protonvpn

ProtonVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) developed by Proton AG, the Swiss company best known for ProtonMail. It is built around a core promise: to protect users’ online privacy with strong encryption, transparent policies, and jurisdictional safeguards. For people who prioritize privacy and security, ProtonVPN offers a compelling combination of advanced features and user-friendly design. Security and privacy are at the heart of ProtonVPN. The service uses modern VPN protocols including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, combined with AES-256 encryption, which is considered industry-standard for confidentiality. ProtonVPN enforces a strict no-logs policy and benefits from Switzerland’s strong privacy laws, which reduces the likelihood of user data being disclosed to third parties. The company is transparent about its practices and has undergone independent audits, which helps build trust among privacy-conscious users. One of ProtonVPN’s standout features is Secure Core, a multi-hop architecture that routes traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries before it exits to the public internet. This adds an additional layer of protection against network-based threats or compromised exit servers. ProtonVPN also integrates with Tor via its “Tor over VPN” servers, allowing users to access the Tor network without running the Tor Browser directly. For file-sharing, ProtonVPN supports P2P on designated servers, enabling safer torrenting while keeping traffic encrypted. ProtonVPN offers a tiered pricing model including a free plan, which provides access to a limited selection of servers and basic speeds. Paid plans unlock more global servers, faster speeds, Secure Core, streaming support, and simultaneous connections. The service is available across major platforms — Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android — and provides browser extensions and guides for manual configuration on routers and other devices. Performance-wise, ProtonVPN has improved significantly with the adoption of WireGuard, offering better speeds and lower latency compared to older protocols. Server coverage is broad but not as extensive as some larger competitors, so performance can vary by region. ProtonVPN’s apps are clean and simple to use, making them suitable for both beginners and power users who want advanced options like split tunneling and custom DNS. No service is perfect: ProtonVPN’s higher-tier plans are pricier than some alternatives, and certain specialized features are limited to premium subscriptions. Nevertheless, for users who need robust privacy protections, Swiss jurisdiction, and proven security features, ProtonVPN remains a strong choice. Whether you’re safeguarding sensitive communications, streaming geo-restricted content, or simply browsing on public Wi‑Fi, ProtonVPN balances privacy, usability, and performance effectively.