ProtonVPN is a smaller VPN service from the makers of ProtonMail, a Switzerland-based email provider.
In this new and updated ProtonVPN review, we put this VPN under a microscope for analysis and also ran lots of performance tests. Specifically, we wanted to see how ProtonVPN compares to the competition in these key areas:
- How fast is ProtonVPN with servers throughout the network?
- Do all the features work correctly?
- Does ProtonVPN have any problems with IP address leaks or DNS leaks?
- How responsive is the ProtonVPN support staff?
- Does ProtonVPN unblock Netflix and other streaming services?
All of these questions are answered in this ProtonVPN review, with screenshots posted below.
Overall ProtonVPN has made some good improvements, but it still lags behind other leading VPNs in a few key areas.
ProtonVPN overview
Here is a brief overview of my test results and research findings for this ProtonVPN review:
+ ProtonVPN Pros
- Useful privacy features (no leaks)
- Secure server network (secure core)
- Good privacy jurisdiction and data protection policies
- User-friendly VPN apps
- Responsive and professional support (via email)
- Transparent company with a good track record
– ProtonVPN Cons
- Below-average speeds
- High prices (for access to all servers and features)
- Torrenting restrictions
Additional research findings:
- Payment options and refund policy
- Does ProtonVPN work for torrenting?
- Is ProtonVPN good for Netflix?
- Does ProtonVPN work in China?
Pros of ProtonVPN
Here are the Pros that I found for this ProtonVPN review.
1. Useful privacy features (no leaks detected)
ProtonVPN has some useful privacy and security features.
First, it offers good leak protection settings with the Windows and Mac OS apps I tested. In addition to the kill switch and DNS leak protection, both the Windows and Android clients also offer a split tunneling feature, just like ExpressVPN. This allows you to route traffic for certain applications outside of the VPN tunnel.
ProtonVPN also offers different settings for auto connect, protocol selection (UDP or TCP), and startup options. Regarding the kill switch and leak protection settings, everything worked well in testing for this review.
I ran the Windows and Mac OS apps through some basic VPN tests to identify potential leaks or flaws. Everything checked out (no leaks):
The screenshot above is with the ProtonVPN Windows client. The Mac OS client also did not have any leaks that I could find.
ProtonVPN encryption and VPN protocols
The ProtonVPN Windows client and Linux script utilizes the OpenVPN protocol. The Mac OS and iOS apps utilize the IKEv2 protocol. The ProtonVPN Android app supports the OpenVPN protocol.
For the data channel, ProtonVPN uses an AES-256-CBC cipher together with HMAC SHA-512 authentication.
2. Secure server network (Secure Core)
ProtonVPN runs its entire network on dedicated bare-metal servers. This is similar to Perfect Privacy and OVPN in Sweden.
Currently, ProtonVPN has 1,057 servers in 54 different countries. This isn’t too bad for geographic diversity and is about on par with NordVPN.
One unique aspect of ProtonVPN is their implementation of Secure Core.
What is Secure Core?
The Secure Core feature is basically a double-hop VPN server configuration routed through ProtonVPN servers in Switzerland, Sweden, or Iceland. In other words, your traffic will first get routed through one of the Secure Core servers before going to the second VPN server and exiting the encrypted tunnel.
The main advantage of the Secure Core servers is that it provides an additional layer of protection. This protects against a compromised server in a third-party data center, for example. ProtonVPN has gone to great lengths to ensure the security of these “core” servers:
We have also gone to extraordinary lengths to defend our Secure Core servers. First, servers are located in countries selected specifically for their strong privacy laws (Iceland, Switzerland, and Sweden). We also placed our Secure Core servers in high-security data centers to ensure strong physical security. ProtonVPN infrastructure in Switzerland and Sweden is housed in underground data centers, while our Iceland servers are on a former military base. Furthermore, Secure Core servers are wholly owned and provisioned by us(shipped on-site directly from our offices). Finally, Secure Core servers are connected to the Internet using our own dedicated network with IP addresses that are owned and operated by our own Local Internet Registry (LIR).
In addition to ProtonVPN, there are also other VPN providers that offer multi-hop VPN configurations. Unlike with ProtonVPN, however, these other providers do not have the same physical security infrastructure in place.
To use the Secure Core servers, you will need to have a “Plus” or “Visionary” subscription. (We’ll examine the subscription levels more below.) Within the ProtonVPN client, you can toggle the Secure Core servers off/on and then connect to the one you want.
I found the Secure Core servers to generally work well, without any bugs.
Are Secure Core servers slow?
The Secure Core servers I tested for this ProtonVPN review were not very fast. However, this is not surprising since traffic is getting routed and encrypted over two locations. This adds more latency and will be slower than a single-hop connection.
Here is a Secure Core double-VPN server in Switzerland > Canada.
ProtonVPN’s secure core is slower than other servers. You can see the ping (latency) is somewhat high. This would not be the best VPN for gaming, where low ping is important. Gamers should instead use single-hop servers close to their location.
If you want the fastest VPN speeds with double-VPN servers, then I would recommend NordVPN. Below you can see I’m getting about 214 Mbps with a double-VPN server from NordVPN: USA > Canada.
You can find double-VPN servers in a few other VPNs, as we discuss in the Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison.
3. Good privacy jurisdiction and data protection policies
ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland under the company ProtonVPN AG. Switzerland is a good privacy jurisdiction and is not part of the five eyes, nine eyes, or 14 eyes surveillance alliances. As noted on the ProtonVPN website:
We are headquartered in Switzerland which has some of the world’s strongest privacy laws. Switzerland is also outside of EU and US jurisdiction and is not a member of the fourteen eyes surveillance network.
