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Proton VPN Reviews 912

TrustScore 2 out of 5

2.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 211 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Many customers reported significant drops in internet speed, making streaming and general browsing difficult or impossible. People frequently experienced issues with the service not connecting or being unstable, leading to frustration and an inability to access websites or use the VPN effectively. Reviewers also mentioned problems with the subscription model, including automatic renewals without clear notice and difficulties in managing their accounts or accessing paid features. However, some customers also noted that the app runs smoothly on older Windows systems and provides good speed, sometimes even outperforming other VPN services. A few other people also felt that the service is trustworthy and prioritizes user privacy, with some expressing satisfaction with their long-term subscriptions.

What people talk about most

Website

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of website functionality, with many experiencing issues such as... See more

Service

Users describe ambiguous interactions with service, with many reviewers expressing significant... See more

User experience

Consumers find user experience to be ambiguous, with some reporting consistently fast and stable connections,... See more

Subscription

Clients share ambiguous opinions on subscription, with many expressing dissatisfaction and stating they are... See more

Application

Customers had ambiguous experiences with the app, with some initially trying the free version to assess their... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

i purchased a sub on 3 November, for a year, everything went ok, until i thought ill purchase another sub with lumo+ unlimited the other day. in my head i was thinking that would continue until 2027,... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

It was excellent during the 30 day money back period. As soon as this expired speed dropped by 75%, streaming apps we previously used with no problem became unusable. Customer service is appalling. E... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Have been having buffering issues for several weeks now on numerous streaming platforms. Thinking that it my be my internet provider throttling my speed, I decided to do a speed test on Fast com... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I paid for and downloaded Proton VPN, drive and email and within a month or two, I opened my computer to find my desktop littered with files belonging to someone I don't know. These were things like... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. VPN Service

About Proton VPN

Written by the company

Experience true freedom online.

Gain unrestricted access to global content, block annoying ads, and safeguard your privacy with a fast and secure VPN.

Contact info

2.2

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

912 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

ONLY use the free version - the paid plan is a joke

ONLY use the free version - the paid plan is a joke - it's basically nothing but a bunch of extra buttons to click that do nothing at all.
Every site I tried on Proton. VPN was detected as vpn and I was still unable to use any of them.

When I used NORD VPN everything worked perfectly. Would never use these services again waste of time and money.

1 August 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Sorry to hear that.

Unfortunately, some websites block known VPN IP addresses. Contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact with more details about the websites in question, as well as the servers you're connected to when trying to access them so we can note your feedback for future improvement. Meanwhile, you can try switching between multiple different servers to see how it goes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The best VPN you'll ever use.

Amazing platform altogether.
Really sleek looking app, lots of options, 13k servers for £8 a month? bargain.

Servers aren't slow, the kill switch & port forwarding options work really great too.

If you're looking for the best VPN, Proton is that.

13 August 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Thank you for the support.

If you happen to need our assistance with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time. We're always eager to help!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I'm so impressed with the free version…

I'm so impressed with the free version of proton that I'm actualy suspicious of the negative reviews. I took a gamble despite the reviews on here and from my experience they definitely don't sound right. Yes there is a free version that does everything a VPN needs to and more.

12 August 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Thank you for your review.

If there happens to be anything we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time. We're always happy to help!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Provided me a full refund

I downloaded proton to stream big brother from outside the US. Proton was slow and would cut out, but I had already paid for the full year. When it auto renewed, I reached out requesting a refund, and after communicating my issues with proton, they gave me a full refund. I appreciate it a lot.

11 August 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. We're sorry to hear that.

If you ever decide to give Proton VPN another chance, we'd be more than happy to help you troubleshoot any issues you may experience. Feel free to reach out to us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I'm playing online casinos

I'm playing online casinos, and as I found, you can find different rewards and bonuses for different geos. So I needed to find a good VPN service that would help me to get the geo I need.
I found this one; very easy to use, UX friendly, and has a free plan that gives you enough as a regular user. Very recommending 👍

6 August 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Thank you for your positive review.

If there's anything we may be able to help you with, please feel free to reach out to us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time. We're always happy to help!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

sadness

Not to be recommended. When creating a new account, an error message appears every time. If it eventually accepts the email address, it downloads for hours. Nothing happens. However, you still cannot use this VPN.

No recommendation at all, others experienced
the same sadness; 2,0 on Trustpilot!

Just ignore this VPN; useless and waste of your precious time 😉

-------
response to proton

There was an error message saying that the connection could not be established. It appeared at the top of the iPad and was highlighted in pink. The connection also failed to load. It took hours and hours, until I finally deleted the app.

On top of that, you know that you are having a rating of 2 out of 5 points on Trustpilot?

No, thank you, I am no longer interested in your products.

31 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. That doesn't sound right.

Could you share more details about the issue? What exactly is the error message you're receiving? Which platform are you encountering this problem on? What type of internet connection are you using?

If you'd be interested in troubleshooting the issue further, please contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact with some answers to the above questions so we can assist you in proper order.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have never paid a dime or have ever…

I have never paid a dime or have ever needed to have a cc.
The Proton VPN is a great benefit for a cheap skinflint like myself.
I would give it 5 stars and should do so to be fair but I am a bit miffed that the price of the paid subscription is more than I want to spend.
The VPN works good to great all the time and I like the idea that it's based in Switzerland.
I formerly used the Proton email service for free too when traveling abroad but I forgot my password and had purposely failed to register a back up email for greater secrecy.

I've used Proton for years. Having never spent a dime whilst enjoying good to great benefits, I am morally obligated to defend Proton.

Edit: I switched my review to 5 stars! Thanks Proton for making your service available to the financially disenfranchised and penny pinchers. Much appreciated!

