Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the VPN arm of the Proton privacy ecosystem, and one of the few consumer VPNs that publishes all its application code publicly and backs that claim with independent audits. Its free tier stands out: no time limit, no data cap, no ads – making it one of the most credible evaluation starting points before you commit to a paid subscription, or a useful long-term option for light usage.

Best for: Privacy-focused users and teams who want an audited, open-source VPN with a genuinely usable free tier, or anyone already on the Proton Unlimited plan where VPN access is included.

Core Features

• 20,000+ servers across 140+ countries – global infrastructure with broad geographic coverage for bypassing regional restrictions
• NetShield – DNS-based filtering that blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the network level before content loads
• Stealth protocol – custom obfuscated protocol designed to bypass geographic and ISP-level VPN blocks, including in restrictive regions
• 100% open source – all apps (desktop and mobile) are publicly available; independently verified no-logs policy
• Kill switch – cuts all internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing accidental IP exposure
• Free tier – 1 device, 5-country server access, no data cap, no session timer, no ads; no payment card required

Pricing

Proton VPN is included in Proton Unlimited – see Proton Unlimited for EUR pricing details.

Standalone Proton VPN Plus: $2.99/mo (2-yr plan, billed $71.76), $3.99/mo (1-yr plan, billed $47.88), $9.99/mo monthly. Prices in USD.

Free plan: Yes – 1 device, 5 randomly-assigned country servers, medium speed, unlimited data. No credit card required.

Pros

• Open source and independently audited – full code transparency and verified no-logs policy are verifiable claims, not just marketing
• Free tier is genuinely unlimited – no data cap, no time limit, no ads; the most credible free VPN evaluation in the category
• NetShield and Stealth protocol add meaningful functionality beyond basic VPN tunneling on the paid tier

Cons

• Paid-plan value depends on the current regional offer shown on the official Proton VPN pricing page
• Free tier limited to 1 device and 5 countries; connection speeds are capped below paid tiers
• Up to 10 simultaneous devices on paid plans – some competitors offer more connections per subscription

Verdict

Proton VPN’s free tier is the best available for evaluation purposes: no friction, no cap, no commitment. Its open-source, audited architecture means the no-logs claim is more verifiable than most VPN competitors can offer. For paid plans, check the current regional offer at protonvpn.com before purchasing. If you’re already on Proton Unlimited, VPN is included at no extra cost and this decision is already made.

Compare: Proton VPN vs NordVPN | See also: Password manager + VPN bundles | Full Proton bundle: Proton Unlimited

Source: protonvpn.com/.