From a business standpoint, ProtonVPN is a separate entity from ProtonMail. However, it still falls under the same parent organization, Proton Technologies AG, based in Geneva, Switzerland. As we’ve covered before, Switzerland is a great jurisdiction for both VPN services and secure email providers.
There are many USA VPN providers that claim jurisdiction does not matter. However, we’ve seen cases where VPNs have logged user data for various state agencies, such as the case with IPVanish.
There have also been US VPN providers caught embedding trackers in their apps, or sharing data with advertisers, such as the case with Hotspot Shield VPN. We also see this with many free Chinese VPN apps.
ProtonVPN logs policy
ProtonVPN describes itself as a no-logs VPN provider. The one thing they store is timestamps, as explained on their support page:
ProtonVPN respects its users’ privacy and enforces a no-logs policy. This means your VPN connections remain private and we do not store information about your connections or the websites you visit.
For the purpose of securing your account and making sure it’s you who is signing in, we store a single timestamp of your accounts most recent login. Again, we do not store any information about where you signed in from or how long you were logged in.
The ProtonVPN privacy policy offers further clarification on the timestamp issue:
Each time a user connects to the Service, we only monitor the timestamp of the last successful login attempt. This gets overwritten each time you successfully log in. This timestamp does not contain any identifying information, such as your IP address or your location; it only contains the time and date of the login.
We retain this limited information to protect user accounts from password brute force attacks. This is necessary to identify password guessing attempts targeting specific user accounts and to take action to protect those accounts.
This is definitely not concerning given that it’s a single timestamp. ProtonVPN also explains in this blog post how they are fully compliant with GDPR privacy protections and do not share data with third parties.
Want to see some alternatives? Check out these verified no logs VPN providers.
4. User-friendly VPN apps
ProtonVPN has a very nice lineup of apps that are user-friendly and fully-featured.
The layout and design are great, and I also like the dark-mode theme. Here I’m testing out one of the Secure Core configurations on the ProtonVPN Windows client:
In general, connections were pretty quick to establish and there weren’t any major issues. While ProtonVPN is not the best VPN for PC, the desktop clients still worked well in our tests.
ProtonVPN offers dedicated clients (apps) for all major devices and operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you can use ProtonVPN through a client or natively, such as with the IKEv2 protocol on iOS. ProtonVPN does not currently support the WireGuard VPN protocol. Many VPNs are integrating WireGuard into their service due to the performance and security advantages. One recent example of this is VyprVPN adding WireGuard and seeing a massive speed boost.
There are also various startup and notification preferences you can customize within the ProtonVPN client.
ProtonVPN also has a command line tool for Linux, but I’ve seen a lot of complaints (see these best VPNs for Linux instead). For Mac OS, you can use the native IKEv2 protocol or the ProtonVPN Mac OS client. Unfortunately, because it does not support the OpenVPN protocol, I would not consider ProtonVPN to be the best VPN for Mac.
5. ProtonVPN email support
ProtonVPN offers support via email. Their website also has various FAQ articles and guides, which are useful for standard questions.
I used the contact form on their website to submit various inquiries to test out support’s response time.
Overall I was happy with the prompt replies. My inquiries were usually answered on the same day they were submitted. With previous ProtonVPN reviews, I was critical of their support due to delayed response times (several days). Support with ProtonVPN has definitely improved over the past few years.
Most of the large VPN services offer live chat support. If this is important, you may want to look elsewhere, but the email support was still responsive and helpful. See our ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN comparison, which discusses the support topic more.
6. Transparent company with a good track record
It’s no secret that Proton Technologies, including ProtonVPN and ProtonMail, has a good reputation in the privacy community. It is also a company that is transparent and led by reputable, public-facing people.
ProtonMail was started in 2014 by a group of academics/scientists who were working at CERN in Switzerland and also MIT. On the topic of transparency, ProtonMail published an interesting blog post about the organization and leadership:
As a company, we are committed to the highest levels of transparency so you know exactly who you are trusting. Our key employees and their backgrounds are public knowledge. Where we are based, the address of our headquarters, our company statutes, and even our directors are all a matter of public record and available for inspection at the Swiss commercial register. ProtonMail’s initial financing through crowdfunding is also publicly documented, along with the identities of many of our initial 10,000 financial backers. But we go even further than that. We also meticulously document and publish information on all the law enforcement requests that we receive.
Transparency also extends to our communications. We have a published threat model for our services that explains what we can and can’t protect against, and also a very clear privacy policy. Furthermore, important updates are regularly posted on our blog and disseminated to the Proton community. We also engage in daily conversations with the Proton community on Reddit, Twitter, and other platforms.
As noted above, ProtonVPN and ProtonMail both fall under the parent company Proton Technologies AG, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ProtonVPN arm of this business is officially registered as ProtonVPN AG, which shares the same core leadership as ProtonMail.
Cons of ProtonVPN
Now we’ll take a look at some of the cons of ProtonVPN:
1. Below-average speeds
While ProtonVPN has generally improved with speeds since the last review, it’s also not the fastest VPN I’ve tested. To measure speeds, I tested out various ProtonVPN servers around the US and Europe on a 500 Mbps from my location in the US.
For the first round of ProtonVPN speed tests, I tested servers in the United States.
Here was a ProtonVPN server in Seattle: 92 Mbps
This is not very good when you consider my baseline speed of 500 Mbps.
Next I tested a ProtonVPN server in Los Angeles. The speeds were not as fast at around 82 Mbps.
