Is Proton VPN legit?
Its claims are independently audited. Audits verify a point in time - check what exactly was audited. Owner: Proton AG - see the ownership map. We logged 4 red flags - listed on the review page.
Proton VPN is a solid choice if you value open-source transparency, audit-backed privacy, and a no-cap free tier. It’s especially useful for censorship evasion in mid-tier restricted networks. But be aware: renewal prices nearly double, detection on streaming sites is common, and its Swiss base doesn’t guarantee immunity from legal demands. The provider runs an affiliate program via PartnerStack w
The facts
| Pricing | $3.49/mo · renews $83.88 / 12 mo ($6.99/mo) Renewal verified on the operator plan card: "then renews at $83.88 every 12 months" (= $6.99/mo, ~2.0x intro). |
|---|---|
| Typical term | 731 days |
| Refund window | 30 days |
| Free tier | unlimited data, 1 device, ~5 countries, no ads, no logs (sig… moreunlimited data, 1 device, ~5 countries, no ads, no logs (signup needs an account, not a payment) |
| Payment | btc, xmr · fiat/cards |
| Signup needs | email-only |
| Personal info required | none |
| Logging claim | Strict no-logs (Swiss); only an overwritten last-successful-… moreStrict no-logs (Swiss); only an overwritten last-successful-login timestamp, no IP addresses (TorrentFreak 2026 survey answer)moreProton VPN apps and infrastructure audited by Securitum (2023, repeated 2024/2025); no-logs policy published under Swiss law. Caveat: sibling product Proton Mail was forced to log a French activist's IP in 2021 - 'no logs' applies to VPN traffic, not to every abuse case. |
| Protocols | wireguard, openvpn, ikev2, stealth |
| Obfuscation | Stealth (WireGuard/OpenVPN over TLS to evade censorship), 'A… moreStealth (WireGuard/OpenVPN over TLS to evade censorship), 'Alternative routing' relay workaround when direct connections to Proton are blocked; ProTUN Rust framework announced Sept 2026 to extend WireGuard |
| Audits | Securitum 2024, Securitum 2023 https://protonvpn.com/blog/open-source |
| Countries | 140 |
| Apps | windows, mac, linux, android, ios, router, android_tv, apple_tv |
| Features | kill switch, split tunneling, multi-hop, dedicated IP, Tor-o… morekill switch, split tunneling, multi-hop, dedicated IP, Tor-over-VPN, P2P allowed, streaming |
| Open source | apps are open source |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland |
| Owner | Proton AG moreOperated by Proton AG, Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland (proton.me imprint; also named in the TorrentFreak 2026 survey answer already on file). |
based on 20 dated external sources · facts checked 2026-10-01 · methodology