The Best ProtonVPN Alternatives

In an increasingly connected world, safeguarding your online privacy and security has never been more crucial. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have emerged as essential tools for this purpose.

ProtonVPN, a well-known VPN service, has garnered attention for its robust security features and commitment to privacy. However, exploring the alternatives and understanding which VPN services can best cater to your specific needs is essential.

To create this guide, we’ve researched and compiled a list of the top ProtonVPN alternatives that excel in privacy, security, and performance. You can read a quick summary of our top recommendations below:

1. NordVPN: Our top alternative to ProtonVPN. There is an excellent privacy track record, 6 simultaneous devices, and servers in over 60 countries.
2. Surfshark: A budget-friendly option with unlimited device connections, excellent unblocking, and split tunneling included.
3. ExpressVPN: Known for lightning-fast speeds, best-in-class encryption, and servers in 94 countries.
4. CyberGhost: User-friendly with dedicated streaming servers, a built-in kill switch, and P2P support.
5. Private Internet Access (PIA): Robust security features, WireGuard support and has over 30,000 servers.

In our quest to find the best ProtonVPN alternatives, we followed a solid methodology that allowed us to dive deep into each VPN service, focusing on the key factors that make a VPN reliable, secure, and user-friendly. 

Once we had a list of potential contenders, we rolled up our sleeves and put each VPN service under the microscope. We examined them based on essential criteria such as their privacy policies, encryption standards, server locations, connection speeds, pricing, and customer support. On top of that, we also looked into those nifty extra features and functionalities that can really make a difference in your online experience, like dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting, ad-blocking capabilities, and the ability to bypass pesky geo-restrictions. By scrutinizing each VPN service in detail using these criteria, we were able to cherry-pick and present the top alternatives to ProtonVPN, providing users with a variety of trustworthy and secure options to choose from.

Best ProtonVPN Alternatives

Here is our list of the best ProtonVPN alternatives:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN, our top ProtonVPN alternative, is renowned for its exceptional security measures and privacy track record. With its double VPN feature, your data is encrypted twice, providing an additional layer of security.

Its works on almost any platform you can think of, including routers, and it gives you a 6 simultaneous connection limit to make the most of your subscription. Unblocking is excellent, letting you stream Netflix, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer from anywhere.

While NordVPN doesn’t offer a free plan like ProtonVPN, it gives you a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee to try it out.

BEST PROTONVPN ALTERNATIVE:NordVPN boasts great speeds, a solid privacy policy, and unmatched security features. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a budget-friendly alternative that doesn’t compromise on security and privacy. With its CleanWeb feature, you can enjoy an ad-free browsing experience while staying protected from phishing attempts and malware.

It operates a zero-logs policy, meaning your data is never shared or recorded. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also offers extensions for most browsers. Split tunneling is included, as is a network kill switch.

Unblocking is fantastic, live chat is available 24/7, and plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark is great for beating heavy censorship, it includes an endless connection limit, and is great for Netflix and Sky Go.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN 

ExpressVPN is known for its lightning-fast speeds, best-in-class encryption, and vast network of servers. Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your online activity remains private.

If you’re big on extra features, ExpressVPN charges slightly more than other providers, but the features are worth it. A kill switch, DNS and iPv6 leak protection, malware blocking, smart DNS, and more all come standard.

It supports connections on all major operating systems, so you can benefit from protection while stopping hackers in their tracks.

ADVANCED PRIVACY TOOLS:ExpressVPN uses AES encryption, offers apps for desktop and mobile, and has round-the-clock support.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN service that offers a unique feature: dedicated streaming servers. These servers are optimized for streaming content from various platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. It also has servers optimized for gaming and torrenting, so you can get the best performance for the task at hand.

You can expect 24/7 support and access to its 45-day money-back guarantee. It doesn’t store logs, and it uses military-grade encryption. On the other hand, unblocking is pretty good thanks to its servers in almost 90 countries, and its apps, available on desktop and mobile, include a kill switch.

You can use the service on up to 7 devices at once and have the option of setting up a Windows device as a personal VPN wifi hotspot.

SPECIALTY SERVERS:CyberGhost is excellent for beginners. It features a network kill switch and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. Private Internet Access (PIA) 

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another solid alternative to ProtonVPN, known for its robust security features and affordable pricing. In addition, PIA supports multiple VPN protocols and offers customizable encryption settings.

PIA’s servers span more than 70 countries, making access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or Prime Video a breeze. It is sometimes inconsistent but meets the streaming needs of most.

WireGuard support comes as standard, allowing you to considerably boost streaming quality. If that’s not enough, you can adjust encryption settings for times when security isn’t paramount for increased speeds.

HUGE NETWORK:PIA includes WireGuard support, malware protection, and intuitive apps for most platforms.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

Methodology: How we test VPNs

To evaluate the best ProtonVPN alternatives, we used the following criteria:

1. Speed: We tested the speed of each VPN by using Ookla Speedtest on both Windows and Android devices. Additionally, we tested the speed of each VPN on different servers to get an average speed.
2. Security: We evaluated each VPN’s security features, including its encryption protocols, privacy policy, and logging policy. We also checked if each VPN has any history of data breaches or leaks.
3. Compatibility: We checked each VPN’s compatibility with various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. We also checked if they offer browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
4. Price: We evaluated the pricing plans of each VPN and compared them to ProtonVPN’s prices.
5. Customer Support: We assessed each VPN’s customer support, including its response times, availability of live chat support, and availability of phone support.

Want to learn more about how we test VPNs? Check out our methodology.

ProtonVPN alternative FAQs