ProtonVPN Review: Is It Safe + Trustworthy? [Full 2022 Report]

ProtonVPN is a great VPN that offers excellent security and privacy features. It also has a very simple interface and maintained high speeds during all my speed tests.

ProtonVPN provides data protection with advanced server architecture, 256-bit AES encryption and a strict no logs policy. There is also a kill switch. ProtonVPN offers apps for all major platforms and allows you to connect to 1-10 accounts simultaneously.

ProtonVPN also offers:

• Dedicated servers to torrent— Compatible with all major torrenting clients such as BitTorrent, BitTorrent and qBittorent.
• Dedicated streaming server (called ‘Plus” servers). — Can access streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+.
• Split tunneling – This allows you to route some traffic through the VPN, and others through your local network.
• An Ad Blocker – Blocks advertisements, tracking sites and malicious websites.

ProtonVPN is a top-rated VPN, but there are some things that could be improved. ProtonVPN can’t bypass internet firewalls. This means that if you are in a country with restrictions on the internet, ProtonVPN won’t be a good choice. ExpressVPN is better. ProtonVPN should be able to provide live chat 24/7 and respond faster to customer support emails. ProtonVPN’s pricing model is tier-based, which I find unacceptable. Most competitors offer the same features on all plans but differ only in the length of the subscription. ProtonVPN however only offers access to its most expensive plans.

ProtonVPN offers a free plan as well as 3 subscription plans. Each comes with a prorated 30-day guarantee.

ProtonVPN Full Review

ProtonVPN Features

ProtonVPN offers all the necessary VPN privacy features such as:

• 256 bit AES encryption. Sometimes called “military grade” encryption.
• No logs policy. ProtonVPN does not keep logs of any personal information or online activity.
• Kill switch. This feature disconnects you automatically from the internet when your VPN connection is lost. ProtonVPN’s inside-app kill switch can only be used on macOS or Windows. However, similar features are available for Android and iOS.

ProtonVPN offers additional security features such as:

• Absolute forward secrecy. This modifies your encryption key every time you connect to ProtonVPN servers. If one encryption key is compromised then only that key’s data is affected (and not any sessions in the past or future).
• Full disk encryption. In the event of a ProtonVPN server being compromised, disk encryption protects all data on the server.

ProtonVPN supports three protocols: WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec. These protocols are available on Android, iOS, Macs, and Windows. The Windows app does not support OpenVPN or WireGuard. ProtonVPN’s WireGuard is my favorite protocol. It is faster than IKEv2/IPSec or OpenVPN and top VPNs such as TunnelBear, PrivateVPN and HMA do not include WireGuard.

ProtonVPN has leak protection built in for IPv6, WebRTC and DNS. ProtonVPN blocks IPv6 traffic automatically, which I find more convenient than rivals TunnelBear or Private Internet Access, which require you to manually block IPv6.

Secure Core

ProtonVPN’s Secure Core server architecture sends your data through two servers before it leaves ProtonVPN.If a third party hacks into the final destination server, it can only trace your connection back the Secure Core server and not your device. ProtonVPN’s Secure Core server are located underground in Switzerland, Sweden and on an ex-military base in Iceland.

Secure Core works in the same way as a double VPN connection. However, double VPN connections send your data through 2 servers in 2 random locations. Secure Core routes your traffic through 2 Secure Core server, which includes 1 hyper-secure server in an ultra-secure area, providing you with even greater protection. ProtonVPN’s Secure Core server is more similar to CyberGhost VPN’s NoSpy servers, which route your connection through servers located at the company’s headquarters.

The natural slowdown in your speed when your traffic is routed through two servers is more than when you are connected to one server. Websites took me 5-6 seconds to load when I connected manually to Secure Core server. However, Secure Core servers are faster than double VPN features of most competitors (Perfect Privacy’s double VPN connection took an average time of 10 seconds for websites.

This feature is not recommended if you want to protect your online identity or are in high-risk countries that might monitor your internet traffic. ProtonVPN’s Secure Core privacy feature is a great one that isn’t available with other VPNs.

NetShield

NetShield blocks trackers, ads, and malicious websites.I tried this feature out by visiting websites often littered with advertisements — NetShield blocked each ad. These websites were significantly less cluttered and loaded much quicker because there weren’t any ads.

