Proton VPN Review
The privacy purist's choice, with a capable free tier
Last updated 1 September 2025
Our verdict
Proton VPN is the connoisseur's choice for privacy. Based in Switzerland, fully open source and independently audited, it also offers the only genuinely unlimited free tier worth using.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Genuinely unlimited free tier
- Swiss jurisdiction with strong privacy laws
- Fully open-source, audited apps
- Secure Core multi-hop servers
Cons
- Free plan has no streaming support
- Slightly steeper learning curve
Proton VPN review in full
Made by the team behind Proton Mail, Proton VPN is built around privacy first. It is headquartered in Switzerland — outside the 14 Eyes alliance — and every app is open source and independently audited, which is about as transparent as VPNs get.
The free tier deserves special mention: unlike most rivals, it places no cap on your data. It is limited to a handful of countries and won't unblock streaming, but as a no-cost way to stay private it is excellent.
On the paid plans you unlock Secure Core multi-hop servers, NetShield ad blocking, Tor over VPN and the VPN Accelerator that noticeably boosts speeds. UK streaming works on the paid tier, though it is a touch less consistent than NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
If your priority is verifiable privacy rather than chasing the very fastest streaming, Proton VPN is one of the most trustworthy services available.
Key features
- Open-source, independently audited apps
- Secure Core (multi-hop) servers
- NetShield ad blocker
- VPN Accelerator for faster speeds
- Tor over VPN
- Free tier with unlimited data
Proton VPN pricing
2 Years
£3.59/mo
1 Year
£4.49/mo
1 Month
£9.99/mo
Proton VPN frequently asked questions
Yes. Proton VPN's free tier is one of the few with no data cap. It restricts your choice of servers and does not support streaming, but you can use it as much as you like.