Bottom line: Proton VPN scores highest in our VPN section on the evidence it publishes. It has passed five consecutive annual no-logs audits by Securitum and publishes the full reports. Every app is open source, so anyone can read the code. Paid plans reach 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, and there’s a genuinely free plan. It ranks second in our VPN section, behind NordVPN, on one stated criterion: NordVPN’s record of independent no-logs reviews runs back to 2018, Proton’s to 2022. NordVPN also leads for travelers, with its NordWhisper protocol for networks that block VPNs, and includes a Dedicated IP in its top plan.
Best for: privacy-first users who want to verify, not trust; anyone who wants to start free.
Think twice if: you’re often on networks that block VPNs, or you need more than 10 devices.
We have no affiliate deal with Proton; links go to its official site. How we score.
Updated 29 October 2026. This Proton VPN review rests on what Proton publishes and what we could check that day: its pricing page and its post on the no-logs audits. We haven’t run speed tests, so there is no speed score here.
Proton VPN review at a glance
| What we checked | What Proton publishes |
|---|---|
| No-logs audits | 5 consecutive annual audits by Securitum, latest 2026, reports public |
| Code | All apps open source |
| Based in | Switzerland (Proton AG, Geneva) |
| Network (paid) | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries |
| Devices | 10 at a time |
| Free plan | Yes: servers in 10 countries, randomly selected |
| Refund window | 30 days on paid plans |
What Proton VPN does well
You can check its claims yourself
Most VPNs ask you to trust an audit summary. Proton goes further. Its audit post says it “openly publishes the full no-logs report for anyone to read,” and that it makes “all our apps open source so that anyone can examine our code.”
That combination is rare. The audit tells you how the servers are run; the open code tells you what the app on your phone actually does, and when you put the two together you’re relying far less on a company’s word than you would with almost any other VPN on the market. If you’re the kind of person who wants proof rather than promises, this is the most verifiable VPN we cover.
Five audits, one a year
Proton says it has passed a fifth consecutive annual third-party audit of its no-logs policy, by Securitum. Each year, Securitum spent several days on site reviewing VPN configuration and server settings, assessing procedures and interviewing staff. Proton quotes the latest, 2026, report as confirming it does not keep metadata logs or log VPN activity.
NordVPN has six reviews to Proton’s five, so on count alone NordVPN edges it. Proton’s are annual and public, and its apps are open source on top. Taken together, we score Proton’s privacy evidence slightly higher.
The biggest published network we cover
Paid plans reach “20,000+ servers in 140+ countries”, according to Proton’s pricing page. That’s the largest published count of any VPN we review. NordVPN doesn’t publish a server total; Surfshark lists 4500+.
A real free plan
Proton Free costs nothing and connects to servers in 10 countries, randomly selected. It’s limited, honestly, but it’s a real VPN from a company with a strong audit record, which is more than most free VPNs can say, since many of them pay for themselves by showing you ads or selling what they learn about you. It’s the best way to try Proton before paying.
A smaller renewal jump
VPN Plus is billed for the first 24 months at the intro rate, then renews every 12 months at about twice that yearly rate. That’s still a rise. It’s a smaller one than most rivals, where the renewal can run three times the intro rate or more.
What “open source” means for you
Most people will never read a line of Proton’s code, and that’s fine. Open source still helps you in three practical ways.
Other people can read it. Security researchers, rival companies and curious engineers can all inspect what the app does with your traffic. When you can’t check something yourself, it helps that thousands of others could.
Problems are harder to hide. A closed app could quietly collect data and you’d never know. An open one would have to do it in plain sight. That changes the incentives.
It works with the audits. The yearly Securitum audit checks how Proton runs its servers. The open code covers the other half: the app on your device. Together they leave less to take on trust than any other VPN we cover.
Honestly, this is the single biggest reason Proton scores highest on privacy in our section.
Free or Plus: when to upgrade
Start on Free. When you’re only after privacy on public Wi-Fi, it does that job, at no cost, from a company with five years of public audits.
Upgrade to VPN Plus when one of these happens:
- You need a specific country. Free picks one of 10 for you. Plus lets you choose from 140+.
- You want ad blocking. NetShield, Proton’s ad blocker, “uses DNS filtering to protect you from malware and website trackers”, according to its pricing page. It’s part of the paid plan.
- You’re covering a household. Plus protects 10 devices at a time.
- You want the extra features, such as Secure Core, which Proton lists among VPN Plus features.
Most people who upgrade do it for the first reason. Don’t pay before you hit it, because Free costs nothing and the refund window only matters once you’ve paid.