You can see we are still way below the baseline speed.
Next up, a server in New York offered speeds around 101 Mbps. This was the best speed test we found in this ProtonVPN review.
Lastly, I tested a ProtonVPN server in the UK. This was the slowest ProtonVPN server I found at 20 Mbps.
These are not good speed test results from ProtonVPN. There are definitely some faster VPNs on the market if you have a need for speed.
Take for example NordVPN, which fully supports the WireGuard protocol. With NordVPN, I was able to hit 445 Mbps when testing out NordVPN server in Seattle:
The screenshot above was from a NordVPN server in Seattle, while using the WireGuard protocol.
Note: These slow speeds are one reason that ProtonVPN did not come out on top in the ProtonVPN vs NordVPN comparison.
2. ProtonVPN prices are above average (for full access)
With most VPNs, you can select different durations for your subscription, but you’ll still get access to all features. ProtonVPN does things differently. Of course, they offer the limited “free VPN” that only gives you a few servers. But let’s take a look at paid plans below.
One thing you’ll notice with ProtonVPN is that they restrict features and servers on the lower-cost plans. In other words, to get all features and access to the entire server network, you’ll need to purchase a “Plus” or “Visionary” plan, which costs $8 to $30 per month.
This makes ProtonVPN rather expensive (for all features) and it is not the cheapest VPN by a long shot.
For those wanting maximum security and privacy, I’d recommend the Plus subscription because it provides access to the Secure Core server network. The Visionary plan is quite expensive, but it may be a good fit if you want a combined solution for VPN and secure email service, all rolled into one subscription.
For a better value, I’d recommend going with ExpressVPN or NordVPN, which is only $3.30 per month when you use the NordVPN coupon.
Fortunately you can test drive ProtonVPN with the free VPN. This basically acts like a free trial VPN, allowing you to upgrade if you like the service.
Additional research findings
Below are additional findings from my research of ProtonVPN for this review.
ProtonVPN payment options and refund policy
To get started with ProtonVPN, you can create a free or paid account. If you opt for a paid account, you’ll have the option to pay with PayPal or a credit card. However, if you are upgrading your account, you’ll have the option to pay with:
- Credit cards
- PayPal
- Bitcoin
- Cash
Bitcoin and cash can offer more privacy, but you can also pay with a virtual credit card (such as from privacy.com) using an anonymous name and address.
ProtonVPN refund policy
ProtonVPN offers a pretty good refund policy. As they explain on their Terms and Conditions page,
You may cancel your account with a refund for any unused portion of the service period within 30 days of the initial purchase. Here, any unused portion of the service period refers to the prorated remaining full days of the subscription period. Refunds or credits beyond the 30 days window will be considered, but at the sole discretion of the Service.
This is somewhat different from other VPN services in that they do not offer a full 100% refund, but rather a prorated refund of unused time. Nonetheless, it is still generous in comparison to other free VPN services, such as Windscribe and TunnelBear, which both have more restrictive refund policies.
Does ProtonVPN work for torrenting?
Many people are looking for the best VPN for torrenting due to the risks associated with copyright infringement.
Generally speaking, ProtonVPN is a good VPN for torrenting, but with one catch. Torrenting is not supported on the free plans. This is understandable since they don’t want bandwidth being eaten up by torrents.
With paid plans, torrenting is completely supported and allowed without restrictions.
Is ProtonVPN good for Netflix and streaming?
ProtonVPN is OK for Netflix. It supports a few different regions, but doesn’t support as many Netflix libraries as other top-name VPNs, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Let’s see what they state on their website about Netflix streaming with ProtonVPN:
ProtonVPN users can securely watch US Netflix when connected to any ProtonVPN Plus server located in the US. These servers are available for Plus and Visionary Plan subscribers. For the fastest and most reliable connection, please connect to the server that is closest to your current location.
I tested US Netflix with a ProtonVPN server in New York and did not have any problems getting through. The speeds were adequate for the short tests that I ran.
Note: ProtonVPN currently supports the following Netflix regions:
- US Netflix
- UK Netflix
- German Netflix
To see other VPN services that unblock Netflix regions around the world, check out the best VPN for Netflix guide.
Note: You will need a paid VPN plan to access Netflix (not working with ProtonVPN free plans).
What about other streaming services?
ProtonVPN does have limited support for a few other streaming services, in addition to Netflix, but it’s still pretty limited compared to our other top contenders. Another problem is that ProtonVPN does not offer any dedicated app for Firestick (see these best VPNs for Firestick instead).
Does ProtonVPN work in China?
Unfortunately, it does not look like ProtonVPN is working in China, according to the latest support update:
As of Sept. 18, 2019, the Chinese government is blocking access to ProtonVPN as part of a larger crackdown on Internet freedom.
The Chinese government works hard to control its citizens’ access to the Internet. The Great Firewall employs a vast system of technical tools, including DNS filtering, URL filtering, and deep packet inspection, that the Chinese government uses to prevent people in China from accessing foreign websites. The government also uses these tools to detect and block VPN servers.
You can see these best VPNs for China.
Does ProtonVPN work well for gaming?
Gamers have unique needs for a VPN. Important factors include a large server network, fast speeds, and servers that do not get blocked. In these areas we find ProtonVPN does not fare well. For example:
- It has a smaller server network than other leading competitors
- Speeds with ProtonVPN are mediocre (with no WireGuard support)
- It still gets blocked by most streaming services
Overall, we do not consider ProtonVPN to be the best VPN for gaming. Consider some alternatives.
