Counter 10 · Tools & Software
Verified 06 Aug 2026
ProtonVPN
PRPrivacy-first VPN with a real free tier
ProtonVPN comes from the same Swiss team behind Proton Mail, with a genuinely usable free tier rather than a time-limited trial, which is rare among VPNs. The paid plans add more server locations and speed, and the affiliate program pays a share of both the first purchase and later renewals.
What ProtonVPN is
ProtonVPN is a VPN service from the team behind Proton Mail, run out of Switzerland. Unlike most VPN providers, it has a real free tier: no time limit, no credit card, and you can put it on your laptop and phone before you have landed a single client. Apps exist for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and connections run over WireGuard, OpenVPN, or Proton's own Stealth protocol, built to keep working on networks that actively try to detect and block VPN traffic.
Why it fits a nomad routine
Switzerland sits outside the EU and the US-led surveillance alliances, so Proton is not bound by their data-retention rules, and its no-logs policy has been independently audited. The apps are open source too, so the privacy claims are not just marketing copy. In practice that covers a few situations. On open coworking or hotel Wi-Fi it keeps your traffic private. It can stop a home-country bank or tax portal from flagging a login from a new country. And its Secure Core servers add an extra hop when you work somewhere with a more hostile internet. Paid plans add a kill switch and split tunneling, so a dropped connection does not leak your real IP mid-transfer.
Where it falls short
The free plan only connects to a limited set of server locations, randomly assigned rather than chosen, and it is noticeably slower than the paid tier, fine for email and browsing, frustrating for a video call. ProtonVPN has also tested slower than category leaders like ExpressVPN and NordVPN in independent speed benchmarks, though its VPN Accelerator feature has narrowed that gap. Paid plans can unblock Netflix and similar services, but that is never guaranteed to hold, since streaming platforms keep changing how they detect VPN traffic.
What it costs
The free tier is genuinely free. Paid plans run in the mid-single-digit dollars per month on a longer billing term, and cost more if you pay month to month, since exact rates change and are worth checking on protonvpn.com before you commit. Proton also sells an Unlimited bundle that adds Mail, Drive, and Pass to the VPN in one subscription.
What works
- Real free tier with no time limit and no credit card required, unusual among VPN providers
- Independently audited no-logs policy under Swiss jurisdiction, outside EU/US surveillance alliances
- Stealth protocol option built to keep working on networks that actively block VPN traffic
- Kill switch and split tunneling included on paid plans, plus a bundled option (Mail, Drive, Pass) for nomads who want one privacy subscription
What to watch
- Free plan connects to a limited, randomly assigned set of server locations and runs noticeably slower than paid
- Speeds have historically lagged category leaders like ExpressVPN and NordVPN in independent benchmarks
- Streaming unblocking on paid plans works but isn't guaranteed to stay reliable as platforms update VPN detection
Questions at the counter
Is ProtonVPN's free plan actually free?
Yes, it's a permanent free tier with no time limit and no credit card required, not a trial. You get a limited, randomly assigned set of server locations and slower speeds than the paid plans, but it's a real, functioning VPN rather than a bait-and-switch trial.
Does ProtonVPN work with Netflix and other streaming services?
Streaming access works on paid ProtonVPN plans, not the free tier. As with any VPN, reliability varies over time because streaming platforms regularly update their VPN-blocking systems, so it can work well for a period and then need a server switch.
Is ProtonVPN safe and does it keep logs?
ProtonVPN operates under Swiss jurisdiction, outside the EU and US-led surveillance alliances, and its no-logs policy has been independently audited. The apps are also open source, which lets outside researchers verify the code rather than just taking the privacy claims on faith.
How much does ProtonVPN cost?
There's a permanent free plan, and paid plans run roughly in the mid-single-digit dollars per month on longer billing terms, higher month-to-month. Proton also sells an Unlimited bundle that adds Mail, Drive, and Pass on top of the VPN for extra cost.