Proton VPN Review 2026: The Best Privacy-First VPN?
Honest Proton VPN review after months of testing across 10+ countries. Speed tests, streaming, Secure Core, free tier, and whether it's worth it for travelers.
If privacy is your highest priority in a VPN, Proton VPN is the best choice in 2026. Built by the same Swiss team behind Proton Mail, every app is open-source, independently audited, and protected by some of the strongest privacy laws on the planet. No other VPN gives you this level of transparency.
But privacy alone does not make a great travel VPN. After months of testing across 10+ countries, we found that Proton VPN is a genuinely strong all-around product — fast enough for daily use, capable of unblocking major streaming platforms, and equipped with features like Stealth protocol that make it invaluable in censored countries. It also offers the only truly useful free VPN tier on the market.
Where it falls short: raw speed and streaming reliability. NordVPN remains faster and more consistent for geo-unblocking. But for travelers who value privacy, trust, and transparency above all else — or who are already invested in the Proton ecosystem — Proton VPN earns a confident recommendation.
Proton VPN at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Servers | 6,500+ in 112 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 devices |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), Stealth, IKEv2/IPsec |
| Logging policy | Strict no-logs (independently audited, open-source) |
| Kill switch | Yes (all platforms) |
| Split tunneling | Yes (Android, Windows) |
| Streaming | Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu (variable reliability) |
| Torrenting | Yes (dedicated P2P servers) |
| Best price | $4.49/month (2-year plan) |
| Free tier | Yes — no data cap, 5 countries, 1 device |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Ad blocker | NetShield (included) |
| Multi-hop | Secure Core (included) |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, browser extensions |
Pros
- Swiss jurisdiction — strongest privacy laws in the world
- All apps are open-source and independently audited
- Genuinely useful free tier with no data cap
- Secure Core servers for maximum anonymity
- NetShield ad and tracker blocker included
- Part of the broader Proton privacy ecosystem
- Stealth protocol designed for censored countries
Cons
- Slower than NordVPN on distant servers
- Streaming less reliable than NordVPN — requires more server switching
- More expensive than Surfshark for the VPN alone
- Free tier limited to 5 countries and 1 device
- No dedicated IP option
What Makes Proton VPN Different
Most VPNs make the same claims: “no logs,” “military-grade encryption,” “total privacy.” Proton VPN is one of the few that can actually back those claims up — and the distinction matters.
Swiss Jurisdiction
Proton VPN is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland — arguably the best jurisdiction in the world for a privacy company. Switzerland is not part of the EU, not a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances, and has some of the strongest data protection laws globally. Swiss law requires a court order from a Swiss judge to compel data disclosure, and Proton has successfully challenged requests that did not meet this threshold.
For travelers, this matters most when working in countries with aggressive surveillance. A VPN headquartered in the US, UK, or EU can be compelled to cooperate with intelligence agencies. A Swiss VPN operates under fundamentally different legal protections.
Open-Source Everything
Every Proton VPN client app is fully open-source and published on GitHub. Anyone can inspect the code for backdoors, vulnerabilities, or hidden logging. No other major VPN offers this level of transparency.
This is not just a marketing claim. The code has been independently audited by Securitum (a European security firm), and the results are publicly available. When Proton says “no logs,” you do not have to take their word for it — you can verify it yourself, or trust the security researchers who already have.
The Proton Ecosystem
Proton VPN is part of a broader privacy ecosystem from Proton AG:
- Proton Mail — End-to-end encrypted email
- Proton Pass — Encrypted password manager with email aliases
- Proton Drive — Encrypted cloud storage
- Proton Calendar — Encrypted calendar
With a Proton Unlimited subscription ($7.99/month on 2-year plan), you get all of these under one roof. For digital nomads building a privacy-first toolkit, this integration is a significant advantage. See our full Proton Suite review for a detailed breakdown.
Born from CERN
Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists who met at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). The company was born out of a belief that privacy is a fundamental right, not a product feature. This mission-driven origin sets Proton apart from VPN companies that are primarily marketing operations. It does not affect the technology, but it does inform the decisions behind it — like making the free tier genuinely usable instead of crippling it to force upgrades.
