Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
FastestVPN vs Proton VPN
Proton VPN takes it by 42 points, 90.0 against 48.0. That margin is worth reading past — FastestVPN wins 1 of the seven criteria outright.
FastestVPN
48.0Priced below everything else here, and documented below everything else here. Those two facts are related.
- From
- $1.11/mo
- Based in
- Cayman Islands
- Devices
- 15
- Audits
- None published
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 in this dataset, and the only free tier we consider safe to recommend.
- From
- $4.49/mo
- Based in
- Switzerland
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 2
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 | 0/10 (0.0) | 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 | 8/10 (8.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | FastestVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 9/10 (9.0) | Proton VPN |
| Total | 100 | 48.0 | 90.0 | Proton VPN |
Where each one actually wins
FastestVPN is ahead on
- Price and refund terms. $1.11/month is the lowest here, but it requires a five-year prepayment and the refund window is 15 days.
Proton VPN is ahead on
- Independent audit. Both the no-logs policy and the apps on every platform were audited by Securitum with public reports.
- 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 only constraint is the lowest possible headline price.
Choose Proton VPN if
Readers who want auditable software and a free option to test before paying.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip FastestVPN if: You need evidence rather than assurances. With no audit and no transparency reporting, every privacy claim here rests on the company’s own word.
Skip Proton VPN 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.
Questions
- Is FastestVPN or Proton VPN better?
- Proton VPN scores higher overall, 90.0 against 48.0, a gap of 42 points out of 100. The best-documented security stack in this dataset, and the only free tier we consider safe to recommend.
- Which is cheaper, FastestVPN or Proton VPN?
- FastestVPN, at $1.11/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. FastestVPN has published no independent audit at all.
- 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.