{
  "schemaVersion": "1.1",
  "id": "protonvpn",
  "name": "Proton VPN",
  "category": "Security",
  "franchise": {
    "id": "vpn",
    "name": "VPN"
  },
  "urls": {
    "page": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn",
    "markdown": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn.md",
    "json": "https://topratedsoftware.net/data/v1/reviews/protonvpn.json",
    "api": "https://topratedsoftware.net/api/v1/products/protonvpn"
  },
  "verdict": {
    "summary": "Proton VPN pairs five consecutive independent no-logs audits, open-source apps and Secure Core routing with a usable free plan, making it a strong fit for buyers who put verifiable privacy first.",
    "label": "Privacy-First VPN",
    "full": "Proton VPN earns a strong rating for its documented privacy controls, repeated third-party assurance work, Swiss jurisdiction base, modern app structure with open-source code, and extensive feature set. Buy on the strength of these documented qualities, focusing on the no-logs policy and independent verification rather than assuming universal speed or uninterrupted access.",
    "rating": 4.7,
    "ratingScale": 5,
    "bestFor": "Users seeking a privacy-focused VPN with strong security, no-logs assurance, and Swiss-based privacy laws",
    "bestForList": [
      "Privacy-focused users",
      "Those seeking strong no-logs assurance",
      "Users wanting Swiss privacy law protection",
      "People interested in open-source VPN solutions"
    ]
  },
  "evidenceLevel": {
    "key": "expert_researched",
    "label": "Expert Researched",
    "handsOnTesting": false,
    "note": "Researched from vendor documentation, independent reports, and published pricing. No hands-on lab results are claimed."
  },
  "versionReviewed": "Vendor pricing and help pages as read on 2026-10-18",
  "lastTestedAt": null,
  "author": "Michael Chen",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-18",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-18",
  "methodologyUrl": "https://topratedsoftware.net/how-we-test",
  "pricing": {
    "startingPrice": "Free plan available; Plus from $3.49/mo on a two-year plan",
    "hasFreeTier": true,
    "freshness": {
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-18",
      "ageDays": 3,
      "status": "current",
      "note": "Verified 3 day(s) ago."
    },
    "plans": [
      {
        "name": "Free",
        "price": "$0.00",
        "period": "/mo",
        "features": [
          "Unlimited bandwidth",
          "No speed restrictions",
          "No logs policy"
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Plus",
        "price": "$3.49",
        "period": "/mo on a 2-year plan",
        "features": [
          "Up to 10 devices",
          "20,000+ servers in 149 countries",
          "Secure Core",
          "NetShield ad-blocker"
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Unlimited",
        "price": "$7.99",
        "period": "/mo on a 2-year plan",
        "features": [
          "All Plus features",
          "Access to all Proton products including Pass, Mail, Calendar and Drive",
          "Dark web monitoring",
          "Emergency access"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "livePricingUrl": "https://topratedsoftware.net/api/v1/products/protonvpn/pricing"
  },
  "platforms": [
    "Windows",
    "macOS",
    "Linux",
    "iOS",
    "Android",
    "Chrome",
    "Firefox",
    "Edge",
    "Android TV",
    "tvOS"
  ],
  "keyFeatures": [
    "No-logs policy with Swiss privacy protection",
    "Secure Core double VPN technology",
    "NetShield ad-blocker and malware protection",
    "Open-source apps with regular independent audits"
  ],
  "pros": [
    "5th consecutive annual third-party audit confirms no-logs policy",
    "Free plan offers unlimited bandwidth and no speed limits",
    "Secure Core servers protect against timing/correlation attacks",
    "Open-source apps with regular security audits"
  ],
  "cons": [
    "Limited server locations on Free plan (only 10 countries)",
    "The lowest Plus price needs a two-year plan, which renews at $83.88 a year",
    "Free plan restricted to one device connection",
    "Secure Core and NetShield require a paid plan"
  ],
  "scores": [
    {
      "criterion": "Privacy & Transparency",
      "score": 4.9,
      "weight": 1.5
    },
    {
      "criterion": "Security Features",
      "score": 4.8,
      "weight": 1.3
    },
    {
      "criterion": "Performance Potential",
      "score": 4.6,
      "weight": 1
    },
    {
      "criterion": "Ease of Use",
      "score": 4.7,
      "weight": 1
    },
    {
      "criterion": "Value",
      "score": 4.5,
      "weight": 1
    }
  ],
  "alternatives": [
    {
      "id": "nordvpn",
      "name": "NordVPN",
      "rating": 4.8,
      "differentiator": "Higher plans bundle antivirus, a password manager and cloud storage",
      "price": null,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/nordvpn"
    },
    {
      "id": "expressvpn",
      "name": "ExpressVPN",
      "rating": 4.7,
      "differentiator": "Documents a RAM-only server design across a broad location list",
      "price": null,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/expressvpn"
    },
    {
      "id": "surfshark",
      "name": "Surfshark",
      "rating": 4.6,
      "differentiator": "Lower promotional pricing and unlimited simultaneous device connections",
      "price": null,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/surfshark"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "Did TopRatedSoftware test Proton VPN hands-on?",
      "answer": "No. This is an expert-researched review built from the vendor documentation, pricing pages and independent sources listed below, not from our own tests."
