Proton VPN review: honest experience and pricing (2026)
Proton VPN, from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, positions itself primarily around privacy and security, with one of the few genuinely usable free plans in the VPN market.
Pros
- One of the few VPNs with a genuinely usable free plan, not just a limited trial
- Strong reputation for privacy and security, partly thanks to Swiss law and open-source apps
- Clear no-logs privacy policy, backed by independent audits
Cons
- Long-term plans are pricier than many competitors
- Reviews on customer service and billing vary widely, see below
Pricing
Proton VPN costs around $2.99/month on a two-year plan, versus around $9.99/month on a monthly plan. The free plan has limited server locations but no data cap.
Speed and servers
Proton VPN performs solidly in independent tests, with a smaller server network than the biggest competitors but a strong reputation for reliability and security.
What users say
Some caution is warranted here: sources disagree sharply on Proton VPN's Trustpilot score. Some cite a score of 4.5 out of 5, others report 2.0 to 2.3 out of 5 with a 'Poor' rating, citing complaints about billing, cancellations and refunds. That gap is too large to present a single number as fact here, we'd recommend checking Trustpilot's current page yourself before subscribing.
Verdict
Proton VPN is a strong choice if privacy and a genuinely reliable free plan are your top priorities. Given how widely reviews on customer service and billing diverge, we'd recommend checking current reviews and the cancellation policy carefully before paying, especially for an annual plan.