and by Proton usersprotonvpn.com/support/who-owns-protonvpn · checked 2026-11-13
Latest audit
2026Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure; Proton quotes the report as finding no technical evidence that the examined servers log browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, traffic contents or user-identifiable connection metadataprotonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · checked 2026-11-13
RAM-only servers
No. Proton says it does not use RAM-only servers (its blog post is titled "Why Proton VPN doesn’t use RAM-only VPN servers"); it says it secures all its server disks with full-disk encryption (LUKS, AES-256), with the encryption keys stored off-site, and that seizing a powered-off server yields no more information than seizing a RAM-only oneprotonvpn.com/blog/ram-only-servers · checked 2026-11-13
Protocols
Smart Protocol, Stealth and WireGuard (UDP and TCP) on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS; OpenVPN only in the Linux app with a window; IKEv2 only on macOSprotonvpn.com/support/how-to-change-vpn-pr… · checked 2026-11-12
Logging policy
Says it keeps no session usage logs and logs no websites visited, traffic or its content, IP address, session lengths or location information; data needed for maintenance and troubleshooting is stored on full-disk-encrypted bare-metal servers; account information is kept as described in its privacy policyprotonvpn.com/support/no-logs-vpn · checked 2026-11-13
Lowest price
$2.99/moUS prices; prices and currencies vary by countryVPN Plus, 1 yearprotonvpn.com/pricing · checked 2026-11-13

+ Pros

  • An outside firm, Securitum, has audited the no-logs policy every year since 2022, and Proton publishes the reports
  • A permanent free plan, not a trial that turns into a paid one
  • Proton says its main shareholder is a Swiss nonprofit foundation rather than outside investors
  • Apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV, plus Chrome and Firefox extensions
  • A kill switch on every desktop and mobile system it lists, and a stricter “advanced” version on some of them
  • A very large server network that reaches many countries

− Cons

  • Split tunneling is a paid-plan feature, and Proton’s split tunneling page lists Windows, macOS, the Linux app, Android, Android TV and the browser extensions; iPhone and iPad are not among them
  • The advanced kill switch is listed for Windows, the Linux app with a window and iOS/iPadOS (where it is still a beta)
  • OpenVPN is in the Linux app only and IKEv2 on Mac only, so there is less protocol choice than in some rivals
  • The renewal price is higher than the first-term price on every plan in the table
  • The one incident on record involves Proton Mail: in 2021 Swiss authorities ordered Proton to record one account’s IP address

How much does Proton VPN cost, and what about refunds?

PlanFirst termPer monthFirst term totalThen renews at
VPN Plus2 years$3.49$83.76$83.88 a year
Proton Unlimited2 years$7.99$191.76$119.88 a year
VPN Plus1 year$2.99$35.88$83.88 a year
Proton Unlimited1 year$6.49$77.88$119.88 a year

US prices; prices and currencies vary by country.

Regular prices in USD as Proton VPN's website showed them to visitors in the US on (protonvpn.com/pricing). Prices and offers change often; the checkout page shows the current price.

Proton sells two paid plans, VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited, each for a one-year or a two-year term. The one-year prices are read from the pricing page and confirmed by hand. The two-year prices are checked by an editor in a browser on a US connection. Either way, treat the first-term price as temporary: the table shows what each plan costs when it renews, and the renewal price is higher than the first-term price on every row.

The refund period is in the card above. Proton also lists a free plan, covered below. Sale prices change often, especially around Black Friday, so if the table says “Re-verifying”, an offer has aged out and is waiting for a fresh check.

What is the difference between the free plan and the paid plans?

Proton’s homepage lists a permanent free plan. Proton describes it as covering a single device and servers in a small set of countries, which is fewer devices and fewer countries than the paid plans.

Two things follow from the data we do have. First, the device figure in the card above is the paid plan’s, not the free plan’s. Second, split tunneling is a paid-plan feature (see the security section). Other sites tested the free plan against streaming services; those results are further down, credited to each site, and none of them is ours.

Who owns Proton VPN, and where is it based?

Proton VPN is run by Proton AG, a company in Switzerland. Proton says its primary shareholder is the Proton Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit. It says employees own most of the other shares, and that the rest is held by the nonprofit FONGIT and by Proton users. That is Proton’s own description of its ownership.

