Proton VPN (Plus, 2-year plan) review 2027

What problem does Proton VPN solve, and what do you get?

If the reason you want a VPN is privacy rather than Netflix, Proton is the strongest answer here: Swiss law, open-source clients, a published transparency report and a free tier that is genuinely usable. Streaming was the weak spot in our checks. That framing is the whole product in one line. The benefits that follow from it are concrete: Swiss jurisdiction and open-source apps audited by a third party, a free plan with no data cap and the same no-logs policy, and Secure Core, which routes traffic through Swiss, Icelandic or Swedish servers first. It is also the only VPN here that also runs an encrypted mail service.

How did we score Proton VPN?

We scored it across five criteria, and the total came to 8.6 out of 10.

• Privacy — 28 out of 30. We measured jurisdiction, an independently audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers and anonymous payment.
• Speed — 21 out of 25. We measured download retention on a 1 Gbps line to US, UK and Japan servers, using WireGuard where offered.
• Streaming — 12 out of 15. We tested Netflix US/UK, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, Hulu and Max from abroad on three consecutive days.
• Apps & devices — 13 out of 15. We looked at simultaneous connections, router and TV support, kill switch and split tunnelling on every platform.
• Value — 12 out of 15. We weighed the price per month on the 2-year plan and what it renews at.

Privacy is where it is closest to full marks, and streaming is where it gave the most points back.

What are the standout strengths?

The measured results back up the privacy pitch. On a 1 Gbps line it retained 82% of download speed to US servers, which is a working speed rather than a lab number. It unblocked 8 of 10 streaming services in our checks, and it allows 10 simultaneous devices. Secure Core is the feature that separates it from most rivals: traffic enters through Swiss, Icelandic or Swedish servers before it reaches the exit server, so a single compromised exit does not expose your origin. The free plan carries no data cap and the same no-logs policy as the paid tiers, which is unusual in this category.

How does the technology actually work?

WireGuard is a modern tunnelling protocol: it uses a small set of modern cryptography primitives and keeps its codebase short, which is why it is fast and easy to audit. OpenVPN is the older, widely reviewed protocol that works almost everywhere, including networks that block other traffic. Stealth disguises VPN traffic as ordinary HTTPS so it can pass through firewalls that try to detect and block VPNs. Secure Core is Proton's own multi-hop design: your connection passes through a first server in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden before reaching the exit server.

What is inside the package?

The build is a service rather than a box, so the components are the network and the apps. Proton VPN runs 12,000+ servers across 120 countries, with 10 simultaneous devices on one subscription. The company is based in Switzerland, and its no-logs policy was audited by Securitum in 2024, with open-source apps on top of that. The clients speak WireGuard, OpenVPN and Stealth. The 2-year plan is 4.49 per month, the monthly plan is 9.99, there is a 30-day money-back window, and a free tier exists.

How does it compare with the rivals we tested?

NordVPN scored 9.2 and costs 3.39 per month on its 2-year plan. It runs 7,400+ servers in 118 countries, allows 10 devices, sits in Panama, and has been audited for no-logs five times, most recently by Deloitte in 2024. Its protocols are NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN and NordWhisper. Proton is ahead on jurisdiction for privacy-first buyers and on the free tier; NordVPN is ahead on speed and streaming.

Surfshark scored 9.0 at 2.19 per month on its 2-year plan, with 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, unlimited devices, a Netherlands jurisdiction and a Deloitte no-logs audit from 2023. It uses WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Proton is ahead on jurisdiction and the free tier; Surfshark is ahead on price and device count.

ExpressVPN scored 8.6 at 4.99 per month on its 2-year plan, with 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, 8 devices, a British Virgin Islands jurisdiction, KPMG 2022 and Cure53 app audits, and Lightway, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Proton is ahead on device count and the free tier; ExpressVPN is ahead on app polish and streaming reliability on TVs and routers.

Where does Proton VPN fall short?

Streaming is the clear loss. Hulu and Max failed on one of three days, and the overall streaming result was 8 of 10 services. Speeds trailed NordVPN by nine points. The best price needs the 2-year Plus plan, so the monthly rate of 9.99 is the one you pay if you will not commit.

Is it good value?

The 2-year plan is 4.49 per month and the monthly plan is 9.99, with a 30-day money-back window. The monthly figure is the cheapest monthly plan in this comparison, which matters if you want to test the service without a long commitment. The free tier is the other half of the value story: no data cap and the same no-logs policy, so you can judge the apps before paying anything.

Who should buy Proton VPN?

Journalists, travellers and anyone who values jurisdiction over Netflix. If your priority is streaming, the rivals above are the better fit. If your priority is where the company sits, who audits it and whether you can read the client code, this is the one to pick.