ProtonVPN review conclusion
When I first tested out ProtonVPN in 2017 after its official launch, I was somewhat critical due to various bugs and problems I encountered. Now, a few years later, it has made some good improvements.
However, the drawbacks with ProtonVPN remain problematic. It simply does not perform on the level of some of the leading VPNs. Server speeds can be hit or miss, depending on your geographic area, servers selected, and other factors. The other issue is that ProtonVPN remains a very expensive option, especially if you want access to all features and servers.
Nonetheless, ProtonVPN remains a solid choice, with excellent security from a very reputable company. So if you think it’s up your alley, it doesn’t hurt to give it a test drive. And if you are still on the fence, then check out the alternatives to ProtonVPN below.
Alternatives to ProtonVPN
Click the VPN name below to read our full review – or grab the discount for the best savings. All three of these VPNs have a 30 day money-back guarantee.
You can also check out our best VPNs list here for other recommendations.
If you have used ProtonVPN, feel free to share your honest review (good or bad) below.
This ProtonVPN review was last updated on July 29, 2021.
Proton VPN now supports WireGuard protocol
ALERT: Do NOT trust the people running ProtonVPN (same people running ProtonMail). They claim “no logs” and at the same time log user IP addresses for government agents. Run away from everything Proton.
https://thehackernews.com/2021/09/protonmail-shares-activists-ip-address.html?m=1
Jens, did you actually read that article? Doesn’t seem like it…
The Hacker News link refers to ONE Proton Mail incident wherein an “an act contrary to SWISS law did in fact take place.” As well, laws mirror in free societies and the Swiss DOJ should rightly cooperate if it decides “to assist foreign services such as Europol in their investigations.”
As well, “ProtonMail users who are concerned about the visibility of their IP addresses should use a VPN.” Gee, I wonder who’s got a VPN they can use? (That’s rhetorical. Don’t answer.)
Proton has two published policies.
https://protonmail.com/privacy-policy
https://protonvpn.com/privacy-policy
Taken as a whole, it boils down to:
“…the Company will not comply with the request until all legal or other remedies have been exhausted. ”
Historically, and a long history it is, the Swiss have been quite anal when it comes to privacy. Getting scammed or hoodwinked isn’t in their DNA.
“…we do not keep permanent IP logs in relation with your use of (ProtonMail).”
“…we do not log VPN session data.”
Proton would have to be legally compelled to enable logging for a SPECIFIC target’s VPN session data.
“Under Swiss law, it is obligatory to notify the target of a surveillance request, although such notification may come from the authorities and not from the Company.”
Those engaged in abuse, fraud, nefarious activities or “extreme criminal cases,” will greatly appreciate your advice to run way from Proton.
Cheers.
Although I am an annual Nord subscriber,I had the brilliant idea to download Protonvpn FREE(Version 1.23.3 EarlyAccess),having read so much about its evolution.
I was surprised by the performance of Proton.
Proton now has advanced features,such as Hardware Acceleration,VPN Accelerator and the WireGuard protocol,although this is not in its final form,as Agent N. explained to me.
Although the three locations of Proton free are almost permanently overloaded,the performance of Proton is amazing.
I’m not just talking about security and privacy,but also speed,which is really very fast like the one I experience on my own vpn.Unbelievable and yet it is true.
And I end up with the unique function of Kill Switch that when it is activated and the Proton application is closed,the Internet connection is never lost,as is the case with other VPNs and mine as well.
I am not in a position to talk about all the possibilities and the policy of Proton, it is too early …
Dear Mr. Taylor: Though I have since moved on to another VPN service that supports WireGuard, when I used ProtonVPN on my Mac and iPhone, it did support OpenVPN, as well as IKEv2. Now, IKEv2 is the default setting, it is very easy to switch to OpenVPN on ProtonVPN’s Mac and iOS clients, using either TCP or UDP. I also just checked ProtonVPN’s website, where it states that it supports IKEv2 and OpenVPN.
It is hard to believe that Proton AG dropped support for OpenVPN in the short time since I used it.
Hey Sven,
I just got an update to my ProtonVPN. They now have Wireguard Beta out.
They are running Wireguard and it is coming online. I looked at their blog but they have not updated that yet so I will keep an eye out for it and post when I find.
I wonder again if that speed increase is in fact that WireGuard being used. I am very interested now to see your updated review.
As a good thing to include in the Pro’s is WireGuard support (albeit Beta mode for right now).
Thanks.
Cool, we’ll keep an eye on this, thanks.
@Sven,
Sounds good. I will update with the blog post when I see it. Thanks.
What Mr. Sven writes is absolutely true,Proton remains slow by default with either the Tun adapter or the Tap adapter or by increasing the speed (?).
Supporters also remain by default and get paid a lot to write whatever comes to their mind.
Proton will implement WireGuard in the new season,as I was told,but I doubt it.
https://protonvpn.com/blog/vpn-accelerator/
ProtonVPN has now added a speed increase!
@Sven,
Would this be their answer to using WireGuard?
Hi J.M. this is interesting, but it looks like by default with ProtonVPN, you still get slow speeds. If they have tweaked OpenVPN to give you faster speeds, why isn’t it enabled by default? And why don’t they just start using WireGuard, which other industry-leading VPNs are doing?
NordVPN did something similar and tweaked their OpenVPN implementation years ago, like this, and it went live with everything, no settings or “accelerator” options had to be enabled. It just worked, and it was really fast. Then they also integrated support for WireGuard, as have others, which blows OpenVPN out of the water.