Switzerland is the company’s jurisdiction, and we mention it as a fact rather than a ranking. Where a company sits tells you which country’s law can reach it, not how it behaves under that law. The more useful questions are what the company says it keeps, what outside firms have confirmed, and what has happened when authorities came knocking. The incident section below shows one such case.

Does Proton VPN keep logs, and has it been audited?

Proton says it keeps no session usage logs, and that it does not log the websites you visit, your traffic or its content, your IP address, session lengths or location information. Proton says the data it needs for maintenance and troubleshooting is stored on bare-metal servers it controls, with full-disk encryption. Account information is kept as described in its privacy policy. All of that is Proton’s own account of its policy.

The outside check is the audit record:

  1. 2026Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure; Proton quotes the report as finding no technical evidence that the examined servers log browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, traffic contents or user-identifiable connection metadataprotonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/DZVEJZFYHM · checked 2026-11-13
  2. 2025Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/NA0V1AX7QR · checked 2026-11-13
  3. 2025Ruben Santamarta (independent security researcher) · apps: security assessment of the Proton VPN clients, namely macOS and iOS 6.4.1, Android 5.12.80.0, Linux 4.11.0, Windows 4.3.1 and the browser extension 1.2.9protonvpn.com/blog/open-source · drive.proton.me/urls/7VB8XDCPA0 · checked 2026-11-13
  4. 2024Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/ED8G4GC5MG · checked 2026-11-13
  5. 2023Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/TEGZZ53M28 · checked 2026-11-13
  6. 2022Securitum · no-logs policy: the VPN server infrastructure (configuration files, operating procedures, staff interviews)protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit · drive.proton.me/urls/521N34GHTM · checked 2026-11-13

Securitum is an independent security firm, and its audit reports are independent evidence in a way Proton’s own policy page is not. The scope listed for each year is the same: the VPN server infrastructure, including configuration files, operating procedures and staff interviews. Proton says the latest report found no technical evidence that the servers it examined log browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, traffic contents or identifying connection data. Treat that sentence as Proton quoting the report. An audit shows a service as the auditor found it, and it does not cover what the company does between audits or outside the scope.

What security features does Proton VPN have?

Proton VPN’s apps use Smart Protocol by default, which picks a protocol for you, and also offer Stealth and WireGuard over UDP and TCP on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone/iPad. OpenVPN is available only in the Linux app with a window, and IKEv2 only on Mac.

The kill switch blocks your traffic if the VPN connection drops. Proton lists it for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone/iPad and Android, where Android’s own setting does the work. The advanced kill switch, which keeps traffic blocked whenever the VPN is off, is on Windows, in the Linux app with a window, and on iPhone/iPad as a beta.

Split tunneling lets some apps or sites skip the VPN. Proton lists it for paid plans only, on Windows, Mac (an experimental version that works with apps only), the Linux app with a window, Android, Android TV and the browser extensions. The page does not list iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Fire TV.

Proton says it uses full-disk encryption on its bare-metal servers.

Has Proton VPN had security incidents?

  1. 2021Proton Mail, not Proton VPN: in September 2021 it came out that Proton Mail had logged the IP address of a French climate activist's account after a legally binding order from Swiss authorities that French police had requested through Europol; coverage says the activist was reportedly arrested afterwards. Proton said the order came from the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and could not be appealed, that it does not collect IP addresses by default but only on a legal order for a specific account, and that the order did not ask for message content, which it says it cannot provide. Proton's CEO also said Swiss authorities cannot use the same kind of order to force Proton to log its VPN.therecord.media/protonmail-forced-to-colle… · cyberscoop.com/protonmail-swiss-court-ip-f… · proton.me/blog/climate-activist-arrest · checked 2026-11-13

The one entry on record is about Proton Mail, not Proton VPN. The facts, from press coverage: in September 2021 it came out that Proton Mail had recorded the IP address of one French climate activist’s account, after a legally binding order from Swiss authorities that French police had requested through Europol. The coverage says the activist was reportedly arrested afterwards.

Proton’s account is different in emphasis. It says the order came from the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and could not be appealed, that it does not collect IP addresses by default but only on a legal order for a specific account, and that the order did not ask for message content, which it says it cannot provide. Proton’s chief executive also said Swiss authorities cannot use the same kind of order to make Proton log its VPN. That is Proton’s statement. The only incident on record is the Proton Mail one, which has nothing to do with the VPN service.

How big is the Proton VPN server network?

