Considering our increasing dependency on the internet for various activities, shielding your identity and other personal data is necessary.
Do you know advertisers, government agencies, and hackers can monitor your online activities?
I have used the internet for several years, and protecting my privacy has always been my priority. Using a virtual private network, VPN, limits access to my personal information and online activities, protecting them from spies.
Proton VPN is among my most secure and reliable VPN services. It offers outstanding privacy features, security, and connection speeds.
It keeps no record of your online activities, shielding you from nosey internet users. Besides, it is compatible with different devices, and you can find applications for various significant platforms.
Finding out the offers of a VPN service and its best-selling points will help you make an excellent choice. You will determine whether it will satisfy your VPN needs or not.
I will share the offerings, benefits and drawbacks, performance, and features of Proton VPN in this review. The information will help you determine if this service fits you perfectly.
Let’s jump in to discover all you need about Proton VPN.
About Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a product of the Switzerland-based company Proton Technologies AG. The company is well-known for ProtonMail, its encrypted email service.
With over 2,978 servers in 68 countries, Proton VPN offers ultimate online privacy to millions of users. Though most of its servers are in North and South America and Europe, some are in Asia and Africa.
Besides, the company constantly enhances the geographic distribution of its Proton VPN servers. Consequently, you can find a server close to your location to protect your online activities and identity from prying eyes.
Proton VPN fulfills its claims of ultimate privacy protection for users. It maintains a reliable and top-notch VPN service.
The company allows researchers to prove any potential vulnerabilities in their apps. Besides, researchers can get paid for submitting bug vulnerabilities.
This VPN is ultra-secure, fast, and has various superior privacy features. It has strong streaming capabilities and can unblock geo-restricted content. Besides
The VPN conceals your IP address and online traffic from third parties, including internet service providers. Besides, it doesn’t reduce your browsing performance or speed.
Are you looking for the best VPN for unblocking streaming platforms? With Proton VPN, you can stream your favorite movies and shows.
Another strength of this product is its compatibility with various devices. Proton VPN provides a selection of apps for mobile and desktop.
There is an app for every user, whether on iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, or Mac. However, the user interface and features of the app differ.
Proton VPN also has Firefox and Chrome browser extensions. They act as a proxy, redirecting your online traffic to your designated location.
Also, the VPN browser extension will Encrypt your traffic with HTTPS. It helps access geo-restricted content.
In addition to its free service, Proton VPN offers paid plans with impressive performance. Let’s find out if they are worth their prices.
Proton VPN Pros and Cons
Finding out the strengths and weaknesses of a product will help you make an informed decision. Like other VPN services, Proton VPN has benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
- Superior Security Features: This VPN protects users’ personal information and queries using advanced algorithms to encrypt the data. The military-grade encryption is virtually unbreakable, providing excellent strength to the VPN. Consequently, a third party can’t access your DNS queries or IP address. The cutting-edge security features offer safe privacy and hide your data.
- Unblocking of Streaming Platforms: Proton VPN is great at avoiding geo-blocks, and with the Plus plan, you can unblock numerous streaming services. However, the free VPN tier isn’t ideal for unblocking websites.
- Great Free Plan: The VPN offers a free version with no restriction to monthly data usage and a good streaming experience. You can seamlessly load and play ultra HD videos without buffering. However, the free plan streaming is limited to specific locations, including the US, Japan, and the Netherlands.
- High-quality Streaming: Proton VPN servers’ proximity determines your streams’ quality. If the server is near your location, ultra HD videos can load quickly and play without issues. Unfortunately, you may encounter longer load times, buffering, and low-resolution picture quality if the server is far from you.
- Fast Speeds: The VPN has fast connection speeds, which you can increase up to 400% using the VPN accelerator. This feature is available on the paid plan and is helpful if you use a distant server.
- Apps for Various Devices: Full-featured Proton VPN apps are available for Windows, Linux, and Android. However, the apps for iOS and Mac lack some features.
- User-friendly and Reliable Apps: Proton VPN apps have a straightforward interface and are easy to use. You can seamlessly connect to the servers and turn on your app’s features. Besides, they are open-source applications and are available for public auditing.