So ultimately, Proton remains slow by default, they still have not yet implemented WireGuard, and you have to enable a special feature to get better speeds that other leading VPNs are already delivering, if not beating by a large margin.
Thanks. I checked my VPN and it looks as though the option is on by default. I didn’t turn it on so that is my impression.
Thank you.
Ok thanks, that’s good to know. I will test it out more for the next ProtonVPN review update.
Sven,
Sounds good, thanks. I look forward to seeing what speeds you end up with.
@Sven,
One pro to add to this is full disk encryption. From what I gather, this protects against MITM attacks.
https://protonvpn.com/blog/disk-encryption/
Thanks.
I recently purchased an annual Nord subscription,following Sven’s advice which is absolutely wise.
The difference between these two VPNs is huge,here are two examples.
* With Proton(Tune Adapter)enabled,connecting to any server takes at least 5-6 seconds.
With Proton(Tune Adapter)enabled,opening a website takes at least 3 seconds.
* With Nord enabled,connecting to any server takes 1-2 seconds.
With Nord enabled,a website opens in less than 1 second.
What we have here;A road race between a turtle and a hare?
As for the links that are mentioned,they actually confirm me and the truth is not going to change,it is as if they say:
Yes,but… These are the consequences of ostrichism.
I am no longer interested in the paid videos,as well as the links that are quoted,the whole truth is carefully hidden and therefore the misleading of the readers continues.
According to the diagnosis of some university technicians,in a few short years Proton will fall to the bottom of the global VPN ranking and Proton will no longer receive grants.
I wish readers to be prudent,definitely avoid Proton and switch to other VPNs,preferably NORDVPN.
J.S.,
I thought you were not going to respond anymore? I had typed up a long response, but have decided it just is not worth it. I will make one more statement and then I will put an end to this back and forth.
I have posted proof that they do not track IP’s, log IP’s or are required to do so FROM THE VERY LAW that was passed. Just because you don’t like it, fine. Show links to prove what you are saying.
Outside of that, there is no way I will or can argue against opinions that are truth resistant.
There is my statement, and I hope you find what you are looking for.
I’m sorry to bother you but my answer was not addressed to you as you can see.
However,I assure you that this will be my last answer no matter what happens and I will try to be honest and friendly.
My eyes have seen a lot and I do not trust the links at all,sometimes they present false and distorted content that is disorienting.
For me,you have two chances to find out the truth.
Can Proton give you the original and complete document of the passed bill?
I do not believe it because either Proton is afraid or because Proton does not trust you.
Can the government give you the original and complete document of the passed bill?
I do not believe it because you are not a member of the Swiss parliament.
So do not get stuck with the links and since Proton does not trust you,why should I trust you or Proton?
However,beyond these considerations,I have the original and complete document of the passed bill but my Position has prohibited me from publishing it as I have already signed a confidentiality agreement.
This happens in Positions that harmonize with the law and preserve confidentiality.
I told you, hard law but law,especially when it comes to violating and safeguarding confidentiality.
In conclusion,as I said, I will not bother you again,since I was completely removed from Proton.
Regards.
There have been questions as to the logging of IP and issues involved with ProtonMail and ProtonVPN, and being in Switzerland with the BUPF.
A discussion ensued and the comment was made that none are exempted. Of course, knowing that hard proof is needed to decide what validity there was of this statement, I dug and asked for help.
An argument from silence, especially those who are trying to point out false statements simply because they do not like ProtonMail and VPN, is no argument at all.
ProtonMail has stated that they are exempted from the logging requirements: https://protonmail.com/blog/swiss-surveillance-law/
Of course, survellince requests of any kind can be taken too far, and yet in Switzerland the amount of survellince is very low compared to the US, UK, AU, etc. In fact, year over year, live survellince has gone down, not up: https://www.li.admin.ch/en/stats.
Are there abuses, yes, no government is perfect. But it is not enough to hear ProtonMail state that they are exempt because any company can say what any company wishes to say. What should be considered is what the law states. It was mentioned that there are no exemptions. This is false.
Article 26 al. 6 BUPF, there is exemptions possible (except for metadata) that can and does exempt companies based on some criteria: https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2018/31/en#art_26
How does a company know if it is under these exemptions? Art. 51 VUPF gives the criteria and while I do not speak the language, this can be translated, and I used DeepL to do so. https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2018/32/fr#art_51
Therefore, while there is some discussion about ProtonMail and VPN, at least now we have a reference point to know what the truth is.
ProtonMail and VPN is a very solid company which has done most things right and has proven themselves time and again. If and when that time comes they are required to log IP addresses, then I will admit that a new company is needed and will switch. But if you are on the fence about where to go, I can think of no one better for privacy and security.
Here is a great second opinion review from TechLore.
I use Proton and they have been rock solid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srdBVLA5uLo
Following a recent investigation (CERTD),it has been clearly confirmed that Protonvpn does not have the full development and implementation of all the required components-keys to the security of a VPN network,which are:
Tunnels and Encryption
Package Certification
Firewalls and Intrusion Detection
User Certification
These mechanisms complement each other by providing security to different parts of the network.Every VPN solution must implement them in practice to be viable and reliable. In addition,there are specific disadvantages to Protonvpn that need to be considered and they concern:
Requirements for resources
Package charge
Difficulty of implementation and management
Availability
Difficulty providing QoS
Difficulty providing fast speed
Based on the above research and findings,Protonvpn is not particularly attractive,I would rather say that it is an indifferent and insignificant vpn.
The irony is that I am an active user of Proton Plus,but fortunately for another five days.
