What is a Proton VPN?

ProtonVPN stands out as a top choice for privacy-conscious users seeking to bypass geo-blocks and censorship. With an extensive network of over 5,100 servers across 91 countries, it offers robust options for torrenting and streaming. However, its strengths extend beyond these functionalities. ProtonVPN excels in speed, server coverage, country count, streaming capabilities, and affordability.

Security is paramount with ProtonVPN, which employs advanced encryption standards like AES-256 and ChaCha20, along with tunneling protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN. Its independently audited no-logs policy ensures user privacy, while features like ad and tracker blocking, IP masking, a reliable kill switch, and split tunneling further enhance security.

This article will delve into ProtonVPN’s privacy features, its ability to unblock streaming services, a detailed exploration of its features, speed performance, customer support options, and other critical details to help you make an informed decision when selecting the best VPN for your needs.

Bottom Line

Whether we were watching Netflix or torrenting movies, we knew that ProtonVPN encrypted all our web traffic. It even replaced our IP address, making us much less susceptible to hacking when using public Wi-Fi networks.

Speed and performance: is Proton VPN fast?

In our evaluation of Proton VPN, we conducted tests using a Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen2 laptop equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor, 16 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. The laptop ran on the Windows 11 Pro operating system. Our assessments focused on download and upload speed retention rates across Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that internet speeds can fluctuate due to variables such as location, ISP, software, time of day, and other influencing factors.

Since WireGuard is the tunneling protocol that typically offers the best speeds, it’s not surprising that Proton VPN came out to be relatively fast during our tests.

The VPN showed the best download and upload retention rates in Australia. In the UK, US, and Canada, Proton VPN download and upload speeds were slower but never fell lower than 40%.

Proton VPN performance with other protocols

While WireGuard stands out as one of the fastest protocols available, Proton VPN offers a range of alternatives. Alongside WireGuard, the provider includes OpenVPN (in both TCP and UDP variants), IKEv2/IPsec, and Stealth protocols among its offerings.

Proton VPN offers a variety of connection options tailored to diverse needs in terms of both speed and security. WireGuard stands out as the top performer, maintaining approximately 84% of your original internet speed, and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms.

OpenVPN comes in two versions: UDP and TCP. The UDP variant prioritizes speed, retaining about 75% of your original speed, while the TCP version prioritizes stability over speed, maintaining around 23% of your original speed.

For mobile users, Proton VPN provides IKEv2/IPsec, which facilitates seamless transitions between Wi-Fi and mobile data while retaining about 38% of your speed.

Additionally, there’s a new Stealth protocol designed to conceal online activities, although it operates at a slower pace, retaining only approximately 20% of your original speed.

In summary, Proton VPN offers flexibility by delivering reasonably fast and stable internet speeds regardless of proximity to a server, ensuring swift loading of websites and videos. Users can select different protocols based on their specific requirements.

Proton VPN Protocols

Internet connection protocols determine how VPNs dispatch data packets across networks. The degree of security a VPN has depends on the protocol it uses. Some VPNs use outdated, insecure protocols for faster speeds and lower maintenance costs, which is not a good thing, obviously.

This is not the case with ProtonVPN, which built its Mac and Android VPNs around OpenVPN and its Windows and iOS VPNs around IKEv2/IPSec. The information security community considers both of those protocols to be highly secure.

OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source VPN protocol that VPNs use to make secure tunnels for your web traffic. Many consider OpenVPN as the gold standard when it comes to VPN protocols, and rightly so, because it offers a good balance of speed and security. It offers up to 256-bit encryption using the Open SSL library and many other security features that VPN providers can configure with protocols such as PPTP, L2TP, IKEv2/IPSec, SSTP, and more.

IKEv2
Internet Key Exchange version 2 is a VPN protocol that re-establishes your connection with your VPN automatically after disconnection from the internet. This comes in handy when you would like to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots, which happens all the time when you’re on a mobile phone.

