Is it still worth using Proton VPN Free?
Once the best free VPN, now a runner-up
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Have you ever subscribed to a service only to find that, as time went by, it was no longer the same service to which you’d originally signed up? A VPN can change significantly, for better or worse, not just over a calendar year but in a matter of months.
VPN providers regularly add and remove servers, overhaul their privacy policies, and introduce new features. These developments naturally impact their speed, security, and overall usability.
We aim to provide VPN reviews and rankings that are both accurate and up-to-date. The only way to do this is by regularly re-testing today’sbest VPNsto find out what’s new. We’ve done exactly that with our recent round of testing. This includes revisitingProton VPN, a privacy-first VPN provider that also offers a free plan. I wanted to find out if Proton VPN Free is still worth using and, if not, where it falls short of otherfree VPNs.
Proton VPN– from $3.59 per monthA powerful and privacy-focused VPNProton VPN is among the fastest VPNs around, peaking at over 950 Mbps in our speed tests. Add to this its reliable unblocking power, and you’ve got a strong streaming option that can handle 4K content without lag. There’s no shortage of servers to choose from either because Proton VPN now has well over 8,500 servers in 112 countries – one of the largest VPN server networks on the market. Plus, the risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to compare Proton VPN’s paid plan with its free version.
What does Proton VPN Free offer
Proton VPN Freeranks among the very best free services we’ve tested. Much of this is down to the fact that, despite being free, it offers a generous selection of valuable features:
Why avoid Proton VPN Free
Proton VPN Free still has a lot going for it but it no longer tops our free VPN rankings. Instead, it’sPrivadoVPNthat comes out ahead thanks to its recent updates. Here’s why Proton VPN has been pipped to the post:
- Free users can’t select their server locationMany free VPNs only offer a single server location. Although Proton VPN has five (in theUnited States, Romania, Poland, Netherlands, and Japan), you can’t choose which server you connect to. Instead, you’ll be automatically connected to the fastest available server.
We all appreciate a fast connection, certainly, but there may be times when you need a particular server location to access specific online content (like a streaming service or news site).
The restriction of not being able to choose a server location is all the more surprising – not to mention unnecessary – given that Proton VPN now boasts one of the largest server networks of any VPN. This covers 112 countries, which is more thanNordVPNorExpressVPN.
Check out ourbest streaming VPNrankings to see which services we recommend for unblocking all of today’s most popular platforms.
- Free users can’t unblock streaming platformsWhen you use the free version of Proton VPN, you won’t have access to Proton VPN’s dedicated streaming servers which are only available to paid subscribers.
We were unable to access the likes ofAmazon Prime VideoandUS Netflixin testing as a result.
Between this and the inability to choose specific server locations, Proton VPN Free is more suited for privacy protection than as aNetflix VPN. The paid version of Proton VPN performed much better in this respect. So, if you’re looking for asecure VPNwithout compromising when it comes to unblocking content, you might want to consider upgrading to a paid plan.
- Free users get just one simultaneous connectionProton VPN Free is available on every major platform. This includes Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Linux.
While you can install it on every device you own, you can only actually use it on one device at a time. This means that if you want to use it on your phone but you’re already connected via your laptop, you’ll need to sign out on your laptop in order to do so.
Strict simultaneous connection limits are common with free VPNs – even most paid VPNs still impose some sort of limit.Surfshark,PIA, andIPVanishare the exceptions that offerunlimited connections.
However, a one-device limit is particularly restrictive. If you do upgrade to a Proton VPN paid plan, you’ll have a lot more flexibility with 10 simultaneous connections to play with.
Why we don’t always recommend free VPNs
It goes without saying that free VPNs tend to be limiting. They give you only a sneak peek of the paid version to tempt you into upgrading to access the full suite of features.
As it is, the finite number of server locations andIP addressesmeans free VPNs are generally not suitable for unblocking geo-restricted content.
While I was impressed by the speeds offered by the free versions of Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN, most free VPNs aren’t fast enough for more bandwidth-intensive activities such as streaming orplaying online games.
Indeed, the majority of free VPNs limit your data allowance so you can’t use them for anything other than browsing.
Finally, we often don’t recommend free VPNs due to theirprivacy policies. Unlike Proton VPN, some free VPNs make money by logging and selling your personal data. This may include your IP address andbrowsing history. Overall, most free VPNs pose more problems than they solve – and you’re better off with a paid alternative.
Mark is a Tech Security Writer for TechRadar and has been published on Comparitech and IGN. He graduated with a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Lincoln and spent several years teaching English as a foreign language in Spain. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal sparked Mark’s interest in online privacy, leading him to write hundreds of articles on VPNs, antivirus software, password managers, and other cybersecurity topics. He recently completed the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, and when he’s not studying for the CompTIA Security+ exam, Mark can be found agonizing over his fantasy football team selections, watching the Detroit Lions, and battling bugs and bots in Helldivers 2.
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