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Proton VPN overview A privacy-first VPN with a real free plan and public audits, though published tests show a bigger speed hit
Published . Last updated .
- Starts at
- $0/mo
- Renews at
- $0/mo
- Refund period
- 30 days
- Devices at once
- 10
Independent results
What others measured
This Proton VPN review is based on Proton's published plans, prices and features, plus independent tests. Our editorial team has not tested it. It stands out for a free plan with no data limits, open-source apps and a no-logs policy audited five years running with the reports made public, while independent tests report larger speed and latency losses than some rivals.
Results published by independent testers, not by us. Each tester uses their own method, so their figures may not compare directly with each other.
Download speed loss
Measured by PCMag, November 2025. Ookla Speedtest, percentage change with VPN on vs off.
20.11%
Upload speed loss
Measured by PCMag, November 2025. Ookla Speedtest, percentage change with VPN on vs off.
43.21%
DNS, IP and WebRTC leak test
Measured by Cybernews, January 2026. IP and DNS leak checks on ipleak.net and browserleaks.com.
Pass
Strengths on paper
- Free plan with no data limits and no ads
- No-logs policy audited five years running, with reports published
- Open-source apps that anyone can inspect
- Paid plans cover 10 devices at once and servers in 149 countries
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions
Weaknesses on paper
- VPN Plus renews at a higher price after the first one or two years
- Independent tests report large latency increases
- Free plan allows 1 device and servers in 10 randomly selected countries
- No physical servers in India; India IP addresses come from servers in Singapore
Pricing
Plans and prices
Prices checked on , in US dollar ($). The renewal price is what you pay after the first term.
| Plan | Starts at | Renews at | Devices at once | Countries | Servers | Independent no-logs audit | Kill switch | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN Plus, 2 years Our pick | $3.49/mo | $3.49/mo | 10 | 149 | 20799 | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes | |
| VPN Plus, 1 year | $53.88/yr | $83.88/yr | 10 | 149 | 20799 | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes | |
| VPN Plus, 1 month | $9.99/mo | $9.99/mo | 10 | 149 | 20799 | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes | |
| Proton Unlimited, 2 years | $7.99/mo | $7.99/mo | 10 | 149 | 20799 | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes | |
| Proton Unlimited, 1 year | $119.88/yr | $119.88/yr | 10 | 149 | 20799 | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes | |
| Proton Unlimited, 1 month | $12.99/mo | $12.99/mo | 10 | 149 | 20799 | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes | |
| Proton Free | $0/mo | $0/mo | 1 | 10 | Not listed | Securitum, fifth annual audit, 2026 report published | Yes |
Fit
Who it suits
Choose Proton VPN if
Choose it if privacy is your priority and you want a no-logs policy with public audit reports, open-source apps and a free plan with no data cap. Proton Unlimited also makes sense if you want Proton Mail, Drive, Pass and Calendar in the same subscription.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere if low latency for gaming or video calls matters most, as independent tests report large latency increases. Readers in the UK and India should also know the pricing page shows only US dollars, euros and Swiss francs.
Questions people ask
Is Proton VPN really free?
Yes. Proton VPN Free has no data limits, no ads and no credit card requirement, and it includes the kill switch and no-logs policy. It is limited to 1 device and servers in 10 randomly selected countries, with medium speed.
Does Proton VPN keep logs?
Proton says it does not track your IP address, location or the websites you visit. An outside security firm has audited its no-logs policy five years in a row, and Proton publishes the full reports for anyone to read.
Does Proton VPN have servers in India?
Proton offers India servers that give you an Indian IP address, but they are Smart Routing servers physically based in Singapore. Proton removed its servers in India in 2022 because a new Indian rule would have required data centres to log user activity.
How many devices can I use with Proton VPN?
VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited cover up to 10 devices at once. The free plan covers 1 device at a time.
Can I get a refund from Proton VPN?
Yes. Proton offers a money-back guarantee on all subscriptions if you ask within the first 30 days. You can also cancel at any time.
What is the difference between Proton VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited?
Both include the same VPN features, with 10 devices and the full server network. Proton Unlimited adds the premium versions of Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Pass and Proton Calendar, including 500 GB of storage.
Sources
- Proton VPN (2026). Pricing | Proton VPN
- Proton VPN (2026). Proton VPN sign-up, VPN Plus 2 years (currency=GBP requested)
- Proton VPN (2026). Proton VPN sign-up, VPN Plus 2 years (currency=INR requested)
- Proton VPN (2026). VPN server list: Secure Proton VPN servers in 140+ countries
- Proton VPN (2026). Free VPN with no ads and no speed limits
- Proton VPN (2026). What is Smart Routing?
- Proton VPN (September 22, 2022). We replaced VPN servers in India to keep your data private
- Proton VPN (June 16, 2026). For 5th year running, Proton VPN passes external no-logs audit
- PCMag (November 14, 2025). I've Tested Dozens of VPNs, Here's Why Proton VPN Is the Only One I'm Giving a 5-Star Rating
- Cybernews (January 16, 2026). Proton VPN Review: Most Privacy-Friendly VPN of 2026
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