Where Proton VPN falls short
The free plan chooses for you
Free connects you to servers in 10 countries, and Proton picks which one. Great for privacy on public Wi-Fi. Not for reaching a service in a specific country, such as a streaming app or a bank that only works from home, because the server you land on is down to chance.
Ten devices
Proton covers 10 devices at a time. That’s enough for most people, and the same as NordVPN, but a gadget-heavy household will prefer Surfshark’s unlimited plan.
Blocked networks
NordVPN publishes a protocol built for networks that block VPNs, NordWhisper. On the Proton pages we read for this review, we didn’t find an equivalent described, so for travelers who often hit hotel or office firewalls, NordVPN remains our pick. That’s why it ranks first for travel even though Proton scores higher overall.
Proton VPN plans
| Plan | What it adds | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Free | VPN with servers in 10 countries, randomly selected | Trying it; public Wi-Fi |
| VPN Plus | 10 devices, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, Secure Core, NetShield ad blocker | Most people |
| Proton Unlimited | VPN Plus plus Proton’s other apps, such as its password manager and storage | People who want the Proton suite |
The paid plans’ intro and renewal prices sit in the plans table below, with the date we checked them.
| Plan | Monthly | On a yearly plan |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Free Trying it, light use |
Free | Free |
| VPN Plus Most people |
$9.99/mo | $3.49/mo |
| Proton Unlimited The whole Proton suite |
$12.99/mo | $7.99/mo |
2-year plans billed $83.76 (VPN Plus) and $191.76 (Proton Unlimited) for the first 24 months, shown per month. They renew at $83.88 and $119.88 every 12 months.
Prices checked Oct 29, 2026 on Proton VPN’s own pricing page. Intro prices usually rise at renewal, so check the live page before you buy.
Who should buy Proton VPN
- You want to verify, not trust. Public audit reports and open-source apps.
- You want to start free. Proton Free is a real VPN.
- You want the largest published network. 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries.
- You’ll keep it for years. The renewal jump is smaller than most.
Who should look elsewhere
- You’re often behind firewalls that block VPNs. Look at NordVPN and NordWhisper.
- You have more than 10 devices. Surfshark has no limit.
- You want a Dedicated IP included. NordVPN’s Complete Max or ExpressVPN’s Express Pro include one.
Three buyers, three answers
A student on campus Wi-Fi with no budget. Proton Free covers the basics on public networks at no cost. When you need a specific country later, VPN Plus is the upgrade.
A privacy researcher who reads code. This is Proton’s strongest case. Open-source apps and public audit reports mean you can check both halves of the promise yourself.
A consultant in hotels every week. Firewalls and filtered Wi-Fi are the daily obstacle. NordVPN’s NordWhisper is built for that, so it’s our pick for this buyer, even though Proton scores higher overall.
It turns out the best VPN depends on where you connect from, not just on the score. When you know your usual networks, the choice gets much easier.
Four Proton VPN mistakes worth avoiding
Expecting the free plan to pick your country. It doesn’t. Don’t buy Plus until you know you need a specific location.
Skipping the audit report. It’s public. If privacy is why you’re choosing Proton, read the summary.
Buying Proton Unlimited for the VPN alone. If you don’t want the other Proton apps, VPN Plus is the same VPN.
Forgetting the renewal date. The jump is smaller than most, but it’s still a jump. Put the date in your calendar.
How we checked Proton VPN
We don’t claim tests we didn’t run. For this review we read Proton VPN’s pricing page and its no-logs audit post on 29 October 2026, and quote them where it matters. Our scores weigh privacy, security features, the server network, the apps and value, on what each VPN publishes; How we score explains each one. Compare it with the rest of our VPN section.
FAQ: Proton VPN questions
Is Proton VPN good?
Yes. It has the highest score in our VPN section on published evidence, and ranks second behind NordVPN’s longer audit record: five annual no-logs audits with public reports, open-source apps, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries on paid plans, and a free plan.
Is Proton VPN really free?
Proton Free costs nothing and connects to servers in 10 countries, randomly selected. Paid plans unlock the full network and choice of country.
Has Proton VPN been audited?
Yes. Proton says it has passed five consecutive annual no-logs audits by Securitum, the latest in 2026, and publishes the reports.
Where is Proton VPN based?
Switzerland. Proton AG is in Geneva.
How many devices does Proton VPN cover?
Ten at a time on paid plans.
The verdict
Proton VPN has the highest score in our VPN section because it gives you the most to check: annual audits with public reports, open-source apps, the largest published network and a free plan to start on. It ranks second, behind our top pick NordVPN, whose no-logs record runs four years longer, back to 2018. NordVPN is also the better tool for the hotel firewall, with NordWhisper. If you’d rather read the code yourself, or start free, Proton is the VPN whose claims you can verify yourself.