ProtonVPN Review 2026

4.6/5

ProtonVPN comes from the same Swiss team behind ProtonMail, one of the world's most trusted encrypted email services. This pedigree shows in every aspect of the VPN — from the fully open-source apps to the Secure Core architecture that routes your traffic through privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden before reaching the destination.

Best Price
$4.99/mo
2-year plan
Get ProtonVPN →

30-day money-back guarantee

4,600+
Servers
91
Countries
870 Mbps
Download Speed
10
Devices

Overview

ProtonVPN comes from the same Swiss team behind ProtonMail, one of the world's most trusted encrypted email services. This pedigree shows in every aspect of the VPN — from the fully open-source apps to the Secure Core architecture that routes your traffic through privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden before reaching the destination.

In our extensive testing for this 2026 review, we evaluated ProtonVPN across multiple criteria including connection speeds, streaming platform compatibility, security features, ease of use, and overall value for money. We ran speed tests from multiple locations, tested streaming access on all major platforms, and analyzed the security architecture in detail.

Pros

  • Generous free tier with no data limits
  • Based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws
  • Fully open-source and independently audited
  • Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries
  • Stealth protocol bypasses VPN blocks
  • From the trusted team behind ProtonMail

Cons

  • Smaller server network than some competitors
  • Free tier limited to servers in 5 countries
  • Slightly slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN

Get ProtonVPN Now

Try risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Visit ProtonVPN →

Speed Test Results

Speed is one of the most important factors when choosing a VPN, and ProtonVPN delivers strong performance. We tested connections from multiple locations using a 1 Gbps base connection to get accurate results.

870 Mbps
Download
380 Mbps
Upload
30ms
Latency

These speeds represent averages across our testing period. ProtonVPN maintained consistent performance throughout, with minimal speed drops during peak hours. The WireGuard protocol delivered the best results in our tests, which is what we recommend for most users.

Security & Privacy

ProtonVPN uses AES-256 encryption — the same standard used by governments and military organizations worldwide. This level of encryption is considered unbreakable with current technology, ensuring your data remains private even if intercepted.

The service supports multiple VPN protocols:

  • WireGuard
  • OpenVPN
  • Stealth

Features

Free Tier Available
Secure Core (Multi-Hop)
NetShield Ad Blocker
Tor Over VPN
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Open Source
Swiss Privacy Laws

Streaming

We tested ProtonVPN with all major streaming platforms. Here's what it can unblock:

✓ Netflix✓ Disney+✓ Hulu✓ BBC iPlayer✓ Amazon Prime

ProtonVPN reliably unblocks 5 major streaming platforms in our testing. Connection quality was consistently good enough for 4K streaming without buffering on nearby servers.

Pricing

Monthly
$9.99/mo
1 Year
$4.99/mo
Best Value
2 Years
$4.99/mo

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ProtonVPN risk-free. The 2-year plan offers the best value per month, though it requires a larger upfront payment.

Get ProtonVPN — Save with the 2-Year Plan

Try risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Visit ProtonVPN →

Our Verdict

4.6/5
4.6/5

ProtonVPN is the top choice for privacy purists. The Swiss jurisdiction, open-source code, independent audits, and Secure Core architecture create multiple layers of trust that few competitors can match. The free tier also makes it the best option for users who want to try a premium VPN without commitment.

Stay Updated on VPN Deals & News

Get weekly VPN reviews, security tips, and exclusive deals delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe Free →

Compare ProtonVPN with Others