Proton VPN Review

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What it is: Swiss VPN with a free plan, from the company behind Proton Mail
Made by: Proton
Best for: Privacy, strong free plan
Price: Free; Plus $2.99/mo on 2 years, renews $83.88/yr, checked October 29, 2026
Prices checked: October 29, 2026

We researched Proton VPN's official pricing, plan terms, product pages, help documentation and Trustpilot profile. We haven't used Proton VPN ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.

Who it’s best for

People who want a free VPN with no data cap.
Privacy-minded users who value open-source apps and published audits.
Households covering up to 10 devices.

Who should skip it

Probably not the best fit if you want the lowest long-term renewal price, where NordVPN's first-term price is close and worth comparing.

How it works day to day

This part draws on Proton VPN’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 29, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used Proton VPN ourselves.

You open the app and connect with one click, or pick a country.

Key features in use

Free plan with no data cap.
Ad, tracker and malware blocking on Plus.
Secure Core multi-hop servers.
Streaming support on Plus.

Setup and learning curve

Create a Proton account, download the app, and connect.

Integrations

Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, TVs and routers.

Support

Help center and live chat (Plus) are listed on its site.

Real-world use cases

A student uses the free plan on campus Wi-Fi.
A family covers 10 devices.
A traveler streams home shows abroad.

What it costs

Prices checked October 29, 2026, from Proton VPN’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.

Free: $0, no data limit, with fewer servers and one device.
VPN Plus, 1 month: $9.99.
VPN Plus, 1 year: $47.88 for the first year ($3.99 a month), then $83.88 a year.
VPN Plus, 2 years: $71.76 for the first 24 months ($2.99 a month), then $83.88 every 12 months. Covers 10 devices.
Prices shown on its deals page on October 29, 2026; other pages have shown different 2-year intro prices, so check at checkout.

What we like

A free plan with no data limit.
Open-source apps with a published no-logs audit.
Based in Switzerland.
A 30-day money-back guarantee.

What to watch for

Trustpilot showed 2.1 out of 5 from 1,023 reviews as of October 29, 2026.
Renewal at $83.88 a year is well above the first-term price.
The free plan limits servers and devices.

The fine print

Intro prices are for the first term only.
The 2-year plan renews yearly at $83.88.
In 2021, Proton was legally compelled by Swiss authorities to log one Proton Mail user's IP address; Proton VPN says its VPN keeps no logs.

The main alternative: NordVPN Reviewed by Vetteroo

What it costs: $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan ($94.23 for the first 27 months), checked October 26, 2026

Read our full NordVPN review · Proton VPN vs NordVPN

Pick Proton VPNReviewed by Vetteroo if you…

want a free plan.
value open-source and audits.
need 10 devices.

Pick NordVPNReviewed by Vetteroo if you…

want a big server network.
want extra security tools in higher plans.

Our take

Proton VPN offers a genuinely useful free plan and strong privacy credentials, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its Trustpilot score is low and renewals cost more. Compare NordVPN on price.

Side by side

Company	Best for	Starting price	Trial / refund
Proton VPN Reviewed by Vetteroo	Privacy, strong free plan	Free; Plus $2.99/mo on 2 years, renews $83.88/yr, checked October 29, 2026	30-day money-back
NordVPN Reviewed by Vetteroo	Speed plus extra security tools	$3.49/mo on a 2-year plan ($94.23 for the first 27 months), checked October 26, 2026	30-day money-back

From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.

What we checked

Proton VPN's pricing page and plan terms, read October 29, 2026
Proton VPN's Trustpilot profile, read October 29, 2026
Proton VPN's US prices were confirmed through a search of its deals page, because our network showed prices in Canadian dollars
NordVPN's details: from our existing company record and review, not re-checked on October 29, 2026
The other official pages listed under Sources (links checked October 29, 2026)

Sources

Visit Proton VPN’s official site

How we review

We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.