Proton VPN Review

Community-sourced VPN review based on real Reddit & Twitter discussions

Visit Proton VPN
Community Verdict
Recommended

Proton VPN has a solid reputation as a privacy-focused VPN, and a lot of people like it because it feels trustworthy and reliable day to day. The free plan gets praised a lot as one of the better “act...

71%
positive
1,012
reviews
Best for: People who want a good free VPN that doesn’t feel sketchy Privacy-focused users who like the Proton ecosystem Folks who want optional anonymous payments Everyday users who want a reliable VPN for general browsing
71% Positive Reviews
493 recommend, 203 warn
High Data Quality
1012 reviews from 836 people
Best For
People who want a good free VPN that doesn’t feel sketchy, Privacy-focused users who like the Proton ecosystem, Folks who want optional anonymous payments
Approval Rate
71% positive
493 recommend · 203 warn
Reviews
1,012
411 Reddit · 552 Twitter
Unique Reviewers
836
Data Quality
High

What the Community Says

Community Rating 7.5/10

Proton VPN has a solid reputation as a privacy-focused VPN, and a lot of people like it because it feels trustworthy and reliable day to day. The free plan gets praised a lot as one of the better “actually usable” free options, and the paid plan is often mentioned as a good pick if you care about things like no-logs, audits, and even anonymous payment options. It also comes up often alongside other privacy tools (like Proton Mail), which makes it appealing if you want everything under one roof.

The biggest complaint is speed: some people switch over from other VPNs and find Proton noticeably slower, especially depending on the server. A few also don’t love how certain torrenting setups work, since things like port forwarding can be a bit annoying to manage if the port changes when you reconnect. And while many trust Proton more than typical “affiliate-list” VPNs, there’s still a slice of people who are skeptical or just prefer competitors like Mullvad.

Strengths

  • Strong privacy reputation
  • Best-in-class free tier
  • No-logs and audit-focused image
  • Anonymous payment options
  • Good reliability overall

Weaknesses

  • Can be slower than competitors
  • Port forwarding can be annoying for torrenting setups
  • Auto-connect behavior can be frustrating
  • Not everyone trusts it as much as top privacy rivals
Best for: People who want a good free VPN that doesn’t feel sketchy Privacy-focused users who like the Proton ecosystem Folks who want optional anonymous payments Everyday users who want a reliable VPN for general browsing
Not ideal for: People who need consistently top speeds for gaming or heavy downloads Torrent users who want a set-it-and-forget-it port forwarding setup Anyone who’s extremely picky and would rather stick with Mullvad-style simplicity

Summary generated 1 week ago from 1012 community mentions

What People Are Saying

50 reviews

"@ProtonVPN PROTON VPN KEEPS YOUR LOGS PROTON VPN KEEPS YOUR LOGS PROTON VPN KEEPS YOUR LOGS PROTON VPN KEEPS YOUR LOGS"

@Leila_Razor 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"i will never forget proton vpn for stealing 200 riyals for me wallahi"

@hotsexyaoi 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@uwukko STOP USING PROTON VPN STOP USING PROTON VPN STOP USING PROTON VPN STOP USING PROTON VPN STOP USING PROTON VPN STOP USING PROTON VPN STOP USING PROTON VPN"

@hlitoroy 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@callebtc Proton are shit. I had their VPN and it would often disconnect and leave my real IP exposed."

@baiaphilia 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonMail @RevolverJerm Been with Proton since early 2020, now using Proton Duo. Proton's a priority / privacy focused company! I also appreciate their support for folks in countries who'd be in trouble without Proton products! Anyone questions this, search privacy Email / privacy VPN... TOP rated!"

@JamesLThatcher 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonMail @210m @mike_taylor25 @rekdt Been with Proton since early 2020, now using Proton Duo. Proton's a priority / privacy focused company! I also appreciate their support for folks in countries who'd be in trouble without Proton products! Anyone questions this, search privacy Email / privacy VPN... TOP rated!"

@JamesLThatcher 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC! Proton VPN CAN SEE YOUR TRAFFIC!"