Speed Tests
Speed is where Proton VPN is honest but not exceptional. It is a solid mid-tier performer — fast enough for daily use, but noticeably behind NordVPN on both nearby and distant servers.
Nearby Server Speed Tests (WireGuard Protocol)
We tested from 10 locations, connecting to the nearest available Proton VPN server from each:
| Test Location | Base Speed | Proton VPN Speed | Speed Retained | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok, Thailand | 200 Mbps | 160 Mbps | 80% | 16 ms |
| Tokyo, Japan | 400 Mbps | 320 Mbps | 80% | 12 ms |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 350 Mbps | 285 Mbps | 81% | 14 ms |
| Mexico City, Mexico | 150 Mbps | 118 Mbps | 79% | 20 ms |
| Bali, Indonesia | 80 Mbps | 58 Mbps | 73% | 30 ms |
| Medellin, Colombia | 100 Mbps | 76 Mbps | 76% | 24 ms |
| Berlin, Germany | 350 Mbps | 295 Mbps | 84% | 10 ms |
| London, UK | 300 Mbps | 250 Mbps | 83% | 12 ms |
| Seoul, South Korea | 450 Mbps | 355 Mbps | 79% | 11 ms |
| New York, USA | 400 Mbps | 330 Mbps | 83% | 9 ms |
Average speed retention on nearby servers: 80%. That is roughly 5-10 percentage points behind NordVPN’s NordLynx results and comparable to Surfshark’s WireGuard performance. In absolute numbers, Proton VPN delivers 58-355 Mbps on nearby servers — more than enough for streaming, video calls, and remote work.
International Server Speeds (From Thailand)
The real travel test: connecting to servers in other countries for streaming, banking, and geo-unblocking.
| From Thailand To | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| US (New York) | 55 Mbps | 25 Mbps | 235 ms |
| US (Los Angeles) | 72 Mbps | 32 Mbps | 200 ms |
| UK (London) | 60 Mbps | 28 Mbps | 220 ms |
| Japan (Tokyo) | 115 Mbps | 52 Mbps | 75 ms |
| Australia (Sydney) | 80 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 155 ms |
| Germany (Frankfurt) | 58 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 215 ms |
Long-distance connections show a more noticeable gap vs NordVPN. Where NordVPN delivers 85-150 Mbps on intercontinental connections, Proton VPN sits at 55-115 Mbps. Still perfectly usable for 4K streaming (25 Mbps required) and video calls (10 Mbps), but the difference is measurable.
WireGuard vs OpenVPN
Like other VPNs, Proton VPN’s WireGuard implementation significantly outperforms OpenVPN:
| Protocol | Nearby Speed Retention | International Speed | Battery Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | ~80% | 55-115 Mbps | Low |
| OpenVPN | ~55% | 30-70 Mbps | Moderate |
| Stealth | ~70% | 45-90 Mbps | Moderate |
WireGuard should be your default. Switch to Stealth only when you need to bypass VPN detection in censored countries.
Speed Verdict
Proton VPN is a good, not great performer on speed. For everyday travel use — streaming, calls, browsing, remote work — it handles everything without bottlenecks. But if you need the absolute fastest VPN for bandwidth-heavy tasks (large uploads, 4K streaming over distant connections), NordVPN delivers meaningfully better performance.
Security and Privacy
This is where Proton VPN separates itself from the competition. No VPN we have tested matches Proton’s commitment to verifiable security.
Encryption and Protocols
Proton VPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption with perfect forward secrecy. Available protocols:
- WireGuard (default) — Fast, modern, secure. The best choice for daily use.
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) — Battle-tested and widely audited. Use TCP mode if WireGuard is blocked.
- Stealth — Proton’s proprietary protocol designed to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. Built specifically for bypassing VPN blocks in censored countries.
- IKEv2/IPsec — Handles network switching well, good for mobile.
The Stealth protocol is Proton VPN’s most distinctive security feature. Unlike obfuscated servers used by NordVPN (which modify existing protocols), Stealth is purpose-built to make VPN traffic indistinguishable from normal web browsing. In our testing in Turkey and the UAE, Stealth was effective at bypassing network-level VPN blocks.
