Every free VPN comes with some limitations, but
ProtonVPN gives users a surprisingly robust VPN connection at no charge. While free users are restricted to "medium speed," there aren't any limitations on bandwidth. Furthermore, they can connect to one of 24 servers in the United States, Japan, or the Netherlands, which works out to reasonable coverage in North America, Europe, and Asia. It's the best choice in 2023 for anyone who's looking for a free VPN.
For users who are concerned with data privacy, it's worth noting that ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland. That puts it outside of the 14 Eyes, a group of economically developed countries including the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which is a subgroup often referred to as the 5 Eyes. According to the ProtonVPN website, it doesn't store any user activity logs and only respond to data requests that are backed by a court order from the Swiss government.
If you're not satisfied with ProtonVPN's free option, you can upgrade to a paid subscription for as little as $4 per month paid every two years. The Basic tier comes with a higher speed cap, two simultaneous connections access to more than 400 servers in more than 40 countries, plus an adblocker and support for torrents and blocked content. At $8 per month paid every two years, Plus adds in more than 1,400 servers, 10 connections, 10 Gbps, and support for Tor as well as streaming services.
While most of ProtonVPN's feedback is positive, its average review score of 4.3 is noticeably lower than some of the other providers we've covered. Some users report underwhelming speeds on the free plan, but the experience still seems to be significantly better than the other free VPNs we've seen.