ProtonVPN’s NetShield tool is great. It works as well as IVPN’s AntiTracker tool and is more effective at blocking ads than Surfshark’s CleanWeb or CyberGhost VPN’s ad-blocker (ExpressVPN doesn’t have an ad-blocker).

netShield is without doubt one of ProtonVPN’s most valuable security extras. While it doesn’t offer full-featured protection against phishing, it blocks all pop-up ads and stops me from visiting malicious or tracking websites.

Split-Tunneling

ProtonVPN’s split tunneling feature allows you to include or exclude web browsers and apps. You can even add IP addresses to the VPN tunnelThis is superior to most competitors’ split tunneling features (ExpressVPN can only redirect apps).

ProtonVPN supports split tunnelling on Android and Windows, just like other VPNs. I would love to see ProtonVPN add split tunnelling to the iOS or Mac app. However, considering that few VPNs offer this feature for Apple users (ExpressVPN offers split-tunneling in macOS 10.15 and lower, and Private Internet Access supports splitting-tunneling with macOS 11), this is not a major dealbreaker.

ProtonVPN’s split tunnelling feature was tested by me connecting to a US P2P server, and I was able to exclude my Chrome browser traffic through the VPN tunnel. It worked well. It resulted in increased browsing speed and torrenting speeds.

Overall, ProtonVPN’s split-tunneling function is great. It does exactly what it says, there are no bugs, and it’s very easy to set up.

Tor over VPN

ProtonVPN supports The Onion Router, (or Tor) over VPN at designated servers in the USA, France, Germany and Hong Kong.It is so easy to use Tor with ProtonVPN over VPN. Connect to ProtonVPN’s Tor server (identified with an onion icon beside the server) and all traffic will be routed through Tor.

This allows you to surf.onion websites using your browser (Chrome or Firefox, etc.). Instead of downloading Tor browser. One drawback to using the Tor browser is that your internet speed will slow down (because it encrypts traffic multiple times). It took me over 15 seconds to load websites.

ProtonVPN’s Tor Over VPN is a quick and easy way to connect to the Tor network. While most users won’t use this tool (ProtonVPN regular servers are safe for streaming, browsing, and torrenting), it is an excellent (and very practical) alternative for those who do.

ProtonVPN Privacy & Security

ProtonVPN has its headquarters in Switzerland. Switzerland has some the strictest data privacy laws.

Switzerland does not have any mandatory data retention laws. It is also not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. This group of nations has agreed to share intelligence data.

ProtonVPN also enforces a strict no-logs policy. This only collects email address (for communication), payment details (like your partial info) and timestamps of last login attempts (but not any identifiable information). Pay with Bitcoin or cash for a more anonymous payment option. ProtonVPN’s no-logs policies are not audited independently by a third party. Competitors like ExpressVPN have also had third-party audits to confirm privacy policies. Private Internet Access even had its policy tested and confirmed in court multiple times.

I love that ProtonVPN is open-source. Everyone can check ProtonVPN’s security. ProtonVPN has independently audited all apps and verified that they are free from security risks. These audits were quick resolved by ProtonVPN.

ProtonVPN is similar to CyberGhost VPN and issues transparency reports detailing all user data requests (from law enforcement or government agencies). These reports may have large gaps between publication dates. However, this is due to ProtonVPN receiving very few requests for user data.

ProtonVPN’s transparency policy does not allow for logs. The company is headquartered in a country that enforces strict data privacy laws. Open-source apps have been tested and verified safe.

ProtonVPN Speed & Performance

To get an average internet connection speed, I ran speed tests on servers in 60+ countries where ProtonVPN has one. My average speed decrease was 35% which is higher than the average.

ProtonVPN was very fast on local servers. I’m in the US. Although my speed tests were not great when I connected with servers in Europe, South America and Africa, they still gave me good speeds for streaming, streaming, gaming and torrenting. Similar results were seen when I connected to an Australian distant server. Although videos and websites took longer to load, the delays were very minimal.

To establish a baseline for my internet speed, I ran a speed test connecting to my local Internet Service Provider (ISP).

After clicking on ProtonVPN Quick Connect, which locates the fastest server, I was connected to a nearby one. Although there was a 21% drop on my download speed, I was able surf the web, access YouTube videos and share files quickly. It was almost as though I wasn’t connected to a VPN.

