Proton VPN Review
Swiss-based open-source VPN with audited no-logs policy, free unlimited tier, and 15,000+ servers across 120+ countries.
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Why We Recommend Proton VPN
Proton VPN stands out for its genuine commitment to transparency and verifiable privacy. All apps are fully open-source, inviting public scrutiny, and the company publishes complete audit reports without NDAs—something competitors like NordVPN and ExpressVPN don't do. Annual no-logs audits by Securitum confirm zero storage of user activity, IP addresses, timestamps, or session data, while SOC 2 Type II compliance adds enterprise-grade verification. The Swiss jurisdiction provides crucial legal protection since Switzerland has no mandatory data retention laws and sits outside US and EU surveillance agreements.
Beyond the security fundamentals, Proton VPN delivers excellent performance through VPN Accelerator technology providing up to 400% speed boosts and 10 Gbps server infrastructure. The Secure Core feature routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland and Iceland before exiting, adding an extra layer of protection against network-based attacks. Community ownership via the non-profit Proton Foundation ensures the company prioritizes users over advertisers or data brokers—a meaningful distinction in the VPN industry where many providers make vague privacy claims while operating opaquely.
Best For
Privacy-focused Bitcoiners who want to protect their network activity from ISPs, exchanges, and surveillance will find Proton VPN's audited no-logs policy and Swiss jurisdiction particularly valuable. The combination of WireGuard protocol for speed, kill switch to prevent IP leaks, and NetShield ad/malware blocking creates a solid privacy foundation for accessing exchanges, running nodes, or transacting without exposing your IP address. The generous free tier with unlimited data across 10 countries lets you test the service without commitment.
Journalists, activists, and users in censored regions benefit from the Stealth protocol designed specifically to bypass VPN blocking, plus Tor over VPN integration for enhanced anonymity. Streamers and travelers appreciate access to Netflix, Hulu, and other geo-restricted content across the 120+ country server network. With 10 simultaneous device connections, families and power users can protect everything from phones to routers without juggling subscriptions.
Businesses requiring secure remote access get dedicated IP options, SSO integration, and compliance support for GDPR and HIPAA requirements. P2P-optimized servers with port forwarding make it suitable for torrenting, while split tunneling lets you route only specific traffic through the VPN for flexibility.
Services & Features
Considerations
Free tier limits you to random server selection in 10 countries without streaming optimization or priority support. Pricing runs higher than some competitors on monthly plans, and refunds are prorated rather than full money-back, limiting trial flexibility.
