ProtonVPN Review 2025: The Free VPN with Premium Features and a Competitive Paid Plan

After over 7 years of using Proton VPN Free, this review is my opinion on why I like it so much. I’ll show you in detail all the features offered in the free version and what additional benefits you can get with the Premium Version.

Proton VPN Free Review: Why is it the Best Free Option?

Is ProtonVPN Free Good?

Proton VPN Free is undoubtedly one of the best options for those seeking a free and unlimited VPN focused on privacy and speed. Additionally, thanks to its no-logs policy, independent audits, and location in Switzerland, it offers solid and proven security.

The free version of ProtonVPN provides essential features for secure browsing, including hiding your IP address, evading geo-restrictions, and bypassing blocks and censorship. It’s compatible with any device and platform, and it offers unlimited usage, meaning there are no data or time restrictions.

ProtonVPN Free countries list:

The free version of Proton VPN includes 293 servers in 5 countries: the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. You can change your IP address among these servers and countries unlimitedly, but you'll have to wait a minute and a half between each change.

Features of Proton VPN Free:

• 100% Free
• No data or speed limits
• Ad-free
• 293 servers in 5 countries
• Good speeds
• Works on any device
• No logging of online activity
• Advanced anti-censorship protocol

Speed: How Fast is Proton VPN Free?

Proton VPN is undoubtedly the fastest free service I’ve tried because, unlike others, it doesn’t limit bandwidth and automatically connects to the fastest server available.

Additionally, it uses the modern WireGuard tunneling protocol, which not only ensures highly secure connections but also allows for faster speeds, making Proton the fastest free VPN today.

Is Proton VPN Free Safe?

Yes, both Proton VPN Free and Plus offer the same level of security. All Proton VPN applications are open-source and use modern encryption: Chacha20, along with the WireGuard protocol, which is among the most secure and fast available.

Located in Switzerland, a jurisdiction known for privacy-oriented laws, Proton VPN also has a strict no-logs policy, confirmed by several independent audits. Therefore, Proton and privacy are practically synonymous.

Additional Features of Proton VPN Free

Additional features of Proton VPN Free include:

• Unbreakable Encryption: As mentioned before, it uses the advanced Chacha20 encryption algorithm and AES-256 military-grade encryption, the same used by banks.
• Kill Switch: Provides continuous protection when your internet connection is unstable or prone to sudden disconnections. If the VPN disconnects unexpectedly, it prevents your real IP or any data from being exposed.
• Alternative Routing: I appreciate that the alternative routing function works automatically to combat censorship. If the app detects censorship blocks on a connection, it will keep testing alternatives until it finds the ideal option. All this works by default, and you don’t have to do anything.
• Stealth Anti-Censorship Protocol: The free version also allows you to choose the Stealth anti-censorship protocol, specifically designed to bypass VPN detection and blocking. This protocol acts as camouflage for your VPN connection in countries with internet restrictions or censorship, where VPN use is detected or blocked.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): For added account security, Proton offers Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), so even if someone has your password, they cannot access your account without this additional code.
• Proton Ecosystem: With your Proton VPN account, you also have access to the Proton ecosystem, which includes Proton Pass, a secure and encrypted password manager; Proton Mail, a secure and encrypted email; Proton Drive, cloud storage; and Proton Calendar, an encrypted calendar.

Why is Proton VPN Free?

Proton is a crowdfunded project that began with Proton Mail, where over 10,000 people contributed to a crowdfunding campaign that raised 500,000 euros, aiming to help scientists and engineers develop secure and encrypted cybersecurity solutions.

All Proton solutions, such as its VPN, offer a functional and generous free version without ads and with a strict audited no-logs policy. However, they also offer paid subscriptions with additional features to fund their services.

Is ProtonVPN good? My Opinion on Proton VPN Premium:

Now I’ll share my thoughts on Proton VPN Plus, the name of the paid plan, and analyze its features and functions. Besides the free plan’s features, the premium plan additionally includes:

• Access to over 10,400 servers in 117 countries
• Protects up to 10 devices simultaneously
• Maximum speeds (up to 10 Gbps)
• Unblocks Netflix and other streaming platforms
• Support for P2P/Torrenting
• Priority support and 24/7 live chat
• Ad blocker and malicious site protection
• Double VPN
• Split Tunneling

In 2025, ProtonVPN rolled out several updates aimed at strengthening its solid reputation for online privacy. It also increased its country list and expanded its server network, surpassing NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, traditionally the most popular.

