ProtonVPN is now one of the most trusted names in the VPN business, especially among users who care about their privacy and want to know that their data is safe. This Swiss-based VPN service comes from the same team that made ProtonMail at CERN labs. It has a reputation for having strong security features and strict privacy standards. In this full review, we’ll look at ProtonVPN’s performance, features, pricing, and overall value in 2025.
Company Background and Trust Level
ProtonVPN comes from the same people who made ProtonMail at CERN, which gives it a unique level of trustworthiness in the privacy space. The service is based in Switzerland, which has some of the world’s strictest privacy laws. There are no requirements to keep data, and the service is very well protected from government spying. This Swiss jurisdiction advantage is huge—users get legal protections that many other VPN providers can’t give them.
The business has made itself known as an advocate for privacy, not just a provider of commercial services. Their dedication to openness, which includes regular security audits and open-source client applications that let others check their security claims, shows that they are on a mission.
Privacy and security features
ProtonVPN’s security system is based on the best encryption and protocol standards in the business. The service uses AES-256 encryption, which is thought to be unbreakable by today’s computers, along with secure VPN protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and their own Stealth protocol to get around censorship even better.
Secure Core is one of ProtonVPN’s best security features. It sends traffic through several privacy-friendly countries before it gets to its final destination. This multi-hop method makes the network even safer from attacks and gives users in dangerous situations more privacy.
The service has a strict no-logs policy, and security firms check their claims on their own. ProtonVPN doesn’t keep any logs of user activity, connection times, or IP addresses. This means that even if the police ask for them, they won’t have any user data to give them.
Perfect Forward Secrecy is one of the extra security features. It makes new encryption keys for each session. There is also an automatic kill switch that stops data leaks if the VPN connection drops out of the blue. The NetShield ad blocker and malware protection feature adds another layer of security by stopping ads and domains that are harmful at the DNS level.
Speed and Performance
In 2025, ProtonVPN’s performance metrics went up a lot. It now offers some of the fastest speeds in the industry while still providing top-notch security and privacy. Speed tests consistently show that ProtonVPN works well on all of its servers, but the speed varies depending on where the server is and how close the user is to it.
The service has more than 13,800 servers in 122+ countries, giving users a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a server. The Plus servers, which are only available to premium subscribers, are optimized for certain tasks like streaming, torrenting, and gaming. This means they work better for activities that use a lot of bandwidth.
Proton VPN gives you a safe and responsive experience while you game, whether you’re doing it for fun or for competition. The WireGuard protocol has made connections faster and latency lower, which makes ProtonVPN more competitive with other VPNs that focus on speed.
The ability to stream and torrent
ProtonVPN has come a long way in making streaming services work better. They now have dedicated Plus servers that are optimized for accessing content that is only available in certain countries. The service works to unblock big streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer, but the availability of these sites may depend on where the server is located.
ProtonVPN has P2P-optimized servers with port forwarding support for people who love to torrent. This makes downloads faster and connections better. Unlike some competitors who only allow torrenting, this service clearly states that it is okay on certain servers. ProtonVPN is a great choice for safe torrenting because it has strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and is based in Switzerland.
Ease of Use and User Interface
ProtonVPN’s apps are well-made, with a clean, easy-to-use interface that works for both new and experienced users. You can use the apps on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. They all work the same way on all of them.
For casual users, the service has a one-click connect feature. For power users, it has a lot of options for customizing it. You can easily access advanced features like Secure Core, NetShield, and custom DNS settings without making the main interface look cluttered.
The Free Tier is a great deal.
You can try ProtonVPN for free with unlimited data, no ads, and strong privacy. This free tier is actually useful, unlike many of its competitors who only offer free plans that are very limited as a way to get people to sign up. The free version gives you access to servers in the US, the Netherlands, and Japan, all with unlimited bandwidth. This makes it one of the best free VPNs out there.
The free tier has some limits, like slower speeds, fewer server options, and no access to Plus servers or Secure Core. However, it does give you a real chance to try out the service and see how ProtonVPN protects your privacy without having to pay for it.
Prices and Value Proposition
In the premium VPN market, ProtonVPN’s prices are competitive. The 2-year plan costs $3.29 a month, which is a great deal given the wide range of features and high security standards. The service has a 30-day money-back guarantee, but it’s prorated instead of a full refund, which is a little less generous than some of its competitors.
The price includes access to all Plus servers, Secure Core, and NetShield, as well as support for up to 10 connections at once. For people who care about security, the price is a good deal when you think about the strong security features and Swiss privacy protections.
Things that need to be fixed and things that are wrong
Even though ProtonVPN has some good points, it also has some flaws that should be noted. In some areas, like how quickly customer service responds and how many servers it has compared to industry leaders like NordVPN, it can’t quite match the best of the best.
Some users have said that certain server locations are slower than others because the service puts security first. The interface is also functional, but it might not be as polished as some of the more mainstream competitors. It will appeal to people who want a more techy experience.
Availability and geographic restrictions
ProtonVPN works in China, but because the Chinese government has strict rules about what can and can’t be seen on the internet, no VPN service can promise that it will always work. Most user reviews of Proton VPN’s performance in China are positive. This means that it could work for people who have limited internet access, but the performance may not be the same for everyone.
The Final Verdict
ProtonVPN is a top-notch VPN service that strikes a good balance between strong security, privacy protection, and good performance. Its Swiss jurisdiction, no-logs policy, unique Secure Core architecture, and generous free tier make it especially appealing to people who care about their privacy.
ProtonVPN may not always have the fastest speeds or the most servers, but it is great at things that are important to security-conscious users, like being open, protecting privacy, and being trustworthy. If privacy is more important to you than speed, journalists, activists, or anyone who works in an internet environment with a lot of restrictions should definitely use this service.
ProtonVPN is a great choice for people who want a reliable, safe VPN from a company that has a long history of protecting privacy rights. This is why it is at the top of the market. In 2025, there will be a lot of VPNs to choose from, but this one stands out because it has strong security features, ethical business practices, and a real commitment to user privacy.
