ProtonVPN Review: Expert Analysis In 2024

ProtonVPN review doesn’t appear in the conversation of best VPNs that much, but it deserves to be.

Blending together a winning combination of features, tools, and top-notch security options, ProtonVPN stands out from the crowd even among the best VPN providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

ProtonVPN Review: Quick Expert Summary

While its prices and performance aren’t the best, they’re far from the worst, and the sheer number of features keeps it competitive.

• WireGuard Protocol – WireGuard features the fastest in-class performance, top-notch security and no downsides.
• Proton Unlimited – Access to the entire Proton suite of tools, including ProtonMail, ProtonCalendar, and ProtonDrive.
• Proton Free  –  ProtonVPN’s free package offers access to 100 servers with no data bandwidth cap.
• Secure Core – Secure Core routers user traffic through multiple servers before it leaves their network, making it practically impossible to track.
• Stealth Protocol – ProtonVPN’s Stealth protocol was built from the ground up to bypass firewalls, censorship, and VPN blocking methods.
• Tor Support – With Tor, many different layers of security keep you safe, while the Tor anonymity network makes you impossible to track.

We were also impressed by the sheer degree of customization options given to users. For casual users, there’s not much need to fiddle with the settings, but power users who enjoy tinkering will find a lot of value in ProtonVPN here. Its open-source nature also means that users can do their own tests to vouch for the safety of the VPN, which is a big plus point.

Overall, ProtonVPN takes a lot of steps towards the right track, without besetting itself in the process. Most of its flaws are minor, and its strengths far outweigh the small issues that pop up. If you’re looking for a VPN provider that can do just about everything while offering a plethora of useful features on top of that, ProtonVPN is a great choice.

ProtonVPN Full Review

Proton is a company with a vast umbrella of products, ranging from the popular ProtonMail to today’s topic, ProtonVPN. Over the past few years, the company has done a great job establishing ProtonVPN as an alternative to other top-tier VPN providers. Combining fresh ideas with established features, the ProtonVPN team have managed to create a fascinating proposition that’s as appealing as it is functional.

ProtonVPN Quick Specification Rundown

Server Count	1900+ Servers
Server Countries	67 Countries
Base Location	Switzerland
Max Device Count	10
Supported Protocols	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth
Key Features	WireGuard Protocol, Proton Unlimited, Proton Free, Secure Core, Stealth Protocol, Tor Support, VPN Accelerator
Customer Support Options	Knowledgebase, Live Chat Support, Email Support
Supported Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Routers

ProtonVPN doesn’t exactly come to mind when the topic of top-tier VPNs comes up, but does it deserve to be in the conversation? That’s what we’re looking to answer today, as we put the VPN through its paces in our full review. Will it hold up to the competition, or will it fall behind?

ProtonVPN Features

Where ProtonVPN shines the most against its competitors is its slew of incredibly useful and powerful features. Whereas most VPNs offer a couple of useful industry-standard features and maybe one or two proprietary features, ProtonVPN comes packing a plethora of handy extras. Many of these are specialized versions of features you might find on other VPNs, while others are completely unique.

• WireGuard Protocol – WireGuard serves as the industry-standard protocol when it comes to VPNs, and for good reason. With the fastest in-class performance, top-notch security and no downsides, WireGuard is what every VPN provider needs to strive for.

• Proton Unlimited – Proton Unlimited is one of the biggest selling points for ProtonVPN as a consumer service. With a small added fee, users get access to the entire Proton suite of tools. This includes ProtonMail, ProtonCalendar, and ProtonDrive, all of which are excellent to have. Usually, these all have their own subscription prices, but as a package deal, it’s a great value.

• Proton Free  – ProtonVPN Free simply refers to their free offering, which is shockingly robust. Unlike practically every other VPN on the market, ProtonVPN’s free package is fully usable as a standalone product. It offers access to 100 servers, as well as no data bandwidth cap, meaning you can use it as much as you’d like. It’s great to have and can be used as a test run before you decide to invest.

• Secure Core – ProtonVPN’s Secure Core architecture is an extra safety precaution that defends users from network-based attacks. Instead of only routing traffic through a single server, ProtonVPN routes it through multiple servers before it leaves its network. This makes the original practically impossible to track, especially in their home country of Switzerland.

• Stealth Protocol – ProtonVPN’s Stealth protocol was built from the ground up to bypass firewalls and VPN blocking methods. It’s a protocol made for getting by censorship, all while keeping the user protected by disguising VPN traffic as regular traffic.

