Proton VPN has the strongest privacy credentials in the category and the only free tier worth using.
Where it wins. All apps are open source and audited, so the no-logs claim can be inspected rather than trusted — a materially stronger position than any competitor's audit report alone. Swiss jurisdiction and a non-profit foundation structure remove the commercial pressures that make other providers' ownership a question. Secure Core routes traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly countries before exit, which defends against network-level attacks nobody else addresses. The free tier is unlimited-data, which is unique among reputable providers.
Where it falls short. Speeds are good but trail NordVPN on distant servers, and Secure Core costs meaningful throughput. The free tier limits you to a few countries and one device, with slower speeds at peak. The server count is smaller than the majors, and streaming access is less consistent — it works, but with more retries. Apps are functional rather than beautiful.
Our call. The best choice when privacy is the actual reason you are buying a VPN. For streaming and raw speed, NordVPN edges it.
Best for
Privacy-focused users, journalists, and anyone who wants auditable open-source apps and a usable free tier.
Key takeaways
- 1Every app open source and independently audited
- 2Swiss jurisdiction under a non-profit foundation
- 3Secure Core routing defends against network-level attacks
- 4Genuinely unlimited free tier — unique among reputable providers
- 5Speeds trail NordVPN on distant servers
- 6Streaming access is less consistent than the majors
Proton VPN is the privacy purist's choice, and unusually it is also the most generous. Every app is open source and independently audited, the company is Swiss and structured as a non-profit foundation, and the free tier is genuinely unlimited on data — something no comparable provider offers.
What we like
- Best privacy credentials available
- Fully open-source audited apps
- Unlimited-data free tier
- Secure Core multi-hop
- Strong ethical track record
Worth noting
- Slower on long-distance servers
- Restrictive free tier countries
- Smaller server network
- Less reliable for streaming
Plans
Pricing
Free
- Unlimited data — no cap
- 1 device
- Servers in a few countries
- No ads and no logs
- Open-source audited apps
VPN Plus
per month, 2-year term
- 10 devices
- Servers in 110+ countries
- Secure Core multi-hop
- NetShield ad blocking
- Streaming support
- Tor over VPN
Pricing verified Aug 14, 2026. Prices shown are billed annually where available and may change — always confirm on the vendor site.
From real users
Reviews
No verified reviews yet
We publish a user score only once real, verified reviews exist — so this tool is rated on our hands-on testing alone for now. Used it? Your review would be the first.
Write the first reviewGood to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton VPN's free plan really unlimited?＋
Yes on data, which is unique among reputable providers. You are limited to one device and a small number of countries, with slower speeds at peak times.
Why does open source matter for a VPN?＋
Because a no-logs claim you can inspect is stronger than one you must trust. Proton's apps are open source and audited, so the client behaviour can be verified independently.
What is Secure Core?＋
Traffic routes through a hardened server in a privacy-friendly country before exiting elsewhere, so a compromised exit server cannot reveal your real address. It costs throughput and no competitor offers an equivalent.
Proton VPN
From $4.99/mo