No-Logs Policy — Verifiable, Not Just Claimed
Proton VPN’s no-logs policy is stronger than most competitors for a simple reason: you do not have to trust them. The apps are open-source, the infrastructure has been independently audited, and Swiss law provides legal protection against mass surveillance.
What Proton does not log:
- Browsing activity or connection history
- IP addresses
- DNS queries
- Timestamps
- Bandwidth usage
- Session data
Secure Core Servers
Secure Core is Proton VPN’s multi-hop implementation, and it is more thoughtful than most double-VPN features. Instead of routing through two random servers, Secure Core routes your traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before reaching the exit server.
Why this matters: if an exit server is ever compromised or monitored, the attacker sees traffic arriving from a Secure Core server — not your real IP. The Secure Core servers are owned by Proton (not rented from third parties), housed in secure facilities, and operated on dedicated hardware.
Speed impact: Secure Core reduces speeds by approximately 30-50%. We measured 40-80 Mbps on nearby connections with Secure Core enabled, compared to 160-330 Mbps with standard connections. Use Secure Core when you need maximum anonymity, not for everyday browsing.
NetShield Ad Blocker
NetShield is Proton VPN’s DNS-level ad and tracker blocker. Three modes:
- Off — No blocking
- Level 1 — Blocks malware and tracking domains
- Level 2 — Blocks malware, trackers, and ads
In our testing, NetShield Level 2 reduced page load times by roughly 20-25% on ad-heavy websites. It is not as comprehensive as NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro (which also scans downloaded files), but it covers the essentials without any performance penalty.
Kill Switch
Proton VPN’s kill switch blocks all internet traffic if the VPN drops unexpectedly. Available on all platforms and reliable in our testing — we forced 20+ disconnections across devices and the kill switch triggered correctly every time. On macOS and Linux, Proton also offers a “permanent kill switch” that blocks all non-VPN traffic even when the app is not running.
DNS Leak Protection
We ran DNS leak tests on every server connection during our testing period. Zero leaks detected — DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 were all properly contained.
Streaming and Unblocking
Streaming is Proton VPN’s weakest area — not because it cannot unblock services, but because it is less consistent than NordVPN. You will likely need to try multiple servers to find one that works.
Streaming Test Results (February 2026)
We tested from Thailand, Portugal, and Mexico, connecting to servers in the service’s home country:
| Service | Region | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix US | From Thailand, Portugal, Mexico | Works | Required server switching on 2 of 5 attempts |
| Netflix UK | From Thailand, Mexico | Works | Reliable on UK servers |
| Netflix Japan | From Thailand, Portugal | Works | Consistent access |
| Disney+ (US) | From Thailand, Portugal | Works | US servers, occasionally needed retry |
| BBC iPlayer | From Thailand, Mexico | Partial | Worked on 3 of 5 UK server attempts |
| Hulu | From Portugal, Mexico | Works | US servers |
| Amazon Prime Video (US) | From Thailand, Portugal | Partial | Inconsistent — worked on about 60% of attempts |
| HBO Max | From Thailand | Works | US servers |
| Peacock | From Thailand | Partial | Worked on 2 of 5 US server attempts |
The Honest Assessment
Proton VPN can unblock most major streaming platforms, but it requires more effort than NordVPN. Where NordVPN’s SmartPlay technology makes streaming nearly automatic, Proton VPN sometimes needs you to try 2-3 different servers to find one that has not been flagged.
For travelers who stream occasionally, this is a minor inconvenience — a minute of server switching. For travelers who stream daily and want zero friction, NordVPN is the better choice for streaming specifically.
Streaming Quality
When connected to a working server, streaming quality is excellent. We experienced smooth 4K playback on Netflix and Disney+ with no buffering on connections above 50 Mbps. The issue is finding the right server, not the quality of the stream once connected.
Proton VPN Free Tier
This is where Proton VPN stands alone. The free tier is genuinely useful — not a crippled demo designed to annoy you into upgrading.