- No-logs Policy: This VPN doesn’t keep records of your online activities. It has a strict privacy policy and can protect your data.
- Affordability: Proton VPN plans are available at reasonable prices. Besides, it offers a 30-day refund plan.
Cons
- Small Server Network: Proton VPN provides different optimized server types. However, it lacks an extensive server.
- Long Distances Reduce Speeds: Though the VPN Accelerator enhances speed, buffering can still occur during streaming due to long distances.
- Limited Free Plan Performance: You won’t access the security tools or experience the best speeds with the free Proton VPN package. Besides, you can only connect to a single device at once and access servers in three countries.
- Inability to Avoid Internet Firewalls: Proton VPN can’t break through a country’s internet restrictions.
- Live Chat Available at Specified Hours: You can’t receive immediate assistance to resolve issues via live chat 24/7. However, you can submit a ticket to the support team, wait for a response, or search for helpful information on the company’s website.
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Proton VPN Service
If you want to hide your identity and online activities, use Proton VPN. Their anonymous VPN service hides your data and traffic while browsing online.
It encrypts your activities to protect your data, including passwords, from suspicious online connections. Besides, the VPN provider doesn’t log your browsing history or share it with third parties.
Proton VPN is an excellent tool for bypassing geo-blocks, giving access to any content or website. However, accessibility differs across the regions.
Due to the freedom it offers against internet censorship, the VPN is ideal for streaming. You can stream content from any platform. However, you should manually set up the VPN on a router to stream on smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Proton VPN has a free version, but you will get more features and faster speeds if you opt for a paid plan. One such function is the P2P file-sharing capability.
The VPN has P2P-optimized servers, offering an excellent torrenting experience. Since the provider has a no-log policy, your file-sharing will be anonymous and safe.
Proton VPN Features: What Sets It Apart?
Proton VPN has a simple interface, making it easy to use. You can efficiently use the VPN service without technical experience.
It delivers fast speeds and has advanced privacy features. Despite the top-notch performance and speed, the VPN provider prioritizes anonymity and privacy. They maintain a no-log policy and won’t keep records of your user activity.
Here are the unique features of Proton VPN:
1. Stealth Protocol
This feature is the standard procedure for the functioning of Proton VPN. It involves concealing your VPN traffic, making it appear as regular online traffic. Besides, the VPN hides your IP address, leaving that of your chosen server visible.
This easy-to-enable feature is available on macOS, iOS, and Android. It is optimized for superior performance and functions efficiently with the VPN Accelerator.
The beclouding of internet traffic with a VPN can visibly reduce speed. Fortunately, stealth protocol causes a little slowdown.
However, this feature only functions sometimes in countries with internet restrictions. Consequently, you can’t use Proton VPN when bypassing government firewalls.
Other Proton VPN protocols include OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard. These are also sets of guidelines for sending your information to the servers.
2. AES 256-bit Encryption
Proton VPN uses military-grade (robust algorithm) encryption to protect sensitive data. This virtually indecipherable encryption protects your online activities from prying eyes.
Besides, a third party can’t obtain an appropriate key to access your information. If anyone intercepts your key, the person can’t access your encrypted data.
With perfect forward secrecy, Proton VPN provides users with an extra layer of protection. This feature continuously changes the VPN’s key for encrypting or decrypting information for each session.
Consequently, each key becomes ineffective immediately when you disconnect the VPN service. If a key becomes compromised while in use, only its information is vulnerable, but it won’t affect future sessions.
Besides, Proton VPN uses full-disk encryption to protect data on its servers. This security feature makes the information unreadable if a server becomes compromised.
Proton VPN ensures a secure connection and protects your data from leaks with this advanced encryption method.
3. Split Tunneling
This feature allows you to route specific online traffic via the VPN tunnel and exclude others. You can choose the IP addresses or applications to include in your Proton VPN and those going through your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Proton VPN provides this feature for only Android devices and Windows. You can easily enable it by toggling “Split Tunneling” on the “Advanced” tab.
Split tunneling delivers as promised. Consequently, you can perform activities you don’t want to get encrypted, like bank transfers, while connected to the VPN service. In such a situation, you will exclude the IP for the transactions from the VPN service.
