Proton VPN is a trustworthy and secure VPN provider that provides industry-standard encryption technologies and complete online privacy. You can use it for free or subscribe to one of its paid plans, Proton VPN Plus or Proton Unlimited.
Proton VPN Plus includes all of Proton VPN's premium features. In contrast, Proton Unlimited is a bundle that includes Proton VPN Plus, Proton Mail Plus, Proton Drive Plus, and Proton Calendar's premium features. Although Proton's free plan is better than most free VPNs, it lacks several features found in Proton's paid plans, so you're left questioning which is better for you.
What Does the Free Version of Proton's VPN Include?
The free version of Proton VPN offers the same level of security and privacy. The free plan provides the same encryption protocols as paid versions, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, PPTP, and L2TP.
Proton's free edition comes with over 100 encrypted VPN servers and a strict no-logs policy. You have a VPN kill switch for added security, which instantly disables internet access on your device if it disconnects from the secure VPN server.
The DNS leak protection feature protects your personal information from third parties, which ensures that all DNS requests are routed to an anonymous DNS server. Split Tunneling is another feature that enables you to select which apps will be protected by the VPN connections and which ones can directly access the internet.
The major benefit of Proton's free plan is unlimited bandwidth, which means there is no limit on the amount of monthly data you can use.
What Disadvantages Does Proton's Free VPN Have?
Of course, there are some restrictions on the free version. You can only connect to servers in three countries—the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. Proton provides servers in about 64 countries for premium users.
Also, you can only use Proton's free VPN on one device at a time because you can only connect to one VPN connection at once. The premium versions, on the other hand, support many simultaneous connections.
Although the free version is secure, Proton offers several bonus privacy and security features in the paid versions.
What Does Proton Premium Offer That the Free Version Doesn't?
Proton Premium offers a number of additional features not present in the free version, including better customer support and faster speeds. For example, it allows for 10 connections, allowing you to connect simultaneously to the servers on up to 10 different devices.
That's not the only benefit of paying for Proton.
Unblock Streaming Platforms
Proton offers streaming support for paid subscriptions, which guarantees unblocking popular streaming sites that might be geo-blocked in your location. It can unblock various Netflix libraries from all supported Proton VPN countries and other streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and Peacock TV.
Proton Plus includes a large number of servers dedicated to streaming. They offer faster speeds, delivering 4K streaming without interruption. Generally speaking, VPN connections slow down the internet speed, which results in video buffering and slowdown. Proton VPN Plus servers, though, are an exception to that rule.
When we tested the server speeds, the US servers delivered a download and upload speed of about 50MB/s, which is excellent for streaming. With the help of its VPN Accelerator, Proton even boasts that it can speed up VPN connections on all devices by more than 400 percent.
Along with your regular smart devices, Proton VPN Plus allows you to access streaming services and live television on your Android TV and Amazon Fire TV, as well.
Net Shield Blocks Malware and Trackers
Net Shield is a feature of Proton VPN that blocks ads, malware, and website trackers. Net Shield will automatically restrict a website from loading if you attempt to access one that contains malware.
Proton maintains a database of web domains known to contain spyware, trackers, and other malicious software. If the URL you typed matches one of these sites, you will be unable to visit it. Additionally, it looks for hidden malware and trackers in the scripts, photos, and any other elements on the website too.
By blocking all ads, Net Shield protects you from tracking pixels hidden in advertisements. You can choose whether Net Shield filters all malware, ads, and trackers or just one of these. You also have the option to disable Net Shield.
Access Tor Over VPN
Proton VPN offers the extra secure tool Tor, which removes the risk of outsiders monitoring your online activity. Your data is encrypted numerous times and sent through multiple servers before being forwarded to the website, ensuring that no one will ever find your true IP address.
You can access onion sites and hidden services with Proton VPN, thanks to its dedicated Tor servers. Generally, to access hidden services like the dark web, you need to download and set up a separate application like the Tor browser. But with the Tor over VPN function, you can use your usual browser to access onion sites directly.
Proton's Tor networks block many plugins, such as Flash and RealPlayer, that can be used to disclose your online traffic and location. Regardless of the Tor network's security protocols, you must tread carefully on the dark web and avoid revealing confidential information or clicking on any ads.
BitTorrent Support
Proton VPN Plus makes torrenting secure and faster with its BitTorrent feature. It contains about 140 specialized torrent servers that make it possible to share or download files safely. All third parties, especially your Internet Service Provider (ISP), are blocked from snooping on your shared and downloaded files, thanks to Proton's optimized P2P servers.
All servers marked with a double-arrow icon are P2P servers for torrenting. You can use the Split Tunneling function to only route your torrenting activity through the VPN connection if you don't want your entire internet traffic to be connected to the VPN.
Secure Core
By routing your traffic across many servers, the Secure Core function offers your connection a second layer of encryption. The Secure Core servers are located in privacy-friendly countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and Iceland.
Your device will first set up a connection with a Secure Core server since they provide the lowest security risk before connecting to the server you have selected. There are high-risk jurisdictions, such as the US, that could be compromised, but you don't need to worry.
Because of the Secure Core server operating between your VPN connection, your privacy and data will still be protected even if your VPN connection is compromised.
Should You Get the Proton Premium Plan?
The premium Proton subscriptions come with advanced VPN features that aren't available on the free plan. Its premium features, including Net Shield and Secure Core servers, guarantee that your identity and information are always safe.
The free version of Proton VPN is great for basic usage, but if you want maximum security and anonymity, the paid version—Proton VPN Plus—is well worth the price. However, if you want to save money on something other than a premium VPN right now, Proton's free VPN will still give you the security you need.