    },
    {
      "question": "Has Proton VPN independently reviewed its no-logs policy?",
      "answer": "Yes. Proton VPN has passed its fifth consecutive annual third-party audit by Securitum, a European security auditing company. The audit confirms the service maintains its no-logs policy across all servers and subscription tiers."
    },
    {
      "question": "Does Proton VPN have a free plan?",
      "answer": "Yes. Proton VPN offers a free tier with unlimited bandwidth, no speed limits, and no logs policy. It supports one device connection and access to 10 randomly selected countries out of its server network."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "Proton VPN pricing",
      "url": "https://protonvpn.com/pricing",
      "note": "Vendor pricing page used to verify plan structure, promotional pricing and renewal details on 2026-10-18."
    },
    {
      "label": "Proton VPN features",
      "url": "https://protonvpn.com/features",
      "note": "Feature descriptions used to identify key security capabilities including VPN protocols, apps, server locations, privacy features, and device support as of 2026-10-18."
    },
    {
      "label": "Proton VPN no-logs audit",
      "url": "https://protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit",
      "note": "Vendor summary of Securitum's 2026 third-party engagement and details around the scope of no-logs verification including audits in years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026."
    },
    {
      "label": "Proton VPN servers",
      "url": "https://protonvpn.com/vpn-servers",
      "note": "Server list used for the count of 20,839 servers in 149 countries and the Secure Core server count."
    },
    {
      "label": "Proton transparency report",
      "url": "https://proton.me/legal/transparency",
      "note": "Legal requests for VPN user data by year, 2020 to 2025, all listed as denied."
    },
    {
      "label": "Proton VPN privacy policy",
      "url": "https://protonvpn.com/privacy-policy",
      "note": "Current privacy policy details used to verify service structure, server ownership, encryption standards, data management and Swiss jurisdiction benefits as of 2026-10-18."
    }
  ],
  "disclosures": {
    "affiliate": "TopRatedSoftware may earn a commission from some links. Commissions never affect scores or ranking order.",
    "imagery": "No screenshots published yet. We do not substitute stock photos or vendor marketing images."
  },
  "citation": {
    "preferred": "Proton VPN review — TopRatedSoftware (https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn)",
    "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn",
    "license": "All rights reserved",
    "dataLicense": "CC BY 4.0"
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "id": "verdict.summary",
      "label": "Verdict",
      "value": "Proton VPN pairs five consecutive independent no-logs audits, open-source apps and Secure Core routing with a usable free plan, making it a strong fit for buyers who put verifiable privacy first.",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-verdict-summary"
    },
    {
      "id": "verdict.rating",
      "label": "Overall rating",
      "value": 4.7,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-verdict-rating",
      "scale": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "verdict.bestFor",
      "label": "Best for",
      "value": "Users seeking a privacy-focused VPN with strong security, no-logs assurance, and Swiss-based privacy laws",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-verdict-bestfor"
    },
    {
      "id": "pricing.startingPrice",
      "label": "Starting price",
      "value": "Free plan available; Plus from $3.49/mo on a two-year plan",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-pricing-startingprice"
    },
    {
      "id": "pricing.verifiedAt",
      "label": "Price verified",
      "value": "2026-10-18",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-pricing-verifiedat",
      "status": "current"
    },
    {
      "id": "evidenceLevel",
      "label": "Evidence level",
      "value": "Expert Researched",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-evidencelevel",
      "handsOnTesting": false
    },
    {
      "id": "scores.privacy-transparency",
      "label": "Privacy & Transparency",
      "value": 4.9,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-scores-privacy-transparency",
      "scale": 5,
      "weight": 1.5
    },
    {
      "id": "scores.security-features",
      "label": "Security Features",
      "value": 4.8,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-scores-security-features",
      "scale": 5,
      "weight": 1.3
    },
    {
      "id": "scores.performance-potential",
      "label": "Performance Potential",
      "value": 4.6,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-scores-performance-potential",
      "scale": 5,
      "weight": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "scores.ease-of-use",
      "label": "Ease of Use",
      "value": 4.7,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-scores-ease-of-use",
      "scale": 5,
      "weight": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "scores.value",
      "label": "Value",
      "value": 4.5,
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-scores-value",
      "scale": 5,
      "weight": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "sources.1",
      "label": "Proton VPN pricing",
      "value": "https://protonvpn.com/pricing",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-sources-1"
    },
    {
      "id": "sources.2",
      "label": "Proton VPN features",
      "value": "https://protonvpn.com/features",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-sources-2"
    },
    {
      "id": "sources.3",
      "label": "Proton VPN no-logs audit",
      "value": "https://protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-sources-3"
    },
    {
      "id": "sources.4",
      "label": "Proton VPN servers",
      "value": "https://protonvpn.com/vpn-servers",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-sources-4"
    },
    {
      "id": "sources.5",
      "label": "Proton transparency report",
      "value": "https://proton.me/legal/transparency",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-sources-5"
    },
    {
      "id": "sources.6",
      "label": "Proton VPN privacy policy",
      "value": "https://protonvpn.com/privacy-policy",
      "url": "https://topratedsoftware.net/reviews/protonvpn#fact-sources-6"
    }
  ]
}