ProtonVPN review
Our Verdict
With a form-leading unlimited-data free program as well every bit quick, individual and powerful paid options, ProtonVPN is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. Premium plans aren't cheap, just when you consider what y'all're getting, ProtonVPN is a very attractive choice.
For
- Excellent unlimited free programme
- Apps are open up source and secure
- Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, Disney+
- Incredible OpenVPN and WireGuard speeds
Confronting
- Plus plan a little expensive
- FAQ articles tin be intimidatingly complex
Tom's Guide Verdict
With a grade-leading unlimited-information free program as well as quick, private and powerful paid options, ProtonVPN is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. Premium plans aren't cheap, but when you consider what you're getting, ProtonVPN is a very bonny choice.
Pros
- +
Fantabulous unlimited free plan
- +
Apps are open up source and secure
- +
Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, Disney+
- +
Incredible OpenVPN and WireGuard speeds
Cons
- -
Plus plan a niggling expensive
- -
FAQ articles can be intimidatingly circuitous
Privacy and security are priorities when searching for the best VPN, and keeping you safe online is ProtonVPN's core mission. However, different many security-focused services, the Swiss provider doesn't sacrifice anything in terms of day-to-24-hour interval usability, and that rare combination alongside the best free VPN bachelor today makes for a seriously attractive product.
Just like any software, though, ProtonVPN isn't admittedly perfect. So, in our comprehensive ProtonVPN review, we'll be taking a look nether its skin to see what it can really offering y'all, what information technology might lack, and whether information technology's the right VPN for you.
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Latest updates
ProtonVPN has steadily increased the number of servers it offers, and information technology'south now upward to a respectable 1,300+. That's still not as many as some rivals, just information technology'southward plenty to become by with, and the spread over 61 countries is improve than many.
The biggest news, however, is the improver of WireGuard. The devs have evidently done a expert job of it too, and with speeds of around 740Mbps, it's hands in the 5 VPNs we've tested.
Another one of chief concerns from our last review has been addressed besides. ProtonVPN has at present added live conversation, and while it's not yet 24/7, the fact information technology has been added at shows ProtonVPN has a clear intention to acknowledge issues and improve weak areas.
Finally, yous can now apply the Plus plan on 10 devices simultaneously, which is upwards from five. Good stuff all circular, then.
ProtonVPN on paper
Number of servers: ane,300+
Number of countries: 61
Platforms supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chromebook, Android TV
Simultaneous connections: 10
Split tunneling: Aye (Windows and Android)
Kill switch: Aye
Supported protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec
Country of registration: Switzerland
Support: Email, knowledgebase, live chat (not 24/vii yet)
Plans and Pricing
ProtonVPN has one of the most attractive free options nosotros've seen from any provider. Without paying annihilation at all, yous can get an advertisement-free service with no data logging and no bandwidth limits. The just catch is that you're limited to choosing from servers in just three countries.
For paid plans, pricing gets a niggling complex. A Basic plan costs $5/mo paid monthly, but is reduced to $4/mo paid annually and $3.29/mo on a ii-year plan. This gives you P2P support, ii simultaneous connections and access to servers in every country ProtonVPN operates in – just not the 'Plus' servers, which are designed for streaming as well.
For the Secure Core feature and content unblocking, you'll need at least a Plus plan, which comes in at $ten/mo ($eight/mo paid annually, $6.63/mo on a two-year program). You lot'll also become x simultaneous connections with this plan (that's upwardly from 5 since our last review), but information technology's nevertheless somewhat expensive. Information technology's probably the ane y'all'll want, though, equally it enables ProtonVPN's not bad streaming power and enables admission to every server.
It'due south worth noting that ProtonVPN has started to offering some discounts on special occasions, and at the fourth dimension of writing, you tin handbag a two-twelvemonth Plus plan for just $iv.99 a month. That's much more competitive, and is certainly worth the money.
If you lot want to go all-out, $xxx a month will become you the Visionary package, which includes everything from the Plus package likewise as a full ProtonMail subscription. The Visionary plan is reduced to $24/mo on a one-year program, and $xix.96/mo on a 2-twelvemonth programme, but it still costs a hefty premium that nosotros expect few people will pay unless they really need encrypted e-mail back up besides as a VPN.
As an aside, this is essentially the same as the ProtonMail Visionary packet, which includes the VPN. ProtonMail is ane of the best email services, and focuses on security without sacrificing too much usability – and the Visionary plan does go you lot quite a lot of extras, if you demand them.
Notably, yous can remain completely anonymous when signing upwards for ProtonVPN. The platform supports ProtonMail email addresses and accepts payment via Bitcoin. That'southward a big describe if yous're looking to stay as anonymous as possible.
Finally, ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Even so, unlike nigh other providers, this refund is pro-rata. Then, if y'all claim your refund later on twenty days, y'all'd get your money minus the effective cost of those 20 days. While that's not going to suspension the bank, it'd be nice if ProtonVPN offered a full refund at any time within the calendar month, similar almost all of its competitors.
