Proton VPN Review: Is It Worth It?

Paid links on this page. Proton, the company behind Proton VPN, pays Tech Cheat Codes a commission if you buy a plan through our Proton links. It doesn't cost you anything extra. You can use Proton VPN's free plan without buying anything. How we handle affiliate links.

Short answer: yes, for most people who want a VPN. Proton VPN has a free plan that doesn't cap your data, it publishes its yearly no-logs audits for anyone to read, and its apps are open source. If you only need a VPN now and then on public Wi-Fi, start with the free plan. Pay for VPN Plus only if you want more devices, a choice of countries, streaming, or the fastest servers.

Who Proton VPN is good for

• People who use coffee shop, hotel or airport Wi-Fi. The free plan covers one device. It adds a layer of protection when you are away from home.
• Anyone who wants proof, not promises, about privacy. Proton posts its outside audit reports publicly instead of hiding them behind a sign-up.
• Households with several devices. VPN Plus covers 10 devices at a time.
• People who already use Proton Mail or Proton Pass. One Proton account works across all of them.

Who should skip it

• People who never use public Wi-Fi and don't care about hiding their browsing from their internet provider. You may not need a VPN at all. Our guide Do you need a VPN? walks through it.
• Anyone who needs the free plan to pick a country. On the free plan, Proton picks the server country for you from 10 countries.
• Anyone hoping a VPN will stop scams or hacked accounts. A VPN hides your connection. It does not stop phishing emails, fake websites or reused passwords. If your email was already broken into, start with Hacked email: should I delete it? instead.

Free vs. VPN Plus

Here is what Proton's own pricing page lists for each plan.

Proton says the free plan has "no data limits" and no ads. That is more generous than free VPNs that cap your data or show ads.

Proton says VPN Plus servers reach speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Your real speed depends on your own internet connection and how far you are from the server, so don't expect your home internet to get faster.

Privacy: what's backed up and what's just a claim

A VPN company can see your traffic, so you have to trust it. Here's what supports trusting Proton:

• Outside no-logs audits, five years running. Proton has hired Securitum, a European security firm, to check its VPN servers for logging every year since 2022. The 2026 report found no sign that the servers it checked log "users' browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, network traffic contents or user-identifiable connection metadata." Proton posts all five reports for anyone to read.
• Open-source apps. Proton says its apps are "100% open source, so anyone can examine our code." Most of us won't read code, but outside experts can, and that's the point.
• Tested in real legal cases. Proton says its no-logs policy "has been tested in over 400 legal cases," and it couldn't hand over logs because they didn't exist. That is Proton's own account; we haven't seen the court records.
• Based in Switzerland. Proton says Swiss law doesn't require it to keep VPN connection logs.

What an audit doesn't do: it checks the servers on the days the auditors looked. It can't promise what happens later. That's true of every VPN, which is why yearly audits matter more than a single one.

How to set it up

1. Go to Proton VPN's site and create a free account.
2. Download the app for your device. Proton has apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone and iPad, Android, Linux, Chromebook, Android TV and Fire TV, plus Chrome and Firefox add-ons.
3. Open the app and sign in.
4. Tap or click the connect button. When the app shows you're connected, your connection is going through the VPN.
5. Check that the Kill Switch is on in the app's settings. Proton says it protects your IP address "even if you lose your VPN connection." This is worthwhile, but it is not a substitute for checking that a site has the right address before you sign in.

If you upgrade later, you sign in to the same app with the same account.

Honest drawbacks

• The free plan is limited on purpose. One device, "medium" speed, and you can't choose the country. It's fine for safety on public Wi-Fi, not for streaming.
• The low price is only for the first term. After that, the plan renews at a higher price unless you cancel. Check the renewal line before you pay (see below).
• Some features need the paid plan. The ad and malware blocker, streaming support and file sharing are all VPN Plus only.
• A VPN is one tool, not a full security plan. Strong, unique passwords and two-step sign-in protect your accounts more than any VPN does.

What it costs

Prices below were on Proton's public pages on Nov 6, 2026, in US dollars. Prices can change, so check the final total and the renewal line at checkout.

• Regular price: $9.99 a month on the 1-month plan.
• Standard 2-year plan: $3.49 a month, billed $83.76 for the first 24 months, then $83.88 every 12 months.
• Black Friday deal on Proton's public sale page: 70% off 1 year, $2.99 a month, billed $35.88 for the first 12 months, then $83.88 every 12 months.

Every paid plan lets you cancel within 30 days and get your payment back. Proton's public Black Friday FAQ (checked Nov 6, 2026) says the same: cancel within 30 days and get your payment back.

Try Proton VPN: Get Proton VPN (free plan or VPN Plus) (opens in a new tab). Paid link; same disclosure as the top of this page.

The verdict

Proton VPN is worth it for most people who want a VPN, and the free plan lets you find out at no cost. Start free. If you hit the one-device limit or want to choose your country, VPN Plus (opens in a new tab) is the upgrade. Buy the longest plan you're comfortable with only if you're sure you'll keep using it, and set a reminder before it renews.

Try it: Get Proton VPN (free plan or VPN Plus) (opens in a new tab). Paid link.

Related guides

• Do you need a VPN?
• Hacked email: should I delete it?