This article will explore the comprehensive features of Proton VPN’s free service, with a specific emphasis on its safety measures and effectiveness in ensuring online security. We will delve into the specifics of this topic, including details on compatible devices that can further enhance your online protection.
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What is Proton VPN's Free Service?
Here at FireTVSticks, we understand how important it is to protect your online privacy and security. That’s why we highly recommend Proton VPN’s free service. It’s definitely one of the best free VPNs out there!
VPNs create a private network from a public internet connection, which means your IP address is hidden and your data is encrypted. This makes it nearly impossible for anyone to track your online activity.
Proton VPN takes things a step further by being completely transparent and having a strict no-logging policy.
We’ve thoroughly reviewed their free service, testing their ability to keep your privacy intact even with heavy internet use. Keep reading to discover if Proton VPN is the right choice for you in today’s digital world!
Proton VPN (Free) Quick Overview
| Data Limit/Month | Unlimited |
| Number of Free Locations | 3 - Netherlands, United States, Japan |
| Number of Free Servers | 152 |
| Number of Connections | 1 |
| AES-256 Encryption | ✅ Yes |
| No Logs Policy | ✅ Yes |
| Headquarters | Switzerland |
| Is Outside the 5,9 and 14 Eyes Alliance | ✅ Yes |
| Support Available | Limited - Email or ticket only |
| P2P/Torrenting | ⛔ No |
| Unblocks Streaming Services | Limited |
Proton VPN (Free) Features
Data Limits
Proton VPS’s free service offers unrestricted and high-quality internet access. This VPN option is unique in that it does not place any data limits on its users, making browsing and streaming worry-free. Additionally, Proton VPN ensures a clean browsing experience that is free of ads, which enhances user privacy and comfort.
Proton VPN’s free service provides access to servers located in three different countries, giving users some level of choice in their server connections. Importantly, the free version maintains Proton VPN’s strong privacy commitment, as evidenced by its audited no-logs policy. Although the free service has limitations in terms of device connections and server access, it still offers a robust set of features that are not commonly found in other free VPN services.
The bottom line is that Proton VPN’s free service does not impose any time, speed, or data limits on its users, which is a rare combination in the crowded VPN market.
Number of Servers and Locations
As a free user of Proton VPN, you can access 152 servers that are located in three countries: Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States. If you choose to upgrade to a paid account, you will have access to a total of 2,706 servers across 67 countries.
Encryption and Security
The Proton VPN free plan offers high-level security that is comparable to its paid plans. It utilises robust VPN protocols such as the industry-standard OpenVPN protocol, as well as IKEv2 and WireGuard, all with 256-bit encryption.
Additionally, Proton VPN enforces a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not store any information about your online activity, including your IP address, browsing history, and visited websites. The company regularly undergoes security and privacy protocol audits to ensure compliance with its policy of not storing any user data.
Unblocking Capabilities
Access to restricted content within your country can be gained by using the free version of Proton VPN. Additionally, some free streaming services and their libraries can be unblocked such as Pluto TV.
What's Not Included
Unfortunately, free users of Proton VPN are not able to enjoy P2P or receive support for unblocking streaming services. This decision seems reasonable, as offering unlimited P2P-friendly bandwidth for free may attract torrenters and overwhelm the system.
Additionally, users are not able to access Proton VPN’s advanced features, such as NetShield ad and malware blocker, Secure Core servers, and Tor over VPN. While it would be great to have access to all these features for free, it is understandable that Proton VPN can only offer some things with cost.
Nonetheless, the main functions of the VPN remain unaffected even without these added layers of protection.
Proton VPN (Free) Performance Tests
Speed Test
We conducted tests on the download speed, upload speed and latency of Proton VPN’s free servers in every available location. To carry out the tests, we used a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which was connected to a 5ghz Wi-Fi network, and the speed test website fast.com.
Though a decrease in internet speed is expected when using a VPN, large drops can negatively impact your streaming or browsing experience. Below are the results of our tests.
| Location | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Latency |
| No VPN | 100 Mbps | 230 Mbps | 10ms |
| UK to Netherlands | 62 Mbps | 92 Mbps | 25ms | UK to United States | 53 Mbps | 89 Mbps | 117ms |
| UK to Japan | 51 Mbps | 78 Mbps | 238ms |
We were pleasantly surprised by Proton VPN’s fast connection, especially considering it’s a free VPN. Even with all three servers, we could still stream videos and browse without much lag. However, we did notice that the server speed varied depending on the number of users connected, especially in the United States. Thankfully, the Proton app has a colour-coded wheel next to each server, indicating the number of users connected. By choosing a server with fewer users, performance can improve significantly.
DNS Leak Test
We used IPLeak.net to check for DNS leaks, which can reveal a user’s location even when connected to a VPN. The screenshot confirms that no DNS leaks were found when connected to one of Proton VPN’s free servers.
