Is It Nonetheless Dependable in 2024?

In 2023, we discovered Proton VPN to be a well-rounded VPN with its distinctive, Swiss-based privateness and beneficiant free tier. Based mostly in Switzerland, Proton complies with Switzerland’s robust privateness legal guidelines — a plus for companies and people involved about authorities knowledge requests.

A yr later, Proton VPN brings vital updates that I really feel make top-of-the-line VPNs accessible available in the market. Chief amongst these is a bigger server community, an up to date third-party audit, and extra reasonably priced pricing.

On this assessment, let’s have a look if Proton VPN is the proper alternative for you and your corporation in 2024.

Proton VPN pricing

In the case of pricing, I discovered Proton VPN falls within the center amongst its competitors. At $4.99 monthly for its one-year Plus plan, it’s dearer than Non-public Web Entry’ equal one-year subscription at $3.33 monthly. Nonetheless, it’s additionally extra reasonably priced than ExpressVPN’s one-year plan priced at $8.33 monthly.

In comparison with final yr, Proton VPN can be now extra reasonably priced. In 2023, its one-year Proton VPN Plus subscription price $5.99 monthly. At present, it’s $4.99 monthly.

The 2-year plan can be cheaper, now at $4.49 monthly to 2023’s $4.99 monthly. On the other facet, its one-month subscription is barely dearer now at $9.99 monthly, in comparison with final yr’s $8.99 price ticket.

Whereas these aren’t huge decreases in value, they’re appreciated contemplating how the enhancements carried out in Proton VPN in 2024 — one thing we’ll get into additional down this assessment.

If you happen to plan on connecting a number of units or want the quickest connection, I like to recommend going for Proton VPN Plus. It permits customers to attach 10 units concurrently, has Proton’s quickest speeds on the lowest potential price, and contains Proton’s full server suite. Those that additionally use VPNs for torrenting (P2P) and streaming ought to go for the VPN Plus plan, as this isn’t accessible on Proton VPN’s free model.

Lastly, I like to recommend Proton Limitless just for customers who need Proton’s different encryption-based providers on high of the options you get with VPN Plus.

Is Proton VPN truly free?

Sure, Proton VPN has a completely free model alongside its two paid plans. It affords free entry to servers from 5 international locations, particularly america, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland.

With the free model, you get medium VPN velocity, a kill swap, and limitless knowledge. Home windows and Android customers additionally get entry to Proton’s cut up tunneling characteristic without spending a dime. As a free VPN, I respect Proton providing limitless bandwidth, particularly since different free VPNs often impose a month-to-month or each day knowledge cap. I believe this implementation is healthier in case you want a cheap approach to merely change your IP tackle.

Nonetheless, there’s a limitation I wish to point out: Proton VPN’s Free model doesn’t allow you to select which of the 5 free VPN areas you hook up with. This implies you’ll need to undergo a little bit of trial and error earlier than you get related to your required nation. As talked about, you additionally gained’t get entry to the complete 112-country server fleet accessible in its premium plan.

Whereas I discover this to be a good restriction, I can perceive customers which will need the management of having the ability to select which location to hook up with. If you happen to’re certainly one of these individuals, I recommend wanting into Speedify VPN. It’s a good service that has a free model VPN that permits handbook nation choice. Take be aware, nevertheless, that it imposes a 2-10 GB month-to-month knowledge cap.

SEE: Proton VPN Free vs Premium: Which Plan Is Greatest for You? (TechRepublic)

For my part, the free model is finest for customers who’re not sure about spending on a full VPN service or those that solely want one VPN connection and fundamental performance.

Is Proton VPN protected?

Sure, I contemplate Proton VPN to be a safe and protected VPN. It affords industry-standard protocols OpenVPN and IKEv2, in addition to the newer WireGuard and Stealth protocols throughout the Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS variations. This offers customers a mixture of extra established and well-tested safety protocols and more moderen choices with newer applied sciences.

Proton VPN additionally operates underneath a strict no-logs coverage, which suggests they don’t log consumer exercise or metadata. This covers web sites visited, session lengths, IP addresses, or any knowledge that could possibly be used to establish a consumer. It’s additionally an open supply VPN, which signifies that its code is publicly accessible for assessment. Personally, I do know privateness fans and builders will respect this because it permits them to identify vulnerabilities in Proton VPN’s supply code themselves.

