Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
FastestVPN vs Proton VPN
Is FastestVPN or Proton VPN better?
Proton VPN scores higher, 90.0 against 55.0 out of 100, a gap of 35 points. It wins 6 of the seven criteria to FastestVPN's 1. The best-documented security stack of the four, and the only one you can test properly without paying.
Both are scored on the same seven criteria from the same sourced dataset, so this page and the main ranking can never disagree. The margin is worth reading past: FastestVPN still wins 1 of the seven outright.
FastestVPN
55.0Priced below everything else here and documented below everything else here. Those two facts are related.
- From
- $0.83/mo
- Based in
- Cayman Islands
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 1
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change FastestVPN’s score.
Proton VPN
90.0The best-documented security stack of the four, and the only one you can test properly without paying.
- From
- $4.49/mo
- Based in
- Switzerland
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 5
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change Proton VPN’s score.
Criterion by criterion
FastestVPN wins 1, Proton VPN wins 6. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | FastestVPN | Proton VPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 3/10 (6.0) | 10/10 (20.0) | Proton VPN |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 8/10 (12.0) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Leak protection | 15 | 5/10 (7.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Transparency | 15 | 2/10 (3.0) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 9/10 (9.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | FastestVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 9/10 (9.0) | Proton VPN |
| Total | 100 | 55.0 | 90.0 | Proton VPN |
Where each one actually wins
FastestVPN is ahead on
- Price and refund terms. $0.83/month on a two-year term is the lowest rate here, with a 31-day refund window matching the longest.
Proton VPN is ahead on
- Independent audit. Five consecutive annual no-logs audits by Securitum, 2022 through 2026, with every full report published rather than summarised.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Switzerland sits outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, and the parent company is majority-owned by a non-profit foundation.
- Protocol and crypto stack. WireGuard and OpenVPN both shipped, plus a Stealth obfuscation mode for restrictive networks.
- Leak protection. Kill switch across all platforms, with a permanent mode on desktop that blocks traffic before the app starts.
- Transparency. Every client is open source with published audit reports; signup still requires an email address.
- Platform coverage. Native apps including Apple TV and Android TV, plus router support and 10 simultaneous devices.
Choose FastestVPN if
Readers whose main constraint is price and who accept thinner evidence in exchange.
Choose Proton VPN if
Readers who want auditable software and a free option to try before subscribing.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip FastestVPN if: You want evidence that stays current. A single audit from January 2023 said something true about January 2023; Proton VPN has been re-audited every year since, NordVPN twice more and PureVPN once, and that difference is most of the gap in their scores.
Skip Proton VPN if: You want the cheapest possible long-term plan. Proton is priced as a security product, and even the 2-year rate is double what the budget options here charge.
Questions
- Is FastestVPN or Proton VPN better?
- Proton VPN scores higher, 90.0 against 55.0 out of 100, a gap of 35 points. It wins 6 of the seven criteria to FastestVPN's 1. The best-documented security stack of the four, and the only one you can test properly without paying.
- Which is cheaper, FastestVPN or Proton VPN?
- FastestVPN, at $0.83/mo against $4.49/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Proton VPN, most recently in 2026 against FastestVPN’s 2023.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. FastestVPN operates from Cayman Islands and Proton VPN from Switzerland. Both sit in the same position relative to the Fourteen Eyes agreement.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.