Proton VPN Price: What You Need to Know Before Subscribing in 2025

Proton VPN stands out in a crowded market by offering a clear pricing structure and a rare mix of transparency, speed, and serious privacy protections. Its paid plans start at $9.99/mo, with steep discounts for annual and two-year commitments.

Proton VPN is a great choice for privacy-first users who value performance and flexibility. For those on a tight budget, it has a genuinely free tier with no data limits.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what you get at each price point, how it compares to other top VPNs, and what to know before subscribing. If you’re already interested and want to learn more, check out our full Proton VPN review for all the bells and whistles.

How much does Proton VPN cost?

Proton VPN offers two plans: a free version with no data caps, and the Plus plan, which costs $9.99/mo or as little as $3.59/mo (billed every two years) with a two-year commitment. That places it just below NordVPN and ExpressVPN in terms of monthly pricing, and in the same range as Surfshark for long-term plans.

There are no hidden tiers or complicated bundles, and users can select between three billing cycles: monthly, annually, or every two years. Longer commitments offer better monthly value, a standard across the industry. But unlike many providers, Proton publishes renewal pricing upfront.

Proton VPN price

Plan	1 month	1 year	2 years Lowest Price
Price per month	$9.99/mo	$3.99/mo (billed annually)	$3.59/mo (billed every two years)

Between the one-month and long-term plans, the 24-month option offers the strongest value, particularly for users who plan to rely on the VPN daily. The annual plan offers a middle ground but is priced closer to Surfshark’s 12-month deal. 

If you're unsure, starting with the monthly plan or testing the free version can help determine if the upgrade is worth it for you.

Proton VPN Free vs. Plus

The Proton VPN Plus plan unlocks access to 13,600+ servers in over 122 countries, supports 10 simultaneous devices, and includes premium features like NetShield, Secure Core, and access to streaming libraries.

The Proton VPN Free plan includes one connection, medium-speed access, and limited server availability in five countries only (the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, and the United States).

Features	Free	Plus
Price	Free	$3.59–$9.99/mo
Server count	Unlisted servers in 5 countries	13,600+ servers in 122 countries
VPN speed	Medium	High
# of devices	1	10
No-logs policy
Streaming support
P2P & torrenting support
NetShield ad blocker
Double VPN (Secure Core)
Tor over VPN support
Details	View plan	View plan

What do you get with Proton VPN?

Proton VPN packs a wide range of features into both its free and paid plans, though the Plus tier is where most of the advanced capabilities live. 

Top features include:

• Secure Core servers: Proton VPN routes traffic through multiple locations before it leaves the VPN network. These servers are located in countries with strong privacy laws, such as Switzerland, Sweden, and Iceland, which helps reduce the risk of exposure even if an endpoint server is compromised.
• Stealth protocol: Designed to bypass VPN blocks, Stealth disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. It’s ideal for use on networks that restrict VPNs, like school or corporate environments, or in regions with internet censorship.
• NetShield: Proton’s DNS-based ad and malware blocker. It prevents connections to known malicious domains and filters out trackers and ads before they load.
• Open-source, audited apps: Every Proton VPN app is open-source and undergoes regular audits. Unlike many VPNs that claim transparency, Proton publishes third-party audit results and makes its code freely available for scrutiny.
• Streaming support: Premium users can reliably access geo-restricted content on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and other popular streaming services. Proton’s unblocking success rate is among the best, and we didn’t experience any issues streaming Netflix in the U.K., Australia, or Canada.
• Privacy infrastructure: Based in Switzerland, Proton operates outside of the EU and U.S. surveillance alliances. It maintains a strict no-logs policy and publishes an annual transparency report. Even under legal pressure, it has historically denied all data requests tied to its VPN service. It's our top pick for privacy enthusiasts.
• Speeds: Performance varies slightly by server location and VPN protocol, but Proton VPN consistently delivers fast connections. Average speed loss hovers around 41%, well below the industry norm.
  

There are a few limitations: Split tunneling isn’t available on all platforms, and while Proton supports macOS, the kill switch has a known issue on Intel-based Macs with the T2 chip.

Top alternatives

Compared to other premium VPNs, Proton VPN stands out in terms of transparency and privacy protections. But NordVPN edges it out in terms of interface simplicity and connection speed (especially when using its proprietary NordLynx protocol), while Surfshark often wins based on its affordability. However, both Surfshark and NordVPN fall short of Proton when it comes to jurisdictional protections and open-source policies.

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Proton VPN worth it?

Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It prioritizes privacy and user control without relying on upsells or vague policies. The free version provides dependable protection for everyday browsing, while the paid plans offer faster speeds, broader access, and additional features. It won’t be the lowest-cost option available, but the service is designed for individuals who prioritize trust and transparency over flashy discounts.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, the 24-month Plus plan is where the strongest value lies. Check out our full Proton VPN review for a closer look at our testing experience.