Proton VPN Review: Top VPN for Digital Nomads?

If privacy and security are non-negotiable for your remote lifestyle, Proton VPN is easily one of the best VPNs for digital nomads.

It's based in Switzerland, which means it’s protected by strict privacy laws and isn’t part of any major surveillance alliances. Unlike many other VPNs, it doesn’t log your data, and that’s been independently verified.

One thing that really stands out is their free plan. It’s one of the only ones that offers unlimited data with no ads. It’s not the fastest or most feature-packed, but it’s surprisingly solid for everyday browsing.

In this review, we’ll break down everything you need to know, from performance and features to pricing and real-world usability. Plus, some top alternatives in case Proton VPN isn’t the right fit for you.

Proton VPN Pros and Cons

Proton VPN Packages and Costs

Proton VPN keeps things simple with a solid free plan and two paid options, depending on your needs.

Proton’s Plan is available monthly, 1-year, or 2-year subscriptions. The longer the commitment, the more significant the discounts:

Free Plan – $0/month

This is one of the best free VPN options out there. It gives you unlimited data (rare for a free VPN), no ads, and solid privacy protection. Speeds are labeled as “medium,” and you only get access to a handful of servers (U.S., Netherlands, Japan, and a couple more), but it’s more than enough for basic browsing or occasional use. You still get core features like encryption, a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.

VPN Plus – From $4.99/month

This plan unlocks the full Proton VPN experience. You get access to all servers (10,000+ in over 120 countries), the fastest speeds, and up to 10 devices at once. It also includes:

• Secure Core (routes your traffic through multiple servers for extra privacy)
• Streaming and torrenting support
• Tor over VPN
• NetShield (blocks ads and malware)

It’s a strong option if you use a VPN regularly for work, travel, or streaming.

Proton Unlimited – From $7.99/month

This one includes everything from VPN Plus, but bundles in Proton’s other tools:

• Proton Mail (encrypted email)
• Proton Drive (cloud storage)
• Proton Calendar
• Proton Pass (password manager)

Basically, if you want to keep your entire digital life private, not just your internet connection, this plan covers it all.

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Quick Tech Specs (All Plans)

All plans, free or paid, use the same strong encryption and protocols. The real difference comes down to speed, server access, and extra features.

What We Like About Proton VPN

Privacy Features

Proton VPN takes privacy seriously...And it shows! One feature we really appreciate is Secure Core, which routes your traffic through privacy-friendly countries like Iceland or Switzerland before it goes anywhere else. It’s an extra layer of protection, especially useful if you’re worried about surveillance or tracking on public Wi-Fi.

There’s also a kill switch that kicks in if your connection drops, so your data never leaks. And if you're extra cautious, Tor over VPN lets you combine both tools without needing to open a separate browser.

The company has a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited, and since it's based in Switzerland, it’s protected by some of the strongest privacy laws in the world. So, no shady data requests from governments or intelligence alliances.

Security Features

On the security front, Proton VPN uses industry-standard encryption (AES‑256 and ChaCha20) to keep your data locked down. You can choose between WireGuard or OpenVPN, depending on whether you want more speed or more stability.

If you're in a country with restricted internet, Stealth mode helps you get around firewalls, though it might slow things down a bit. The NetShield feature is also super handy; it blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level, without needing an extra plugin. And if your connection ever feels sluggish, VPN Accelerator kicks in to improve speeds, especially on slower or distant networks.

Global Server Network

Proton VPN has a pretty impressive global reach, with 10,000+ servers across 120+ countries (as of 2025). Unlike some competitors, most of their servers are physical, which reduces the risk of data leaks.

Streaming and torrenting are supported, but only on paid plans. Free users get access to fewer servers and no P2P support. One thing to note: they don’t offer dedicated IP addresses, so all users share IPs. That’s actually a good thing for staying anonymous, but it does mean you can’t set up private device-to-device tunnels just yet.

Torrenting and P2P Support

While not their biggest marketing point, torrenting support on Proton VPN is solid. There are no bandwidth limits, and P2P is supported across a wide network of servers. We recommend choosing a server in countries like Switzerland or Spain if you're planning to download large files. They tend to offer better speeds and fewer restrictions!