Next, I connected with a ProtonVPN Italian server. My ping, the time taken for an internet signal to travel from a device to the VPN server, increased significantly and my download speed dropped by only 8% (less that my speed loss connecting to a US server). Websites loaded quickly, Disney+ and Netflix content streamed in HD quality with no lag. I also downloaded large files at a fast speed.

Finally, I connected with a ProtonVPN server Australia. This is the furthest server from my location. I experienced the slowest browsing speeds, although my download speed did increase a bit from Italy. Websites took on average 4-6 seconds to load. It took anywhere from 15-30 seconds for streaming apps to begin playing content. However, TV shows and movies were in HD throughout and there was no buffering.

ProtonVPN offers a great speed for almost all online activities. Even though I was connecting to servers in the US, ProtonVPN provided sufficient speeds on remote servers to stream content and share P2P files with minimal delays.

ProtonVPN Servers & IP Addresses

ProtonVPN offers 1,500+ servers in over 60 countries.

While some VPNs are more powerful than others (CyberGhost VPN boasts 7,000+ servers), other VPNs offer more servers (ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries), I believe ProtonVPN’s network of servers is sufficient for most users. ProtonVPN has many servers located in the USA and Europe. However, there are servers in Central and South America and Africa and Asia.

It’s great that ProtonVPN uses physical servers – they provide greater security than virtual servers which aren’t in the same country as your IP address. ProtonVPN also uses shared addresses. This is a good thing as you can share your IP address with multiple users. This helps to provide additional anonymity. You will need to search elsewhere if you are looking for a dedicated IP. ProtonVPN does not offer them. PrivateVPN has them, and CyberGhost VPN, and Private Internet Access have them at an additional charge.

ProtonVPN’s Plus servers are great for streaming websites. While connected to a Plus server, I had no problems streaming content from my favorite sites. ProtonVPN offers dedicated P2P servers in more than 10 countries if you wish to torrent. ProtonVPN connects you to Tor over VPN servers in the US and France.

ProtonVPN overall has a solid network of physical servers and dedicated servers for streaming, torrenting and connecting to Tor.

ProtonVPN Streaming & Torrenting

ProtonVPN claims it can work with over 30 streaming apps.

It also includes a step-by-step guide that explains how to access each streaming service. ProtonVPN offers streaming content access only to its Plus servers. These are available only to ProtonVPN Plus and Visionary subscribers. ProtonVPN claims it can bypass geo-restrictions on sites such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime and ABC.

ProtonVPN supports torrenting via its P2P servers. The servers can be accessed from 10+ countries including the US, Singapore, Switzerland and Iceland. ProtonVPN was able to seamlessly work with both BitTorrent and uTorrent when I downloaded files. Before I started downloading files, I ran DNS leak tests on 10 servers. I wanted to ensure that ProtonVPN wouldn’t leak my IP address, or other personal information, while I was torrenting. My tests did not reveal any leaks.

ProtonVPN can access geo-restricted content and also supports P2P traffic. I was able access streaming sites such as Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime. I also had the ability to download content from all the major torrenting services.

ProtonVPN Bypassing Censorship

ProtonVPN may not be the best choice to overcome internet censorship in countries that limit online access.

It does not have certain obfuscation features that can bypass internet blockages in China. However, there are limited reports that ProtonVPN has been able to overcome restrictions in countries less able detect VPN traffic.

ExpressVPN is recommended for those who live in restrictive countries. It provides obfuscation across all its 3000+ servers.

ProtonVPN Plans & Pricing

ProtonVPN offers Tier-Based Subscription Plans.

It offers both a free and a few paid plans with different features.

ProtonVPN FREE is available for one device and has “medium” speeds. It also provides access to 3 servers (in the USA, Japan and the Netherlands). The free plan offers unlimited data, unlike other plans that limit data, but it does not include access to the NetShield, Plus servers for streaming or dedicated torrenting servers. ProtonVPN’s Free Plan is still the best free VPN available.

ProtonVPN’s basic plan is D91,360 per month. It includes 2 connections, access 400+ servers in 40+ nations, “high” speeds and P2P support. ProtonVPN Plus allows 10 simultaneous connections and access to all 1,500+ servers across 60+ countries. It also includes the fastest speeds and access to the Plus servers to stream, Secure Core and Tor servers. Although the Plusplan is the most value plan, it costs D182,720 per month more than some other top VPNs offering many of the same features.

