Proton VPN
Swiss privacy at its finest
$4.49/mo
Full Review
Proton VPN, from the team behind the encrypted email service ProtonMail, brings Swiss privacy standards to the VPN market. Switzerland's strict privacy laws and position outside the EU and US surveillance alliances make it an ideal jurisdiction for a VPN provider.
The free tier is genuinely the best in the industry — no data caps, no ads, and decent speeds on servers in the US, Netherlands, and Japan. It's perfect for users who want basic VPN protection without any cost.
Secure Core is Proton VPN's multi-hop feature, routing traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before exiting through your chosen location. The physical servers are housed in high-security facilities, including a former Swiss army bunker.
The integration with the broader Proton ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, Drive) creates a compelling privacy suite. All apps are open-source and have been independently audited by SEC Consult.
Pros
- Best free VPN plan available
- Swiss jurisdiction with strong privacy laws
- Secure Core multi-hop servers
- Part of trusted Proton ecosystem
- Open-source and independently audited
Cons
- Free plan limited to 3 countries
- Slightly slower than top competitors
- Higher price for premium tier
Performance Scores
Key Features
- 4,600+ servers in 91 countries
- Secure Core (multi-hop)
- Free tier available
- NetShield ad blocker
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Tor over VPN