What You Get for Free
| Feature | Free Tier | Paid (Plus) |
|---|---|---|
| Data limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Countries | 5 (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland) | 112 |
| Servers | 100+ | 6,500+ |
| Devices | 1 | 10 |
| Speed | Medium (capped) | Full |
| Streaming | Limited | Yes |
| P2P/Torrenting | No | Yes |
| Secure Core | No | Yes |
| NetShield | Malware only | Full |
| Stealth protocol | No | Yes |
| Ads | None | None |
| Logging | None | None |
Why the Free Tier Matters
Most “free VPNs” monetize through ads, data selling, or punishing restrictions (500 MB/month data caps). Proton VPN’s free tier has no data cap, no ads, and the same no-logs policy as the paid version. The speed is throttled and the server selection is limited, but it is a legitimate VPN that provides real protection.
Who should use the free tier:
- Travelers who need occasional VPN access but cannot justify a subscription
- Anyone evaluating Proton VPN before committing to a paid plan
- As a backup VPN alongside a primary NordVPN or Surfshark subscription
- Students or budget travelers who need basic protection on public WiFi
The free tier is genuinely one of Proton VPN’s strongest advantages. It builds trust — a company confident enough to give away a useful product for free is a company worth taking seriously.
Pricing
Proton VPN is not the cheapest VPN — it sits between NordVPN and Surfshark on pure VPN pricing, but the Proton Unlimited bundle changes the value equation significantly.
Current Proton VPN Plans (February 2026)
| Plan | Monthly | 1 Year | 2 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Proton VPN Plus | $9.99/mo | $4.99/mo ($59.88 total) | $4.49/mo ($107.76 total) |
| Proton Unlimited (VPN + Mail + Pass + Drive) | $12.99/mo | $9.99/mo ($119.88 total) | $7.99/mo ($191.76 total) |
Which Plan Should You Choose?
If you only need a VPN: The Proton VPN Plus 2-year plan ($4.49/month) is your best option. It includes all VPN features — Secure Core, NetShield, Stealth protocol, 10 devices, and all 6,500+ servers.
If you want a full privacy toolkit: Proton Unlimited ($7.99/month on 2-year plan) is excellent value. You get the full VPN plus encrypted email, password manager, and cloud storage. Buying these services separately would cost significantly more.
Price Comparison
| VPN | Best Price | Monthly Plan | Devices | Free Tier? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Plus | $4.49/mo (2yr) | $9.99/mo | 10 | Yes |
| NordVPN | $3.39/mo (2yr) | $12.99/mo | 10 | No |
| Surfshark | $2.49/mo (2yr) | $15.45/mo | Unlimited | No |
On the 2-year plan, Proton VPN Plus costs $1.10/month more than NordVPN and $2.00/month more than Surfshark. That premium buys you Swiss jurisdiction, open-source transparency, and the Proton ecosystem — but it does not buy you faster speeds or better streaming.
Get Proton VPN — $4.49/month →All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. The free tier requires no payment information.
Proton VPN for Travelers and Digital Nomads
Beyond the core VPN functionality, Proton VPN has several features that are specifically relevant to the travel use case.
Stealth Protocol for Censored Countries
The Stealth protocol is purpose-built for countries that actively block VPN traffic — China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, the UAE. Unlike standard obfuscation (which modifies existing protocols), Stealth was designed from scratch to make VPN traffic look like regular HTTPS browsing.
Our testing in Turkey: Stealth connected successfully on every attempt. Regular WireGuard was blocked on hotel and cafe networks. Stealth took 8-12 seconds to connect but worked reliably once established.
Our testing in the UAE: Stealth worked for accessing blocked VoIP services (WhatsApp calls, FaceTime). Speeds were lower than standard connections (70% retention vs 80%), but usable for calls and browsing.
China: Based on community reports, Stealth has a 55-65% success rate in China. Better than most VPNs, but not guaranteed. Install and configure Proton VPN before entering China.
Secure Core for High-Risk Environments
If you are a journalist, activist, or working with sensitive data while traveling, Secure Core provides an extra layer of protection that standard VPN connections cannot match. Routing through Proton’s own hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before reaching the exit point ensures your real IP is protected even if the destination network is compromised.
NetShield on Public WiFi
NetShield’s malware and tracker blocking is particularly useful when you are constantly encountering unfamiliar networks and local websites. It acts as a DNS-level shield that blocks known malicious domains before your device ever connects to them.
