Verdict
Both the paid and destitute services from ProtonVPN are top - notch , make it one of the best VPN supplier you may choose .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
ProtonVPN is a privacy - sharpen VPN from the same firm responsible for for encrypted email provider ProtonMail . It has an excellent innocent tier and paid - for subscription that justify their monetary value .
It ’s dependably tight , the pay subscription endpoints are heavy for streaming while you ’re securely connected , and Proton Technologies has finally introduced its own carrying out of the efficient WireGuard communications protocol , which is tight becoming a new industry standard .
Dedicated GUI clients are uncommitted for Windows , Linux , macOS , Android and iOS . The Linux client also includes a command stock pecker , and instructions are render for using the divine service on other hardware , such as routers .
ProtonVPN is systematically among the best - performing VPNs that I put through examination . It ’s also comfortable to use and has an excellent reach of features .
Pricing and Subscriptions
ProtonVPN ’s recently simplified pricing social structure means that it ’s lastly easier to work out what you ’re pay off and getting in comparison with rival services .
The unlimited - bandwidth free tier is still free and still glorious . ProtonVPN Plus , once convert to GBP , costs about £ 8.80 per month , £ 68.22 for your first twelvemonth , or £ 105.5 for your first two age , before renewing at whatever the full annual or biannual charge per unit is at the metre – presently £ 105.64 annually and £ 211.27 every two years . That ’s quite a terms wage increase , and is very much something you should be cognisant of when subscribing for the first time .
you may also get a Proton Unlimited account that bundles the VPN with secure storage and email . Proton Technologies recommends using ProtonVPN when connecting to your ProtonMail write up for additional security department if you intend to use it anonymously .
you could pay anonymously using Bitcoin , but you ’ll call for to make a barren account statement and contact reenforcement to do so . you may also give using cash , which might take a little longer , but is both more dependable and importantly more environmentally favorable .
Privacy and Protection
ProtonVPN has a unclouded no - log insurance , which – as itstransparency reportreveals – entail that there ’s no data to give over to the authorities if a imprimatur is enforced against the company . In 2021 , Proton AG successfullyoverturned a rulingthat it had to collect additional data .
However , Swiss authorities have the right to order internet service providers to pull in datum in specific criminal cases , including in response tointernational warrant . The fellowship ’s ProtonMail serving has done this on anumber of occasion , with notifications go to the individuals whose news report were concerned .
While Proton is very transparent about all of this , fighting orders and constabulary that it suspects may bring out whistle blower or negate its users ’ rights , it ’s still potentially less secure than a no - logging service based somewhere that does n’t have laws or back doors that allow authorities to coerce information accumulation .
Features and Usability
ProtonVPN ’s customer are attractive and soft to use – I ’m a lover of the current purple and grey people of color outline . The Windows node ’s main display allow you to select countries from a tilt or a map , or use a pre - sire fastest or random connection visibility to plunk an endpoint free-base on those criteria . you may even make your own profile , with options including connexion case , land and specific server .
The independent termination list allows you to select specific servers , display how busy each one is and which connection have they ply . When arguing for the table service is high , you could get better execution by manually selecting a low - traffic host than provide the client to select one for you .
Special features offer by ProtonVPN endpoint include Secure Core , which leave extra tribute against external meshwork fire ; P2P for the welfare of soaker users ; and Tor , which uses The Onion Router internet to aid further anonymise your activity .
I found the dealings graph helpful for monitor my connection ’s performance and the amount of data I was charge across it . open up the client ’s options interface , and you could enable feature including aVPN kill switchto cut off all internet traffic if your VPN connection go away down , as well assplit tunnellingin club to reserve specific applications or IP address to get in touch outside the VPN .
you may also have ProtonVPN load at boot , connect at launch , switch communications protocol , and opt into an Early Access programme for new version of the VPN client .
Performance
I prove both the paid and free service from ProtonVPN . Although devoid users only get three endpoint locating to choose from , you ’ll notice from the table below that this has very piddling wallop on public presentation .
Because the complimentary tier only provide three endpoint locations , the ProtonVPN free UK test level is carried out from the Netherlands end point .
Over the preceding couple of years , ProtonVPN has consistently been a high performing artist in my tests . It ’s genuinely effectual when it descend to improving connectedness speeds to other countries . I did n’t even have to unplug or apply split tunnelling to watch streaming television receiver while connected , reserve me to keep my net dealings optimally secure .
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Should you buy it?
The free level of ProtonVPN is one of the good in the business , with unlimited bandwidth , so you wo n’t need to worry about spending too much time on it every month .
While it ’s great having outright bandwidth for a free VPN , you are limited to just three termination .
Final Thoughts
ProtonVPN has an outstanding straight-out - bandwidth free tier and an excellent paid - for tier . It ’s pack with features and put up clients and configuration instructions for a wide range of devices and operating systems , although I ’d like to see WireGuard support rolled out to the Linux client . presently , you ’ll need to set it up manually with a conformation file cabinet ply by ProtonVPN .
If you ’re looking for thebest free VPN , ProtonVPN is emphatically the one to get . Its pay subscription is among the more expensive , but it sure as shooting does a lot .
Although relatively expensive , this VPN provider is super capable , and pairs well with ProtonMail to aid further anonymise its sibling mail service . If you ’d like to spend a bit less and get a likewise excellent range of features and performance , considerSurfshark .
Trusted Score
How we test
All speed tests are run across a fiber connection with a maximal test connexion speed of 980Mbps , which means that we ’re able to get a good thought of the upper doorsill of each VPN service ’s pep pill at the time of testing .
FAQs
Yes , ProtonVPN is very trustworthy . It has a clear no - log policy and a solid runway record for transparency . That said , it ’s potentially less secure than a VPN service based in a country without laws and back doors that allow authorities to force data collection .
Yes , ProtonVPN is a lawful and legal VPN , so it ’s fine to utilize . Although that does n’t mean you ca n’t break other services ’ terms and conditions ( such as iPlayer or Netflix ) by using a VPN . The same applies to company policies or any regional laws against VPN utilization in world-wide or for specific purposes