And if youre willing to shell out for the companys paid plan, youll enjoy an all-around outstanding VPN.
I talked with Proton VPN representatives via email and over video calls during my evaluation.
All VPNslower your internet speedsomewhat.
For context, Netflix recommends an internet speed of 15Mbps or greater for a 4K video stream.
Speed tests are great, but real-world performance is what matters.
Usually, youll experience slower speeds on geographically distant servers because your data travels further before reaching its destination.
Generally, the WireGuard VPN protocol is faster than OpenVPN, which remained true in my testing.
I didnt experience alarming internet speed reductions using any combination of servers and protocols.
Its speed performance improved meaningfully from my previous years testing.
Like most competitors, Proton hits you with price hikes.
I like that with Proton, I dont have to babysit my subscription.
The beauty of Proton is its delicate balance that caters to everyone from privacy enthusiasts to casual users.
Like Proton VPN, NordVPN is fast, excellent for streaming and gives you generous global server networks.
Nords apps are a bit more user-friendly than Protons, but Proton just edges out Nord on privacy.
If you have serious privacy concerns though, Proton VPN is the way to go.
While Proton ticks almost every privacy box, Mullvad takes things even further.
Overall, Proton VPNs value is tough to beat.
For the money, you get a fast VPN with stellar streaming chops that doesnt sacrifice privacy.
Although Proton VPNs no-cost tier doesnt skimp on privacy, it does have some limitations.
By comparison,PrivadoVPNsfree plan lets you pick a server manually but limits you to 10GB of monthly usage.
However Privado hasnt been audited, making it unsuitable for folks with critical privacy concerns.
The shortcomings of Proton VPNs free tier ultimately feel reasonable for a free service.
Plus, youve got a great upgrade path in Protons solid premium plan.
With the exception of itsLinux app, Proton VPN offers a reasonably uniform experience across all platforms.
Split tunneling lets you use a VPN for some apps but not others.
I appreciated the Proton VPN apps slick interface, which feels modern yet relatively intuitive.
My public IP address was unmasked while changing servers.
Notably, this is an Apple limitation and not Protons fault.
But Id like more transparency that your public IP address is unprotected when changing servers.
But most providers display a pop-up notification explaining that your public IP address is available while changing servers.
Accordingly, many folks rely on VPNs for streaming geographically restricted content, like foreign Netflix libraries.
(You may even be able to save moneyusing a VPN for streaming.)
Proton VPNs fast speeds make it an excellent option for watching 4K UHD and 1080p HD videos.
I was able to stream buttery smooth 4K movies on a variety of services.
In my testing, I was blown away by Proton VPNs effortless unblocking capabilities.
ForNetflix, Proton unlocked US, Canadian, UK, South African, Romanian, Australian and Japanese libraries.
Hulu, Peacock, Paramount Plus and Crunchyroll all played fine using US servers.
Proton VPN has arobust knowledge base, anactive blogwith helpful guides and live chat.
Unlike many VPN providers, Proton VPN doesnt currently offer 24/7 live chat.
I dont mind Proton VPNs current lack of 24/7 live chat.
Plus, 24/7 live chat is a planned upgrade that should be available by the end of 2025.
Aside from that, Proton VPN has great equipment support, and even includes a rare Linux GUI app.
While its apps are decent, they may be overwhelming for VPN beginners.
Fast speeds and fantastic unblocking capabilities make Proton one of the best VPNs for streaming.
Only a handful of our other VPN top picks, includingPIAand Mullvad, have open-source apps.
Youll find a choice of differentVPN protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 and Protons proprietary Stealth.
Aside from the standard privacy suite, Proton offers specialty servers, nifty platform-specific features and strong transparency.
But if youve got critical privacy needs, Tor over VPN and multi-hop servers are nice inclusions.
I could see this being a helpful option for folks traveling to countries that frown upon VPNs.
This sort of thoughtful design sets Proton apart from many competitors.
Currently, its discreet app icons are only available on Android.
That said, Proton undergoes regular audits by reliable third parties to back up its zero-log claims.
This followed up audits in 2022 and 2023.
Although audits dont paint a complete picture, theyre an important trust signal that VPN companies can provide.
Protonstransparency reportstates that it received 27 legal orders in 2024, denying all 27. spamming, DDoS attacks against our infrastructure, brute force attacks).
AsTechCruch reported in 2021, Proton Mail complied with a request from Swiss authorities for a users IP address.
Thats because under Swiss Law, VPNs and email are treated differently.
But, while true, that superlative does its premium plan a disservice.
The big downside is Protons unclear kill switch on MacOS.
Id like to at least see a pop-up warning folks that their IP address may be temporarily unmasked.