VPN Accelerator
Proton VPN’s VPN Accelerator technology automatically improves connection speeds by distributing connections across multiple paths. In our testing, it improved long-distance connection speeds by approximately 15-20% compared to non-accelerated connections. This is enabled by default and works silently in the background.
How It Compares
Proton VPN vs NordVPN
| Category | Proton VPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy jurisdiction | Switzerland (strongest) | Panama (strong) |
| Open-source | Yes (all apps) | No |
| Speed (nearby) | 80% retained | 90% retained |
| Speed (international) | 55-115 Mbps | 85-150 Mbps |
| Streaming | Good (requires server switching) | Excellent (SmartPlay) |
| Free tier | Yes (genuinely useful) | No |
| Best price | $4.49/mo (2yr) | $3.39/mo (2yr) |
| Servers | 6,500+ in 112 countries | 6,400+ in 111 countries |
| Multi-hop | Secure Core (hardened servers) | Double VPN (standard servers) |
| Censorship bypass | Stealth protocol | Obfuscated servers |
| Ad blocker | NetShield | Threat Protection Pro |
| Security audits | Open-source + Securitum | Deloitte (4 audits) |
Choose Proton VPN if privacy, transparency, and Swiss jurisdiction are your top priorities. Choose NordVPN if speed, streaming, and ease-of-use matter more. For a full NordVPN breakdown, see our NordVPN review.
Proton VPN vs Surfshark
| Category | Proton VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Best price | $4.49/mo | $2.49/mo |
| Devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Privacy | Swiss + open-source | Netherlands + 2 audits |
| Speed | ~80% retained | ~84% retained |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Streaming | Good | Very good |
Choose Proton VPN if privacy matters more than price. Choose Surfshark if budget and unlimited devices are your priorities. See our Surfshark review for the full breakdown.
App Experience
Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux)
Proton VPN’s desktop apps are clean, modern, and well-designed. The interface uses a familiar layout — server list on the left, connection status in the center, map visualization optional. The design language matches the broader Proton ecosystem.
Standout features:
- Server load indicators — See real-time utilization before connecting
- Profiles — Create custom connection profiles (e.g., “Streaming US,” “Secure Core,” “Work”) that save your preferred server, protocol, and settings
- Linux GUI — Proton VPN is one of the few VPNs with a full graphical Linux app, a significant advantage over NordVPN’s command-line-only Linux client
- Quick Connect — One-click connection to the fastest available server
Mobile (iOS and Android)
The mobile apps are polished and responsive. Key features:
- Auto-connect on untrusted WiFi — Automatically activates VPN on unknown networks
- Always-on VPN — Ensures VPN is active whenever the device has internet access
- Widget support — Quick connect/disconnect from your home screen
Battery impact: With WireGuard protocol, we measured approximately 4-6% additional battery drain per hour of active use. Comparable to Surfshark and slightly more than NordVPN’s NordLynx (3-5%).
Customer Support
Support Channels
- Email support — Average response time: 8-16 hours
- Knowledge base — Comprehensive and well-organized
- Community forums — Active, with helpful community responses
- No live chat — This is a notable gap compared to NordVPN and Surfshark
Our Experience
The lack of live chat is Proton VPN’s biggest customer support weakness. NordVPN and Surfshark both offer 24/7 live chat with 2-5 minute response times. Proton VPN relies on email, which means waiting hours for a response. For a traveler who needs to get a VPN working right now to access a client meeting, that wait time is a problem.
Email responses, when they arrive, are thoughtful and technically competent. The support team clearly understands the product. But the response time gap vs competitors is a real drawback.
Final Verdict
Proton VPN is the best VPN for privacy-conscious travelers in 2026. No other VPN combines Swiss jurisdiction, fully open-source apps, independent security audits, and a genuinely useful free tier. If you care about verifiable privacy — not just marketing claims — Proton VPN delivers on its promises.
It is not the fastest VPN (that is NordVPN), not the cheapest (that is Surfshark), and not the most reliable for streaming (also NordVPN). But it is the most trustworthy VPN we have tested, and for travelers who work with sensitive data, visit censored countries, or simply refuse to compromise on privacy, that trust is worth the premium.