WireGuard
WireGuard is a relatively new, open-source VPN protocol. Although it’s new, it uses proven cryptographic standards, like ChaCha20, BLAKE2, and Poly1305. Privacy and security-wise, it’s not better than either OpenVPN or IKEv2. However, WireGuard boasts lightweight coding, which means it won’t eat up as much computing resources as heavyweight protocols like OpenVPN. As a result, ProtonVPN claims that it can establish VPN connections in less than a second, even on mobile devices. It could also save your device’s battery life if you’re using ProtonVPN for extended periods.

Proton VPN servers and locations

Proton VPN boasts an extensive network of servers spanning various locations worldwide. Their server network is strategically distributed across numerous countries, ensuring widespread coverage and accessibility for users globally. With servers strategically placed in key regions, Proton VPN aims to provide reliable and secure connections to users regardless of their location. This extensive server infrastructure enables users to enjoy fast, stable, and secure internet access while maintaining their privacy and anonymity online.

What security features does Proton VPN offer?

Proton VPN prioritizes robust security features to safeguard user privacy and data integrity. Here are some key security features offered by Proton VPN:

1. Secure Core: Proton VPN employs Secure Core architecture, routing user traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries before reaching the final destination. This ensures enhanced protection against network attacks and surveillance, especially in high-risk environments.
2. Strong Encryption: Proton VPN utilizes AES-256 encryption, considered the gold standard in encryption protocols, to encrypt user data. This encryption ensures that data remains confidential and secure from interception or eavesdropping.
3. No-Logs Policy: Proton VPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not store user activity logs, connection timestamps, or IP addresses. This commitment to privacy ensures that user activities remain confidential and cannot be traced back to individual users.
4. Kill Switch: The VPN includes a kill switch feature, which automatically disconnects the user’s internet connection if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This prevents data leaks and ensures that user traffic remains protected at all times.
5. Perfect Forward Secrecy: Proton VPN implements Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), which generates a unique encryption key for each session. This prevents the compromise of past sessions even if the current session’s encryption key is compromised.
6. DNS Leak Protection: Proton VPN incorporates DNS leak protection to prevent DNS queries from being exposed to ISPs or other third parties. This feature ensures that user DNS queries remain private and do not reveal their browsing activities.
7. Tor Over VPN: Proton VPN offers the option to route traffic through the Tor anonymity network for added privacy and anonymity. This feature combines the benefits of VPN encryption with the anonymity provided by the Tor network.

Overall, Proton VPN’s comprehensive security features are designed to provide users with a secure and private browsing experience, protecting their data from various online threats and surveillance activities.

Is Proton VPN good for streaming?

Proton VPN can be a decent option for streaming, but it may not always offer the same level of performance or reliability as some dedicated streaming VPNs. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Server Locations: Proton VPN has servers in multiple countries, which can help unblock geo-restricted content from various streaming platforms. However, the number of servers and their locations may not be as extensive as those offered by specialized streaming VPNs.
2. Speed: Streaming requires a stable and fast internet connection to avoid buffering and lags. While Proton VPN aims to provide fast speeds, the performance can vary depending on factors such as server load, distance from the server, and the user’s internet connection.
3. Streaming Compatibility: Proton VPN generally works well with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others. However, some streaming services actively block VPN traffic, so there’s always a possibility of encountering issues with certain platforms.
4. Dedicated Streaming Servers: Unlike some VPN providers that offer dedicated servers optimized for streaming, Proton VPN doesn’t have specific servers designed exclusively for streaming purposes. This could impact the reliability and consistency of streaming performance.
5. Streaming Quality: With Proton VPN, the streaming quality may vary depending on factors like server congestion and network stability. While it’s possible to stream in HD quality with a fast and stable connection, users may experience occasional fluctuations in streaming quality.