The server and country counts in the card above are Proton’s own figures, from its server list. Proton lists its servers country by country, and that list marks some locations as virtual: its India servers, for example, are listed as virtual. Check the country guide below before you rely on a location.

For what Proton offers in a particular country, see our country guides:

Which devices does Proton VPN work on?

Proton lists apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iPhone and iPad, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV, and extensions for Chrome and Firefox. The number of devices one paid plan covers is in the card above. The apps differ in a few ways:

  • Mac: the app is a download from Proton’s website.
  • Linux: there is an app with a window and a command-line tool, with official packages for Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora. The Snap package of the app has no split tunneling, and the Flatpak is made by a third party, not by Proton.
  • iPhone and iPad: the app is on the US App Store, and the advanced kill switch is still a beta there. Proton’s split tunneling page does not list it.
  • Browser extensions: an extension covers the browser’s own traffic, not other apps on the same computer.

See our guides for Windows, Mac and Linux for how Proton VPN compares with other apps on those systems.

How does Proton VPN do with streaming, torrenting and speed?

We run no speed or streaming test bench of our own. Below is what other review sites reported, each credited and dated, and our own spot checks where we have one. Use the refund period to check the services you care about.

What did other testers find?

These are other sites' tests, not ours. Each one is credited and linked, and nothing is merged or averaged.

8 sites · 37 results

SourceLatestWhat they tested
CyberInsiderNov 2026updatedspeedleaks
SafelyoNov 2026updatedstreamingspeed
Tom's GuideOct 2026updatedtorrenting
CNETOct 2026updatedspeedleaks
Top10VPNOct 2026updatedstreamingleaks
Security.orgSep 2026updatedtorrenting
ComparitechAug 2026updatedstreaming
vpnMentorJun 2026updatedstreaming
See all 37 results from 8 sitesHide the 37 individual results

Streaming · In the US

Safelyo

Netflix US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked

Netflix · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

The US Netflix library opened

Netflix · updated Oct 2026

Comparitech

In Comparitech's own Netflix benchmark, which measures how often the US library opens, the US catalog loaded on 62.96% of 27 measurements

Netflix · updated Aug 2026

vpnMentor

They could stream Netflix in the US; the free version also reached Netflix but with long load times

Netflix · updated Jun 2026

Safelyo

Hulu US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked

Hulu · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

Hulu US worked

Hulu · updated Oct 2026

vpnMentor

Hulu worked

Hulu · updated Jun 2026

Safelyo

Prime Video US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked

Prime Video · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

Prime Video US worked

Prime Video · updated Oct 2026

Safelyo

HBO Max US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked

Max · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

HBO Max US worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not

Max · updated Oct 2026

Streaming · In the UK

Safelyo

Netflix UK played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers

Netflix · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

Netflix UK worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not

Netflix · updated Oct 2026

vpnMentor

Netflix UK streamed, best on the optimized servers

Netflix · updated Jun 2026

Safelyo

Disney+ UK played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers

Disney+ · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

Disney+ UK worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not

Disney+ · updated Oct 2026

Safelyo

BBC iPlayer played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers

BBC iPlayer · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

BBC iPlayer worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not

BBC iPlayer · updated Oct 2026

vpnMentor

BBC iPlayer worked on the dedicated servers; not available on the free plan

BBC iPlayer · updated Jun 2026

Safelyo

ITVX played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers

ITVX · updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

Top10VPN

ITVX worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not

ITVX · updated Oct 2026

Streaming · In Canada

Top10VPN

The Canadian Netflix library was among the ten that opened

Netflix · updated Oct 2026

Top10VPN

DAZN Canada worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not

DAZN · updated Oct 2026

Streaming · In Australia

Top10VPN

The Australian Netflix library was among the ten that opened

Netflix · updated Oct 2026

Streaming · country not stated by the source

Top10VPN

The US library and nine others opened, the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan among them

