VPNs present a safe solution to ship web site visitors by means of an encrypted tunnel. This retains searching knowledge secure, even over public or untrusted web connections. As a Swiss VPN supplier, Proton VPN adheres to excessive privateness requirements. As such, it doesn’t log consumer exercise or share knowledge with third events. Its nameless VPN service retains searching histories non-public and allows web utilization with out surveillance.
Given its reliable safety repute, you could be questioning how the free model measures up. In some circumstances, free VPNs lack the safety features provided in paid plans. Within the case of Proton VPN, we evaluate the free model to its premium model referred to as Proton VPN Plus.
Proton VPN Free vs. Proton VPN Plus: Comparability
| Options | Free | Proton VPN Plus ($6.49 monthly for one yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Variety of servers and international locations | 86 servers in 3 international locations | 3,000 servers in 65 international locations |
| Kill swap | Sure | Sure |
| # of simultaneous connections | 1 | 10 |
| Malware and advert blocker | No | Sure |
| Streaming and torrenting | No | Sure |
| Limitless knowledge | Sure | Sure |
| Velocity | Medium | Quick |
For a extra in-depth evaluation, learn our full assessment of Proton VPN.
Function comparability: Proton VPN Free vs. Proton VPN Plus
Variety of servers
Determine A
Proton VPN Free offers free entry to 86 servers from the U.S., Netherlands and Japan. This can be sufficient for a lot of customers. However these with extra rigorous necessities for velocity, latency and availability might have the stronger community of Proton VPN Plus. That community affords entry to three,000+ servers in 70+ international locations.
Kill swap
Determine B
Each variations of Proton VPN include a kill swap. It acts as a final line of protection. If the consumer experiences an outage or another disruption and the VPN connection fails, the kill swap mechanically stops a machine from reconnecting to the web with out the VPN’s safety. This can be a good solution to stop undesirable sharing of knowledge.
Simultaneous connections
The free model limits a consumer to just one connection at a time. These choosing Proton VPN Plus can confide in 10 simultaneous connections. One might be sufficient for a lot of customers, however these with extra refined wants will want the premium model.
Malware and advert blocker
Malware and adware are widespread issues within the trendy web. Proton VPN Plus offers each capabilities courtesy of the NetShield advert blocker which makes use of DNS filtering to safeguard customers towards malware and web site trackers. The free model doesn’t embody these options.
Streaming and torrenting
Streaming has develop into commonplace as a solution to immediately view content material. Torrenting, nevertheless, requires the complete file to be downloaded earlier than something will be seen. However, it’s quick and sometimes used to share movies, music and pictures. Proton VPN Plus helps each streaming and torrenting whereas the free model doesn’t.
Limitless knowledge
Each variations don’t have any restrictions relating to the amount of knowledge that may be shared over the VPN.
Velocity
The free model of Proton VPN within reason quick. The corporate characterizes its fee of velocity as medium whereas the velocity of Proton VPN Plus is rated as quick. Accelerator options are stated to have the ability to enhance VPN knowledge switch charges by as a lot as 400%
Proton VPN Free execs and cons
Professionals of Proton VPN Free
- Limitless knowledge over one connection.
- Kill swap prevents undesirable transmission of knowledge on account of an outage.
- Good set of privateness and safety features inbuilt.
Cons of Proton VPN Free
- Solely offers one VPN connection at a time.
- Lacks malware/advert blocking.
- Restricted variety of servers and international locations plus decrease velocity could not supply enough efficiency for some customers.
Proton VPN Plus execs and cons
Professionals of Proton VPN Plus
- As much as 10 simultaneous connections.
- Quicker speeds and much higher variety of servers and international locations out there.
- Superior options embody malware/advert blocking, streaming and torrenting.
Cons of Proton VPN Plus
- At round $6 monthly per consumer, Proton VPN is dearer than many aggressive choices.
- Proton VPN Plus could also be overkill for individuals who don’t require a excessive diploma of privateness of knowledge or don’t deal in delicate data regularly.
Methodology
This evaluation of Proton VPN Free and Proton VPN Plus is predicated on professional analysis of those instruments in addition to consumer evaluations. For extra data, learn our full assessment of Proton VPN.
Ought to your group use Proton VPN Free or Proton VPN Premium?
Proton VPN is designed for these demanding the very best requirements in privateness, safety and confidentiality. Developed in accordance with strict Swiss legal guidelines for privateness, both model will be counted on to maintain your knowledge safe and to stop undesirable outsiders listening in or intercepting any content material. That stated, the free model has particular limitations. It could be positive for a consumer who makes occasional VPN transmissions that should be stored non-public and that don’t require the very best ranges of efficiency.
Proton VPN Plus is the most suitable choice when a couple of VPN connection is prone to be wanted and when a consumer wants nice efficiency throughout the globe. As such, the premium model’s potential to entry 3,000+ servers in 70+ international locations (in comparison with 86 servers in solely three nations) in addition to its greater total efficiency, velocity accelerators, torrenting and streaming capabilities and malware/advert blocking, make it a more sensible choice for demanding VPN customers.