4. Kill Switch Online Traffic Block
The VPN provider prioritizes the security of users’ activities and data. You don’t have to worry about your information getting exposed if your Proton VPN connection gets disrupted.
When you switch servers, Wi-Fi networks, or server malfunctions, the kill switch feature disables your internet. The automatic blocking of your online traffic secures your unprotected user activity and IP when the VPN connection fails.
Besides, it automatically reconnects your VPN, ensuring that your browsing history and IP address remain hidden. This feature is helpful if you use an insecure or unstable internet network.
Proton VPN kill switch function is available on macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android apps. You can choose when to activate this feature or permanently enable it.
5. VPN Accelerator
This feature boosts VPN speeds up to 400%, improving your connection on distant servers. It offers a faster VPN experience and enhanced performance to users.
It is available on various Proton VPN apps and is activated by default. You can find it in the “Settings” menu under the “Connection” tab.
This advanced technology bypasses online traffic congestion and reduces latency. Consequently, it shortens information delivery, improving VPN speeds.
Rather than a single-core CPU for the server processor, Proton VPN uses multiple OpenVPN processes for a server. As a result, the VPN can utilize multi-core processors.
It enhances speed by overcoming CPU restrictions that affect the processing of VPN protocols.
VPN Accelerator is a unique feature of Proton VPN, which enables videos to play and websites to load faster. If you are concerned about the speeds of VPN services, VPN Accelerator is an excellent way to have a faster VPN experience.
6. Netshield Ad Blocker
When using a VPN service, you don’t have to worry about malware, ads, and tracking sites. Proton VPN has an excellent extra layer of security, the Netshield ad blocker.
You can set this blocking feature to restrict only malware or trackers, ads, and malicious sites. It can eliminate banner ads and pop-ups, helping you focus on online activities.
The VPN premium plan includes this feature. Besides, it works on Android, Linux, iOS, Windows, and Mac.
Unfortunately, the tool can’t block YouTube ads. Also, it functions only when your VPN is connected.
7. Secure Core
Are you in a country where you are concerned that your online activities may be under surveillance? Or do you need extra measures to maintain a hidden identity online?
Proton VPN has a feature that provides additional encryption and security to handle your concerns efficiently. Its Secure Core server routes your data through two servers before it reaches its destination.
Unlike the double VPN connections that use a couple of servers in two random countries, Secure Core provides more robust protection. It uses at least a highly secured server housed in super-protected facilities.
Proton VPN Secure Core servers in Switzerland and Sweden are in ultra-secure underground data centers. A former military base houses these servers in Iceland.
With this feature, you can get IPs from these countries and route your online traffic through physically super-protected servers. If your final destination server becomes compromised, a third party can only trace your connection to a Secure Core server but not your device.
Consequently, your data will be protected and safe from spies. Besides, the Secure Core servers are in countries that strictly adhere to privacy policies and won’t share users’ information with third parties.
There is a downside to this privacy and security feature. It slows down the VPN speeds. However, the Secure Core servers are faster than some providers’ double VPN connections.
Though Proton VPN keeps zero logs, it is best to add extra security. On your Android device, you can toggle the Secure Core function above the server list on and off. A click of the lock icon over the server list on the desktop app turns on the feature.
8. Access to Tor Network
Proton VPN is perfect if you want a VPN with “The Onion Router” (Tor). The provider has servers in several countries that support using the Tor network on regular web browsers such as Firefox and Chrome.
It is easy to use Tor on Proton VPN. Just connect to any of its Tor designated servers in Hong Kong, Sweden, France, Iceland, the US, Switzerland, and Germany.
Click the onion icon beside your preferred server to get your online traffic directed via the Tor network. Then, you can access onion sites on your web browsers rather than downloading a Tor browser.
Unfortunately, connecting to a Tor-supported server can reduce your internet speed. Your VPN has to encrypt your traffic severally.
9. No-log Policy
Over my years of internet use, ensuring that my browsing history remains private has been a concern. Fortunately, Proton VPN prioritizes the privacy of user activity.
The provider keeps no records of your online activities and can’t reveal the data to third parties. They do not monitor your IP address or keep logs of your visited websites.