@bytecategory 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@CryptoCyberia The VPN sucks and has leaked my real IP on many occasions. Zero reason to chose proton over mullvad."

@baiaphilia 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"BREAKING: PROTON CAN SEE YOUR EMAILS AND COULD LOG OR DIVERT YOUR VPN TRAFFIC!!!!"

@vicariousdrama 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonMail EVER PROVIDER CAN SEE YOUR EMAILS... ALSO... PROTON VPN SUCKS... I used to have pia and it was SOO much better."

@Robert__Leonard 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"Do not ever use Proton VPN / Mail it's a CIA honeypot"

@Meduso957 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS PROTON VPN DOESN'T KNOW HOW HTTPS WORKS"

@MaxRovensky 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN I USED PROTON VPN AND MY INTERNET BROKE I USED PROTON VPN AND MY INTERNET BROKE I USED PROTON VPN AND MY INTERNET BROKE but seriously, your VPN broke my internet connection on Win11 and the only fix was to uninstall after spending half a day tampering with drivers."

@pietskiet10111 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN @PlayStation i am now going to recommend against proton vpn to all my friends and family. this post has made me view the proton brand in a lesser light and i will be suggesting against it to everyone i meet."

@EvilSneed 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@bamwinejnr Proton VPN, the master of all"

@jenan_muka74291 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonMail but i love you proton vpn <3"

@RarRcns 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ug_2s Proton VPN is Goated 🙌"

@NserekoColline 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@EnanR_ Proton vpn is the best if you are using an iphone"

@NtahoKwizera 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@DoingFedTime @JackRhysider #proton is aids proton is actively accepting funds from WEF and EU funds. This can be publically verified. Proton has fckd not 1 not 2 but 3 activists now. Thats a pattern ! i dont see MullVad doing this shit?! https://t.co/JRKYS8iavm"

@PeylsX 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@Proton_Pass My phone always runs Proton VPN 24/7 and my primary email is Proton. Proton is great company and the free versions are fire too!"

@EliminateUI 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@NewtonAllan6 Download PROTON VPN. The team at @ProtonVPN really did a good job. It's a monster."

@SverreHalseth 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN @MicrosoftEdge Omg proton VPN I love you thank you for saving my life 😍😍"

@Seazured 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN @PlayStation Here, a hug from a former Destiny player (I ❤️ you Proton VPN)"

@TheFarOutMan 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@markvalorian @T3chFalcon Proton VPN or their whole system ≈ Signal: no activity logs to leak, even to Swiss government, where 59 requests returned empty in 2025. Payments aside, privacy intact unless they nuke their audited no-logs model (RIP Proton then). #VPN #privacy"

@VascoGo2101 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"What's confirmed: ProtonVPN specifically blocked: After an initial spike in signups, Proton VPN confirms its products have stopped working in Uganda as internet connectivity drastically dropped (Amnesty International) . The blocking appears to affect both MTN and Airtel networks"

@JimmySsengendo3 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonMail I use Proton Mail Proton VPN and more, but never Google!"

@EddiFl 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@JOKAQARMY1 As far as I know the best and most private ones are Proton, Mullvad and IVPN. Personally I use Proton because they have a suite of apps and it's very convenient but if you only need a vpn the others are great too. But at the end of the day you have to trust them so yeah."

@SomeSillyGoosy 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@Anti_Tyranny_1 @JOKAQARMY1 As far as I know the best and most private ones are Proton, Mullvad and IVPN. Personally I use Proton because they have a suite of apps and it's very convenient but if you only need a vpn they others are great too."

@SomeSillyGoosy 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@weskambale Airtel Use paid vpn Proton (VPN PLUS) Works well Free one is blocked"

@Monalisa25618 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"❌ Kullanma: Chrome Google Gmail Zoom Opera Safari Google Drive LastPass Instagram TikTok ChatGpt Atlas ✅ Kullan: Brave Startpage Tutamail Jitsi Firefox Focus Proton Drive KeepassXC DuckDuckGo Zen Browser Protonmail Bitwarden Mullvad VPN Proton VPN Surfshark VPN"

@ZetLorento 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN use a VPN you trust, that excludes Proton VPN."

