ProtonVPN: Privacy-Focused VPN with Free Tier
ProtonVPN comes from the makers of ProtonMail and is built with a strong privacy focus. It offers a usable free tier with a real no-logs policy—unlike many 'free' VPNs that monetize your data—and paid plans that unlock more countries, better speed, and features like streaming support.
Free tier and privacy
ProtonVPN's free tier is a real VPN: no data caps, no-logs policy, and no requirement to hand over payment details. The catch is limited server selection and lower speed than paid plans. For light use—checking privacy on public Wi-Fi or testing the service—the free tier is valuable. For streaming, heavy use, or more server options, paid plans are better.
The company is based in Switzerland and publishes transparency reports, which adds credibility for privacy-conscious users. The same team behind ProtonMail has a track record of defending user privacy.
Paid plans and features
Paid plans unlock more countries, better speed, streaming support, and P2P on designated servers. If you need consistent streaming or torrenting, check the current policy for which servers allow it. ProtonVPN is a solid choice if you want a trustworthy free option to try or a paid VPN from a privacy-focused company.
When to choose ProtonVPN
Choose ProtonVPN if you value privacy and want either a real free VPN or a paid service from a company that takes privacy seriously. For the largest server network and often faster speeds on paid plans, NordVPN is an alternative. For our full VPN comparison, see Best VPN Services.