Who should choose Proton VPN:
- Privacy-first travelers and journalists
- Users already in the Proton ecosystem (Mail, Pass, Drive)
- Travelers to censored countries (Stealth protocol)
- Anyone who wants a free VPN that actually works
- Digital nomads who want verifiable security for sensitive work
Who should look elsewhere:
- Streaming enthusiasts who want zero-friction geo-unblocking — choose NordVPN
- Budget travelers who prioritize price and unlimited devices — choose Surfshark
- Users who need instant live chat support
Our rating: 4.3/5 — The best VPN for privacy in 2026.
Get Proton VPN — $4.49/month →Proton VPN Plus includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Or try the free tier — no credit card required.
The Speed-Focused Alternative: NordVPN
If you have read this review and concluded that Proton VPN’s privacy advantages are less important to you than raw speed and streaming performance, NordVPN is the VPN we recommend instead.
NordVPN delivers approximately 10% faster speeds on nearby servers (90% retention vs. Proton’s 80%) and 30-50% faster speeds on intercontinental connections. Its SmartPlay technology makes streaming virtually automatic — 95%+ unblock success rate compared to Proton VPN’s more inconsistent results that require server switching. NordVPN also offers 24/7 live chat support (vs. Proton’s email-only), which matters when you need a working VPN connection right now.
At $3.39/month on a 2-year plan — $1.10/month cheaper than Proton VPN Plus — NordVPN is both faster and more affordable. It operates from Panama (strong privacy jurisdiction, though not Swiss-level), has been independently audited four times by Deloitte, and its NordLynx protocol is the fastest WireGuard implementation we have tested.
Choose NordVPN over Proton VPN if: Speed, streaming, and live customer support matter more to you than Swiss jurisdiction and open-source code.
Get NordVPN →Read our full NordVPN review for detailed speed tests and performance data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Proton VPN good for travel?
Yes. Proton VPN is a strong choice for travelers, especially those visiting countries with internet censorship. Its Stealth protocol is specifically designed to bypass VPN blocks in China, Russia, Iran, and the UAE. Swiss jurisdiction and a strict no-logs policy also make it one of the most trustworthy VPNs for handling sensitive work abroad.
Is Proton VPN free tier actually useful?
Yes — it is the best free VPN available. Unlike most free VPNs that sell your data or impose tiny data caps, Proton VPN's free tier has no data limit, no ads, and no logging. The trade-off is access to only 5 countries, 1 device, and medium speeds. For occasional travel or light browsing, it is genuinely usable.
How fast is Proton VPN?
Proton VPN delivers solid speeds with WireGuard — we measured 78-82% speed retention on nearby servers. That is slightly behind NordVPN (85-95% retention) but comparable to Surfshark. For streaming, video calls, and general browsing, Proton VPN is fast enough. Long-distance connections show a bigger gap compared to NordVPN.
Can Proton VPN unblock Netflix?
Yes, but with caveats. Proton VPN unblocked Netflix US, UK, and Japan in our testing, along with Disney+ and BBC iPlayer. However, it was less consistent than NordVPN — we needed to switch servers more often to find one that worked. If streaming is your top priority, NordVPN is the safer bet.
Is Proton VPN better than NordVPN?
It depends on your priorities. Proton VPN is better for privacy (Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, Secure Core servers). NordVPN is better for speed, streaming reliability, and overall features. If privacy is your number one concern, choose Proton VPN. If you want the best all-around performance, choose NordVPN.
Does Proton VPN work in China?
Proton VPN's Stealth protocol is specifically designed for censored networks and can work in China. Reliability varies — community reports suggest 55-65% success rates, similar to other top VPNs. Download and configure Proton VPN before entering China, and consider having a backup VPN.
What is Secure Core and do I need it?
Secure Core routes your traffic through privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before reaching the destination server. This means even if the exit server is compromised, your real IP is protected. It reduces speed by 30-50% but is valuable for journalists, activists, or anyone in a high-risk environment.
How much does Proton VPN cost?
Proton VPN Plus costs $4.49/month on the 2-year plan, $4.99/month on the 1-year plan, or $9.99/month on the monthly plan. Proton Unlimited (which includes Mail, Pass, and Drive) costs $7.99/month on the 2-year plan. A genuinely useful free tier is also available with no data cap.