Their strict zero-log policy shows their commitment to protecting your online privacy. With Proton VPN, you are sure of a secure and private browsing history.
10. Alternative Routing
This anti-censorship feature helps you to find alternative third-party routing to Proton servers. If your app detects that your Proton VPN’s service is blocked, it will find other uncensored connections to enable it to connect to the servers.
Alternative routing doesn’t work consistently in countries with VPN blocks. Consequently, the VPN can’t function in China, though it may work in some restrictive countries.
Proton VPN supports alternative routing on macOS, Android, Windows, and iOS apps. The feature is activated by default, but you can turn it off via the advanced settings.
11. Quick Connect
Fast connections are one of the factors to consider when choosing a VPN service. Proton VPN’s “Quick Connect” automatically links you to the fastest server once you install the app.
However, you can alter it to suit your preferences. The feature lets you specify your preferred server types and countries by selecting its button.
You can share the chosen option between apps on different devices, provided that they support the selected tunneling protocol.
Proton VPN Pricing
Proton VPN offers two paid plans with more features than the free version. Each has three billing options: a month, 1-year, and 2-year. Besides, you get the best deals for the most extended-term plan.
Proton VPN subscription plans include the following:
- Proton VPN Plus: The plan costs $9.99/month on monthly billing, $5.99/month billed annually, and $4.99/month on a 2-year plan. It offers the fastest VPN speeds, double-hop, priority support, and live chat.
- Proton Unlimited: It costs $12.99/month on a monthly billing, $9.99/month billed annually, and $7.99/month billed every two years. The plan offers 500 GB storage, 20 encrypted calendars, and supports encrypted file sharing.
Proton VPN subscription plans can protect ten devices simultaneously and support high-speed streaming. They also include a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the VPN paid services.
The Plus plan also includes malware protection and an ad blocker, while Proton Unlimited provides premium access to the VPN’s features.
Besides, the VPN provider allows multiple payment options. You can pay for your subscription via debit or credit card, bank transfer, or cash.
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Proton VPN’s Privacy and Security
Proton VPN is an excellent choice if you prioritize online privacy and security. It uses advanced features to protect user activity from third parties. The VPN routes your DNS queries through its encrypted tunnel, preventing spies from tracking your online activities.
The VPN service uses robust protocols to encrypt your activities, shielding them from detection. Its stealth feature displays your VPN connection as regular traffic, helping it to evade VPN blockers and firewalls.
With the forward secrecy feature of the OpenVPN, Proton VPN generates a new key for each online session. This protocol also works on TCP and UDP transmission to protect online interaction.
WireGuard is another open-source protocol, but it is faster than the OpenVPN. It secures Proton VPN connections with ChaCha20 encryption code and improves the service’s performance.
This VPN service ensures your identity remains hidden if a server gets attacked. It directs your online traffic via secure core servers kept in highly protected facilities before reaching its last destination.
Ads will no longer invade your privacy if you opt for Proton VPN paid plans. NetShield, an ad blocker feature, eliminates trackers, malware, and ads, keeping your device clean and increasing VPN speeds.
This VPN service does not record your IP addresses, location, connection logs, visited web pages, or session lengths. As a result, third parties can’t track your online activities or get information from your provider.
Besides, DNS leak tests conducted on Proton VPN confirmed that it is secure and reliable. With a permanently enabled DNS leak protection function, you can trust this VPN to protect your DNS queries.
Proton adds extra security to protect your VPN account using two-factor authentication. The double verification required for login can prevent any third party from tracking your online activities.
Proton VPN is committed to maintaining online privacy and security. Based in a privacy-friendly country and its strict no-logs policy, the VPN service can’t share your data with a third party.
Proton VPN Performance
Proton offers a highly secure VPN service and one of the best online privacy protection. Though it may not be the fastest, Proton VPN offers a faster experience than many competitors.
Proton VPN offers an impressive performance that you won’t like to miss. Assessing its reliability and speed will help you determine whether it is a perfect fit for you.
Reliability
Proton VPN offers a reliable and fast VPN service. It has a robust network spread across 68 countries with over 2978 servers.
