ProtonVPN is a virtual private network service developed by Proton AG, the Swiss company best known for the encrypted email service Proton Mail. Designed around user privacy and security, ProtonVPN aims to give individuals a reliable way to protect their internet traffic from surveillance, censorship, and tracking while keeping a user-friendly experience.
Privacy and jurisdiction
One of ProtonVPN’s strongest selling points is its Swiss jurisdiction. Switzerland has robust privacy protections and is not part of major surveillance alliances, which helps ProtonAG maintain a strong privacy posture. ProtonVPN operates under a no-logs policy, meaning it does not record users’ online activity. The company has also published transparency reports and undergone third-party audits for its applications and infrastructure to reinforce trust.
Security features
ProtonVPN supports modern VPN protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN, offering a balance of speed and cryptographic strength. Key security features include AES-256 encryption, a kill switch to block traffic if the VPN connection drops, DNS leak protection, and options for secure, audited apps across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. ProtonVPN’s clients are open source, enabling independent review of the code.
Secure Core and extra protections
A distinctive feature is Secure Core — ProtonVPN routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries and hardened gateways before it leaves the network. This multi-hop approach adds an extra layer of defense against network-level threats and targeted attacks. ProtonVPN also provides split tunneling on supported platforms, allowing selective routing of apps through the VPN.
Performance and use cases
ProtonVPN’s performance is competitive thanks to WireGuard and a growing global server network. The service supports P2P/torrenting on designated servers, and users report reliable access to major streaming platforms depending on server choice. There’s also a free plan with limited speeds and server access, which is useful for casual users who want basic protection without cost. Paid tiers unlock faster speeds, more countries and servers, Secure Core, and features like simultaneous connections and Tor over VPN.
Considerations
While ProtonVPN excels at privacy and transparency, advanced features such as Secure Core can slightly reduce speed due to multi-hop routing. Pricing for premium plans is generally higher than budget VPNs, reflecting Proton’s emphasis on security, independent audits, and Swiss hosting.
Conclusion
ProtonVPN is a strong choice for users prioritizing privacy, transparency, and security. Its combination of open-source apps, third-party audits, Swiss jurisdiction, and unique Secure Core architecture makes it particularly appealing to privacy-conscious users, journalists, and anyone who wants a trustworthy VPN backed by a reputable company.#1#