Proton is the maker of one of the most popular and trusted encrypted email services, so I expected a lot from its VPN. The company also offers various other apps with solid security, so I extensively tested Proton VPN to learn whether it’s truly safe and worth using.

After my tests, I learned that Proton VPN is an excellent VPN with many strengths. It maintains fast connection speeds, works with streaming sites, offers reliable protection, and provides highly intuitive apps on all platforms. Unfortunately, it’s not a good choice if you need a VPN for restrictive countries like India and China.

Proton VPN’s paid subscriptions are reasonably priced, but I found that they don’t deliver the same value as top apps like ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. However, you can try Proton VPN without risk with its 30-day money-back guarantee and see if it suits you.

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Proton VPN Works With Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and Max

During tests, Proton VPN reliably worked with most streaming platforms. Whether you want to watch your home Netflix library in the US or keep up with your favorite Marvel superheroes on Disney+, Proton VPN is a reliable choice. Note that you’ll need its Plus subscription to get the best experience, as the free plan only has servers in 5 countries.

While most platforms worked without issues, some of my colleagues in the US had minor issues with Hulu. Even while connected to the US servers, it brought up a warning message saying it knew they were using the VPN and stopped them from watching its content. However, changing to another server within the country resolved this problem.

Proton VPN also keeps an updated list of streaming platforms it works with on its website. This list might change, though, which is why you should check the website often to know exactly which services you can use the VPN with.

Works With Netflix

Proton VPN worked seamlessly with Netflix in all tests. My colleagues and I streamed shows on our home Netflix libraries in the US, Germany, Pakistan, and Canada, and Proton VPN ensured a smooth experience for everyone.

In every test, Netflix libraries loaded without unnecessary lag, and the streams started instantly without any buffering.

Speed — Consistently Fast Speeds on All Servers

It’s not as fast as top choices like ExpressVPN, but Proton VPN maintained excellent connection speeds throughout my tests on its paid plan. Its free plan is a bit inconsistent with speeds, though. Sometimes, the free servers perform as well as the paid ones, but there are also times when they’re overcrowded, so you may experience delays and connection issues.

Proton VPN also includes a feature called VPN Accelerator, which is enabled by default. VPN Accelerator claims to improve performance by altering routing algorithms and increasing overall network efficiency. However, I didn’t notice a significant difference whether the VPN Accelerator was on or off. Of course, your experience may vary.

Your speeds may be affected if you use Proton VPN’s Secure Core — the app even shows a warning when you activate it, letting you know that speeds might be reduced. Despite this, I didn’t notice a significant performance difference while using Secure Core. Download speeds remained similar, and only the upload speeds were reduced.

Privacy Features

I consider Proton VPN a very privacy-friendly option. It’s built by Proton, a company that’s made various other privacy-focused apps, like Proton Pass and Proton Mail.

No-Logs Policy — None of Your Browsing Activity Is Stored

Proton VPN enforces a strict no-logs policy to maintain your privacy. It never logs what you do online or keeps any metadata about your activity. Also, the fact that its servers are 100% RAM-based ensures that there’s no way to store your data long-term.

Note that some information, like your email address, may be collected during account creation. However, no third parties are given access to your information, and it’s only used for correspondence purposes. I also like that all your data gets wiped if you cancel your Proton VPN account.

Proton VPN’s no-logs policy was even tested in 2019 when the company was ordered to turn over logs to help identify a user in a legal case. However, the company couldn’t comply, as such logs didn’t exist.

Company Jurisdiction — Based Outside the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes Alliance’s Jurisdiction

Proton is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, meaning it’s outside the 5/9/14-Eyes alliance’s jurisdiction. Also, Switzerland has some of the strongest digital protection and privacy laws in the world, meaning Proton has no obligations to log your data.

Independent Audits — Open-Source and Independently Audited Apps

All of Proton’s apps are completely open-source and independently audited. Proton has contracted SEC Consult, a leading security firm, to conduct these audits.

The app’s no-logs policy was also audited by Securitum, which confirmed that it doesn’t keep any user information or browsing activity.

Pricing

Proton VPN offers a free plan and multiple paid subscriptions. It’s among the best free VPNs available, as the free plan doesn’t have bandwidth limits. Also, the free plan includes 5 server locations, which include the US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland, but you can’t manually choose a server. Plus, you get the app’s leak protection and kill switch.

Alongside the excellent free plan, Proton VPN offers good value for money with its premium subscriptions, especially if you purchase a long-term plan.

Personal Plans — Multiple Options to Suit Your Needs

The paid subscriptions include the Proton VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited plans. Proton VPN Plus includes the premium VPN only. So, you’ll get access to all the 18,866+ servers, the 10 connection allowance, and other features like Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers and NetShield.

On the other hand, Proton Unlimited has Proton’s full suite of features. This includes the premium VPN and every other Proton tool, like Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. The unlimited plan is a bit more expensive than Proton VPN Plus, but I found that it delivers excellent value.

If you just want the VPN, you’ll get the best value with the 2-year Proton VPN Plus subscription, as this gets you a generous % discount. So, your monthly price will come down to just $3.59.

Business Plans — Worthwhile Plans With Many Enterprise-Focused Features

Proton VPN has several plans to secure your organization’s network. It has the Essentials, Business, and Enterprise plans for business, and they’re all available as 1-month, 1-year, or 2-year subscriptions.

With Proton VPN’s business-focused plans, organizations can get features like dedicated servers, private gateways, account managers, and more. These plans are billed based on the number of users your business has, and you’ll get the best value if you choose a 2-year subscription.

Payment Methods — Basic Options Only

While its plans are reasonable, Proton VPN has limited payment options. Top VPNs like ExpressVPN let you subscribe with credit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, UnionPay, and various other options. Unfortunately, Proton VPN only accepts credit cards and PayPal for subscriptions. This is surprising, as you can pay for some other Proton apps like Proton Pass with Bitcoin.

Considering the company’s privacy-focused approach, I would’ve liked to see more payment options for Proton VPN, especially anonymous ones.

Money-Back Guarantee — 30 Days for Every Paid Subscription

Proton VPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee for both the Proton VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited plans. What stands out about its money-back guarantee is that even a 1-month plan gets the full 30-day refund window, which is something that even some of the best monthly VPNs don’t offer.

Note that Proton VPN’s money-back guarantee used to be prorated, meaning the refunded amount would be reduced based on how long you use the subscription. However, this is no longer the case, and you’ll receive a full refund if you request it within the 30-day period.

Final Verdict

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