The verdict
Proton VPN sells itself on features rather than price, and the feature list backs that up. Secure Core multi-hop routing, Tor access built into the app, an obfuscation protocol for blocked networks and DNS-level ad filtering are all included in one subscription. The free plan carries no traffic cap and asks for no payment details, which is rare.
The costs are equally clear. At $2.99 a month on the two-year plan it is the most expensive long-term commitment we cover, support runs on tickets with no live chat, and two features power users often want — a dedicated IP and SOCKS5 — are simply absent at every tier.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland |
| Independent audit | Yes |
| Monthly price | $9.99 |
| Two-year plan | $2.99 / month — highest we cover |
| Free plan | Unlimited traffic, no streaming or P2P |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Devices | 10 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| Encryption | AES-256, post-quantum enabled in 2026 |
| Server network | Over 18,000 servers, 130+ countries |
| Dedicated IP | Not offered |
| SOCKS5 | Not available |
| 24/7 live chat | No — tickets only |
Features that set it apart
Most VPNs differ from each other mainly in price and server count. Proton VPN is one of the few with functionality you cannot simply substitute from another provider, so it is worth understanding what each feature actually does before deciding whether you need it.
Secure Core
Routes your traffic through a second server before it reaches its exit point, so the exit server never sees your real IP address. It costs you some speed, but it means a compromised exit server cannot link activity back to you on its own.
Tor over VPN
Connects you to the Tor network from inside the VPN app, which means .onion sites open in an ordinary browser. No separate Tor Browser install, and your network provider sees a VPN connection rather than Tor traffic.
Stealth protocol
Disguises the VPN connection as regular encrypted web traffic. Useful on networks that detect and block VPN protocols outright — corporate Wi-Fi, some campus networks, and countries that filter VPN use.
NetShield
Blocks ads, trackers and known malware domains at DNS level rather than in the browser. Because it works before the request leaves your device, it covers apps as well as web pages and reduces data use on mobile.
Post-quantum encryption
Enabled for all users during 2026. It guards against "harvest now, decrypt later" — traffic captured today and unlocked years from now once quantum hardware matures. Most competitors have not shipped this yet.
Open-source apps
The client software is published openly, so anyone with the skills can inspect what it does rather than take the description on trust. Port forwarding is also supported, which matters for torrenting and self-hosted services.
Whether that bundle justifies the price depends entirely on you. If you want Tor access and multi-hop routing in one app, nothing else on this site offers both. If you want a VPN to change your apparent location and stay out of the way, you are paying for capability you will never open.
Speed, servers and streaming
The network is the largest we cover — over 18,000 servers across more than 130 countries — which matters more than the headline number suggests. A big address pool means less congestion at peak hours and a better chance of finding a working server when a streaming platform blocks one range.
WireGuard is available across the app range and is the protocol to use for everyday browsing and video. Secure Core and Stealth both cost throughput by design, so switch them on when you need them rather than leaving them running.
Paid plans handle streaming and torrenting, with port forwarding available for P2P. The free plan does not: streaming and file sharing are both blocked on it, which is the single biggest limitation of an otherwise generous free tier.
Pricing and plans
Monthly
$9.99
1 year
$3.99
2 years
$2.99
$2.99 is the highest two-year rate on this site. Several providers reach $2.49 or below for the same ten-device allowance. The 30-day guarantee gives you time to decide whether the extra features earn the difference — use it.
Pros
- Secure Core multi-hop and Tor over VPN in one app
- Stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs
- NetShield blocks ads and trackers at DNS level
- Free plan with no traffic cap and no card required
- Largest server network on this site, Swiss jurisdiction
- Open-source apps and post-quantum encryption
Cons
- Most expensive long-term plan we cover — $2.99/month
- No 24/7 live chat — support is by ticket only
- No dedicated IP option at any price tier
- No SOCKS5 proxy for per-app routing
- Free plan blocks streaming and P2P entirely
- Ten devices, not unlimited — tight for a large household
- Secure Core and Stealth both reduce speed noticeably
Who it suits
Good fit if you
- Want multi-hop routing or Tor access without extra software
- Connect from networks that actively block VPN traffic
- Want ad and tracker blocking handled at network level
- Need a free plan with no traffic limit for light use
Look elsewhere if you
- Are shopping on price — this is the priciest long plan here
- Want live chat when something stops working
- Need a dedicated IP or SOCKS5 for specific applications
- Expect the free plan to handle streaming or torrenting
- Need to cover more than ten devices at once
Final verdict
Buy Proton VPN for the features, not the price. Secure Core, Tor over VPN, Stealth and NetShield in a single subscription is a combination nothing else here matches, and if you will use them the premium is defensible. If you want a fast, cheap tunnel for streaming and everyday browsing, you are paying for capability that will sit unused — and giving up live chat, a dedicated IP and SOCKS5 to do it.
Visit Proton VPNConsidering the alternatives?
ZoogVPN covers the same ten devices at $2.49 a month from an EU base, adds Shadow obfuscation for restricted networks and includes a free tier with no card required. For unlimited simultaneous connections, see Surfshark.
VPN Truth Lab Editorial
Pricing checked against the provider's site on the date below. See How We Test VPNs.
Last reviewed: 14 August 2026 · Spotted an error?