--- title: Proton VPN canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/proton-vpn/ category: VPN Services points: 81 rank: 1 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Proton VPN VPN from Geneva-based Proton with a free plan that has no data cap, open-source apps and yearly no-logs audits. 81 points out of 100. #1 of 9 VPN services. Vendor: Proton AG. Website: https://protonvpn.com/ - The free plan has no data limit and works on 1 device at a time, on servers in 10 countries [1][3]. - VPN Plus costs $6.99 a month on a 1-year plan, or $3.49 a month for the first 2 years, then $83.88 a year [1][2]. - Securitum has audited the no-logs policy every year since 2022, most recently in 2026 [4]. - Secure Core routes paid users' traffic through two servers in different countries [12]. - VPN Plus covers 10 devices at once [1]. Verdict: Proton VPN is the pick for people who want a free plan without a data cap [3]. Paid plans add Secure Core double-hop routing and 10 devices, and Securitum audits the no-logs policy every year [1][4][12]. The catch: post-quantum encryption is still only planned, and the servers use encrypted disks rather than running from memory alone [9][10]. Best for: People who want a free VPN with no data limit. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Privacy and audits | No-logs audit since 2024 | Yes | 10/10 | Securitum reviewed server configuration and logging on site; the 2026 report is public, after yearly audits since 2022 [4]. | | Privacy and audits | App security audit since 2024 | Yes | 5/5 | In December 2025 Proton linked the latest audits of all its apps by security researcher Ruben Santamarta [5]. | | Privacy and audits | RAM-only servers | No | 0/5 | Proton says its servers are bare-metal and use full disk encryption [9]. | | Privacy and audits | Open-source apps | Yes | 5/5 | Proton says all its apps are open source; the Windows app is under GPL-3.0 [5][6]. | | Privacy and audits | Anonymous sign-up | Yes | 5/5 | Proton accepts cash sent by post to its Geneva office [7]. | | Privacy and audits | Transparency report | Yes | 5/5 | The transparency report covers Proton VPN requests through 2025 and was updated in January 2026 [8]. | | Security features | WireGuard | Yes | 5/5 | The Windows app offers WireGuard and Stealth, which Proton says is based on WireGuard [9][11]. | | Security features | Kill switch | Yes | 5/5 | Proton says all its apps have a kill switch for when the VPN connection drops [9]. | | Security features | Post-quantum encryption | No | 0/5 | Proton lists post-quantum encryption as planned for its new protocol code [10]. | | Security features | Multi-hop | Yes | 5/5 | Secure Core passes traffic through two servers, on all paid plans [12]. | | Apps | Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | 10/10 | The download page lists all five [13]. | | Apps | Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox | 2/3 | Extensions for Chrome and Firefox; Edge is not listed [13]. | | Apps | Router setup | Yes | 2/2 | Guides cover AsusWRT, DD-WRT, OpenWrt and other router firmware [14]. | | Everyday use | Devices at once | 10 | 5/5 | VPN Plus allows 10 devices at a time [1]. | | Everyday use | Split tunnelling | Yes | 5/5 | Split tunnelling works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android [9]. | | Price | Free plan with no data cap | Yes | 5/5 | Proton Free has no data limits and no time limit [1][3]. | | Price | Price on a one-year plan | $6.99/mo | 0/8 | VPN Plus, $6.99 a month on the 1-year plan [2]. | | Price | Same price on renewal | Yes | 7/7 | The 1-year plan is $83.88 a year, and VPN Plus renews at $83.88 every 12 months [1][2]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Proton Free | Free [1][3] | $0 | | VPN Plus, monthly | $9.99/month [2] | $9.99 | | VPN Plus, 1 year | $83.88/year [1][2] | $6.99 | | VPN Plus, 2 years | $83.76 for 24 months [1] | $3.49 | | Proton Unlimited, 2 years | $191.76 for 24 months [1] | $7.99 | The 2-year VPN Plus deal costs $3.49 a month for the first 24 months, then renews at $83.88 a year [1]. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies [1]. ## Strengths - Free plan with no data, speed or time limit [3]. - Yearly no-logs audits by Securitum, with public reports [4]. - All apps are open source; the Windows app is on GitHub under GPL-3.0 [5][6]. - The transparency report lists Proton VPN legal requests year by year [8]. - Accepts cash sent by post, as well as Bitcoin [7]. ## Limits - No post-quantum key exchange yet; Proton lists it as planned [10]. - Servers use full disk encryption rather than running from RAM only [9]. - The free plan allows 1 device and servers in 10 randomly chosen countries [1]. - The 1-year plan costs $6.99 a month, twice the 2-year deal's first-term rate [1][2]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Proton says the free plan will stay free forever [3]. - Proton says Proton VPN is not obligated to save any activity logs [8]. ## Sources 1. [Pricing | Proton VPN](https://protonvpn.com/pricing), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [The best VPN for speed and security](https://protonvpn.com/), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Free VPN with no ads and no speed limits | Proton VPN](https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Proton VPN no-logs audit](https://protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [All Proton VPN apps are now open source and audited](https://protonvpn.com/blog/open-source), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [ProtonVPN/win-app](https://github.com/ProtonVPN/win-app), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Payment options | Proton](https://proton.me/support/payment-options), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Transparency report | Proton](https://proton.me/legal/transparency), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Proton VPN features](https://protonvpn.com/features), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Introducing Proton protocols: a new VPN protocol codebase for faster, more reliable apps](https://protonvpn.com/blog/introducing-proton-protocols), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [How to change VPN protocols](https://protonvpn.com/support/how-to-change-vpn-protocols), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [What is Secure Core? | Proton VPN](https://protonvpn.com/support/secure-core-vpn), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Download VPN | Proton VPN](https://protonvpn.com/download), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08 14. [Install Proton VPN on your router](https://protonvpn.com/support/installing-protonvpn-on-a-router), Proton, accessed 2026-10-08