ProtonVPN review — Swiss VPN with free tier and Secure Core
Who is this for? Anyone who wants a reliable VPN with a free tier, or who is comparing Mullvad with ProtonVPN. New to VPN? Read [VPN: what it does and doesn’t do](/en/guides/vpn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-do/) first.
ProtonVPN review
Who is this for? Anyone who wants a reliable VPN with a free tier, or who is comparing Mullvad with ProtonVPN. New to VPN? Read VPN: what it does and doesn’t do first.
ProtonVPN comes from the same team as Proton Mail. Based in Switzerland, open-source, independently audited and the only serious VPN with a completely free tier. Explained: who ProtonVPN is the right choice for — and when Mullvad fits better.
What sets ProtonVPN apart
Free tier without data limits: Proton Free is still one of the few free VPN plans worth taking seriously. No data limits, no ads, no data sales. It is still limited to one device at a time and to servers in 10 countries that the app chooses automatically.
Secure Core: Paid subscribers can route traffic through an extra server in Iceland, Switzerland or Sweden before it reaches the regular VPN server. If the endpoint server is compromised, an attacker can only see the Secure Core server — not your IP. Comparable to multi-hop at Mullvad and IVPN.
Tor-over-VPN: Connecting via an Onion server automatically routes traffic through the Tor network after the VPN hop. No separate Tor Browser needed — useful for specific situations.
NetShield: Built-in DNS blocking for ads, trackers and malware domains at VPN level. Works for all connected devices.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland |
| Protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Open-source client | Yes — all platforms |
| Audits | Regular independent audits (apps and no-logs policy) |
| Free tier | Yes — unlimited data, 10 countries, 1 device |
| Proton VPN Plus | €9.99/month, €47.88/year or €71.76/2 years |
| Servers | 15,000+ in 120+ countries |
| Secure Core | Yes (paid) |
| Tor-over-VPN | Yes (paid) |
| Anonymous payment | Bitcoin |
Speed
On WireGuard, measured on Dutch servers:
- Download: 350–500 Mbps
- Upload: 300–450 Mbps
Comparable to Mullvad. Secure Core reduces speed by ~30–50% due to the extra hop — expected with that feature.
ProtonVPN vs Mullvad
| ProtonVPN | Mullvad | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes (strong) | No |
| Account system | Email address required | Account number, no email |
| Anonymous payment | Bitcoin (via account) | Cash, Bitcoin |
| Secure Core / multi-hop | Yes | Yes |
| Tor-over-VPN | Yes | No |
| NetShield / DNS blocking | Yes | No (configure separately) |
| Paid price | €4–10/month | €5/month (fixed) |
| Organisational structure | Commercial (non-profit holding) | Simpler |
Choose ProtonVPN if:
- You also use Proton Mail (one account, combined subscriptions)
- You want to test for free before paying
- You want Tor-over-VPN or Secure Core
- You want NetShield for DNS blocking
Choose Mullvad if:
- Maximum anonymity is the priority (no email address when signing up)
- You want to pay with cash or Bitcoin without account linking
- You want a simple, fixed price without different tiers
Caveats
Email address required: ProtonVPN requires a Proton account to sign up. That links your VPN usage to an account linked to an email address. Less anonymous than Mullvad’s account number system.
More complex organisational structure: Proton AG is more commercial than Mullvad — sales tactics with discount banner countdowns are visible. Has not damaged trust, but is different in character.
Proton Mail case in 2021: In 2021 Proton Mail had to provide account metadata in a Swiss legal case. That did not concern Proton VPN traffic logs. For Proton VPN, the more relevant point is that its no-logs claims have since been audited multiple times.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very strong free tier with no data limits or ads
- Secure Core routes traffic through Iceland, Switzerland, or Sweden before the endpoint — comparable to Mullvad multi-hop
- Tor-over-VPN available — routes through Tor network without a separate Tor Browser
- NetShield blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains at VPN level for all connected devices
- Open-source clients on all major platforms and recurring independent audits
Cons
- Email address required at signup — less anonymous than Mullvad’s account number system
- More complex pricing structure with tiers and discount countdowns — different character from Mullvad’s flat €5/month
Getting started
1. Create an account
Go to proton.me/vpn and create a free Proton account. An email address is required — use an existing Proton Mail address or create one. Use Tor or a VPN at sign-up if you want to shield the account IP.
2. Install the app
Download the ProtonVPN app for your device (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS). Select WireGuard as the protocol in settings — faster and more secure than OpenVPN for everyday use.
3. Enable the kill switch
Go to Settings → Kill switch and enable it. Traffic blocks automatically if the VPN connection drops so your IP never goes out unprotected.
4. NetShield (paid)
Go to Settings → NetShield and choose level 2 (blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains). Works for all traffic through the VPN connection without per-app configuration.
5. Secure Core (paid, optional)
Go to Settings → Secure Core and enable it. Choose a Secure Core country (Iceland, Switzerland, Sweden) as an extra hop. Expect ~30–50% lower speed due to the additional jump.
Conclusion
ProtonVPN is the best choice if you already use or want to explore the Proton suite, and if you want a free option for testing. The combination of Secure Core, Tor-over-VPN and NetShield offers more features than Mullvad. Those wanting maximum anonymity at sign-up choose Mullvad.
Next step
Chosen ProtonVPN?
- Setting up a GL.iNet travel router — set up ProtonVPN WireGuard at router level so all devices go through VPN automatically
Similar options
- Mullvad VPN review — no email address required, flat price, DAITA
- IVPN review — Monero payment, multi-hop by default
Want to go further?
- Which VPN should you choose? — full VPN comparison overview
- VPN: what it does and doesn’t do — which threats a VPN does and does not address