Security & Privacy Utilities & System Tools

Proton VPN

Privacy-conscious users reach for Proton VPN for its usable free tier, open-source apps, and paid network built for everyday browsing, streaming, and file sharing.

Runs on Windows macOS Linux Android iOS

Available on Web App Store Play Store

Built for Small Business Remote Teams Everyday Users

Overview

What is Proton VPN?

Free without a countdown

Proton VPN’s free tier is genuinely usable: it has no data cap and does not inject ads. The tradeoff is a smaller location pool, limited server choice, and fewer premium tools. Paying adds the complete server network, streaming support, P2P, and more simultaneous connections.

Privacy controls that matter

Audited open-source apps and a stated no-logs policy.
Kill switch, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and optional Secure Core routing.
NetShield blocks known malware domains, ads, and trackers.

Daily use and platform gaps

The apps make quick country changes easy, while profiles save preferred servers and protocols. Proton integrates neatly with the company’s Mail, Pass, and Drive accounts, though the VPN works independently. Speeds are usually strong on nearby paid servers, but long-distance Secure Core routes trade speed for extra jurisdictional protection. Feature parity is uneven: Linux and some mobile platforms lack controls found elsewhere.

Capabilities

Key features

Secure Core routing

Routes traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly jurisdictions

NetShield filtering

Blocks malware domains, trackers, and many ads at DNS level

Per-app split tunneling

Excludes chosen apps or addresses from the encrypted tunnel

P2P port forwarding

Supports faster torrenting on compatible paid desktop clients

Connection profiles

Stores server, protocol, and connection preferences for quick reuse

Keep exploring

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