protonvpn free

ProtonVPN is a virtual private network service developed by the team behind ProtonMail. Built with privacy as its core principle, the service emphasizes strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and transparency through open-source apps and third-party audits. Headquartered in Switzerland, ProtonVPN benefits from the country’s robust privacy laws and non-EU jurisdiction, which can add an extra layer of legal protection for user data. Security and privacy features are ProtonVPN’s main selling points. The service supports modern protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN, uses AES-256 encryption, and implements Perfect Forward Secrecy to limit the impact of any future key compromise. ProtonVPN also offers Secure Core — a multi-hop architecture that routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries before exiting to the public internet — reducing the risk that an attacker can correlate incoming and outgoing traffic. Additional protections include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and Tor over VPN for easy access to the Tor network without running a Tor browser. ProtonVPN is designed to be transparent and trustworthy. The apps are open-source, allowing independent review of the client code, and the company has commissioned security audits to verify its claims. Proton’s no-logs policy means the company states it does not store connection or activity logs that could identify users. Combined with Switzerland’s legal environment, these measures make ProtonVPN a strong choice for privacy-conscious individuals. The service is available on major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and supports manual configuration on routers. ProtonVPN offers both free and paid tiers. The free plan provides access to a limited number of servers with moderate speeds — a useful option for those who want basic privacy without cost. Paid plans unlock faster speeds, access to the full server network (including Secure Core and P2P-enabled servers), simultaneous connections for multiple devices, and features geared toward streaming and torrenting. Performance with ProtonVPN is generally competitive, especially when using WireGuard and paid server tiers, though speeds can vary with location, server load, and the Secure Core multi-hop option (which may reduce throughput by design). ProtonVPN is also commonly used to access geo-restricted streaming content, although streaming performance can depend on the streaming service and specific server availability. In summary, ProtonVPN is a well-regarded option for users who prioritize privacy, security, and transparency. Its mix of open-source clients, robust encryption, legal protections in Switzerland, and features like Secure Core make it especially appealing to activists, journalists, and privacy-minded everyday users.