@LXEvans 2 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@omarsbigsister Me too. Get a VPN people. Anti censorship. Proton is a good one."

@ghostgirlMN 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@Pirat_Nation Get on Proton or Mullvad now and you won't get flagged for ID later. That's the short term fix."

@ScribeOfArden 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@TheBritishIntel I use Proton VPN. Based in Switzerland and completely independent. Full encryption.. So here's the message https://t.co/dUVzQkfWE0"

@gjquartermaine 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN @andyyen With the UK looking like it will enforce ID / Age checks for VPN's what would @ProtonPrivacy approach be? I'm a duo subscriber, I love proton and it's services! Would Proton do ages checks securely? or would you have to take a 'leave the market' approach?"

@KlubByte 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@MrLitstar @9393_ACrowley @ReclaimTheNetHQ Proton get audited every year and I'm yet to see any evidence they keep logs, even for free stuff. I would hapily use Proton or Surfshark, they both seem decent."

@DaveFred311115 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@evaHbraun @ProtonMail Stick to Google and don’t listen to the proton scam. If you’re really schizophrenic about your privacy adopt Tor Browser and Mullvad VPN https://t.co/FC0YTqP9gc"

@tazanji 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@startpage @torproject @signalapp @MyStartMail @ProtonPrivacy 1) Any Linux OS but I prefer Fedora 2) Quad9 ( DNS privacy) 3) Tor, Brave, Librewolf (browsers) 4) ProtonVPN ( free), Mullvad ( paid) 5) Session, Signal (Messaging) 6) Tutamail & Protonmail 7) GrapheneOS over any phone OS 8) Orbot (basically Tor but for apps) 9) VLC 10) Bitwarden https://t.co/ZwS1OgTYXz"

@Murican_Pitbull 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@firasmodad I would get a better VPN, I use proton and have no issues with anything"

@nervecountzero 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@FistedFoucault I like what Proton are doing, their subscription model already includes basically everything Google has to offer. Email, VPN, docs, excel, storage, AI. As for online meetings the best one's Norwegian - Whereby."

@punishedclippy 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@thecoastguy Tor browser Then download VPN. Proton VPN offers free from Switzerland. Not even a swiss judge can demand access to its Server. Starmer has no chance."

@Dylan7865325726 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@windscribecom proton is one of the good one though proton and mullvad"

@appleanatomy 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ProtonVPN @PlayStation this is actually ridiculous, and pretty sad. If I used Proton VPN, I'd change providers. Needless to say you're on the "never use" list. It's one thing to meme, it's another to be a bully. brands shouldn't be bullies in a time where we have too many of those online already."

@AkiAndFam 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"Here's what actually protects your privacy: A reputable VPN (Mullvad, ProtonVPN). Tor Browser for true anonymity. Pi-hole to block tracking at the network level. Firefox with privacy extensions. Incognito mode? Not on the list."

@thecurioustales 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"Graphene OS Tuta + Proton mail Proton VPN Kagi search + translate Librewolf Signal Nextcloud KeePassXC 👌"

@regularunleaded 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@izkthinker @omarsbigsister Proton VPN is a good one. It is a Swiss company. And has lots of features."

@ghostgirlMN 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@junkxo_ @omarsbigsister Proton VPN is a good one"

@ghostgirlMN 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@BasilTheGreat Better yet.. Download a VPN, pick a Swiss one like ProtonVPN or Swedish like Mullvad.. Five Eyes (UK+US+mates) can’t just poke about and grab logs.. Audited no-logs policy actually holds up .. Real privacy move .."

@foodiskey83 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"8. Use "Private Relay" or a No-Log VPN Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) sees every site you visit. In many countries, they sell this browsing history legally. Use iCloud Private Relay or a reputable No-Log VPN (Mullvad or Proton). Mask your IP. Encrypt your tunnel."

@thetripathi58 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@shanrocksnwa Proton free VPN is good and fast"

@gingerlegs747 1 week ago View on Twitter →