Once I reviewed Proton VPN final yr, its latest impartial safety audit had been carried out method again in 2021. Whereas I laud VPN suppliers for having their providers audited, a key consideration could be how frequent these audits are executed to account for altering circumstances.

Now that it’s 2024, I’m very pleased to report that it has a extra current exterior audit targeted on its no-logs coverage. The third-party audit, carried out by Securitum, confirmed that Proton VPN didn’t, actually, retailer any consumer logs. That is essential given how simple it’s for software program suppliers to make safety claims — with out truly following by way of on guarantees.

One factor I failed to say final yr was Proton VPN’s spectacular encounter with the Swiss courtroom system in 2019. In that incident, an information request from one other nation was despatched to Proton VPN and was accredited by the Swiss courtroom system. Nonetheless, as a result of Proton VPN didn’t have any buyer IP knowledge, it was not capable of present the data requested.

To me, that is real-world proof that Proton VPN doesn’t log or secretly cover any consumer knowledge for its personal profit.

SEE: 6 Greatest Nameless (No-Log) VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)

Key options of Proton VPN

Proton VPN affords a wide range of options that shield and safe consumer knowledge. This contains its protection underneath Swiss privateness legal guidelines, good velocity and efficiency, and DNS leak safety.

Swiss-based privateness

Proton VPN is owned by an organization referred to as Proton AG, a know-how supplier based mostly in Switzerland. As Proton VPN is predicated in Switzerland, it complies with the nation’s robust privateness legal guidelines and political neutrality. All Proton customers will get pleasure from the identical authorized privateness protections that Swiss residents do.

This additionally signifies that any requests for Proton consumer knowledge can’t be granted with no Swiss courtroom order. It is a key characteristic for customers or companies which can be involved about authorities intervention. Whereas no nation is proof against breaches, Proton’s compliance with Swiss legal guidelines will grant a layer of safety you gained’t discover with different VPNs.

DNS leak safety

Proton VPN additionally guarantees safety towards DNS leaks throughout dropped connections. To check this, I ran Proton VPN Free by way of a DNS leak take a look at device a number of instances. All through testing, no leaks had been detected.

Proton additionally prompts DNS Safety out of the field. On condition that DNS leak safety is a vital VPN characteristic, we commend Proton for setting it to “all the time on” upon setup.

Kill swap

Proton additionally comes with a kill swap that acts as a final line of protection throughout an outage or disruption. Within the occasion your VPN connection fails, the kill swap will robotically cease your machine from reconnecting to the web with out the VPN’s safety. This prevents any undesirable sharing of information out of your laptop to your web service supplier.

It goes additional as Proton permits customers to activate a “everlasting kill swap.” When activated, any connection not executed by way of a Proton VPN server is blocked or reduce out.

In my testing, the everlasting kill swap labored as marketed — even with the principle app closed and operating within the background. This set-it-and-forget-it characteristic can preserve your knowledge personal throughout undesirable disruptions.

Velocity and efficiency: How briskly is Proton VPN?

Whereas it’s regular to have decrease add and obtain speeds with a VPN, Proton VPN nonetheless supplied good and steady numbers throughout testing.

As an preliminary disclaimer, my 2024 testing of Proton VPN was totally with its free model. Which means my knowledge speeds had been capped, with Proton VPN’s quickest VPN speeds being reserved by way of certainly one of its paid plans.

Nonetheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked with how nicely Proton VPN’s free model fared. Similar to in 2023, Proton VPN gave me constantly quick speeds with no noticeable drops in efficiency.

This was true throughout my common use of the service, which included searching social media, accessing Google providers like Docs and Drive and watching YouTube movies. I additionally didn’t expertise any problem sustaining a steady connection whereas testing Proton. For velocity and stability, Proton VPN carried out nicely.

By way of velocity take a look at outcomes, Proton VPN’s free model was surprisingly quick. Even with capped speeds, it solely decreased my obtain velocity round 2.87% in comparison with my web service supplier. For add speeds, it was glorious, truly recording 76.4% sooner speeds than my ISP.

Once more, that is Proton VPN’s free tier, so I count on speeds to be much less constant than its premium variations.

Proton VPN servers and areas

As of October 2024, Proton VPN’s server community has round 8,500+ servers from 112 international locations — giving it one of many bigger server suites within the house. It is a large enhance in comparison with final yr, whereby Proton’s server fleet comprised a good 3,024 servers in 69 international locations.

