Proton VPN — An open-source, Swiss-based VPN with a genuinely free unlimited-data tier and paid plans from about $4.99/month billed annually for 10 devices and 140+ country coverage.
By Noahlast updated
Proton VPN screenshots & video
Proton VPN in 20 seconds
Best for: privacy-conscious users wanting an open-source, audited VPN with a genuinely unlimited-data free tier
Pricing: Free tier with no data cap (1 device); VPN Plus from $4.99/month billed annually for 10 devices and full server access.
- Proton VPN's free tier has no data cap but limits users to 1 device and a handful of server locations.
- VPN Plus starts around $4.99/month billed annually and unlocks 2,000+ servers in 140+ countries across 10 devices.
- Proton VPN holds a 4.5/5 rating from 44 reviews on Capterra.
- Proton VPN's apps are open source and independently audited, covering Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Proton Unlimited bundles VPN Plus with Proton Mail, Drive, Pass, and Calendar under one subscription.
Limitations: Free tier is capped at one device and limited server locations.; Fewer total servers than the largest competitors.; Unlimited bundle adds unrelated Mail/Drive/Pass features for users who only want VPN.
Top alternatives: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad, Surfshark, Private Internet Access — full list
What is Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is a VPN service built by Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, offering encrypted tunneling through a network of 2,000+ servers in 140+ countries on paid plans. Its free tier stands out for having no data cap, unusual among free VPNs, though it's limited to one device, medium speed, and a small set of server locations. The paid VPN Plus tier removes those limits, adding 10 simultaneous device connections, full server access, streaming-service unblocking, an ad/malware blocker, and a kill switch. Client apps are open source and independently audited, covering Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebook, and major browsers as extensions. Proton Unlimited bundles VPN Plus with Proton Mail, Drive, Pass, and Calendar under one subscription, all operating under Swiss data-protection jurisdiction and a strict no-logs policy.
Proton VPN is a VPN service from Proton AG in Switzerland built on open-source, independently audited apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chromebook, plus Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. Its free tier is unusual among VPNs for having no data limits, though it restricts users to one device at medium speed and a handful of server locations; the paid VPN Plus tier unlocks 10 simultaneous devices, 2,000+ servers across 140+ countries, and streaming-service unblocking, starting around $4.99/month billed annually. A Proton Unlimited bundle adds Proton Mail, Drive, Pass, and Calendar to the same subscription. Proton VPN differentiates on its no-logs policy backed by Swiss privacy law, a built-in ad and malware blocker, and a VPN Accelerator feature the company says can boost throughput by up to 400% over standard WireGuard on lossy connections. Independent audits and open-source client code back its privacy claims, and it has been named a Which? Best Buy and ranked highly by outlets including Wired and PCMag.
Standout feature: The free tier has no data cap, unlike most competitors' free plans, and VPN Accelerator claims up to a 400% speed boost over standard WireGuard on high-latency or lossy connections.
Biggest weakness: The free tier is capped at one device and a small pool of server locations, and users who only want a fast, single-purpose VPN end up paying for Mail, Drive, Pass, and Calendar features bundled into the higher-value Unlimited plan if they upgrade past VPN Plus.
Pros
- Free tier has no data cap, unusual among competitors' free plans.
- Open-source, independently audited apps across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- VPN Plus unlocks 2,000+ servers in 140+ countries with streaming-service unblocking.
- Built-in ad and malware blocker plus a kill switch on paid plans.
Cons
- Free tier limits users to one device and a small set of server locations.
- Proton Unlimited bundles Mail, Drive, Pass, and Calendar, raising cost for users who want VPN only.
- Fewer total server count than the largest competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Proton VPN pricing
Free tier · paid from $4.99/mo
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Free | Free | 1 device at a time, medium speed, connects to about 10 countries, no data limit, no credit card required. |
| VPN Plus | $4.99/mo | Billed annually (~$59.88/year); $9.99/month if billed monthly. 10 devices, 2,000+ servers in 140+ countries, streaming unblocking, ad/malware blocker. |
| Proton Unlimited | $9.99/mo | Billed annually; bundles VPN Plus with Proton Mail, Drive, Pass, and Calendar under one subscription. |
What reviewers say
Scores belong to their platforms; we display them with attribution and never fold them into our own ratings.