ProtonVPN Review: The Swiss Privacy VPN I Actually Trust

ProtonVPN pays me $25 per sale if you use my affiliate link.

I’m telling you this upfront because transparency is the bare minimum standard that VPN review sites abandoned years ago.

Unlike ExpressVPN (which I rejected at $95/sale due to ownership concerns) or Mullvad (which pays $0 because they have no affiliate program), ProtonVPN sits in the middle: decent commission, legitimate company, actual privacy credentials.

Is it perfect? No. But it’s one of the few VPNs I’d trust with my own traffic.

Let me show you why ProtonVPN earned a spot on my short list of actually recommendable VPNs.

⚡ 30-Second Verdict

Owner: Proton AG (Swiss company founded by CERN scientists)
Jurisdiction: Switzerland (actual privacy laws, not marketing bullshit)
Business model: Freemium (free tier available, paid tiers fund the service)
Open source: Yes (apps are verifiable on GitHub)
No-logs policy: Audited by Securitum (2022)
Commission: $25/sale (transparent disclosure)
Rating: 8/10 (legitimate privacy company with minor compromises)

Bottom line: If Mullvad is too hardcore for you and you want a privacy VPN with a real company behind it, ProtonVPN is my recommendation. Swiss jurisdiction, open source, transparent ownership, and a business model that isn’t built on affiliate marketing bullshit.

Get ProtonVPN (Swiss Laws Beat BVI and Panama Jurisdiction)

Who Owns ProtonVPN? (The Actually Good Story)

Proton AG: Founded by CERN Scientists

ProtonVPN is owned by Proton AG, a Swiss company founded in 2014 by scientists who met at CERN (the European particle physics lab).

The founding story:

Andy Yen (CEO), Jason Stockman (CTO), and Wei Sun started Proton
Built ProtonMail first (encrypted email service)
Crowdfunded through community support
Expanded to ProtonVPN, ProtonDrive, ProtonCalendar

Key point: These are actual privacy advocates who built a company around encryption and privacy, not marketers who bought a VPN company for affiliate revenue.

Swiss Jurisdiction (Actually Matters Here)

ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which unlike most 5 Eyes fear-mongering marketing claims, actually provides meaningful privacy protections.

Why Swiss jurisdiction matters:

Strong privacy laws: Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (FADP) and Constitution
Not in EU: Not subject to EU data retention directives
Not in 14 Eyes: Not part of intelligence sharing agreements
Court oversight required: Authorities need Swiss court order (not just administrative request)

Real example: In 2021, Swiss authorities ordered Proton to log IP address of a specific user involved in climate activism. Proton complied with the legal order (they had to), but:

They notified users in transparency report
Only logged one specific account (not all users)
Updated privacy policy to be more explicit about legal limits
Showed exactly how Swiss law works in practice

My take: This is what actual accountability looks like. They complied with legal requirements, were transparent about it, and showed that their no-logs policy has real limits defined by law - not marketing promises they can’t keep.

No Shady Ownership Changes

Unlike ExpressVPN (sold to Kape for $936M) or the NordVPN-Surfshark consolidation, ProtonVPN’s ownership has remained stable:

Still owned by Proton AG
Same founding team leading the company
No surprise acquisitions by ex-adware companies
Transparent about funding (community-funded, no VC bullshit)

This matters because VPN ownership changes are where privacy promises go to die.

The Business Model: Freemium Done Right

ProtonVPN uses a freemium model: free tier supported by paid subscribers.

Free tier includes:

1 device
3 countries (US, Netherlands, Japan)
Medium speed
No logs (same privacy as paid)

Paid tiers unlock:

More devices (2-10 depending on plan)
All countries (65+)
Faster speeds
Streaming support
Tor over VPN, Secure Core

Why this matters: The free tier proves they can operate without selling your data. They make money from subscriptions, not from logging and selling user behavior like free VPNs that are actually data collection schemes.

Pricing: $9.99/Month or $3.99/Month (2-Year Plan)

ProtonVPN pricing:

Monthly: $9.99/month (Proton VPN Plus)
1-year plan: $5.99/month
2-year plan: $3.99/month

Compare to alternatives:

Mullvad: €5/month forever (no games)
NordVPN: $12.99/month or $3.99/month (2-year)
ExpressVPN: $12.95/month or $6.67/month (2-year)

Value proposition: ProtonVPN is mid-priced. Not the cheapest (Mullvad), not the most expensive (ExpressVPN), but reasonable for what you get.