• Tor Support – Tor Support is officially available on ProtonVPN, allowing users to route all their traffic through it. Many different layers of security keep you safe, while the Tor anonymity network makes you impossible to track.

That’s an impressive set of features for any VPN, and that’s not even including the standard features. You get a VPN killswitch in case your connection drops, and there’s also fully-fledged split tunnelling as part of the deal. When it comes to features, ProtonVPN matches the best in the business with ease and even outdoes them in quite a few regards.

ProtonVPN Privacy & Security  

ProtonVPN keeps up its consistency when it comes to privacy and security. All network traffic is encrypted with AES-256 meeting military standards. On top of this, key exchange is done with 4096-bit RSA, and HMAC with SHA384 is used for message authentication. This is all to say that ProtonVPN spares no expense when it comes to the strength of its encryption.

Of course, we can’t just talk about ProtonVPN’s security features without mentioning Secure Core. Out of all of ProtonVPN’s features, Secure Core is one of the most exciting, as it makes your traffic practically untraceable. Where most VPNs only route your traffic through one server, Secure Core lets ProtonVPN route it through multiple servers. This means that even if someone manages to access your data, there’s still no way to figure out its source.

The built-in killswitch keeps your traffic safe in case the VPN drops, which is always welcome. With Tor over VPN, there’s another layer of protection on top of everything already mentioned. We really can’t understate just how much there is going on with ProtonVPN. It goes the extra mile to push for a higher degree of security, and overall it’s pretty satisfactory to see.

Does ProtonVPN Keep Logs? 

No, we can confidently say that ProtonVPN does not keep logs. For starters, their no-logging statement is incredibly comprehensive. According to ProtonVPN, they keep no logs of the web pages you visit, nor do they record the lengths of your sessions. There’s also no monitoring of your IP address, which is what one would expect from a VPN with a no-logging policy.

It’s also good that ProtonVPN’s base is In Switzerland, which is outside of the 14 Eyes alliance. This means that no government can pressure ProtonVPN to release user information, and on top of that Switzerland has strong laws that protect data and privacy. ProtonVPN’s apps are all open source, which means users can inspect the code themselves for vulnerabilities, which does a lot to build trust.

ProtonVPN Speed & Performance

While ProtonVPN is excellent in many different ways, its speed and performance aren’t anything to scream about. On WireGuard, ProtonVPN manages to hit peak speeds of 510Mbps, which definitely isn’t bad by any means. For most uses like streaming high-definition content and gaming, it’s more than enough, though there’s no denying that it lags behind many of its competitors like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

ProtonVPN Protocol Speed Comparison

ProtonVPN Protocol	Peak Speed
WireGuard	510Mbps
OpenVPN	210Mbps

OpenVPN speeds on the other hand are much slower, at only 210Mbps peak speeds. While it’s not unusable, it sits firmly on the lower echelons of the OpenVPN speed tiers. Outside of that, trying to connect to ProtonVPN servers also takes longer than most VPNs. While generally, it takes under 5 seconds to connect to a VPN, ProtonVPN takes 10 seconds, doubling the average. Of course, it’s only bad relative to the competition, in use, it’s not that big a deal.

ProtonVPN Servers & IP Addresses

With over 1,900 servers in 67 different countries, ProtonVPN doesn’t lack in server count. As we just mentioned, connecting to ProtonVPN’s servers can take a bit longer than usual. It pays off, however, as the servers are impressively stable with impressively few drops in connection. With ProtonVPN’s fast number of security options, it also ensures that your IP address is completely secure.

ProtonVPN Streaming Support

ProtonVPN does a good job when it comes to streaming support. It supports the most popular platforms, with the only notable exception being 10Play. More important than that, however, is that ProtonVPN does an excellent job connecting to streaming sites in various different regions. Netflix is infamous for restricting VPN usage for its subscribers, but ProtonVPN effortlessly gets past this without issue.

The same applies to every streaming service we tested, from Disney+ to Amazon Prime Video. Regardless of what region’s streaming service we tried to access, ProtonVPN handled it with ease. Performance is also good, streaming 4K content with minimal buffering. Thus, if you’re looking to do a lot of streaming, ProtonVPN is a solid choice.

ProtonVPN Torrenting Support

Unlike some of its competitors, ProtonVPN boasts openly about how it’s the best VPN for torrenting. While there are 140 servers optimized specifically for P2P, most of the points that ProtonVPN pushes for are pretty normal. ProtonVPN keeps your IP address private, which isn’t too difficult with so many security features dedicated to it. Overall, torrenting is a part of ProtonVPN, though it’s not reinventing the wheel in its support for P2P.

