Is It Nonetheless Dependable in 2024?

In 2023, we discovered Proton VPN to be a well-rounded VPN with its distinctive, Swiss-based privateness and beneficiant free tier. Primarily based in Switzerland, Proton complies with Switzerland’s sturdy privateness legal guidelines — a plus for companies and people involved about authorities information requests.

A yr later, Proton VPN brings vital updates that I really feel make probably the greatest VPNs accessible out there. Chief amongst these is a bigger server community, an up to date third-party audit, and extra reasonably priced pricing.

On this assessment, let’s have a look if Proton VPN is the correct selection for you and what you are promoting in 2024.

Proton VPN pricing

In terms of pricing, I discovered Proton VPN falls within the center amongst its competitors. At $4.99 monthly for its one-year Plus plan, it’s costlier than Non-public Web Entry’ equal one-year subscription at $3.33 monthly. Nevertheless, it’s additionally extra reasonably priced than ExpressVPN’s one-year plan priced at $8.33 monthly.

In comparison with final yr, Proton VPN can be now extra reasonably priced. In 2023, its one-year Proton VPN Plus subscription value $5.99 monthly. At present, it’s $4.99 monthly.

The 2-year plan can be cheaper, now at $4.49 monthly to 2023’s $4.99 monthly. On the other facet, its one-month subscription is barely costlier now at $9.99 monthly, in comparison with final yr’s $8.99 price ticket.

Whereas these aren’t large decreases in worth, they’re appreciated contemplating how the enhancements carried out in Proton VPN in 2024 — one thing we’ll get into additional down this assessment.

In case you plan on connecting a number of gadgets or want the quickest connection, I like to recommend going for Proton VPN Plus. It permits customers to attach 10 gadgets concurrently, has Proton’s quickest speeds on the lowest potential value, and consists of Proton’s full server suite. Those that additionally use VPNs for torrenting (P2P) and streaming ought to go for the VPN Plus plan, as this isn’t accessible on Proton VPN’s free model.

Lastly, I like to recommend Proton Limitless just for customers who need Proton’s different encryption-based companies on prime of the options you get with VPN Plus.

Is Proton VPN really free?

Sure, Proton VPN has a completely free model alongside its two paid plans. It gives free entry to servers from 5 international locations, particularly the USA, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland.

With the free model, you get medium VPN pace, a kill swap, and limitless information. Home windows and Android customers additionally get entry to Proton’s cut up tunneling function at no cost. As a free VPN, I respect Proton providing limitless bandwidth, particularly since different free VPNs often impose a month-to-month or each day information cap. I believe this implementation is healthier for those who want an economical method to merely change your IP deal with.

Nevertheless, there’s a limitation I wish to point out: Proton VPN’s Free model doesn’t allow you to select which of the 5 free VPN areas you hook up with. This implies you’ll need to undergo a little bit of trial and error earlier than you get linked to your required nation. As talked about, you additionally gained’t get entry to the complete 112-country server fleet accessible in its premium plan.

Whereas I discover this to be a good restriction, I can perceive customers which will need the management of having the ability to select which location to hook up with. In case you’re one in every of these individuals, I counsel trying into Speedify VPN. It’s a good service that has a free model VPN that enables guide nation choice. Take be aware, nonetheless, that it imposes a 2-10 GB month-to-month information cap.

SEE: Proton VPN Free vs Premium: Which Plan Is Greatest for You? (TechRepublic)

For my part, the free model is finest for customers who’re not sure about spending on a full VPN service or those that solely want one VPN connection and primary performance.

Is Proton VPN secure?

Sure, I take into account Proton VPN to be a safe and secure VPN. It gives industry-standard protocols OpenVPN and IKEv2, in addition to the newer WireGuard and Stealth protocols throughout the Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS variations. This offers customers a mixture of extra established and well-tested safety protocols and newer choices with newer applied sciences.

Proton VPN additionally operates below a strict no-logs coverage, which suggests they don’t log person exercise or metadata. This covers web sites visited, session lengths, IP addresses, or any information that may very well be used to determine a person. It’s additionally an open supply VPN, which signifies that its code is publicly accessible for assessment. Personally, I do know privateness fanatics and builders will respect this because it permits them to identify vulnerabilities in Proton VPN’s supply code themselves.