In summary, Proton VPN can be suitable for streaming, especially if you prioritize privacy and security along with streaming access. However, for users primarily focused on streaming performance and unblocking geo-restricted content, specialized streaming VPNs with dedicated servers may offer a more optimized experience.

Proton VPN offers a versatile solution for streaming content across various platforms. With compatibility across multiple devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, users have the flexibility to stream from virtually anywhere. By leveraging Proton VPN’s extensive network of servers located worldwide, users can bypass geo-restrictions and access content libraries not typically available in their region.

While Proton VPN generally works well with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer, it’s important to note that streaming compatibility can vary. Some platforms actively block VPN traffic, requiring users to experiment with different servers to find one that successfully circumvents these restrictions.

To optimize streaming performance, users should consider factors such as server load and peak times, which can impact connection speeds and overall streaming quality. Proton VPN offers customer support to assist users in resolving any streaming-related issues they may encounter, ensuring a smoother streaming experience.

Ultimately, while Proton VPN prioritizes privacy and security, it also serves as a capable tool for accessing geo-blocked content and enjoying a diverse range of streaming options.

Is Proton VPN good for torrenting?

Proton VPN can be a suitable option for torrenting, offering several features that enhance security and privacy during file sharing activities. Here’s why Proton VPN is often considered a good choice for torrenting:

1. No-Logs Policy: Proton VPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not keep records of users’ online activities, including torrenting. This ensures that your torrenting history and activities remain private and cannot be traced back to you.
2. Strong Encryption: Proton VPN employs AES-256 encryption to secure your internet traffic, including torrenting data. This encryption prevents ISPs, government agencies, or malicious actors from monitoring or intercepting your torrenting activities.
3. Kill Switch: The VPN includes a kill switch feature that automatically blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This prevents your IP address from being exposed during torrenting sessions, maintaining your anonymity and privacy.
4. Torrenting Servers: Proton VPN offers dedicated servers optimized for torrenting, ensuring fast and reliable connections for file sharing activities. These servers are strategically located in countries with lenient or favorable torrenting laws, further enhancing your torrenting experience.
5. Secure Core: For users concerned about privacy and security, Proton VPN’s Secure Core feature routes your torrenting traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries before reaching its final destination. This adds an extra layer of protection against surveillance and monitoring.
6. P2P Support: Proton VPN explicitly supports peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, including torrenting, on its network. This means you can use the VPN for torrenting without any restrictions or limitations.

Overall, Proton VPN provides robust security and privacy features that make it a reliable choice for torrenting. However, it’s essential to remember that torrenting copyrighted material may still be illegal in many jurisdictions, so users should always ensure they are complying with local laws and regulations while torrenting.

How to download and install Proton VPN

Proton VPN is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android TV, Chrome, and Firefox. Of course, how you download this VPN depends on your device or operating system.

• Go to the Proton VPN website and download the application
• Install the Proton VPN application
• Register your account and choose the preferred subscription plan
• Download the app on other devices (Proton VPN is available on 10 devices simultaneously) and log in
• Enjoy enhanced security and privacy!

Proton VPN customer support

If you encounter any issues while using Proton VPN, you can access live chat support during their operating hours. During our testing, we found the support agent to be professional and helpful, though it’s worth noting that live chat isn’t available 24/7. However, you can still utilize the extensive Support Center, which offers a wide range of articles categorized into topics such as Account, General Information, Billing, and Troubleshooting.

If you’re unable to find the information you need in the Support Center or if live chat isn’t available, you can submit a support ticket via email. Proton VPN aims to respond promptly, particularly for Plus users, who can expect a reply within a couple of hours. Free users may experience slightly longer response times.

European users may benefit from shorter wait times, as Proton VPN’s customer support agents appear to be primarily located there. Users from other continents should be prepared for potentially longer wait times.

Additionally, Proton VPN maintains a subreddit at r/ProtonVPN, where users can seek assistance publicly from the community if they’re comfortable sharing their issue. This can be another avenue to find solutions to any problems you encounter.