Rank 1 of 11 · Updated August 13, 2026
Proton VPN review: 90.0/100
Swiss provider with open-source clients, published audits, and the only credible free tier that has no data cap.
Rubric total
90.0/100Verdict. The best-documented security stack in this dataset, and the only free tier we consider safe to recommend.
Best for. Readers who want auditable software and a free option to test before paying.
Visit Proton VPNWe earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change Proton VPN’s score.
What holds up and what does not
Holds up
- Free tier with no data cap, funded by paid subscriptions rather than advertising
- Open-source clients on every platform with published audit reports
- Swiss jurisdiction outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement
- Secure Core routes traffic through a second hop in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden
Counts against it
- Refunds are prorated against usage, not returned in full
- Monthly price is among the highest here at $9.99
- Secure Core costs a significant amount of throughput
Do not buy this if: You want the cheapest possible long-term plan. Proton is priced as a security product, and the 2-year rate is still above the budget tier.
How the score was reached
Proton VPN scores 90.0 out of 100. The table below shows every criterion, its weight, the raw score and the fact that produced it. Nothing here is adjusted after the fact, and commission is not an input. The full rubric is published.
Rubric total
90.0/100The weighted sum of the seven criteria below. Nothing is adjusted afterwards, and commission is not an input.
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 20.0 (10/10) | Both the no-logs policy and the apps on every platform were audited by Securitum with public reports. |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 13.5 (9/10) | Switzerland sits outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, and the parent company is majority-owned by a non-profit foundation. |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 13.5 (9/10) | WireGuard and OpenVPN both shipped, plus a Stealth obfuscation mode for restrictive networks. |
| Leak protection | 15 | 13.5 (9/10) | Kill switch across all platforms, with a permanent mode on desktop that blocks traffic before the app starts. |
| Transparency | 15 | 13.5 (9/10) | Every client is open source with published audit reports; signup still requires an email address. |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 7.0 (7/10) | Mid-market pricing with a genuinely usable free tier, offset by prorated rather than full refunds. |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 9.0 (9/10) | Native apps including Apple TV and Android TV, plus router support and 10 simultaneous devices. |
The evidence
Each row links to the page the claim was read from and the date it was read. If a source has changed since, tell us and we will re-check it.
| Field | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Source checked August 13, 2026 |
| Ownership | Proton AG, majority held by the non-profit Proton Foundation | Source checked August 13, 2026 |
| Server countries | 110 | Source checked August 13, 2026 |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | Source checked August 13, 2026 |
| Refund window (days) | 30 Refunds are prorated against usage rather than returned in full. | Source checked August 13, 2026 |
| Independent audits |
| |
| Protocols |
| Provider documentation |
Features
- ✓ Kill switch
- ✗ RAM-only servers
- ✓ Open-source apps
- ✓ Split tunnelling
- ✓ Port forwarding
- ✓ Ad and tracker blocking
- ✓ Dedicated IP available
- ✗ Signup without email
- ✓ Accepts cash
- ✓ Accepts cryptocurrency
Pricing
| Term | Effective monthly | Billed up front | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $9.99 | — | August 13, 2026 |
| 2-year plan | $4.49 | $107.76 | August 13, 2026 |
Refund window: 30 days. Refunds are prorated against usage rather than returned in full.
Lab status
We have not run our own speed or leak tests against Proton VPN yet. Rather than print an estimate, this section stays empty until a measurement exists. The method we will use is published in advance.
Common questions
- Has Proton VPN been independently audited?
- Yes. The most recent published audit is by Securitum in 2024, covering applications, all platforms. Proton VPN has 2 published audits in total.
- Where is Proton VPN based, and does it matter?
- Proton VPN operates from Switzerland under Proton AG, majority held by the non-profit Proton Foundation. That jurisdiction is outside the Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing agreement, which limits routine legal compulsion from member states.
- How much does Proton VPN cost?
- The lowest effective rate we recorded is $4.49 per month, which requires the 2-year plan. Prices were checked on August 13, 2026 and change often, so confirm on the provider’s own page.
- How many devices can I use with Proton VPN?
- One subscription covers 10 devices. Native apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV and Router.
- Who should not buy Proton VPN?
- You want the cheapest possible long-term plan. Proton is priced as a security product, and the 2-year rate is still above the budget tier.
Compare Proton VPN directly
Audit criterion raw score: 10/10. Transparency: 9/10.