My affiliate disclosure: I make $25/sale if you use my link. That’s less than half what ExpressVPN offers ($95), but ProtonVPN’s ownership history makes them actually recommendable.

Privacy and Security: The Core Product

No-Logs Policy (Audited)

ProtonVPN’s no-logs policy was independently audited by Securitum in 2022.

What the audit verified:

No user activity logs
No connection logs
Minimal session data (cleared when you disconnect)
Privacy policy matches actual practice

Audit report: Published on Proton’s blog

Compare to competitors:

Mullvad: Proven via police raid (2023)
ProtonVPN: Verified via independent audit (2022)
ExpressVPN: Audited, but owned by questionable company
NordVPN: Audited post-2019, reformed from breach

My take: Independent audits are good. Police raids that find nothing are better (Mullvad). But ProtonVPN’s audit + Swiss jurisdiction + transparent track record builds credibility.

Open Source Apps (Verifiable)

All ProtonVPN apps are open source:

Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android apps
Published on GitHub
Anyone can audit the code

Why this matters: Closed-source VPNs (like ExpressVPN) require blind trust. Open source means security researchers can verify claims.

What I found reviewing the code:

No obvious backdoors or logging mechanisms
Well-documented codebase
Active development and security updates
Third-party security researchers actively review it

Secure Core: Multi-Hop Through Switzerland

ProtonVPN’s “Secure Core” feature routes traffic through multiple servers:

How it works:

Your traffic goes to Secure Core server (in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden)
Then to exit server in your chosen country
Adds extra layer of protection

When this is useful:

You’re in a country with compromised infrastructure
Extra paranoia about traffic correlation attacks
Willing to sacrifice speed for additional security layer

My take: This is overkill for most users, but it’s a legitimate security feature for high-threat scenarios. Not marketing bullshit like “military-grade encryption.”

Tor Over VPN

ProtonVPN supports Tor over VPN routing:

Connect to ProtonVPN
Your traffic then goes through Tor network
Adds Tor anonymity to VPN connection

Use case: Accessing .onion sites while using VPN, or adding another layer of anonymity.

Limitation: Slow as fuck. Tor is already slow; adding VPN makes it slower.

Kill Switch and DNS Leak Protection

Kill switch: Blocks all internet if VPN disconnects (prevents IP leaks) DNS leak protection: Routes all DNS queries through VPN tunnel

I tested both features:

Kill switch works reliably (disconnected VPN, traffic blocked)
No DNS leaks detected (tested via dnsleaktest.com)

Basic features that every VPN should have, and ProtonVPN implements them correctly.

Technical Performance: Good Enough

I tested ProtonVPN across multiple servers for speed, reliability, and streaming.

Speed Test Results

Testing methodology:

Baseline: 500 Mbps fiber connection
Tested 10 servers across US, EU, Asia
Used Speedtest by Ookla (yeah, owned by Ziff Davis, but it’s the standard)

Average results:

US servers: 320-420 Mbps (64-84% of baseline)
EU servers: 280-380 Mbps (56-76% of baseline)
Asia servers: 180-280 Mbps (36-56% of baseline)

Rating: 7/10 - Good speeds, not the fastest (NordVPN/ExpressVPN are faster), but perfectly usable for streaming, gaming, torrenting.

Netflix and Streaming

Does ProtonVPN unblock Netflix? Yes, but with caveats.

What works:

Netflix US: Works on most servers
Netflix UK, Canada: Generally works
BBC iPlayer: Hit or miss
Disney+, Hulu: Usually works

The reality: No VPN can guarantee unblocking streaming services because Netflix actively blocks VPNs. ProtonVPN works most of the time, but expect occasional blocks.

My take: If streaming is your PRIMARY use case, NordVPN is more reliable (unfortunately). ProtonVPN is better if privacy is priority #1 and streaming is a nice-to-have.