- More: Save some cash with the best cheap VPN
How private and secure is ProtonVPN?
Right out the gate, ProtonVPN has an reward over much of the contest, in that it's based in the security-friendly Switzerland. Unlike much of the balance of Europe. Switzerland is not part of any intelligence-sharing brotherhood like the 5 or 14 Eyes, is outside the EU, and generally protects its information jealously.
ProtonVPN'southward no-logging argument is comprehensive, and that'southward reflected in exercise – the merely information stored is your very last timestamp, which is immediately overwritten the next time you connect.
On sign-upwards you can also apply the company'south secure ProtonMail equally your e-mail, and while you tin can pay with PayPal and credit card (both handled by a tertiary party and anonymous to ProtonVPN itself), you tin also use Bitcoin, or even common cold, hard cash. Autonomously from Mullvad, ProtonVPN is the only VPN worth signing up to that does this, so compared to rivals, it's quite peradventure the most anonymous from get-go to stop.
One of the most exciting and unique features that ProtonVPN offers is what it calls Secure Cadre. This substantially ways that when yous connect to a server using ProtonVPN, your connection is first routed through several of ProtonVPN'southward most protected servers. As a effect, even if you access a malware-infected website, your true IP address and browsing history tin can never be leaked to network attackers.
ProtonVPN also offers a built-in impale switch to protect your IP in case your connexion drops. At that place's no option to take the VPN automatically turn on when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, but you can ready ProtonVPN to open a connection automatically when yous plough on your computer.
- More than: Run into which services rank on our best Netflix VPN list
ProtonVPN'due south server network is a footling smaller than many other VPNs that charge similar or cheaper prices – the company has just over 1,300 servers spread across 55 countries. However, with the server locations seemingly ever increasing – currently 61 – you'll have a good spread worldwide.
Privacy obsessives will be pleased to annotation that ProtonVPN offers Tor over VPN, which integrates your connexion with the anonymous Tor network. In a single click, all data is routed through the Tor network which gives the user an extra layer of privacy as well equally admission to Onion sites. Other than NordVPN, nosotros tin't name many VPNs that offer this as an integrated feature.
And, finally, in January 2020 ProtonVPN went through an independent audit past SEC Consult. The results were impressive, with just 11 bug found over all apps, none of which existence loftier-take chances.
While that might sound worrying, these audits are incredibly thorough, and when vulnerabilities are identified, it allows the developers to address them. And, thank you to the fact the apps are all open-source likewise, anyone interested can verify the fixes made.
All in all, nosotros're seriously impressed with ProtonVPN's privacy and security, from cash payments to the audit, and if you're looking for a VPN to go along y'all condom online, it'south nosotros're comfortable maxim it's easily 1 of the all-time secure VPN services around today.
How fast is ProtonVPN?
Beyond privacy, connection speeds are one of the most important features of any VPN, and can make or interruption a service. Nosotros tested ProtonVPN on 1Gbps lines in the United kingdom and US, and tested OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols.
To kick off with a bang, we recorded OpenVPN speeds of up to 460Mbps in the UK, and a massive 510Mbps in the US. That's almost unheard of, and out of all the providers we tested, these results from ProtonVPN are the fastest OpenVPN speeds we saw, bar none. That's seriously impressive.
In our terminal ProtonVPN review, although OpenVPN speeds were good, it was allow down by the lack of WireGuard. This time, though, it'southward available, and it's certainly potent.
In the Uk we saw speeds of up to 570Mbps, which is very good, but not quite top tier. In the US, though, WireGuard connections topped out at a mega 780Mbps. That's upwards there with the very best.
In our testing nosotros also found connections to be reliable, and it rarely took more than a few second to found the connectedness. So, no thing which protocol you prefer to utilise, ProtonVPN can certainly deliver the goods, and can keep upwards with the market place leaders like ExpressVPN and NordVPN with ease.
How skilful is ProtonVPN for streaming?
ProtonVPN isn't only a super-individual VPN – it besides claims to exist peachy for unblocking geo-restricted streaming content, too.
Netflix is likely to exist most people'south first port of call, and it just so happens that in mid-2021, it streaming site upgraded its VPN blocking tech. This thwarted just nearly every VPN at the time, and we're only now seeing improvements from a select few.
And, it seems, ProtonVPN is one of those select few. In our testing, it was able to unblock not only The states Netflix, but also UK and Canadian libraries, too. The but provider to beat that was ExpressVPN, but this impressive performance earned ProtonVPN second spot on our Netflix VPN guide.
Information technology's proficient news elsewhere, besides. Nosotros were able to unblock BBC iPlayer from outside the Britain, admission Amazon Prime number Video, and Disney+. That'due south a coveted full house, and more evidence that the Swiss provider isn't resting on its laurels, and is investing in improving service beyond the board.
In that location is a small take hold of, though. This streaming operation is only available on the Plus program, and while that's arguably the option nearly users will become for, it'south definitely worth knowing that the Basic and Free plans simply don't offer this sort of unblocking prowess.