Compared, NordVPN at present has 6,400 servers in 111 international locations, whereas Surfshark VPN has 3,200+ servers in 100 international locations. To me, that is maybe the largest enchancment Proton VPN had over the previous yr. Contemplating how one of many essential makes use of of a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material, I respect the Proton VPN crew’s dedication in increasing its server community in such a brief period of time.

Proton VPN affords three completely different server sorts: Free, Plus, and Safe Core servers. Free servers, which include Proton’s free model, present fundamental safety with medium speeds. In the meantime, Plus servers enable streaming assist, advert blocking, torrenting and a sooner connection.

Lastly, Safe Core servers add to Plus servers’ performance by introducing stronger safety towards knowledge assaults. Safe Core routes your visitors by way of a number of servers, making it tougher for dangerous actors to realize your true IP tackle. These servers are wholly owned by Proton and are housed in privacy-friendly international locations (like Switzerland or Iceland) for much more safety.

For my part, Safe Core is a novel promoting level of Proton VPN that many privacy-focused customers will discover priceless. That is very true in case you use servers situated in additional high-risk areas just like the U.S.

SEE: ProtonVPN vs AtlasVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Use? (TechRepublic)

Proton VPN execs

• Provides robust Switzerland-based privateness options.
• Implements a strict no-logs coverage.
• Offers greater than 8,500 servers in 112 international locations.
• Open supply and independently audited.
• Has a free model.
• Helps as much as 10 simultaneous connections.

Proton VPN cons

• Free model doesn’t allow you to select server location.
• Desktop interface could possibly be overwhelming at first.
• Stay chat assist is simply accessible for paid customers.

Who’s Proton VPN finest for?

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a VPN that specializes towards authorities surveillance, Proton VPN is a good resolution. Its Swiss-backed privateness is a significant worth proposition, particularly with regards to defending delicate enterprise or consumer knowledge. It additionally will get lots of the core options proper with its robust set of protocols, kill swap, and DNS leak safety, to call just a few.

As of 2024, it additionally carries one of many largest server networks accessible in VPNs in the present day at 8,500+ servers throughout 112 international locations. Proton VPN is made for many who need an built-in ecosystem of encrypted and safe software program. Proton additionally affords the VPN bundled with its different encrypted providers by way of its Proton Limitless plan.

Whereas there are cheaper choices on the market, Proton’s general bundle and lack of obvious drawbacks make it a good selection. Uncertain consumers additionally benefit from having the ability to entry Proton VPN without spending a dime.

SEE: The way to Create an Efficient Cybersecurity Consciousness Program (TechRepublic Premium)

Proton VPN options

Whereas Proton VPN is a strong VPN choice, not everybody will discover it a very good match. We’ve listed related options beneath that provide completely different options for every VPN consumer.

NordVPN

NordVPN is without doubt one of the most well-known VPNs available in the market in the present day. Nord is nice for safe file-sharing, as its Meshnet characteristic permits customers to switch and share recordsdata by way of their very own personal encrypted community. It has round 6,400+ servers in 111 international locations and a risk safety characteristic that combats malware, advertisements, and internet trackers.

To seek out out extra, try our full NordVPN assessment.

Surfshark

One other outstanding VPN is Surfshark. This VPN is finest for a number of units, because it offers customers an infinite variety of machine connections to the service. It additionally has zero bandwidth limitations and affords a seven-day free trial to check it out.

To study extra, try our full Surfshark VPN assessment.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN is one other nice VPN resolution. It’s recognized for its intensive server community, providing servers in 100 international locations and 126 areas. This permits customers to entry a broad collection of geo-restricted content material whereas sustaining a steady connection.

To find extra, try our full CyberGhost VPN assessment.

Evaluate methodology

My assessment of Proton VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its safety features, price, and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with ProtonVPN’s free model and supplemented my findings with consumer testimonials and respected critiques for each the free and paid tiers.

For velocity and efficiency, I examined ProtonVPN Free utilizing a Home windows laptop and ran it by way of Ookla’s Speedtest. As a disclaimer, VPN speeds will range relying on lots of elements: your web service supplier, your machine, your location, and the actual server you select. To check for DNS leaks, I ran Proton VPN Free a number of instances by way of DNSleaktest.

Lastly, I scored Proton on the whole lot from its pricing to its protocols based mostly on an inner algorithm to get a closing ranking of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The scoring on the rubric was based mostly each on Proton VPN by itself and in relation to different VPN providers available in the market.