Then of course I will sign up for NORDVPN.
I would like to give some details about the research on Protonvpn conducted by a Center for Research, Evaluation and Technological Development.
The research and certification of this center made NORDVPN the safest and fastest VPN in the world for 2021.
How do well-paid and favorable reviews and videos about Protonvpn relate to the fact that the reality is questionable?
The two main disadvantages of Protonvpn are low speed and lack of safety.
Protonvpn is required by Swiss law to report to the Prosecutor’s Office,which means that Protonvpn is a cooperating member.
It is about restoring the truth to readers who are looking for the fastest and safest VPN and the winner is undoubtedly NORDVPN.
Do you have a link to any reports or documents on this?
No,I do not have a link to any reports or documents on this.
However,I have the assurance from two authoritative sources that the relevant law exists.
As I was briefly told: ” Almost 70% of Swiss citizens voted in a referendum in favor of a bill that allows the state to legally monitor the online activities of its citizens “.
This means that the law exists and is applied,I do not know details,but some know for sure.
P.S. At some point my email will cease to exist.
J.S.,
The bill you refer to was passed in ’15, and the referandum concluded in ’16.
Further, from what I gather, it does not apply to Email as much as ISP’s.
Therefore it doesn’t seem to affect PM or ProtonVPN.
I do agree it is a very sad decision, this article sheds a little better light on the matter.
I bet Proton is now in a stronger place to affect change than they were then since they are a bigger company and more users.
https://protonmail.com/blog/swiss-surveillance-law/
J.M.
I now confirm the dates.I now confirm that the Swiss state legally monitors ALL the online activities of its citizens,including of course ProtonMail,ProtonVPN and all VPN providers based in Switzerland,there is absolutely no exception for anyone.
The bill has no windows or holes and as the Latins used to say: Dura lex sed lex (hard law but law),the same goes for this bill.
It is not fair to verify the truth by distorting it.
It is not fair to embellish sad situations.
And most importantly,it is not fair to mislead readers.
I’m not going to deal with Proton again,the item is exhausted.
J.,
That is fine. I am not a sales rep for them, nor do I care who you chose to do business with.
But an argument from silence is no argument.
I am willing to read and research, but do you have a link to help?
News like this would be major since PM is huge, but it is silent.
However, if you are done with this topic, I will respect that.
J.M.
One last answer because you do not express yourself properly.
If you represent Proton or the government, who cares?
When citizens vote in favor of a bill,everyone should be silent even the PM,because the popular vote is huge and the government is the executive body for the implementation of the bill.
If you want to read and research the bill,contact Proton or the European Union or the CCBE or wherever you want.
You do not need a link to help,you need the bill document and maybe then you realize that an argument from the imposed silence sometimes reveals much more.
We’re done,good luck.
I discovered that ProtonMail voluntarily offers assistance for real-time surveillance, which makes them less than desirable for VPN services in anyone’s book.
(https://web.archive.org/web/20190621082152/https://steigerlegal.ch/2019/05/23/protonmail-real-time-surveillance/)
New Linux app for ProtonVPN!
https://protonvpn.com/blog/protonvpn-linux-app/
Proton is a vpn that reveals all its related features.
Moderate performance,opaque cancellation and refund policy that is not mentioned at all on the Protonvpn website,not even in a word,when all other VPN providers have detailed reports.Because of this policy I left Protonvpn.
There is still some supposed support(?)because of which I left Protonvpn.
As for whether Proton is monitoring or not,I am now in a probative position to know and that is another reason I left Proton.
I liked Protonvpn,but all the protons,from top to bottom,made me hate it.
As for me,I canceled my subscription and got a refund.
Avoid Protonvpn in any way,whether free or paid,by rejecting policies and practices that tarnish and jeopardize cancellations,refunds and subscriptions of unsuspecting customers.
Chris,
Did a search: hope this helps answer some of your comments:
Opaque cancellation and refund policies:
THEIR STATEMENT:
Money Back Guarantee
You may cancel your account with a refund for any unused portion of the service period within 30 days of the initial purchase. Here, any unused portion of the service period refers to the prorated remaining full days of the subscription period. Refunds or credits beyond the 30 days window will be considered, but at the sole discretion of the Service.
…
At its sole discretion, the Company may also provide the account holders with a prorated refund for service fees paid during the period the Service was not available or usable, upon the request of the account holder. The Company is only obligated to refund in the original currency of payment and refunds will be processed within 14 days of the request.
Found: https://protonvpn.com/terms-and-conditions
Took very little time to find and was on their website. I am sorry you were not happy with them.
Having a direct link, making getting to it easier is good.
As far as speeds, the higher (of course more money) levels do give you faster speeds.
I’ve used Proton for nearly a year now. I consistently get better speeds with them than I ever got with ExpressVPN (in the USA). These two were my only real choices because of their support for split tunneling (I don’t trust IPVanish for obvious reasons). Proton’s recent “Permanent Kill Switch” is better than ExpressVPN’s because it truly stops connectivity at reboot and at all times when no VPN connection is active. The TUN adapter is definitely faster than the TAP one. Hopefully, they’ll switch to WireGuard at some point and things will get even better. I’m guessing they’ve already started looking at it but the whole “local static IP address” table thing in WireGuard requires some serious effort to workaround securely (there’s a NordLynx article on Nord’s web site that explains the issue very well). I’m satisfied with Proton but others may have had different experiences.
Here is a good review of ProtonVPN.
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=srdBVLA5uLo
I would advise all users to avoid Proton as the devil avoids incense.
