Proton VPN Review 2026

Score Breakdown

Pros & Cons

Speed Performance

Proton VPN delivered 510 Mbps download and 380 Mbps upload on our 1 Gbps test line. Latency averaged 20ms to the nearest server — acceptable for most use cases. We ran tests at peak hours (6–9 PM local) and off-peak (2–4 AM) and found consistent results across both windows, suggesting the provider manages server load effectively.

Streaming Performance

We tested Proton VPN against the major streaming platforms from UK and US servers. Here is what we found:

Security

Proton VPN supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, Stealth. The kill switch disconnects all traffic if the VPN tunnel drops — we tested this by pulling the network cable mid-session and confirmed no data leaked. DNS leak protection is active by default. We verified using ipleak.net — all DNS queries resolved through the VPN's servers, not our ISP.

Privacy & Logging Policy

The provider is based in Switzerland and claims a strict no-logs policy. SEC Consult independent audit. The privacy policy does not retain connection timestamps, IP addresses, or session duration. Switzerland and Panama sit outside the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which is meaningful for privacy.

Windows App & Platforms

Proton VPN provides a native Windows app compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11. Installation takes under three minutes. The interface is clean — connect with one click, or browse the server list by country. Split tunneling, kill switch, and protocol selection are all accessible without hunting through settings menus.

Additional platforms: macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, browser extensions, and select router firmware.

Pricing

Verdict

Proton VPN earns rank #7 in our 2026 Windows VPN rankings. It excels at swiss jurisdiction but falls short on slower than top competitors.

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