ProtonVPN Gaming Support

Generally, gaming on ProtonVPN is the same deal you’d find on most other VPNs. The security and privacy features keep your IP safe, as well as provide protection from DNS attacks. There’s also the ability to spoof your location, allowing users to access geo-blocked games and gain early access to games that release in certain countries early. Performance is also satisfactory, though the slower speeds do bring about some lag drops here and there.

ProtonVPN Bypassing Censorship

ProtonVPN puts great emphasis on its ability to bypass censorship, and for good reason. Many of its features, from Secure Core all the way to its Stealth protocol, are built for bypassing censorship no matter what. With the ability to reroute your traffic to third-party services that don’t get blocked in most countries, ProtonVPN manages to bypass censorship entirely. Smart Protocol is another feature for bypassing censorship, allowing ProtonVPN to test all available protocols and choose the one that’s the most stable and usable for you. On top of that, you get access to ProtonVPN’s Stealth protocol, tailor-made for getting by censorship in all forms. In case you can’t access the VPN site or your mobile app store, ProtonVPN has made their apps open source, meaning no matter what, you can find some way to download them.

ProtonVPN Plans & Pricing

ProtonVPN’s prices come in slightly higher above average, though the plans are actually a pretty good value for money. While it’s not the most affordable VPN, considering the sheer number of features available that other VPN services don’t offer, things become much more reasonable. Then, consider how other top-tier VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN are a fair bit more expensive, and things get put into perspective.

ProtonVPN Plans and Pricing

Package Type	Monthly	1-Year Plan	-year Plan
ProtonVPN	$9.99/month	$71.88/ year ($5.99/month)	$119.76/ 2 years ($4.99/month)

Does ProtonVPN Have A Free Trial?  

The answer to this question is technically a no, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it’s true there’s no trial, that’s because of Proton Free, which is the completely free-to-use version of ProtonVPN. It gives users access to 100 ProtonVPN servers and allows them to use them for as long as they want without any bandwidth limit.

While it’s not exactly a free trial, Proton Free isn’t the same experience as the paid options, it’s also a great way to get a taste of the service. You can familiarize yourself with the VPN’s interface, see how it performs with limited servers, and test it for as long as you would like. However, there’s still a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’re still safe if you feel you took the dive but don’t want to commit.

ProtonVPN Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps

Installation is as simple as practically any other VPN. On desktops, it’s a matter of running its installation file, while on mobile you download the ProtonVPN application from your respective app store. As long as you’re familiar with installing anything on your computer or smartphone, this should be easy.

What stands out about ProtonVPN’s user interface is the sheer breadth of its customization options. By default, things work perfectly fine, but for users who want more out of their VPN, ProtonVPN puts the power in your hands. When it comes to server listings, ProtonVPN lists down all the information you could need to know before connecting, which is a nice touch.

There are also profiles, which are basically a way to save your favourite settings as presets. There’s a lot of practical use for this feature, allowing you to optimize your VPN experience. You can keep presets for specific functions, from things like P2P sharing all the way down to streaming on specific sites. You also get information on your connection at all times, always useful to have. Digging deeper into the settings, you’ll find more options for the VPN Accelerator, Quick Connect split tunnelling and DNS protection. What’s more impressive is that the Android application is almost exactly the same, with all the same features. The iOS app is visually somewhat different, but again, it carries all the features you’d find on a desktop. Overall, it’s surprisingly simple to use, even with all the extra features.

ProtonVPN Customer Support

ProtonVPN comes with all the normal customer support options, including email, live chat and a knowledgebase. While the knowledge base is comprehensive, it’s surprisingly technical, which can be tough on some users. Thankfully, the contact options are much better, with support agents being knowledgeable about most issues. Their friendly, efficient, and live chat sessions can be converted into tickets for further help.

Is ProtonVPN Good in 2024?

While ProtonVPN does have specific areas where it lags slightly behind the competition, overall it’s an incredibly solid proposition. It tops the charts when it comes to privacy and security and does admirably well in practically every other category. The only downside is that it’s not nearly as fast as some of its contemporaries, but even then it’s not anywhere close to being slow.

We’d say ProtonVPN is more than good in 2024, in fact, it deserves to be in the running as a top contender for the title of best VPN service. With a slew of useful features, no cut corners, powerful security and privacy features and consistency in performance and connections, ProtonVPN makes a great case for itself.