After I reviewed Proton VPN final yr, its latest impartial safety audit had been carried out means again in 2021. Whereas I laud VPN suppliers for having their companies audited, a key consideration could be how frequent these audits are executed to account for altering circumstances.

Now that it’s 2024, I’m very joyful to report that it has a extra current exterior audit centered on its no-logs coverage. The third-party audit, carried out by Securitum, confirmed that Proton VPN didn’t, actually, retailer any person logs. That is essential given how simple it’s for software program suppliers to make safety claims — with out really following by on guarantees.

One factor I failed to say final yr was Proton VPN’s spectacular encounter with the Swiss courtroom system in 2019. In that incident, an information request from one other nation was despatched to Proton VPN and was authorized by the Swiss courtroom system. Nevertheless, as a result of Proton VPN didn’t have any buyer IP information, it was not in a position to present the data requested.

To me, that is real-world proof that Proton VPN doesn’t log or secretly disguise any person information for its personal profit.

SEE: 6 Greatest Nameless (No-Log) VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)

Key options of Proton VPN

Proton VPN gives quite a lot of options that shield and safe person information. This consists of its protection below Swiss privateness legal guidelines, good pace and efficiency, and DNS leak safety.

Swiss-based privateness

Proton VPN is owned by an organization referred to as Proton AG, a know-how supplier based mostly in Switzerland. As Proton VPN is predicated in Switzerland, it complies with the nation’s sturdy privateness legal guidelines and political neutrality. All Proton customers will take pleasure in the identical authorized privateness protections that Swiss residents do.

This additionally signifies that any requests for Proton person information can’t be granted with no Swiss courtroom order. It is a key function for customers or companies which are involved about authorities intervention. Whereas no nation is resistant to breaches, Proton’s compliance with Swiss legal guidelines will grant a layer of safety you gained’t discover with different VPNs.

DNS leak safety

Proton VPN additionally guarantees safety in opposition to DNS leaks throughout dropped connections. To check this, I ran Proton VPN Free by a DNS leak take a look at software a number of occasions. All through testing, no leaks had been detected.

Proton additionally prompts DNS Safety out of the field. Provided that DNS leak safety is a vital VPN function, we commend Proton for setting it to “all the time on” upon setup.

Kill swap

Proton additionally comes with a kill swap that acts as a final line of protection throughout an outage or disruption. Within the occasion your VPN connection fails, the kill swap will mechanically cease your machine from reconnecting to the web with out the VPN’s safety. This prevents any undesirable sharing of knowledge out of your pc to your web service supplier.

It goes additional as Proton permits customers to activate a “everlasting kill swap.” When activated, any connection not executed by way of a Proton VPN server is blocked or lower out.

In my testing, the everlasting kill swap labored as marketed — even with the primary app closed and operating within the background. This set-it-and-forget-it function can maintain your information non-public throughout undesirable disruptions.

Pace and efficiency: How briskly is Proton VPN?

Whereas it’s regular to have decrease add and obtain speeds with a VPN, Proton VPN nonetheless supplied good and secure numbers throughout testing.

As an preliminary disclaimer, my 2024 testing of Proton VPN was totally with its free model. Which means my information speeds had been capped, with Proton VPN’s quickest VPN speeds being reserved by one in every of its paid plans.

Nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked with how nicely Proton VPN’s free model fared. Similar to in 2023, Proton VPN gave me constantly quick speeds with no noticeable drops in efficiency.

This was true throughout my basic use of the service, which included shopping social media, accessing Google companies like Docs and Drive and watching YouTube movies. I additionally didn’t expertise any problem sustaining a secure connection whereas testing Proton. For pace and stability, Proton VPN carried out nicely.

By way of pace take a look at outcomes, Proton VPN’s free model was surprisingly quick. Even with capped speeds, it solely decreased my obtain pace round 2.87% in comparison with my web service supplier. For add speeds, it was glorious, really recording 76.4% quicker speeds than my ISP.

Once more, that is Proton VPN’s free tier, so I count on speeds to be much less constant than its premium variations.

Proton VPN servers and areas

As of October 2024, Proton VPN’s server community has round 8,500+ servers from 112 international locations — giving it one of many bigger server suites within the area. It is a large enhance in comparison with final yr, whereby Proton’s server fleet comprised a decent 3,024 servers in 69 international locations.

