Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Proton VPN
Best for PrivacyPrice
—
—
Summary
The most consistently recommended VPN across Reddit and expert reviewers alike. Nails the trifecta of speed, privacy, and streaming — with NordLynx protocol delivering just 3% average speed loss.
Built by the team behind ProtonMail, this Swiss-based VPN is the gold standard for privacy-first users. It's the only major VPN with a genuinely usable free tier that doesn't cap your data.
Pros
- Fastest VPN tested by CNET with only 3% average download speed loss via NordLynx protocol
- Strong no-logs policy with audited privacy practices
- Excellent streaming server support across major platforms
- Feature-rich for both beginners and power users
- Free tier with no data limits — rare and legitimate among free VPNs
- Swiss-based with strong legal privacy protections
- Open-source apps independently audited for security
- Covers 117 countries with up to 10 simultaneous connections
Cons
- Owned by Nord Security, a larger corporate entity — less indie than Mullvad
- Best pricing requires committing to a 2-year plan
- Had a server breach in 2018, though no user data was exposed
- Speeds slightly slower than NordVPN in head-to-head tests
- Free tier limits server selection significantly
- Premium plans can be pricier than competitors without a sale
Our take
If you want one VPN and never want to think about it again, NordVPN is the answer. It's what the Tom's Guide testing team uses on their personal devices, and Reddit keeps voting it #1 year after year.
Proton VPN is what I'd recommend to anyone who actually cares about who's behind their VPN. Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and a free plan with no data limits — it's the rare VPN you can trust without just taking their word for it.
Buy