ProtonVPN Visionaryplan includes a ProtonMail plan. However, this plan is more expensive than the Plusplan. I would only recommend it to those who need to use ProtonMail’s premium version. IPVanish is a VPN that supports more than 10 connections.

ProtonVPN premium plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee. However, I dislike that ProtonVPN has a prorated money-back guarantee. ProtonVPN charges you for every day you use it up to the 30-day limit. If you cancel ProtonVPN within 15 days of using it, you will receive a 50% refund. This is not the case with most competitors (expressVPN, Private Internet Access).

ProtonVPN accepts cash, Paypal, Bitcoin and credit cards.

There are many cheaper VPN options available than ProtonVPN — CyberGhost VPN offers similar features, faster speeds and a 45-day guarantee of your satisfaction. ProtonVPN, however, is an excellent choice if you are looking for a VPN with a high emphasis on privacy and security.

ProtonVPN Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps

ProtonVPN provides apps for Android, iOS and Windows as well as Linux, macOS Linux, Chromebook, Android TVs, and Chromebook. You can also use it on certain routers. It was easy to download and install ProtonVPN. I downloaded it onto my Android and iOS phones in less than a minute. The app also installed on my Windows computers and Mac computers in less than five minutes.

Android

ProtonVPN’s Android App is very goodIt’s feature-rich and provides fast speeds. It is also very easy to use.

It is so easy to find a ProtonVPN server quickly. You have two options: the QuickConnect option which automatically connects to the fastest server, or you can manually select a server. ProtonVPN displays each server’s load percentage with either an orange dot (low), yellow dot(medium) or red dot (+high). You can easily find Tor, Plus, P2P servers by simply tapping the drop-down menu that displays all servers for each country.

You can also connect via a map to a server, but this is not recommended for Android or iOS. It will take extra time to locate your desired connection point as you will need zoom in on the most popular server locations (like Europe).

The profile option is a great feature of the app. Here you can set your connection preferences. You can choose the country to which you wish to connect, select the fastest server automatically, or manually select one. Secure Core and Smart Protocol can be enabled. This will automatically switch you to another protocol if the default protocol is blocked.

ProtonVPN doesn’t support the kill switch within its Android app. You can instead enable the kill switch using the ProtonVPN app for Android. To do this, tap on the ” block connections without a VPN” option on your Android device. ProtonVPN provides step-by-step instructions in the Settingstab. Android also offers an ” Always on” feature that automatically reconnects you with the VPN when you are disconnected. This option is permanent on iOS but Android users must manually activate it.

I love ProtonVPN’s Android app. It’s easy to use, offers great security features, and can be customized.

iOS

The ProtonVPN iOS application is almost identical to the Android one.

Split-tunneling is not available in the iOS app. Split-tunneling is not supported by most VPNs on iOS or macOS. ExpressVPN supports split tunneling on macOS 10.15 and under, while Private Internet Access supports split tunneling on all macOS versions. The iOS app does not have a kill button, but the Always on tool can be turned on permanently with iOS devices.

ProtonVPN’s iOS application is just as good as its Android app. It’s user-friendly and well-designed.

Windows/Mac (Desktop)

The Windows/Mac apps look very similar to the iOS and Android apps.

The QuickConnect tool allows you to connect to any ProtonVPN server in just one click. ProtonVPN shows you the steps of connecting to a server as they happen. This includes initializing a connection and authenticating the user. It also assigns you an IP. ProtonVPN displays at the top the name of your server, such as United States > US#11, your IP address, load percentage and your protocol. ProtonVPN displays session traffic metrics at the bottom to show your network usage and time.

Scroll down to the Country tab for a list of countries. Or, you can click on a map and select a country. ProtonVPN lists all the cities in which each server is located. The load percentage is indicated with a red, yellow, and green circle. ProtonVPN makes it easy to locate special servers. Plus servers have a “P”, located in a square adjacent to the server. P2P servers can be identified with arrows placed on top of each other pointed in opposite directions. Tor servers have an onion icon.The Windows and Mac apps share many of the same features. However, there are some differences. The Windows app comes with OpenVPN, WireGuard, but the Mac app does not have split-tunneling.

The Windows and Mac apps offer a full range of features, a variety of customization options, and are extremely user-friendly.