Now, with servers in 117 countries and a network of over 10,400 servers worldwide, ProtonVPN allows you to unlock streaming content and torrent at incredible speeds.

Speeds and Performance of the Plus Plan

One significant improvement I noticed last year is ProtonVPN’s effort to become the fastest VPN, and it’s succeeding.

To clarify, VPNs impact your internet speed, and speeds fluctuate based on the server you connect to. When discussing VPN speeds, it refers to how much it can reduce the original speed or how effective it is at maintaining it close to its original level.

For years, the fastest VPNs have been NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, explaining their popularity. To compare them with ProtonVPN, I enabled each VPN separately and measured how they impacted my internet speed.

And these were the results, with a base speed of 600 Mbps:

Streaming Unblocking and Geo-Blocked Content Access: Is ProtonVPN good for Netflix?

And what can you do with such good speeds? One of the most popular ways to use a VPN is to access geo-restricted streaming content.

With ProtonVPN, I can successfully access all popular streaming platforms. Although this is something you already expect from a top-tier VPN, the truth is that with the large number of countries and servers available, there won’t be any series or movie that you’ll miss out on. My streaming experience was really good, and I can highly recommend it.

Is ProtonVPN good for Torrenting?

As we discuss a VPN focused on privacy and security, if you're looking for the best VPN for torrenting, ProtonVPN is the ultimate choice. It features dedicated P2P servers that will hide your IP and keep your torrent downloads private.

Additionally, it also offers a Port Forwarding feature, which is rare nowadays as many VPNs have removed it due to potential security vulnerabilities and an inability to guarantee full protection.

“We are in a fortunate position because Proton Mail constantly faces a ton of abuse attempts. For better or worse, we were forced to refine our skills in this area.

So, the same technologies, skills, and techniques we use to protect Proton Mail have been applied to secure port forwarding in Proton VPN,” said Andy Yen, CEO of Proton AG, in an interview.

In my view, one of the major advantages of port forwarding in Proton VPN is that it significantly enhances download speeds, more than any other VPN service.

And not only will it speed up your torrent downloads, but it will also keep them safer, as Proton has implemented its own firewall on P2P servers to block suspicious incoming connections.

Additional Features of Proton VPN Plus:

VPN Accelerator: If speed is a priority for you, you’ll be pleased to know that Proton VPN offers an exclusive feature: the “VPN Accelerator.” When activated, you will automatically get the fastest possible speeds, regardless of which server you connect to.

Proton claims it should improve your speed by up to 400%, especially when connecting to more distant locations, by implementing a stack of performance-enhancing technologies to address various VPN inefficiencies.

I wouldn't say a 400% increase, but the difference in speed with the VPN accelerator active is immediately noticeable.

NetShield: Another common feature in the VPN market is the ad blocker. NetShield blocks ads, trackers, and malware, and it does so very well.

I like that NetShield provides statistics on how many ads and trackers it has blocked. Overall, I have managed to eliminate all ads, but keep in mind that an active VPN connection is required for NetShield to function.

Secure Core: This is actually a Double VPN tool that adds an extra layer of security by connecting you to multiple servers simultaneously.

Moreover, one of those servers is directly owned by Proton VPN and is located in a country with strong privacy protection laws. It works very well with the kill switch that will cut off your network connection completely if it detects any instability within the VPN.

Split Tunneling: Split tunneling is a quick and easy way to select which applications and site IPs you want to exclude from the VPN so that they maintain your real IP. Personally, I use it if, for example, I want to watch content from Netflix in another country while simultaneously browsing my online bank or shopping on a local site like Amazon.

With split tunneling, you can route the traffic of specific applications through the VPN while the traffic of other applications, like your browser, goes directly to your regular internet connection.

Tor over VPN: This is ProtonVPN's integration with the Tor network, a simple way to route your traffic through the Tor network with a single click.