Server Network: 65+ Countries, 3000+ Servers

65+ countries covered
3000+ servers globally
Good coverage in Europe and North America
Decent coverage in Asia, light in Africa/South America

Compare to competitors:

ExpressVPN: 105 countries (larger network)
NordVPN: 111 countries (larger network)
Mullvad: 40 countries (smaller but sufficient)

My take: ProtonVPN’s network is sufficient for most users. Not the biggest, but well-distributed and reliable.

What ProtonVPN Gets Right

1. Transparent Ownership and Funding

Proton AG is a real company with identifiable founders, transparent funding (community-supported), and public track record. You know exactly who’s behind the service.

Compare to:

ExpressVPN: Owned by Kape (ex-Crossrider), took private in 2023
Many VPNs: Shell companies, hidden ownership, unclear funding

2. Swiss Jurisdiction Actually Provides Protection

The 2021 case where Swiss authorities ordered IP logging showed:

Swiss courts provide oversight (not just administrative requests)
Proton complied transparently and updated policies
Only specific account was logged (not blanket surveillance)

This is what “jurisdiction matters” actually looks like in practice.

3. Open Source Proves Claims

Anyone can audit ProtonVPN’s apps on GitHub. Security researchers do. This verifiability is rare in the VPN industry.

4. Free Tier Proves Business Model

The existence of a functional free tier demonstrates that ProtonVPN doesn’t need to log and sell data. They make money from subscriptions.

5. Proton Ecosystem Integration

If you use ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, or other Proton services, ProtonVPN integrates seamlessly. One account, unified privacy ecosystem.

What ProtonVPN Gets Wrong

1. Slower Than Competitors

ProtonVPN is noticeably slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN. If speed is your top priority, there are faster options.

My take: The speed difference is worth it for the privacy and ownership advantages, but it’s a real tradeoff.

2. Streaming Is Secondary

ProtonVPN works for Netflix most of the time, but it’s not their primary focus. If all you want is to unblock streaming, NordVPN is more reliable (even though I hate admitting it).

3. More Expensive Than Mullvad

Mullvad is €5/month forever, no games. ProtonVPN’s monthly price is $9.99 (requires 2-year commitment to get $3.99/month).

My take: Mullvad is cheaper and more private. ProtonVPN costs more but offers a more polished product with easier onboarding.

4. The 2021 IP Logging Case Scared People

When ProtonVPN logged a user’s IP address under Swiss court order, it created fear that they weren’t “really” no-logs.

My take: This is misunderstood. They complied with a lawful court order (they legally had to). The important part is:

Only one specific user was logged (not all users)
They were transparent about it in their transparency report
This shows the LIMITS of any no-logs policy (no VPN is above the law)

Any VPN that claims they’d ignore court orders is lying. ProtonVPN showed what actual legal compliance looks like.

How ProtonVPN Compares to Alternatives

ProtonVPN vs. Mullvad

Choose Mullvad if:

Privacy is absolute priority #1
You want simplest, most transparent VPN
You prefer paying cash/crypto anonymously
€5/month flat pricing appeals to you

Choose ProtonVPN if:

You want a free tier to test first
You use other Proton services (ProtonMail, etc.)
You want better streaming support
You prefer a polished, user-friendly experience

My ranking:

Mullvad (9/10) - Most private, proven by police raid
ProtonVPN (8/10) - Best balance of privacy and usability

ProtonVPN vs. NordVPN

Choose ProtonVPN if:

Privacy and ownership transparency matter more than speed
Swiss jurisdiction appeals to you
Open source verification is important
You want a legitimate privacy company

Choose NordVPN if:

Streaming is your primary use case
You want fastest speeds
You can overlook 2018 breach (they’ve reformed)

My ranking:

ProtonVPN (8/10) - Better ownership, Swiss jurisdiction
NordVPN (6/10) - Reformed villain, good for streaming

ProtonVPN vs. ExpressVPN

Choose ProtonVPN if:

You trust Swiss company over ex-Crossrider company
Open source matters to you
You want transparent ownership
You’re willing to pay less for better ethics

Choose ExpressVPN if:

You don’t care about Kape’s history
You want slightly faster speeds
You trust closed-source software

My ranking:

ProtonVPN (8/10) - Trustworthy ownership, Swiss jurisdiction
ExpressVPN (3/10) - Technically works, but ownership is disqualifying

The Affiliate Commission Reality

ProtonVPN pays $25/sale. Here’s the math:

If I recommend ProtonVPN:

100 sales = $2,500
500 sales = $12,500
1,000 sales = $25,000

If I recommended ExpressVPN instead:

Same traffic = $95,000 (vs $25,000)
I’d make $70,000 MORE

Why I recommend ProtonVPN anyway:

Because ExpressVPN is owned by Kape (formerly Crossrider), and in my opinion, recommending a VPN with that ownership history crosses a line I won’t cross - even for $95/sale.

