Proton VPN review
Proton VPN is a strong fit if you want public audit evidence, open-source apps and useful controls for a developer workstation. Watch the renewal price, because the longer VPN Plus plans make the opening rate a poor guide to your ongoing budget.
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Score breakdown
One formula for every commercial vpn, explained on how we score VPNs.
Plans and the true 3-year price
| Plan | Term | Monthly | Renews at | 3-year cost | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN Plus 1 month | 1 month | $9.99 | $9.99 | $360 | 10 |
| VPN Plus 12 months | 1 year | $4.49 | $6.99 | $222 | 10 |
| VPN Plus 24 months | 2 years | $3.49 | $6.99 | $168 | 10 |
| Proton Unlimited 1 month | 1 month | $12.99 | $12.99 | $468 | Unknown |
| Proton Unlimited 12 months | 1 year | $9.99 | $9.99 | $360 | Unknown |
| Proton Unlimited 24 months | 2 years | $7.99 | $9.99 | $312 | Unknown |
Providers change prices often, and we regularly verify prices against their own pricing pages, though small differences from current prices are possible. Prices checked 11 Oct 2026. Refund window: 30 days.
Who it's for
Pick it if
- You want public assurance reports covering production VPN infrastructure.
- You use Linux and value both a graphical app and a CLI.
- You need port forwarding, custom DNS or WireGuard configuration export.
- You prefer a business whose primary shareholder is a non-profit foundation.
Skip it if
- RAM-only servers are a requirement.
- You want the introductory price to carry through renewal on a longer VPN Plus plan.
- Your main task is private access to your own machines.
Audit evidence
| Date | Auditor | Type | Scope | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Securitum | No-logs assurance | Fifth annual no-logs audit of the production VPN server infrastructure. | Public report |
| Nov 2025 | Ruben Santamarta | App / client | Security assessment of the Proton VPN client apps. | Public report |
| 18 Aug 2025 | Securitum | No-logs assurance | No-logs audit of the production VPN server infrastructure. | Public report |
| Jul 2025 | Schellman | Other | SOC 2 Type II attestation covering Proton's security controls company-wide (not VPN-specific). | Gated or summary only |
| 3 Jul 2024 | Securitum | No-logs assurance | No-logs audit of VPN servers and operating procedures; final report 12.07.2024. | Public report |
| 24 Apr 2023 | Securitum | No-logs assurance | No-logs audit of VPN server configuration and procedures; final report 01.05.2023. | Public report |
| 21 Feb 2022 | Securitum | No-logs assurance | First no-logs audit; final report 24.03.2022. | Public report |
Ownership
- 2026 Group-wide service outage on August 27, 2026 after a data-centre cooling failure; the provider's incident report says no emails were lost and does not state the impact on the VPN.
Security and features
- WireGuardYes
- RAM-only serversNo
- Full-disk encryptionYes
- Post-quantum optionUnknown
- Open-source appsYes
- Kill switchYes
- Split tunnellingYes
- Multi-hopYes
- Port forwardingYes
- IPv6Yes
- WireGuard config exportYes
- SOCKS5 proxyUnknown
- Custom DNSYes
- Linux app (GUI)Yes
- Linux CLIYes
- Dedicated IPYes
Network Provider-reported
- Servers20799
- Countries149
Account and payment privacy
- Sign up without emailUnknown
- Account-number loginUnknown
- CashYes
- MoneroUnknown
- BitcoinYes
Our take
Proton's privacy case rests on evidence you can inspect. Securitum's no-logs assurance engagement dated May 2026 covers the production VPN server infrastructure, and its report is public. Earlier public engagements add a history of scrutiny, while Ruben Santamarta's assessment dated Nov 2025 addresses client app security, a different scope. We give that combination substantial weight: infrastructure procedures and client code deserve separate examination. These reports support a purchasing decision within their assessed scope; they cannot guarantee every future deployment. Open-source apps make further inspection possible without establishing that every release is free of defects.
Proton AG owns the service, with the non-profit Proton Foundation as its primary shareholder. That gives the foundation a meaningful ownership stake, but the service remains a commercial product whose operational decisions deserve scrutiny. Named leadership and a transparency report give you further ways to assess accountability beyond the ownership structure. We treat those as useful signals alongside the audits, rather than substitutes for them. For a small team, this is a reason to consider Proton, while still judging its support and service continuity against your requirements.
The opening price needs a renewal calculation beside it. VPN Plus 24 months costs $3.49 a month initially and renews at $6.99 a month. Across the plans table's comparison period, its total is $168, compared with $222 for VPN Plus 12 months and $360 for VPN Plus 1 month. The longer commitment lowers that total, but you should budget recurring use at the renewal rate. Choose Proton Unlimited only if its additional services justify the extra spend for you. The refund window is 30 days.
Proton earns a place on a developer's shortlist through practical controls: Linux graphical and command-line apps, WireGuard configuration export, custom DNS and port forwarding. Against Mullvad, IVPN or AirVPN, use those requirements and the public audit scopes as your comparison checklist. Full-disk encryption is present; RAM-only servers are not, so that architectural requirement could decide the choice for you. Keep your actual task in view, too. A commercial VPN subscription serves a different purpose from a private network connecting your own machines. For that decision, start with public versus private access.
FAQ
What evidence supports Proton VPN's no-logs claims?
Securitum's no-logs assurance engagement dated May 2026 assessed the production VPN server infrastructure, and the report is public. Earlier public engagements provide a history of assessment, but their findings apply to the systems and periods examined.
Is Proton VPN free?
The free offering is Proton Free: 1 device at a time, servers in 10 countries (randomly selected), no data limits, no credit card required. It gives you a way to try the service before deciding whether a paid plan fits your needs.
Does Proton VPN get more expensive when it renews?
VPN Plus 24 months starts at $3.49 a month and renews at $6.99 a month. VPN Plus 12 months also rises from $4.49 to $6.99 a month, so use the renewal column when setting your ongoing budget.
Can I use Proton VPN on Linux without its graphical app?
Proton offers a Linux CLI as well as a graphical app, and WireGuard configuration export is supported. Choose the connection method that suits your setup, then check how it handles DNS and connection failures before relying on it.
Is Proton VPN what I need to access my home server?
If your goal is private access between your own devices, start by evaluating a private networking tool. Proton's port forwarding is useful for inbound connections, but that feature alone does not establish a private network between your machines.