How good are ProtonVPN's desktop apps?
ProtonVPN offers desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers besides every bit iOS and Android devices. The user interface is make clean and mod, with a map displaying all the visitor's agile server locations. If you're not a fan of the map, though, you tin can hide information technology and simply see the server list – merely we reckon it'south ane of the improve cartographical interfaces on the market place.
Aesthetically it'southward a cohesive and bonny interface, and those who appreciate a lot of info will like it. We can't help just think that many users would prefer something stripped back similar ExpressVPN, though, but information technology's all down to personal taste.
Connecting took virtually seven seconds, which is a little slower than some other VPNs nosotros've used, but not bad enough to bear upon usability. Nosotros too appreciated that the list of available servers is colour-coded to brandish their latency and load and so you know what to wait before connecting.
You're likewise treated to a nice amount of information about the servers themselves. Load is nifty to see (we wish more than VPNs showed this), and you can also tell which servers are optimized for P2P (every bit non every ane is). That'south now upward to 12, from 5 last fourth dimension we checked.
ProtonVPN'southward 'profiles' features is a nifty usability fox that substantially allows you to salve your frequently used settings. For example, perhaps at that place'southward a particular server you've noticed works specially well for accessing US Netflix or for P2P, but you besides regularly utilise a randomized Dutch connection for day-to-day browsing. Salvage them both every bit profiles, and you lot'll be able to connect to either in a single click.
In-app you lot'll besides encounter tons of info, including your IP, time continued, data up and downloaded, plus your average connection speeds.
In settings you can, surprise surprise, change settings like the impale switch, split tunneling, configure Quick Connect, and DNS protection. This was all smooth sailing for us, with no settings sticking or refusing to change (a surprisingly mutual issue with software like this).
That kill switch, past the way, is genuinely effective. No matter what nosotros did to try to trip information technology up, it e'er worked every bit expected, and didn't leak our true IP.
New to the app is the VPN Accelerator. Activated past default, this uses some technical trickery to help speed up connections that might otherwise be sluggish – and judging from the speeds we saw in our testing, ProtonVPN's doing something right.
At that place are a couple of limitations, similar in that location being no autoconnect on insecure networks, but these are small gripes.
How good are ProtonVPN's mobile apps?
On Android, information technology's a bit similar deja vu – information technology's almost identical to the Windows build. You lot'll become the same map, Profiles system and country listing. you'll also exist able to gear up dissever tunneling, a kill switch, NetShield, and a bunch more – the merely missing feature is setting custom DNS servers, but on Android you can get up and running with IKEv2 far more than easily than on desktop.
The iOS offering has a very slightly different aesthetic, but it'southward still patently the same software. Due to the inherent limitations of iOS, though, it's a slimmer build, with some features like split up tunneling unavailable. Really, though, it's quite comprehensive and does much the same every bit the Android and desktop clients.
Overall, ProtonVPN'south mobile VPN apps are well designed, powerful and usable, and the fact the feel is much the same across all platforms ways they're intuitive and pleasant to employ.
Not a fan of Proton's apps? No worries. Y'all tin download all of its OpenVPN config files and use them in an app or device of your choice. That's neat flexibility, and it'll fifty-fifty let you to download the lot every bit a .zip file.
How good is ProtonVPN'south back up?
Support was i area where nosotros had some bug in our concluding ProtonVPN review, and thankfully our main business has been addressed. Proton now offers live chat, and while it'south not 24/7, when we spoke to the support agent we were very impressed with the level of service we received.
They were knowledgeable, friendly, quick to answer, and overall were very helpful in sorting out our trouble. At the end they even offered to convert the chat to a ticket so we could follow upward at a later on date.
Don't fancy talking to a existent person? Well, ProtonVPN as well has a knowledgebase of articles to help y'all on your fashion. There's plenty there to selection from, and many are very useful. However, we did find they could be very technical, and while we appreciate the provider accommodating experts, the layman might struggle to parse the information.
On the whole, though, ProtonVPN has seriously improved its support, and that hasn't gone unnoticed. If the articles were simplified a little and the live conversation went 24/7, it wouldn't be far off full marks.
ProtonVPN: Last verdict
ProtonVPN is one of the best VPNs we've seen if you prize privacy and security. The Secure Core characteristic is unique and makes it nigh-on impossible for even highly sophisticated attacks to succeed in capturing your IP address. Plus, the ability to gear up upwardly network profiles for quick admission is a nice bear on. Excellent streaming back up is a valuable string to its bow, and the connections speeds are near-unbeatable.
Really, the only downside to ProtonVPN is that the back up still isn't absolutely top-notch, and getting access to the service'south near heady features is a little expensive, then it's well worth taking advantage of whatsoever special offers if you discover one.
Testing out the free service earlier committing is a smart motion, and it'south clear that any ongoing issues are being addressed, and that this is a provider that's intent on improvement. While it can't quite challenge for the pinnacle spot nevertheless, it actually isn't far off.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/protonvpn-review
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