Netflix · updated Oct 2026

vpnMentor

Netflix also streamed in the UK, France and Japan, best on the optimized servers

Netflix · updated Jun 2026

vpnMentor

Amazon Prime Video worked

Prime Video · updated Jun 2026

vpnMentor

Disney+ worked

Disney+ · updated Jun 2026

vpnMentor

Max worked

Max · updated Jun 2026

Speed

CyberInsider

On a 1 Gbps connection in the US, Proton VPN reached 698 Mbps on WireGuard

updated Nov 2026 · run from the US

Safelyo

On WireGuard, an average of 335.45 Mbps download across 5 server locations, keeping 37.9% of an 884.36 Mbps no-VPN baseline measured from Vietnam; the US Seattle server gave 370.13 Mbps, or 41.9%, while Australia was an outlier at 25.21 Mbps, or 2.9%

updated Nov 2026 · run from Vietnam

CNET

An average 40.8% download speed loss in their 2026 testing, but only 11.9% on Windows over a 1 Gbps Google Fiber line while macOS speeds were roughly halved

updated Oct 2026

Torrenting

Tom's Guide

P2P sharing is available everywhere except Cyprus, Myanmar and North Macedonia, and port forwarding works on Mac but not on iOS

updated Oct 2026

Security.org

Enabling port forwarding raised their torrent download speed by up to 15%, and they found P2P allowed on most servers with port forwarding supported

updated Sep 2026

Leaks and kill switch

CyberInsider

The reviewer's tests found no IP or DNS leaks with Proton VPN connected to an arbitrary server, and the kill switch stress test confirmed that it blocks internet traffic when the connection is interrupted

updated Nov 2026 · run from the US

CNET

No leaks were detected in their 2026 testing

updated Oct 2026

Top10VPN

Proton VPN passed the reviewer's checks for IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks on every platform they tested

updated Oct 2026

These sites tested on different days, from different places and on different plans, so their results cannot be compared line by line. Several of them also report that the free plan behaved differently from the paid plans, which matters if you plan to stay on the free plan. Read the streaming results by country, and treat each one as that site’s finding, not ours.

Have we spot checked Proton VPN ourselves?

Our spot checkResult
Streaming playback on a US serverNo spot check yet

A spot check is our own: run in the US on a US server, five minutes of continuous playback to pass, with no fixed schedule. Results for other countries come from other sites' published tests.

What are the alternatives to Proton VPN?

  • NordVPN – choose it if you want a long run of audits and RAM-only servers, and do not need a free plan. Read our NordVPN review.
  • Surfshark – choose it if you have many devices to cover. Read our Surfshark review.
  • PureVPN – choose it if you want to try a paid trial week rather than a free plan. Its privacy record is mixed, so read our PureVPN review first.

How did we check these facts?

Every figure on this page comes from Proton’s own website, its help center, its public audit reports and its official blog. Our editors check each price themselves as a US buyer would see it, and re-check prices every two weeks and other figures at least every four months; prices and currencies vary by country. Where Proton does not publish a figure, we leave it out rather than estimate it. The test results we quote are other sites’ published tests, credited by name and dated, and our own spot checks are labeled as ours. The verdict, pros and cons are our editors’ judgment based on these facts.

FAQ

Is Proton VPN safe to use?

Proton VPN has a kill switch in its apps, and an outside firm has audited its no-logs policy every year since 2022. Against that, the advanced kill switch is not on every platform, and the 2021 Proton Mail case showed that Swiss authorities can order Proton to record an account’s IP address. That case concerned Proton Mail, not the VPN.

Does Proton VPN keep logs?

Proton says it keeps no session usage logs and does not log the websites you visit, your traffic, your IP address or your session lengths. Securitum, an outside firm, has examined the VPN servers every year since 2022. Proton does keep account information, as its privacy policy describes.

Where is Proton VPN based, and who owns it?

Proton VPN is run by Proton AG in Switzerland. Proton says its primary shareholder is the Proton Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit, with most of the other shares held by employees.

How many devices can I use with one Proton VPN subscription?

The paid VPN Plus plan covers the number of devices shown in the card above. The free plan covers fewer devices than the paid plans, according to Proton’s homepage.

How much does Proton VPN cost after the first term?

After the first term the price rises to the renewal price shown in the price table, which is higher than the first-term price on every plan. Check the renewal terms before you pay, and put a reminder in your calendar a few weeks before the term ends.

Does Proton VPN have a free plan or free trial?

Proton VPN has a permanent free plan, with fewer devices and fewer server countries than the paid plans. The money-back guarantee in the card above is the other way to try the paid service.

Does the Proton Mail IP-logging case affect Proton VPN?

The 2021 case concerned Proton Mail, which recorded one account’s IP address after a Swiss order. Proton’s chief executive said Swiss authorities cannot use the same kind of order to make Proton log its VPN. That is Proton’s statement. It is the only incident on record, and it has nothing to do with the VPN service.