Proton VPN review – Swiss privacy pedigree and undeniable security

Proton VPN Review: Privacy-First, Feature-Packed, and Surprisingly Fast

In a world where online privacy is under constant threat, Proton VPN stands out as a beacon of security and reliability. With its Swiss-based infrastructure, robust encryption, and commitment to user privacy, Proton VPN has earned its place among the top VPNs on the market. But is it the right choice for you? Let’s dive into the details.

Why You Can Trust TechRadar
At TechRadar, we spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Our team of experts rigorously evaluates VPNs based on speed, security, privacy, and usability. For this review, Proton VPN was tested by Rob Dunne, VPN Editor at TechRadar, who has been writing about VPNs for over two years and uses Proton VPN daily across multiple devices.

Proton VPN Review Scores
Proton VPN delivers a powerful, secure, and privacy-focused experience. Here’s how it stacks up:

• Total Score: 84/100
  • Price Plans & Value: 8/10
  • Features: 7/10
  • Server Network: 10/10
  • Privacy: 10/10
  • Security: 9/10
  • Speed: 8/10
  • Unblocking Streams: 8/10
  • P2P & Torrenting: 5/5
  • Apps & Compatibility: 4/5
  • Usability: 4/5
  • Accessibility: 3/5
  • Customer Support: 4/5
  • Track Record: 4/5

Proton VPN Price Plans
Unlike many VPNs, Proton VPN offers a single plan with three subscription options:

• 1-month: $9.99
• 1-year: $3.99/month
• 2-year: $2.99/month

The 2-year plan is the best value, costing $71.76 upfront and renewing at $79.95 every 12 months. Proton’s price increases are minimal compared to competitors like NordVPN, which can see significant hikes at renewal.

For those seeking more, Proton Unlimited bundles the VPN with Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton Calendar for just $7.99/month on a 2-year plan. This makes it a compelling choice for users looking for a comprehensive privacy suite.

Features: What Can Proton VPN Do?
Proton VPN focuses on quality over quantity when it comes to features. Here’s what stands out:

• NetShield: Proton’s ad, tracker, and malware blocker works at a system level, protecting all your apps without the need for additional installations.
• Profiles: This feature allows you to create customized settings for different use cases, such as streaming or browsing, making it easy to switch between configurations.
• VPN Accelerator: Proton claims this feature can boost speeds by up to 400% by distributing processing across multiple processors.

While Proton VPN doesn’t offer as many features as some competitors, what it does have works exceptionally well.

Server Network and Locations
Proton VPN boasts the second-largest server network among top VPNs, with 164 locations across 129 countries. It excels in Asia and Africa, offering the most locations in these regions. However, it has fewer servers in North America, South America, and Oceania.

Proton’s commitment to global accessibility is commendable, especially in regions with strict internet censorship. The company has a history of supporting users in crisis situations, such as during internet shutdowns in Uganda and Argentina.

Privacy: A Core Pillar
Proton VPN is built on a foundation of privacy. Based in Switzerland, it benefits from strong data protection laws and is not subject to intelligence-sharing agreements. The company’s no-logs policy has been audited four times, with the latest audit in September 2025 confirming its commitment to user privacy.

Proton also offers advanced privacy features like Stealth protocol, which disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic, and Secure Core, a multi-hop VPN that routes traffic through hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden.

Security: Top-Notch Protection
Proton VPN uses AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption, along with 4096-bit RSA keys, ensuring top-tier security. While it doesn’t yet offer post-quantum encryption, Proton is working on implementing this feature.

The VPN includes a kill switch, split tunneling, and full-disk encryption on its servers. Its NetShield feature also provides robust protection against ads, trackers, and malware.

Speed: Blazing Fast
Proton VPN’s WireGuard protocol delivers impressive speeds, with download rates exceeding 1500 Mbps over short distances and 1242 Mbps over long distances. However, its OpenVPN speeds lag behind competitors, making WireGuard the preferred choice for most users.

Unblocking Streaming Services
Proton VPN successfully unblocks Netflix libraries worldwide and handles Disney+ and YouTube in the US. However, it struggles with some ad-funded services like Channel 4, requiring users to disable NetShield for access.

P2P and Torrenting
Proton VPN is a top choice for torrenting, offering P2P support in almost all server locations and port forwarding capabilities. It also provides extensive guides to help users torrent safely.

Compatibility and Usability
Proton VPN offers apps for almost every platform, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and smart TVs. Its apps are well-designed, consistent across platforms, and easy to use. However, the browser extension could use some improvements.

Accessibility and Customer Support
Proton VPN supports 31 languages, making it highly accessible globally. Its customer support is responsive and knowledgeable, though agents may struggle with complex issues.

Track Record: Can You Trust Proton VPN?
Proton VPN has a strong track record of privacy and security. Its apps are open-source, and it undergoes annual no-logs audits. However, an incident involving Proton Mail in 2020 raised concerns for some users, though it doesn’t directly impact the VPN’s trustworthiness.

Final Verdict
Proton VPN is a top-tier VPN that excels in privacy, security, and speed. Its commitment to user privacy, robust feature set, and global server network make it a standout choice. While it may not be the best for streaming, it’s an excellent option for torrenting, privacy-conscious users, and those looking to move away from Big Tech.

Who Should Use Proton VPN?
✅ Torrenters
✅ Privacy advocates
✅ Users seeking a comprehensive privacy suite

Who Should Try a Different VPN?
❌ Streamers (consider NordVPN for better streaming performance)

Also Consider

• NordVPN: Best for streaming and advanced features.
• ExpressVPN: Top choice for speed and reliability.
• Surfshark: Affordable and feature-rich.

Proton VPN FAQs

• Where is Proton VPN based? Switzerland.
• Does Proton VPN support port forwarding? Yes.
• Is Proton VPN blocked by Netflix? No.

Proton VPN Testing Methodology
Our testing includes speed, ad-blocking, anti-phishing, malware protection, streaming unblocking, and more. We conduct lab tests every six months to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Tags: #ProtonVPN #VPN #Privacy #Security #Streaming #Torrenting #TechReview #OnlinePrivacy #VPNReview #BestVPN

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• “Proton VPN: Where privacy meets performance”
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