The VPN has various privacy and security features for protecting online user activity. It encrypts your traffic, protecting your identity and communication from prying eyes.
If your VPN connection fails, you don’t have to worry about your cover getting blown. The kill switch feature will block your internet if such a situation arises, ensuring your activities remain hidden.
One of the exciting things about Proton VPN is the generation of a separate key for each session. A tracker can’t access your information, and if it manages to intercept your traffic, it won’t affect future sessions.
If you suspect your online activity is monitored, enabling the Secure Core gives you extra security. It will route your traffic to one of Proton VPN’s super-protected servers in military-grade shelter, preventing detection by trackers.
Proton VPN ensures your safety and privacy online. Besides, its performance is consistent across different devices.
Speed
When choosing a VPN service, speed is one of the factors you should consider. The speed levels you will get depend on the following:
- Device Used
- Server Location
- VPN Protocols Used
- Internet Service Provider
- Your Location
- Server Proximity
Proton VPN maintained decent speed levels following the test conducted on various servers. However, we obtained different speeds for streaming and browsing.
A VPN service can reduce your internet speed as it routes your online traffic through servers far from your location. It is best to choose VPN servers near you to reduce latency.
During the speed tests, I discovered that Proton VPN delivers good speed levels on nearby and distant servers for streaming, browsing, torrenting, and gaming. Besides, you can enable the VPN Accelerator to enhance the speed and overall performance of your Proton VPN.
In addition to its fast speeds, Proton VPN unblocks the geo-restricted platform, giving you access to your favorite shows and movies. Indeed, you can bypass the blocks on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. With this VPN service, you will have a great streaming experience.
Proton VPN Customer Support
Proton VPN has a sound customer support system with knowledgeable and friendly agents. The representatives can assist you if you need help setting up, managing your VPN account, or resolving issues.
With the paid subscriptions, you can access live chat and email support. Though the live chat option is the fastest means to reach the support team, it is available only during the specified hours.
Besides, Proton VPN has a knowledge base with numerous articles in different categories. These sections provide helpful information; you may find it challenging to understand if you aren’t technical savvy.
You can create a support ticket for more clarification or a follow-up after a live chat session. You will receive an email in response to your query.
Proton VPN gives you a great VPN experience and excellent support. You will receive helpful and reliable assistance when you need it.
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Is Proton VPN Easy to Use?
Despite the different user interfaces of Proton VPN apps, you can easily navigate them. The “Quick Connect” feature links you to a faster server once you set up your app.
However, you can choose your preferred server from the provided list. If you need the VPN service for different purposes, you can create multiple profiles with different protocols to satisfy your needs.
The best thing about these apps is that you don’t need technical skills. The provider uses a three-color (red, amber, and green) and a percentage metric system to indicate each server’s load.
Besides, it displays your connections and data speeds. If your VPN service is slow, you can easily change your server with a click.
Though Proton VPN is user-friendly, you can’t directly contact the customer support team from its apps. You can only do so from its website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which devices support Proton VPN?
You can use Proton VPN with Android phones and TVs, Chromebooks, Fire TVs, Fire TV Stick, and Windows, Mac, iOS, and Linux devices. You can manually configure the VPN service to work on a router that connects to Xbox, Apple TV, and PlayStation.
Can I use Proton VPN for free?
A free version of the VPN service is available, allowing only one connection for each account. You can choose servers from only three countries, and they can reduce your VPN speed due to heavy load. However, you can upgrade to paid plans for extra features and customer support.
Is Proton VPN secure?
Proton VPN uses advanced features to ensure anonymity and user privacy. The multiple layers of security will shield your data from prying eyes. Besides, the VPN provider doesn’t share users’ information with third parties.
Can I use Proton VPN on Netflix?
Yes, the VPN service works efficiently on Netflix. With the paid plans, you can access geo-restricted content. However, you can only access shows and movies that are available to all regions with the free version.
Conclusion
Proton VPN is an excellent choice for a VPN service if a reliable privacy policy and security are your priority. With its military-grade encryption and Secure Core servers, it can effectively protect your online traffic. Besides, it can bypass geo-blocks, making it an ideal VPN service for accessing streaming platforms.