ProtonVPN Apps: Is ProtonVPN Easy to Use?

ProtonVPN apps are very easy to use

. All the apps for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac have similar interfaces. They all include many of the same features. The Android and iOS apps don’t have the kill switch. You will need to activate the kill switch manually on your Android device. ProtonVPN has simple instructions in the settingstab. If you lose connection to the iOS app, you can use the Always on feature to automatically reconnect you to a ProtonVPN Server. Split-tunneling is not available in the iOS or macOS apps. The Windows app supports only OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Other operating systems support IKEv2.

ProtonVPN Customer Support

ProtonVPN offers a comprehensive library of support documents and a support form. However, there is not a 24/7 live chat or telephone number.

Support guides are a great source of information. You can find them in 6 categories: Account, Download and setup; General Information; Access Content; Troubleshooting; Speed and bandwidth. These guides were very detailed and answered all my questions. The search option was also helpful when I couldn’t find the answer in one of the categories.

ProtonVPN’s support page (which doubles up as an email) was not very helpful. Although it took me more than a week to get a response (most VPNs respond within a day), ProtonVPN did make an effort to answer my questions with specific information.But, I want a live chat option. It is great to be able to reach an agent and communicate with them immediately to solve my problem. Competitors like ExpressVPN also offer live chat.

I contacted ProtonVPN via email to request my refund. It was easy and within 5 days, the money was added to my credit card.

ProtonVPN customer support isn’t the best but it’s still decent. I don’t enjoy having to wait for an email response. However, I found the email response very helpful and the support guides did a great job answering my most pressing questions.

Is ProtonVPN the Best VPN for Security and Privacy?

ProtonVPN offers great security features and is easy to use. It also works with streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Hulu. ProtonVPN supports P2P file sharing using dedicated servers and can support up to 10 connections.

ProtonVPN was not as fast as other VPNs in my speed tests but still offered great connection speeds for streaming, torrenting and gaming. I was able watch HD content even from faraway locations without interruptions, and sites took just 1-2 seconds longer to load.

ProtonVPN is the best in security and privacy. ProtonVPN has the standard security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch. But ProtonVPN also offers extras like Secure Core (double VPN routing), NetShield, Ad/tracking blocker), Tor Over VPN, Tor over VPN and perfect forward secrecy. Full-disk encryption is available, as well open-source apps that have been independently audited. ProtonVPN is an open-source VPN that is privacy-friendly and is based outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. It doesn’t have any mandatory data retention laws.

ProtonVPN is not perfect. ProtonVPN cannot bypass internet restrictions in China. I am disappointed. ExpressVPN, which can be used in China, has 24/7 live chat. ProtonVPN’s Tier-Based Subscription Plans are too costly for the best features. Most competitors do not limit users in this manner.

ProtonVPN offers the best free VPN plan, as well as a prorated 30-day guarantee on all paid plans.

Is ProtonVPN safe?

ProtonVPN is extremely safe.

It’s actually one of the best VPNs available. ProtonVPN offers industry-standard security features such as 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch. It also has NetShield (an anti-tracking system), Secure Core servers (double VPN routing), NetShield, perfect forward secrecy (changes the encryption key after every session) and many other features.

Is ProtonVPN free?

ProtonVPN offers a free plan.

You can connect one device to the free plan, which offers medium speeds and access to three servers (located in Japan, the US, and the Netherlands). ProtonVPN’s no-limit free plan is the best thing about it. You will need to upgrade to ProtonVPN’s premium plans if you want to access streaming servers, torrenting server, Tor over VPN, faster speeds, and more connections locations.

Does ProtonVPN work with Netflix?

ProtonVPN is compatible with Netflix.

ProtonVPN is fast. I was able watch Netflix in HD quality without any interruptions. It is important to remember that ProtonVPN supports streaming only on its Plus servers. This means that only subscribers to the Plus and Visionary plans have access to these streaming services.

Does ProtonVPN work on Android + iOS?

ProtonVPN is known for its excellent mobile VPN apps.

Both have an intuitive interface and 1-2 tap connections. They also include WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols.

Split-tunneling is not available in the iOS app (most iOS VPNs do). The iOS app does not have a kill button. ProtonVPN’s iOS application has an option that will automatically reconnect you to VPN if it’s not available.

Source : #safetydetectives
Editor by : BEST Antivirus Review Team