Proton is the most insidious,dangerous,dishonest and predatory vpn provider on all 5 continents.
I have to disagree. Let me share:
They are divested from the Venture Capitalist, they increased their oversight with local people, everything is open sourced, they are forthcoming with their leadership.
https://protonmail.com/blog/crv-investment-other-news/
Their willingness and ability to help with getting started was and is top notch. It was a chore as I am using it for my NPO.
They are the maintainers of some of the best security codes of which CTemplar also uses, and they are improving still.
https://ctemplar.com/ctemplar-recognizes-protonmails-openpgpjs-maintenance/
Development is not the fastest, but what does come out works.
https://protonmail.com/blog/calendar-free-web-android/
The only two negatives left are slow speeds and Torrenting.
I have, occasionally, had to change the server to get more speed and if you want to Torrent, use the right servers.
The only negative I have been trying to get them to do is to stop using Google for push notifications.
Their tech support, CS, and responses are excellent, and I have never had an issue with it.
There are some who say that PGP needs to go away, or the security risk, etc. The guy who wrote that struggles just to keep his company honest.
Proton has stood against overreach and works with those who can defend privacy.
https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/27/protonmail-threema-tresorit-and-tutanota-warn-eu-lawmakers-against-anti-encryption-push/
https://protonmail.com/blog/joint-statement-eu-encryption/
https://protonmail.com/blog/transparency-report/
https://medium.com/zulurepublic/defending-privacy-an-interview-with-andy-yen-of-protonmail-38e7f12b1c71
They have teamed up with several companies, and yes, while a little cheesy, really shows what they are about: https://privacyheroes.io
Yes, their prices are subsidizing the free versions but it is truly free. Just server, storage and speed limits. I have a discount that is really great, and I know I am supporting them for those who need the free setup.
I am cautious about my recommendations, and in fact have only recommended a handful of things.
Protonmail/VPN is in fact one of those companies. Can I be wrong? Absolutely and then I will make the necessary changes. But until then, they are a top notch company.
Why would a company do all of this, set itself up as it has, only to be secretly stabbing us in the back?
I want to correct myself.
I said they use push notifications, that is wrong. That is used on ProtonMail.
Since this is ProtonVPN, that does not work here.
ProtonVPN is found on F-Droid and you can also get the direct APK if you so wish.
Sorry for the confusion.
Push notifications in protonmail can be disabled is settings just in 2 clicks.
Onereply,
Thanks. Some want it and it is nice, but not if Google is is involved.
I was Thrilled with Proton’s Encrypted ProtonMail so much so that I over $139 to Upgrade to their Plus Plan and ProtonVPN as well. Started migrating my Digital World over to ProtonMail addresses & Phone App. ProtonVPN worked great on my Router, & Phone. Impressive Full-Featured Interface on desktop. Thought it was Great!
Until…
Two days later I ‘Replied’ to an email I received that sent out 6 emails to other addresses.
Best I can figure, Proton’s System identified this as a ‘Spam’ Mail and ‘Violated Proton’s Policy Agreement’ and IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED my whole account. NO ACCESS! NO EMAIL!! NO VPN!!! NO SUPPORT!!!! NO WARNING!!!!!
Had to Uninstall their VPN App off my phone just to get Internet again because it wasn’t possible to Log On and turn the VPN Off. I sent 3 emails over two days and No Response. Had to file a Dispute with my Credit Card Company to Cancel Service with Proton. I offered them the opportunity to ‘make this right’ but No Response. Very Disappointing because they Do have High Reviews.
If Replying to an email can cause this disruption of Proton Service and my Digital Life, then this should be considered before signing up. The fact that they Don’t have a Chat Option, or Phone Option, and have not returned my email requests Greatly concerns their Paid Customer Support. This was a Huge waste of time and disruption to my Self and Business Communications.
Be Careful. If you want Privacy and to get away from ‘Cancel Culture’, in MY Experience, Proton Technologies may Not be the best choice.
I tried posting a comment under here like I did under ProtonMail.
I doesn’t look like it took, so I will reference my comment under yours on the PM.
Replying to myself: I am able to post my comment from ProtonMail:
Craig,
I was going to not engage with this as I have seen this posted around.
However, digging deeper, in most of those cases, reasons were given and explinations provided.
In places where there may have been a mistake, the Proton Team has tried to reach out.
Here, you posted the same thing, not only here, but on the ProtonMail page on this site, but also here:
https://www.trustpliot.com/review/protonmail.com
If you look at the response (third one down), the support team is reaching out to you.
Did you respond? How did that turn out?
Will you update on this site? The one linked to? I am curious.
No service is perfect but comparatively, they are really good.
I am wondering if more is happening or going on.
Thanks.
Craig,
I was doing a follow up and saw the good news.
Since this was not updated on this site I will do so to show that Proton is a solid company.
Proton’s response:
Apr 29, 2021
Hi Craig, we’re sorry for the inconvenience. Can you please include your ticket number in an edit of your review so we can follow up internally and assist you with this?
Update: Our anti-abuse team has restored your account, and you may continue using it without further interruptions. Again, we’re very sorry for any inconvenience that was caused by this suspension. We’d really appreciate it if you would reconsider your review now that the issue has been resolved. Thank you in advance.
Link:https://www.trustpilot.com/review/protonmail.com
Proton has some pros like reliability and stability and some essential cons like mediocre speed,the absence of WireGuard,the imbalance between Tap and Tun Adapters and the dormant function of the “Netshield” feature. Proton is a poor,mediocre and deficient vpn.
Did you test “Netshield” feature at all?
