protonvpn free

ProtonVPN is a privacy-focused virtual private network (VPN) developed by Proton AG, the company behind ProtonMail. Designed around strong privacy principles and secure defaults, ProtonVPN aims to give individuals a straightforward way to protect their internet traffic, bypass censorship, and preserve anonymity online without sacrificing usability. Security and features At the core of ProtonVPN’s offering are modern encryption protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2) to secure data in transit. The service includes essential protections such as a system-wide kill switch that blocks traffic if the VPN connection drops, DNS leak protection, and strong ciphers to prevent eavesdropping. ProtonVPN also provides advanced privacy features like Secure Core — a multi-hop routing option that routes traffic through hardened servers in privacy-friendly jurisdictions (for example, Switzerland or Iceland) to make correlation attacks more difficult. Another notable feature is Tor over VPN: users can route traffic through the Tor network directly from certain ProtonVPN servers without running a separate Tor Browser, simplifying access to onion services. ProtonVPN supports P2P traffic on designated servers, and split tunneling is available on some platforms for flexible routing of apps or sites outside the VPN. Privacy, transparency, and jurisdiction ProtonVPN benefits from its Swiss jurisdiction, which provides strong privacy laws and no mandatory data retention. The company states a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not keep records that could identify users’ browsing activity. Proton has submitted its infrastructure and apps to external security audits and publishes transparency reports, and many of its clients are open source — allowing independent review of implementation and helping build trust. Performance and server network ProtonVPN maintains a global network of servers optimized for different use cases: Secure Core, P2P, streaming, and high-speed general access. WireGuard support improves throughput and latency relative to older protocols, making ProtonVPN suitable for streaming and video calls for many users. Speeds do vary by server, distance, and local network conditions, so it’s sensible to test connections to find the best server. Plans and usability ProtonVPN offers a free tier with limited servers and speeds, which is a good entry point for basic privacy needs. Paid plans add Secure Core, more countries and servers, simultaneous connections, and higher speeds. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with straightforward interfaces and configurable settings for advanced users. Conclusion ProtonVPN is a compelling choice for privacy-conscious users who want a transparent, well-audited VPN backed by strong privacy principles and Swiss jurisdiction. It combines modern security protocols, thoughtful privacy features, and accessible apps, making it suitable for both beginners and power users. As always, review current independent tests and the company’s privacy materials to confirm it meets your specific needs.