Proton VPN

Proton VPN is a Swiss-based VPN service created by Proton AG, the company behind Proton Mail. Launched in 2017, Proton VPN was born from the same team of scientists who met at CERN and developed Proton Mail to protect journalists and activists. The VPN extends Proton's privacy mission by providing secure, private internet access to users worldwide.

Swiss Jurisdiction and Privacy

Switzerland is renowned for its strong privacy protections, and Proton VPN benefits significantly from being headquartered in Geneva. Swiss privacy laws are among the most protective in the world, and Switzerland is not part of the EU or the 14 Eyes intelligence alliance. This means Proton VPN is not subject to EU data retention laws or international intelligence sharing agreements.

Swiss law requires a court order for any data requests, and Proton has a track record of challenging requests that do not meet strict legal requirements. The company publishes transparency reports detailing government requests and how they respond to them.

Generous Free Tier

Unlike most VPN services that offer only limited trials, Proton VPN provides a genuinely useful free tier. Free users get access to servers in 5 countries (USA, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland), unlimited data, and no time restrictions. While the free tier has some limitations (medium speeds, single device, no P2P or streaming optimization), it is one of the most generous free VPN offerings available.

This free tier is funded by paid subscribers who support Proton's mission to make privacy accessible to everyone. Proton has committed to never showing ads or selling user data to monetize free users.

Secure Core Architecture

Proton VPN's Secure Core feature routes traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before exiting to the destination. This provides protection against sophisticated attacks where an adversary might compromise an exit server. Even if the exit server were compromised, your true IP address would still be protected by the Secure Core servers.

Secure Core servers are owned by Proton and located in high-security data centers, including a former military bunker in Switzerland. This infrastructure provides extra assurance for high-risk users like journalists and activists.

Open Source Apps

All Proton VPN applications are open source and have been independently audited by security firms. The code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing security researchers to verify that the apps work as claimed. This transparency is rare in the VPN industry, where most providers keep their code proprietary.

The apps have been audited by SEC Consult and other firms, with audit reports published publicly. Any vulnerabilities discovered are promptly fixed, and the open-source nature means the community can contribute to security improvements.

Advanced Features

Proton VPN includes several advanced features. NetShield blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level, improving browsing speed and privacy. The kill switch prevents any data leakage if the VPN connection drops. Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps use the VPN. Tor over VPN routes traffic through the Tor network for additional anonymity.

Port forwarding is available for P2P users who need it. Streaming support includes optimized servers for popular streaming services. The VPN Accelerator feature uses advanced technologies to increase VPN speeds by up to 400%.

WireGuard and OpenVPN

Proton VPN supports both WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. WireGuard provides better performance and is the default on most platforms. OpenVPN remains available for users who prefer it or need it for compatibility reasons. IKEv2 is also supported on certain platforms.

Proton has implemented WireGuard with additional privacy protections, including double NAT to prevent servers from knowing your true IP address. This addresses privacy concerns that exist with standard WireGuard implementations.

Proton Ecosystem Integration

Proton VPN integrates seamlessly with other Proton services. Users can bundle Proton VPN with Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive for comprehensive privacy protection. The Proton Unlimited plan includes all services, providing excellent value for users who want the complete Proton ecosystem.

Limitations to Consider

Proton VPN's free tier, while generous, has limitations that may frustrate some users. Speeds can be slower during peak times due to server load. The server network, while growing, is smaller than some competitors like NordVPN. Pricing for paid plans is higher than budget VPN options, though competitive with premium providers.

Who Should Use Proton VPN

Proton VPN is ideal for privacy-conscious users who want a trustworthy VPN from a reputable company, free users who need a reliable VPN without time limits, Proton Mail users who want integrated privacy services, journalists, activists, and others with high privacy requirements, users who value open-source software and transparency, and anyone who wants Swiss privacy protection for their internet connection.