Virtual Servers: Some countries require VPNs operating in their jurisdiction to log user activity. For example, India implemented a law in 2002 that mandates this. That’s why, in such cases, ProtonVPN has opted to use virtual servers instead of physical servers, allowing access while maintaining privacy.

Proton VPN Price: Is It Worth It in 2025?

Proton VPN offers 3 pricing plans:

• 1 Month: $9.99
• 12 Months: $59.88
• 24 Months: $107.76

Proton VPN offers competitive pricing, with a monthly plan at $9.99/month, making it more affordable than its main competitors (NordVPN at $12.99/month and Surfshark at $15.45/month).

Additionally, prices become even more attractive with long-term subscriptions: with this 64% discount on the 24-month plan, the monthly cost drops from $9.99 to $3.59. This makes Proton VPN an accessible option for those seeking a top-tier VPN with an exceptional price-to-quality ratio.

Summary: Proton VPN Reviews 2025

My Opinion:

Proton VPN Free is undoubtedly one of the best options for those seeking a free and unlimited VPN focused on privacy and speed. Despite having limited access to 293 servers in only 5 countries, its WireGuard protocol ensures fast connections without data or bandwidth restrictions. Additionally, thanks to its no-logs policy, independent audits, and being based in Switzerland, it provides solid and proven security.

Proton VPN Plus takes a qualitative leap in speed and functionality, adding over 11,200 servers in 117 countries, support for P2P, streaming content unblocking, and advanced features like NetShield, VPN Accelerator, and Secure Core. With speeds of up to 10 Gbps, it’s ideal for accessing geo-restricted content and securely downloading torrents. The paid version also includes priority support and advanced options like split tunneling and the Double VPN feature.

Proton VPN User Reviews

To complete this review of Proton VPN, after sharing my opinion, I decided to take it one step further. I also wanted to provide you with a summary of what users are saying about it on Google Play, App Store, and even Reddit. We’re talking about hundreds of reviews, so to make the job easier, I asked AI to analyze them and give me a summary. Here’s what I found:

Google Play Store

On Google Play Store, with over 328,000 reviews and a rating of 4.7 out of 5, users seem pretty happy. Many mention that the app is very user-friendly and lives up to its promise of protecting privacy. What caught my attention is that several users appreciate that it doesn’t log browsing history, which is a big plus in terms of trust. That said, it’s not all perfect: some users reported speed drops, especially on more distant servers.

App Store

On the App Store, the story is similar. With a rating of 4.6 out of 5 and over 35,000 reviews, the comments highlight the service’s reliability. I loved reading how people value the customer support, describing it as quick and efficient (and we all know how important that is when something isn’t working as it should). However, some iOS users suggest improving compatibility with Apple’s latest updates—a constant challenge for any app, to be honest!

Reddit

Lastly, I took a look at Reddit (because, let’s face it, that’s where you find honest and unfiltered opinions). In communities like r/ProtonVPN, many users praise Proton VPN’s transparency. They rave about features like Secure Core and Tor integration, although some admit that these options might seem a bit advanced for beginners. There are also interesting debates about value for money, with users noting that while Proton VPN isn’t the cheapest, its robust security features make up for it.

What does Open Source, No Logs Policy, and headquarters in Switzerland mean?

As I mentioned before, and I didn’t want to make the explanation too lengthy, if you have any doubts, here’s what each one means:

Proton VPN is Open Source

This means that anyone (security experts, developers, or even you) can analyze its source code and see exactly how it is built.

This level of transparency is, frankly, uncommon in the VPN world and is crucial if you take online privacy seriously.

Audited No Logs Policy

The strict no-logs policy of Proton VPN Free is not just a promise; it is backed by several independent audits that confirm it does not track or store your activity. This means that Proton cannot know what you do when you use the VPN, so your privacy remains intact.

Under the protection of strict Swiss laws

It is based in Geneva, Switzerland, one of the countries with the strictest data protection laws in the world, which have regulations that even prevent government authorities from violating privacy.

Therefore, your data will not be handed over to anyone: neither to your government nor to any company, and since Proton VPN follows a no-logs policy, there is nothing to hand over.