Proton VPN (Free) Apps and Compatibility
Proton VPN’s free service is compatible with various devices and operating systems, such as Fire TV, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android and iOS/iPadOS devices.
Fire TV App
You can install the Proton VPN app if you are a Firestick, Fire Cube or Fire TV user running Fire OS 6 or above. Unfortunately, older models of Fire TV are not compatible with this application. However, you can check our FAQ page, as it may be possible to sideload an older app version onto older devices.
While the app does not offer access to a kill switch or the ability to change VPN protocol, it has a user-friendly interface that allows for easy navigation and swift connections.
Android TV App
Android TV is built into some TVs and also comes installed on a selection of streaming sticks and boxes that can plug into any TV with a spare HDMI port.
The Proton VPN app for Android TV works on Chromecast with Google TV stick, and on any TVs that use the (Android-based) Google TV interface. Users of Chromecast-only devices (Chromecast 1st Gen, 2nd Gen, Ultra, and 3rd Gen) will instead need a VPN router to use the Proton VPN service.
While the app does not offer access to a kill switch or the ability to change VPN protocol, it has a user-friendly interface that allows for easy navigation and swift connections.
Desktop App
The desktop app supports Windows 7,8 and 10 and runs on macOS 10.12 and higher. Essential security and privacy features are offered, including 256-bit encryption, VPN protocols (OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec) and a kill switch to ensure data protection. The kill switch is a valuable addition for free users and is often only available under paid plans by other VPN providers. The user-friendly interface allows for easy navigation and quick connections.
Mobile App
Proton VPN is a VPN provider offering robust features on desktop and mobile devices. Proton VPN’s Android app, unlike other providers, has a comprehensive Settings box that includes a kill switch, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and expert-level networking tweaks. It even exceeds Windows by adding support for the IKEv2 protocol alongside WireGuard and OpenVPN.
The iOS app may not have as many options as the Android app, but it still offers a kill switch and WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 support. Additionally, the iOS app has speedup technologies, useful logs for troubleshooting, and an iOS widget for easier connects and disconnects.
Is Proton VPN (Free) Better Than Other Free VPNs?
If you need a dependable and secure VPN service, you should consider Proton VPN. Not only is it free, but it also has a stellar reputation for safeguarding the privacy and data of its users. One standout advantage compared to other top competitors, like the free versions of Hotspot Shield and Windscribe, is that Proton offers unlimited data usage – a noteworthy feature, as most free services have data caps. Additionally, the company strictly adheres to a no-logs policy and employs high-level encryption methods to keep user data secure, meeting industry standards.
However, one downside is that the free version of Proton only allows users to connect to servers in three countries (the US, the Netherlands, and Japan). This is fewer than some competitors, such as Windscribe, which offers 11 country locations for its free version. Additionally, the free service doesn’t support P2P/torrenting or the most popular streaming services, a feature some of its competitors provide. It’s important to note that many free VPNs come with ads, but Proton VPN (as well as Atlas VPN‘s free service) is ad-free, providing a cleaner experience.
What really sets Proton VPN’s free plan apart from others is that it goes above and beyond. In addition to VPN services, users also receive access to features from Proton’s other privacy-focused services. This includes an email address with 1GB of storage and access to calendar tools with end-to-end encryption. The free plan delivers a comprehensive solution for digital privacy.
| Free VPN | Servers | Countries | Data Limit | Torrenting | Unblocks Streaming |
| Proton VPN | 152 | 3 | Unlimited | No | Some |
| Hotspot Shield | 160+ | 1 | 15GB (can be increased by watching ads) | Yes | No |
| PrivadoVPN | 12 | 10 | 10GB | No | Yes |
| Windscribe VPN | 11 | 11 | 2GB-15GB | Yes | Yes |
| Hide.me VPN | 7 | 7 | 10GB | Yes | No |
| Atlas VPN | 3 | 3 | 5GB | Yes | No |
Wrapping Up
Proton VPN’s free plan is highly regarded as one of the best free VPN services in the industry due to its no-ads policy, robust security protocols, and unlimited data. This is a rare offering among free services. Unlike many free VPNs, Proton VPN does not log user activities, and its security protocols have been independently audited.
Proton VPN is more than just a VPN service. With access to their other privacy-focused offerings, such as Drive, Mail, and Calendar, it’s a comprehensive privacy package. Although the free plan restricts users to a single device, it still has 152 servers, unlimited data usage, no ads, and other benefits, making it a compelling choice for those looking for speed, security, and usability.
However, it’s worth noting that free VPNs, including Proton VPN, often have limitations compared to paid versions. For instance, the free plan only allows connection to a single device and offers access to a limited number of servers in three countries. Additionally, the free plan doesn’t support streaming, which can be problematic for those trying to watch their favorite shows from back home while traveling abroad.
Proton VPN is known for its privacy-focused approach, top-notch security features, and unlimited data, setting it apart from competitors despite some limitations.
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