This ProtonVPN review covers the service in September 2026. Proton VPN is made by Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, and it is the rare VPN with a free plan that has no data limit. That makes it a good first VPN, and the paid VPN Plus plan is one of the stronger privacy-focused subscriptions available. Here is what you get on each plan and where the limits are.
Proton VPN at a glance
| Company | Proton AG, Switzerland |
| Apps | Open source, independently audited |
| No-logs checks | Audited every year by Securitum since 2022 |
| Free plan | No data cap, one device, a server chosen for you from a few countries |
| VPN Plus | Servers in more than 120 countries, 10 devices, Secure Core, NetShield |
| Price | VPN Plus from under $5 a month on the longest plan (September 2026) |
Free plan or VPN Plus?
| Free | VPN Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Devices | 1 | 10 |
| Server choice | Picked automatically | Any country and server |
| Streaming support | Not intended for it | Yes |
| Secure Core and NetShield | No | Yes |
The free plan is not a trial and does not show ads, which is unusual. It is fine for public Wi-Fi and basic privacy. Upgrade if you need several devices, a specific country or streaming.
Privacy features that stand out
- Secure Core routes your traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries such as Switzerland, Iceland and Sweden before it leaves the network, so a compromised exit server cannot reveal your real address.
- NetShield blocks malware, ads and trackers at the DNS level.
- Stealth protocol helps the VPN work on networks that try to block VPN traffic.
- Open-source apps mean anyone can check what the software does.
Is Proton VPN safe?
Proton VPN has one of the best track records in the industry: Swiss jurisdiction, open-source code, yearly no-logs audits and a transparency report. The trade-off is that the paid plans are not the cheapest, and the free plan’s speeds drop at busy times because many people share the free servers.
Streaming and torrenting
VPN Plus is built to work with the major streaming services, and many of its servers are marked for P2P traffic, with port forwarding available for torrent clients that benefit from it. The free plan is not meant for either: it has no streaming support and routes you to a busy shared server. As always, streaming access can change without notice, and you should only download files you have the right to.
How it compares with other free VPNs
| Free VPN | Data limit | Server choice |
|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Free | None | Automatic |
| Windscribe Free | 10 GB a month with a confirmed email | About 10 countries |
| TunnelBear Free | 2 GB a month | Automatic |
If you rarely need a VPN, the lack of a data cap makes Proton’s free plan the easiest one to live with. If choosing a country matters more than unlimited data, Windscribe’s free plan is the better fit.
How to install Proton VPN
- Create a free Proton account at protonvpn.com.
- Download the app for your device, or the browser extension for Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Sign in and press Connect.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton VPN really free?
Yes. The free plan has no time limit and no data cap. Its limits are one device and no choice of server.
Can I use Proton VPN in my browser only?
Yes. The browser extension is available on the free plan too. See our comparison of free VPN extensions.
Our ProtonVPN review verdict: the best free VPN for most people, and a strong paid choice if privacy matters more to you than the lowest price. For comparison, read our NordVPN review and ExpressVPN review.