ProtonVPN may not great name recall as some of the top VPNs out there, but it has grown a solid reputation. As it is with something not so popular, one might question – “Is ProtonVPN safe?.” But once you get to know the service, you’ll find that overall, ProtonVPN is a very good VPN. It’s also more expensive than other VPN providers, so naturally, you’ll wonder why this one commands a higher price. Well, it has features that other VPNs lack, and you’ll see what they are in this ProtonVPN review.
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The article was last updated on April 19, 2024
Presentation
ProtonVPN is made by a company based in Switzerland. The company comprises researchers who have worked in CERN, the scientific organization that operates the gigantic particle accelerator ring. CERN also happens to be the birthplace of the world wide web, so you can trust in the credibility of ProtonVPN’s makers.
ProtonVPN Pricing
In the first part of our ProtonVPN review, let’s take a look at its three pricing tiers. It starts at $9.99 a month for a 1-month plan, while the 1-year and 2-year subscriptions are $5.99 and $4.99, respectively, per month. The 1-year and 2-year versions include a host of extra security features not included in the 1-month tier. You can also get discounts through a ProtonVPN coupon.
While it isn’t the cheapest VPN available, ProtonVPN free trial is offered. However, it is limited to only 3 servers and slower speeds. Netflix region unblocking as well as torrent (P2P) access is also not available in the free version.
Summary Sheet
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| No logs? | Yes, this provider has a no-log policy |
| Can use it for Torrenting? | Yes, it works fine with torrents |
| What kind of Netflix does it work with? | US, UK, FR, AU, CA, DE |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 |
| What countries does it cover? | 54 |
| What Operating Systems does it support? | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Router |
| Money-back guarantee policy | 30 |
| What protocols does it offer? | IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN |
| Does it offer unlimited traffic data? | Yes, it does |
| Cipher | Most secure encryption: Military AES 256 bits |
| Number of IP Addresses | |
| Number of Servers? | 1065 |
Using the VPN
NB: In this ProtonVPN review, we reiterate that these features discussed below are not available in the ProtonVPN free trial.
Netflix
Available in the Plus and Visionary plans, ProtonVPN Netflix binge-watching is possible since the service is capable of unblocking geo-restrictions in securely. This means you can enjoy its content anywhere in the world. This means, say, you’re on holiday somewhere in Asia, and you want to relax with a UK Netflix program, you still can.
Is ProtonVPN Torrenting-Friendly?
From the Basic up to the Visionary plan, ProtonVPN allows traffic from P2P networks, which means you can download torrents with an extra layer of privacy. Also, with ProtonVPNs dedicated servers, you can enjoy fast torrent download speeds as well. This full P2P functionality won’t be found in ProtonVPN free trial, however.
VPN Features
Of course, in this ProtonVPN review, we need to go over the important security features and see whether it’s as good as advertised.
IP Masking
First of all, as with any VPN, ProtonVPN hides your real IP address effectively. Independent tests have shown that IP and DNS leaks do not occur, which means only the private IP address supplied by the VPN server is visible in cyberspace.
Strong Encryption
Another key factor to consider is encryption. ProtonVPN uses a formidable algorithm known as 256-bit AES. To give you an idea, this encryption algorithm is military-grade and is the highest standard in the industry. This is also coupled with a 4096-bit RSA key exchange and SHA-384 HMAC authentication. Now that’s all too technical; the important thing to know is that ProtonVPN uses top-of-the-line encryption standards to keep your data secure.
Questions like “Is ProtonVPN safe” can be quickly addressed with the VPN’s perfect forward secrecy. This means that each time you connect to a VPN server, the encryption codes would change. That adds an extra layer of security.
Secure Core servers
A good number of ProtonVPN review will tell you about a key strength of this service: its Secure Core. This system routes traffic to a series of servers before sending it to its destination. This ‘traffic hopping’ makes data much harder to trace. This feature, though, is not available in the ProtonVPN free trial and the Basic plan.
Strict no-logs policy
ProtonVPN also implements a strict no-logging policy, which means none of your activity and information online is recorded in their servers. Coupled with Switzerland’s strict privacy protection laws, your online experience is much safer.
Kill switch
You may also be wondering, “Is ProtonVPN safe if the servers suddenly go down?” To answer that question, the VPN has a built-in kill switch that cuts your connection to the Internet if the VPN server becomes unstable. That way, any time the VPN fails, your real IP address and other sensitive data will not be compromised.
Split tunneling
Last but not least, in this ProtonVPN review of features, we evaluate split tunneling. This feature can filter apps that don’t need the traffic to be routed through the VPN. As a result, you can choose which apps go through the VPN and which ones don’t.
Windows Client
Interface
Any independent ProtonVPN review will tell you that this VPN’s Windows client has a user-friendly interface that anyone can use. A world map occupies the biggest portion of the ProtonVPN window. Marked in triangles are the locations where VPN servers are available, and highlighted in green is the one you are currently connected to.
Settings
The options menu contains more advanced settings like VPN protocol selection, kill switch, and split tunneling controls. You may find that the kill switch is off sometimes; make sure to keep it on.
Also, on the left side of the main screen, there is a ‘Profiles’ tab. Here, you can configure different settings and save them as separate profiles. That way, you can configure ProtonVPN much faster at launch. By selecting your predetermined profiles, the VPN will be good to go in no time.
Other Applications
ProtonVPN also has versions available for Linux and macOS. It also works on mobile phones running on either Android or iOS. Furthermore, you can install ProtonVPN on some routers that have the DD-WRT firmware.
Customer Service
ProtonVPN’s support channels can be reached through email and support tickets only. They do not have a live chat, which usually is the quickest way to resolve issues with the software.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen in this ProtonVPN review, this VPN is a good choice for your online privacy needs. Is ProtonVPN safe? Definitely. Though it may be very hard to justify the $24 a month cost of the Visionary plan, you still have a choice between the less costly Plus and Basic plans. Also, there is a ProtonVPN coupon for better deals. You can also opt for a ProtonVPN trial, but with limited features.
They provide rock-solid data security and privacy, as well. Considering that it is based in privacy-friendly Switzerland, ProtonVPN leaves you with little to worry about once you’re protected.