User Experience and Apps

What’s also worth mentioning is how well Proton VPN works across devices. Whether you’re on a Windows laptop, Android phone, iPhone, Mac, Linux machine, or even an Apple TV, Proton VPN has you covered. The apps are sleek and easy to use, and if you're on the Plus or Unlimited plan, you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time, which is more than enough for most remote workers.

ProtonVPN Streaming Performance

We’ve tested Proton VPN across multiple platforms and regions, and honestly, it’s one of the best VPNs we've used for streaming. The connection is smooth, reliable, and consistent while watching Netflix or YouTube, even during peak hours.

What makes it stand out is the large pool of IP addresses and the fact that Proton VPN owns native apps for nearly every device, including Firestick, iOS, Android, laptops, and even streaming boxes. This means you don’t have to mess around with manual setup or third-party apps. Just install, connect, and stream.

If you ever hit a geo-block (for example, if Netflix suddenly flags the server), switching to another server in a different city usually solves the problem in seconds. In our experience, Proton VPN consistently unlocks content across different countries, which is a huge plus for travelers who rely on international streaming access.

ProtonVPN Speed and Real-World Performance

We also ran speed tests to see how Proton VPN holds up in real use, and the results were impressive. It's fast enough for everything we threw at it: HD/4K streaming, large downloads, Zoom calls, you name it.

Here’s a snapshot from one of our tests:

As expected, turning on features like Secure Core or Stealth Mode adds a bit of overhead...You’ll trade a little speed for extra privacy. But even with those features enabled, the connection stayed usable, especially on decent Wi-Fi.

Proton VPN isn’t the absolute fastest we’ve tried (NordVPN and Surfshark are slightly quicker in raw speed), but it’s easily among the top tier, especially when balancing speed with security and usability.

Top Alternatives to Proton VPN

If you're exploring other VPNs alongside Proton VPN, these two are consistently mentioned as top contenders:

NordVPN

The first real contender is NordVPN. We've used it extensively, and if speed is your main concern, it's hard to beat. In our tests, it consistently delivered faster performance than Proton VPN, especially when streaming or downloading large files. One thing we really liked is their Meshnet feature, which lets you link devices across locations like a secure virtual LAN, something that’s surprisingly useful for remote teams and frequent travelers. Plus, like Proton VPN, it’s based outside the 14-Eyes surveillance alliance, which means your data stays your own. Pricing-wise, if you're willing to commit to a long-term plan, it often comes out cheaper than Proton VPN too.

Surfshark

Another great option, especially if you're on a budget, is Surfshark. We’ve found it to be one of the best price-to-feature VPNs available. Despite its low cost, it still offers strong performance and comes packed with features you'd expect from more premium services, including ad blocking, GPS spoofing, and even antivirus in some bundles. What stands out most, though, is that it allows unlimited device connections on a single account, which is a big win for those of us juggling multiple devices. It’s also been reliable when it comes to unblocking content on streaming platforms and supporting P2P traffic.

Proton VPN FAQs

Can Proton VPN be used in China?

Proton VPN may work in China, but it’s not guaranteed. The company doesn’t officially claim full functionality inside China due to the country’s strict censorship and VPN blocks.

Do you have to pay for Proton VPN?

No. Proton VPN offers a completely free version with no data caps. However, it’s limited to one device, medium speeds, and access to a handful of server locations.

Does ProtonVPN allow torrenting?

Yes, Proton VPN supports P2P file sharing and torrenting on most of its servers, but only on paid plans.

Does Proton VPN have a free version?

Yes, and it’s one of the best free VPNs available. No ads, no data limits, and strong privacy, even if the speed and server selection are limited.

Does Proton VPN have a limit?

Yes, but only on the free plan. You'll be limited in speed, the number of servers you can access, and you can only connect one device at a time.

Does Proton VPN have an ad blocker?

Yes, paid users get access to NetShield, a built-in DNS-level blocker that filters out ads, malware, and trackers.

Does Proton VPN offer dedicated IP addresses?

Not for regular users. Proton VPN currently doesn’t offer dedicated IPs unless you're an enterprise client.

Does Proton VPN support port forwarding?

Yes, port forwarding is available for users on paid plans.

Does Proton VPN work on Mac?

Absolutely. There’s a native Proton VPN app for macOS that includes all the essential features.

Where are ProtonVPN servers located?

Proton VPN has a global network of servers in over 120 countries, giving users broad coverage and flexible connection options.

Ready to Give Proton VPN a Try?

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