ProtonVPN is a legitimate privacy company with transparent ownership, Swiss jurisdiction, and open-source apps. The $25 commission is fair compensation for a product I’d actually use myself.

🔍 Verify This Yourself

Want to see the raw data behind my claims? Check out the data spreadsheets - technical details, ownership records, pricing, and more.

Don’t trust my review. Verify these claims:

Swiss jurisdiction: Search “ProtonVPN Swiss privacy laws” - verify the legal framework
No-logs audit: Visit protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit/ - read Securitum’s report
Open source: Visit github.com/ProtonVPN - review the code yourself
2021 IP logging case: Search “ProtonVPN climate activist IP address” - read their transparency report
Ownership: Search “Proton AG Andy Yen CERN” - verify founding story
Free tier: Visit protonvpn.com and try free tier yourself - no credit card required
Commission rates: Search “ProtonVPN affiliate program” - verify the $25/sale rate

Everything I’ve stated is verifiable through public sources, audits, and ProtonVPN’s own transparency reports.

My Verdict: 8/10 (Legitimate Privacy Company)

Technical performance: 7/10 (good speeds, reliable, but not the fastest) Privacy and trust: 9/10 (Swiss jurisdiction, audited, open source, transparent) Value: 7/10 (reasonably priced, free tier available) Overall rating: 8/10 (one of the few VPNs I actually trust)

What ProtonVPN Gets Right:

✅ Swiss jurisdiction with real privacy protections ✅ Transparent ownership (Proton AG, CERN founders) ✅ Open source apps (verifiable on GitHub) ✅ Independently audited no-logs policy ✅ Free tier proves business model integrity ✅ Secure Core and Tor features for advanced users ✅ No shady acquisition history

What ProtonVPN Gets Wrong:

❌ Slower than NordVPN/ExpressVPN ❌ Streaming is secondary focus (not always reliable) ❌ More expensive than Mullvad ❌ 2021 IP logging case (though they handled it transparently)

Bottom line: If you want a privacy VPN backed by a legitimate company with transparent ownership, Swiss legal protections, and open-source verification, ProtonVPN is my recommendation. It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the few VPNs that earns trust through actions, not marketing.

Who Should Use ProtonVPN?

ProtonVPN is ideal for:

Privacy-conscious users who want a real company behind their VPN
People who value Swiss jurisdiction and legal protections
Users who want open-source verification
Anyone using other Proton services (ProtonMail, ProtonDrive)
People who want to test with free tier before committing

ProtonVPN is NOT ideal for:

Streaming fanatics who need 100% Netflix reliability (use NordVPN)
Speed demons who want absolute fastest VPN (use Mullvad or NordVPN)
Privacy maximalists who want most anonymous option (use Mullvad)
Budget users looking for cheapest option (use Mullvad at €5/month)

My recommendation: ProtonVPN is the best “balanced” VPN - good privacy, reasonable speed, transparent company, fair price. It’s my #2 recommendation after Mullvad.

Try ProtonVPN Free (Actually Free, Not Data-Harvesting Free)

Transparency Note: ProtonVPN pays $25/sale through their affiliate program. I recommend them because they’re a legitimate privacy company with Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and transparent ownership. I rejected ExpressVPN’s $95/sale offer due to ownership concerns. I make $0 from Mullvad (no affiliate program) but still rank it #1. This review reflects my honest opinion based on testing, research, and verification of ProtonVPN’s claims.

Legal Note: This review discusses documented facts about ProtonVPN’s ownership, audits, Swiss legal cases, and technical features. Where I express opinions about trustworthiness or make recommendations, these are clearly marked as my personal opinions based on publicly available information and my own testing.