Compared, NordVPN at present has 6,400 servers in 111 international locations, whereas Surfshark VPN has 3,200+ servers in 100 international locations. To me, that is maybe the most important enchancment Proton VPN had over the previous yr. Contemplating how one of many predominant makes use of of a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material, I respect the Proton VPN workforce’s dedication in increasing its server community in such a brief period of time.

Proton VPN gives three totally different server sorts: Free, Plus, and Safe Core servers. Free servers, which include Proton’s free model, present primary safety with medium speeds. In the meantime, Plus servers permit streaming help, advert blocking, torrenting and a quicker connection.

Lastly, Safe Core servers add to Plus servers’ performance by introducing stronger safety in opposition to information assaults. Safe Core routes your visitors by a number of servers, making it tougher for dangerous actors to realize your true IP deal with. These servers are wholly owned by Proton and are housed in privacy-friendly international locations (like Switzerland or Iceland) for much more safety.

For my part, Safe Core is a singular promoting level of Proton VPN that many privacy-focused customers will discover useful. That is very true for those who use servers situated in additional high-risk areas just like the U.S.

SEE: ProtonVPN vs AtlasVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Use? (TechRepublic)

Proton VPN execs

• Affords sturdy Switzerland-based privateness options.
• Implements a strict no-logs coverage.
• Offers greater than 8,500 servers in 112 international locations.
• Open supply and independently audited.
• Has a free model.
• Helps as much as 10 simultaneous connections.

Proton VPN cons

• Free model doesn’t allow you to select server location.
• Desktop interface may very well be overwhelming at first.
• Stay chat help is just accessible for paid customers.

Who’s Proton VPN finest for?

In case you’re on the lookout for a VPN that specializes in opposition to authorities surveillance, Proton VPN is a superb resolution. Its Swiss-backed privateness is a significant worth proposition, particularly relating to defending delicate enterprise or person information. It additionally will get a whole lot of the core options proper with its sturdy set of protocols, kill swap, and DNS leak safety, to call just a few.

As of 2024, it additionally carries one of many largest server networks accessible in VPNs at this time at 8,500+ servers throughout 112 international locations. Proton VPN is made for individuals who need an built-in ecosystem of encrypted and safe software program. Proton additionally gives the VPN bundled with its different encrypted companies by its Proton Limitless plan.

Whereas there are cheaper choices on the market, Proton’s total package deal and lack of obvious drawbacks make it a good selection. Uncertain consumers additionally get pleasure from having the ability to entry Proton VPN at no cost.

SEE: How one can Create an Efficient Cybersecurity Consciousness Program (TechRepublic Premium)

Proton VPN alternate options

Whereas Proton VPN is a stable VPN choice, not everybody will discover it an excellent match. We’ve listed related alternate options under that supply totally different options for every VPN person.

NordVPN

NordVPN is likely one of the most well-known VPNs out there at this time. Nord is nice for safe file-sharing, as its Meshnet function permits customers to switch and share recordsdata by their very own non-public encrypted community. It has round 6,400+ servers in 111 international locations and a menace safety function that combats malware, advertisements, and internet trackers.

To search out out extra, take a look at our full NordVPN assessment.

Surfshark

One other outstanding VPN is Surfshark. This VPN is finest for a number of gadgets, because it offers customers a vast variety of machine connections to the service. It additionally has zero bandwidth limitations and gives a seven-day free trial to check it out.

To study extra, take a look at our full Surfshark VPN assessment.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN is one other nice VPN resolution. It’s recognized for its in depth server community, providing servers in 100 international locations and 126 areas. This enables customers to entry a broad number of geo-restricted content material whereas sustaining a secure connection.

To find extra, take a look at our full CyberGhost VPN assessment.

Evaluate methodology

My assessment of Proton VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its safety features, value, and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with ProtonVPN’s free model and supplemented my findings with person testimonials and respected critiques for each the free and paid tiers.

For pace and efficiency, I examined ProtonVPN Free utilizing a Home windows pc and ran it by Ookla’s Speedtest. As a disclaimer, VPN speeds will range relying on a whole lot of components: your web service supplier, your machine, your location, and the actual server you select. To check for DNS leaks, I ran Proton VPN Free a number of occasions by DNSleaktest.

Lastly, I scored Proton on every little thing from its pricing to its protocols based mostly on an inside algorithm to get a remaining score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The scoring on the rubric was based mostly each on Proton VPN by itself and in relation to different VPN companies out there.