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Proton VPN Review 2026
Swiss docs, plan-tier traps, and what to verify yourself
Reviewed September 2026 · Pricing checked September 2, 2026 · StatesVPN editorial
Quick verdict
Proton VPN is often chosen by privacy-focused users. It offers features like “Secure Core” routing and a strong privacy posture, but whether it’s the right fit depends on your threat model and device needs.
Best for: people who want open-source apps, a real free tier to try first, and features like Secure Core — and who will read which plan includes them.
Skip if: you need 24/7 live chat, the cheapest paid streaming plan, or you will not check which features are Plus-only.
| Check | What we know | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| US speed / latency | No in-house lab figure published here | Median of 3 runs on your ISP (free tier vs paid if you upgrade) |
| DNS / WebRTC leak | Use our free on-site tools after connect | DNS · WebRTC |
| Streaming | Often documented as a higher-tier feature | Confirm plan inclusion, then test the services you pay for |
| Secure Core / Stealth | Provider-documented; availability can differ by plan | Check the current plan matrix before you buy for them |
| Money-back / free tier | Free plan exists; paid refund terms are on Proton’s site | Start free, then confirm paid refund language at checkout |
How we tested
This is the method we use for first-party Proton VPN checks. The first named run is not published yet— the results table and screenshot slots below stay empty until we have a dated city/ISP record. We are not claiming completed speed, leak, or streaming lab results on this page.
| Method item | This page |
|---|---|
| Named date, city, ISP | Pending — first-party run in progress |
| VPN off baseline vs connected | Same machine and ISP; connect, then repeat the same checks (WireGuard, or Stealth if that is the test you are running) |
| IP / DNS / WebRTC | What Is My IP · DNS leak · WebRTC |
| Speed | 3 runs each; report the median. No Mbps on this page until that run exists. |
| Streaming | Dated pass/fail notes only when we have them — not a blanket “works” claim. |
You can copy this method during the refund window on your own ISP. When we publish the first Proton VPN run, the named date and figures will appear in the table and slots below.
First-party results
Empty on purpose. Proton VPN login for a dated StatesVPN run is not available yet, so this table does not invent Mbps, leak pass/fail, or streaming outcomes.
| Check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Test date / city / ISP | Pending — first-party run in progress | Named run not published yet |
| IP (VPN off vs connected) | Pending — first-party run in progress | On-site What Is My IP |
| DNS leak | Pending — first-party run in progress | On-site DNS leak tool |
| WebRTC leak | Pending — first-party run in progress | On-site WebRTC tool |
| Speed, VPN off (3-run median) | Pending — first-party run in progress | No Mbps published yet |
| Speed, connected (3-run median) | Pending — first-party run in progress | No Mbps published yet |
| Streaming notes | Pending — first-party run in progress | Pass/fail only when dated |
First-party screenshots
Empty slots stay empty until dated screenshots are added. No stock or invented images.
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How we tested this page
- Public materials: Feature lists, apps, and privacy claims are summarized from Proton VPN documentation and linked public reports.
- Pricing check: Intro long-term USD rates last verified September 2, 2026. Confirm total due today and renewal price at checkout.
- Self-test window: Use the provider refund period plus our free IP, DNS leak, and WebRTC tools on your own network.
First-party tests appear on this review when dated results are published. Until then, treat this section as a public-source verification note. We do not invent speed or malware benchmarks, and we do not certify provider infrastructure. Full editorial policy.
Pricing (verify before you buy)
Proton’s free tier is the honest first step. Paid Plus / Unlimited pricing is not in our verified intro-catalog table, so we are not inventing a monthly number. Confirm current plan prices, streaming inclusion, and renewal on Proton’s checkout. Last catalog pass on this site was September 2, 2026.
Practical tip: run leak + speed checks on the free plan first. Only upgrade if a paid feature you actually need is missing.
Apps and daily US use
Apps are open-source and generally clean. Check kill switch, split tunneling, Secure Core, and Stealth on your OS and plan. Support is email, not 24/7 live chat — plan for that if you are not comfortable debugging a client yourself.
- Secure Core: Provider-documented extra hop through privacy-friendly countries. Extra hops add latency. Confirm it is on the plan you are buying.
- Stealth: Documented for restrictive networks. That is provider language, not a StatesVPN lab result.
- VPN Accelerator: Marketing name for a performance feature. Measure it on your ISP; do not treat the name as a Mbps claim.
Speed and stability
We are not publishing invented Mbps numbers. Method we will use on the first named run:
- 3 runs each, report the median
- Baseline = VPN off; then a nearby US location, plus one Secure Core path if the plan includes it
- Confirm your exit IP with What Is My IP
When we publish first-party medians from a named city/ISP, they will appear in the first-party results table and the update log below.
Streaming and travel
Ideal for travelers who do not want their data routing through US-owned servers. Excellent "Stealth" protocol.
Streaming compatibility changes and often differs by paid tier. Confirm what the plan includes, then test the services you use. Stealth is the travel feature to verify on a restrictive network — not a guaranteed “works everywhere” stamp.
Privacy and trust
What you can test here: IP change, DNS leak, and WebRTC leak via our tools after connect. Those slots are reserved above for a dated Proton VPN run.
What we only review from public materials: Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, Secure Core write-ups, and published audits. Read the current Proton privacy policy — note the date and scope. We do not certify no-logs infrastructure.
Who should pick Proton VPN vs alternatives
- Choose Proton VPN if you want a free tier plus Swiss / open-source documentation.
- Choose Mullvad if you want even less account data and a posted price — see Mullvad vs Proton VPN.
- Choose NordVPN if you want a mainstream all-rounder with live chat — see NordVPN vs Proton VPN.
- Choose ExpressVPN if you will pay for the simplest travel app — see ExpressVPN vs Proton VPN.
Editorial fit notes
- PerformanceVPN Accelerator is provider language; no in-house Mbps here yet
- Travel and streamingStreaming often differs by plan tier — verify what you are buying
- Privacy materialsSwiss / open-source / Secure Core are documented — still read the policy
- Ease of useClean apps; fewer hand-holds than Nord, and email-only support
- ValueFree tier is the standout; paid Plus/Unlimited pricing needs a checkout check
Editorial summary from public-source research — not a lab score.
FAQ
Is the free plan enough?
Enough to run leak checks and see whether the app fits your devices. Streaming, Secure Core, and server choice often sit on paid tiers — confirm the current matrix.
Does Proton VPN slow my connection?
Overhead depends on your ISP, server, and whether Secure Core is on. Run your own median tests. Our first-party medians will land in the results table when we have a named run.
Can I get a refund on a paid plan?
Confirm current money-back language and any plan exclusions on Proton’s checkout. Do not rely on a blog’s day count.
Update log
- September 7, 2026 — Structural prep for first-party Proton VPN tests: methodology section, screenshot slots, and a pending results table. No lab numbers published.
- September 2, 2026 — Review rewritten as a verification checklist (no invented speed/streaming pass claims).
- Pending — First-party speed medians, leak screenshots, and dated streaming notes from a named US city/ISP.