Nope, not yet.
So far pretty good as far as I can tell.
the forward secrecy in protonvpn .. so particular !
Hello,be aware that I spend a few hours a day reading your website and it is honestly a cognitive pleasure.
I read your review of Protonvpn and because I want to purchase it,I researched it on my son’s computer following your speed tests(locations and servers).
I think my speed tests are impressive and definitely do not exactly match yours.
My son’s base speed is 53 Mbps.
The following are the ProtonVPN speed tests.
Seattle: 34 Mbps
Los Angeles: 39 Mbps
New York: 42 Mbps
United Kingdom: 43 Mbps
The speed of Protonvpn is not below average,at least on my son’s computer,I would say with precision and certainty that it is between moderate and fast,a fairly satisfactory speed.
And of course I have to say that your review of Protonvpn is detailed and informative and I agree with it.
What is certain is that I will follow my son and purchase Protonvpn for its safety and speed.
I don’t know what to believe,sir,but are there really VPN providers that don’t have logs policy and are not cooperative?
For example,everyone knows that Proton has a strict no-logs policy and is not cooperative.
However,a reliable website disputes Proton and states that Proton is cooperative [https://thebestvpn.com/].
This is a serious accusation although it’s the only website that mentions it.
What do you think about this?
You can go right to the source. See the Proton Transparency reports.
ProtonVPN: https://protonvpn.com/blog/transparency-report/
This states, “as we do not have any customer IP information” so that reads fine.
ProtonMail: https://protonmail.com/blog/transparency-report/
Note that there is a section that says, “ProtonMail may also be obligated to monitor the IP addresses which are being used to access the ProtonMail accounts which are engaged in criminal activities.”
So this shows that ProtonMail may log IP addresses of users when forced to by the court. I have not seen this with the VPN, however.
And this is also interesting:
https://protonmail.com/law-enforcement
Thanks for your interesting post,sir.
I have no doubt about the privacy of Proton.
But in general and taking on the role of the devil’s advocate,all Vpn providers display almost the same transparency report ie everyone ensures confidentiality.
How can we verify the reliability of transparency reports? Reading them? Is enough?
For example,if I read the Hotspot Shield Transparency Report,is this product guaranteed to protect my privacy?
I can not believe any transparency report just because I read it.
There must be something else that confirms the credibility of a transparency report that only you can give me.
Hi Cristopher, sure another way is through third-party audits. And on the privacy (no logs) front, there have been a handful of services that have had their no-logs promises verified, either through audits or real-world test cases. We discuss these in our guide on verified no logs VPN services.
@Sven,
Is it true, though, all providers are required to oblige by their court orders?
The key is to have a provider who knows very little about you.
Yes, all providers must comply with laws in the jurisdiction where they are located, which is why jurisdiction is so important.
Hi Sven.
Native Android ProtonVPN client is currently supporting OpenVPN protocol, both TCP and UDP (https://protonvpn.com/support/how-to-change-vpn-protocols/).
Please include in the “ProtonVPN encryption and VPN protocols” subsection.
I been using protons free vpn service for quite a while now. And do random leak test, which Always shows NO Leaks. And since Mr. Sven offers a no-bias tests results and excellent info and also since one of my sister’s works for a private security firm with a single employer(two letters, abbreviation) and has a computer tech who is directly involved with The Tor Project. Both agree with majority results and statements from this article writer’s suggestions and recommendation in full support. And the couple of “Einstein’s” that claim Proton is in “Bed” with any eyes group, one question,”Really ?? Are you
Serious” ?? You obviously In heald to much or held it too long. I’ll go with Mr. S info and sisters confirmed agreement. Keep up the Awesome work here!!!
Sven, please, some heeeep! I installed Proron VPN on Android It was working ok for a week, however now it is not working at all! I am connected to my ISP as usual and there is internet connection, however, I am not allowed to connect to any servers of Proton VPN using the mobile app. The app says some of the Uniteb Arab Emirates servers are under maintenance. There are yellow, red and green circles oposite to different server names and none of them is working. Choosing Australian server some of the available locations are under maintenance as well. Choosing another servers from Europe or USA the same scenario I am not allowed to connect. The show log says failed to connect, Proton Team does not respond to my emails despite I put different subject lines like URGENT/UPGRADE/HELP. It has been 4 days and no response, After leaving a comment on https://protonvpn.com no one responded to me and now going there again choosing support or blog option there is no option for posting a comment, just disappeared and my previous comment is more likely to not has been published at all! I am really disappointed with such poor service, total ignorance and negligence from ProtonMail and VPN! Moreover, couple of days ago I wanted to upgrade my Proton mail and guess no one responded me again! A week has been passed since then! Going online using Swisscows and Firefox the search engine says insecure connection every website I tried to reach is unreachable! What does this mean? Has my phone been hacked? i really find it hard to understand whats going on with the Proton App , VPN, Mail, servers , connection and the total lack of communication!
I have also found their support team to be slow on occasions. I’m not sure I could be of much help in getting them to reply faster. Perhaps a VPN with live chat support may be in order.
Reply to Anonymous: there is a difference if you write them from proton account (logged) or not. Also a customer, if writes them non logged, the answers are slower.
If anyone uses ProtonVPN as a paid user, great news!
https://protonvpn.com/blog/netshield-ad-blocker/
I thought I would share this if anyone is interested.
This could, I believe, replace a lot of extensions.
Do you know how effective the NetShield feature actually is in ad blocking?
Por Ejemplo: Does it block all ads? Does it block ads embedded in You Tube videos?