Our verdict
Proton VPN combines strong privacy, open-source apps and the only free plan we recommend. It did well in streaming and speed tests too. Its Trustpilot rating is low (2.1), and the paid plan costs more than most rivals.
Speed
Independent tests measured an average speed loss of about 16%, and on very fast connections WireGuard reached more than 1,500 Mbps, one of the highest results in 2026 tests.
Streaming
On the paid plan, Netflix worked in many countries, and Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Max worked too. Streaming is not included on the free plan.
Privacy and security
Proton is based in Switzerland, and all its apps are open source. Its no-logs policy has passed four independent audits in a row, most recently in 2025, covering both free and paid users. The servers are not RAM-only but use full-disk encryption.
Travel
Proton VPN has servers in more than 110 countries. Its Stealth protocol worked in China in a 2025 test, although China is not officially supported.
Torrenting
P2P is allowed on dedicated servers only. Port forwarding is available on Windows and Linux, and the kill switch held up in tests.
Price and plans
The Plus plan starts at $4.49 a month on the two-year plan, covers 10 devices and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The free plan has no data cap and no ads, but is limited to one device and five countries, without streaming or P2P.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The best free plan we have seen
- Open-source apps and four independent no-logs audits
- Strong Swiss privacy laws
- Good streaming and speed results
Cons
- Low Trustpilot rating
- Paid plan costs more than most rivals
- P2P only on some servers
- Servers are not RAM-only