VPNs provide a secure way to send Internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel. This keeps browsing data secure, even over untrusted or public Internet connections. As a Swiss VPN provider, Proton VPN meets high privacy standards. As such, it does not record user activity or share data with third parties. Its anonymous VPN service keeps browsing histories private and allows unmonitored Internet use.
Given its reputation for reliable security, you might be wondering how the free version measures up. In some cases, free VPNs lack the security features that paid plans offer. In the case of Proton VPN, we compare the free version with its premium version known as Proton VPN Plus.
1
Semperis
Employees by company size
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1000-4999), Business (5000+)
Large (between 1,000 and 4,999 employees), enterprise (more than 5,000 employees)
Large, Company
Characteristics
Advanced attack detection, advanced automation, anywhere recovery and more
2
ESET PROTECT Advanced
Employees by company size
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1000-4999), Business (5000+)
Any size of company
Any size of company
Characteristics
Advanced Threat Defense, Full Disk Encryption, Modern Endpoint Protection, Server Security
3
alyne
Employees by company size
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1000-4999), Business (5000+)
Large (between 1,000 and 4,999 employees), enterprise (more than 5,000 employees)
Large, Company
Characteristics
Cybersecurity risk management, enterprise risk management (ERM), ESG management and more
Proton VPN Free vs Proton VPN Plus: Comparison
| Characteristics | Free | Proton VPN Plus ($6.49 per month for one year) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of servers and countries. | 86 servers in 3 countries | 3,000 servers in 65 countries |
| off switch | Yeah | Yeah |
| # of simultaneous connections | 1 | 10 |
| Malware and ad blocker | No | Yeah |
| Streaming and torrents | No | Yeah |
| Unlimited data | Yeah | Yeah |
| Speed | Half | Fast |
For a deeper analysis, read our full Proton VPN review.
Feature Comparison: Proton VPN Free vs Proton VPN Plus
Number of servers
Figure A
Proton VPN Free provides free access to 86 servers in the US, Netherlands and Japan. This may be enough for many users. But those with more rigorous speed, latency, and availability requirements may need Proton VPN Plus's more powerful network. That network offers access to more than 3,000 servers in more than 70 countries.
off switch
Figure B
Both versions of Proton VPN come with a kill switch. It acts as the last line of defense. If the user experiences an outage or some other interruption and the VPN connection fails, the kill switch prevents a machine from reconnecting to the Internet without VPN protection. This is a good way to avoid unwanted data sharing.
Simultaneous connections
The free version limits a user to a single connection at a time. Those who opt for Proton VPN Plus can open up to 10 simultaneous connections. One may be enough for many users, but those with more sophisticated needs will need the premium version.
Malware and ad blocker
Malware and adware are common problems on the modern Internet. Proton VPN Plus provides both features, courtesy of the NetShield ad blocker, which uses DNS filtering to protect users from malware and website trackers. The free version does not include those features.
Streaming and torrents
Streaming has become commonplace as a way to view content instantly. However, torrenting requires the entire file to be downloaded before you can watch anything. But it's fast and is often used for sharing videos, music, and images. Proton VPN Plus supports streaming and torrenting, while the free version does not.
Unlimited data
Both versions have no restrictions on the amount of data that can be shared over the VPN.
Speed
The free version of Proton VPN is reasonably fast. The company characterizes its speed as medium, while Proton VPN Plus's speed is considered fast. The accelerator features are said to increase VPN data transfer rates by up to 400%
Advantages and disadvantages of Proton VPN Free
Advantages of free Proton VPN
- Unlimited data over one connection.
- The kill switch prevents unwanted transmission of data due to an interruption.
- Good set of built-in privacy and security features.
Cons of Free Proton VPN
- It only provides one VPN connection at a time.
- No malware/ad blocking.
- A limited number of servers and countries, in addition to lower speed, may not offer sufficient performance for some users.
Proton VPN Plus Advantages and Disadvantages
Proton VPN Plus Advantages
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections.
- Faster speeds and a much larger number of servers and countries available.
- Advanced features include ad/malware blocking, streaming, and torrents.
Cons of Proton VPN Plus
- At around $6 per month per user, Proton VPN is more expensive than many competing offerings.
- Proton VPN Plus may be overkill for those who don't require a high degree of data privacy or don't handle sensitive information on a regular basis.
Methodology
This review of Proton VPN Free and Proton VPN Plus is based on expert evaluation of these tools as well as user opinions. To learn more, read our full Proton VPN review.
Should your organization use Proton VPN Free or Proton VPN Premium?
Proton VPN is designed for those who demand the highest standards of privacy, security and confidentiality. Developed in accordance with strict Swiss privacy laws, either version can be counted on to keep your data secure and prevent unwanted outsiders from eavesdropping or intercepting any content. That being said, the free version has definite limitations. It may be fine for a user doing occasional VPN streams that need to be kept private and don't require the highest levels of performance.
Proton VPN Plus is the best option when more than one VPN connection is likely to be needed and when a user needs great performance around the world. As such, the premium version's ability to access over 3,000 servers in over 70 countries (compared to 86 servers in just three countries), as well as its increased overall performance, speed boosters, torrenting capabilities, and streaming and ad/malware blocking make it a better option for demanding VPN users.