31 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Thank you for your support.

If there happens to be anything we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time. We're always eager to help!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Honestly the best VPN I've used in a…

Honestly the best VPN I've used in a while, it does have a free version which is decent but I've gone with the paid option and it works well, I'm able to use the VPN without any internet connection problems or speed problems.

1 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Thank you for your positive review.

If there's anything we may be able to help you with, please feel free to reach out us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time. We're always happy to help!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bad Marketing

It has few countries available for free. But for "some reason" you can't choose which suits your needs. If you want to change country, there is a cooldown (increases from 2 to 20 minute each time). But the cooldown starts not when you change country (RANDOMLY) but when you press "change server". And for some reason, out of these 5 countries, not once was I connected to the one I need (Japan).

29 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. We're sorry to see that you're dissatisfied.

The default auto-connect option will connect you to the fastest available server for you. This leads to better load balancing and higher speed, which is a priority for free users. That said, you still have the option to switch to another randomly allocated server, or you can upgrade to connect to a specific server of your choice (https://protonvpn.com/pricing).

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Doesn't work as a VPN

I tried out the plus version. It just doesn't work, On my laptop it was so slow it was unusable and on my phone nothing worked at all. It might work with hours and hours of tinkering but I was paying Proton VPN to do all that. Pointless VPN I thought it might be good, I was wrong.

26 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Sorry to hear that.

Could you share more details about the issues? What type of internet connection are you using? Have you tried switching protocols? Do you have any antivirus or firewall app installed?

Contact us using the 'Report an issue' option in the app menu, or at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact, so we can help you troubleshoot.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

....

Hi. That's not right.

We do have a free plan that costs $0 and allows you to secure your internet connection with no ads, no logs, and provides the same level of privacy and security as our paid plans. Anyone can sign up for our free plan, and we don't ask for any payment details during signup

Feel free to contact us at Ohio
with more details if you need our assistance using Proton VPN!

26 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. We're sorry to see that you're dissatisfied.

Would you mind clarifying your review further? If you happen to be experiencing any issues that we may be able to help you with, please contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact with more details. We'd be happy to help.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Download speeds down to a trickle

Download speeds down to a trickle. Dropped connections. Tech support "unavailable"

Basically unusable

26 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. That doesn't sound right.

Could you share more details about the issues you're experiencing? What type of internet connection are you using? Have you tried switching protocols? Do you have any antivirus or firewall app installed?

Contact us through the 'Report an issue' option in the app menu so we can help you troubleshoot. In case you've already done that, please share your ticket number with us here so we can check on your report and see how we can assist you further.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cancellation problem

hey, why are you still charging me!!! I sent you an email to cancel and you dont care? This is the worst application ever!!! give me my money back!

22 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi! Sorry to hear that.

Note that all Proton VPN plans are renewed automatically unless the subscription is canceled before the renewal date. To prevent your subscription from auto-renewing, you need to cancel it from the Subscription tab of your account at https://account.protonvpn.com/login.

That said, if you've already reached out to us using our support form (https://protonvpn.com/support/contact), please share your ticket number with us here so we can check on your case and see how we may be able to assist you further. Meanwhile, you can learn more about our refund policy at https://proton.me/legal/terms.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

NOT FREE but they wont tell you up front.

You will not be informed that this is NOT free until you get the thing down loaded. Now I have to delete and hope there are not any bits and pieces left on my hard drive. This company can NOT be trusted with anything else if they lie about it being free.

Reply from Proton VPN

6 hours ago
Hi. That's not right.

We do have a free plan that costs $0 and allows you to secure your internet connection with no ads, no logs, and provides the same level of privacy and security as our paid plans.

If this is true, this "PLAN" is very well hidden. Still only gets one star until this "PLAN" is able to be found.

20 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. That's not right.

We do have a free plan that costs $0 and allows you to secure your internet connection with no ads, no logs, and provides the same level of privacy and security as our paid plans. Anyone can sign up for our free plan, and we don't ask for any payment details during signup (https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn).

Feel free to contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact with more details if you need our assistance using Proton VPN.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I wish I had checked here prior to…

I wish I had checked here prior to signing up with proton for a subscription.
Anyone who is considering proton, should make sure they test all of their devices, and any other operating systems they might want to use before the refund period ends. Proton provides very poor customer service if you have any issues, which a lot of people do due to poor servers in some locations, fake servers, and a lack of effort with some operating systems.
Proton also manipulates feedback on social media by deleting posts, blocking users, and faking comments.
Have a good look around and you will find this to be true. I even found a post where proton are claiming that the negative reviews here are faked, and due to user error. If they refuse to take responsibility, they are unlikely to improve.

"hi that doesn't sound right at all"
Is your response to every accurate review here.

You do have fake servers, you list servers as being in countries, when they are in other countries. It is even on your website, although deliberately not easy to find.

You do not even give ticket numbers when you respond to emails

You definitely do fake social media interaction in multiple ways. Stop treating your customers like they are idiots. Why do you have to be so dishonest?

17 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. That doesn't sound right at all.

We don't have fake servers, and we don't manipulate or fake feedback on our social media in any way. That said, if you could provide further clarification or details about this, we'd be more than happy to further address any of your concerns.

On another note, feel free to share your ticket number with us here so we can check on your report. That way we can have a better understanding of the issues you've experienced with our service and see how we may be able to assist you further.

Edit: If you're referring to Smart Routing, as mentioned in our article, this is a technology that allows us to offer VPN servers in countries we might not otherwise be able to due the sensitive nature of those locations. Instead of running servers physically inside those countries, we use servers that are, in reality, located elsewhere.

These Smart Routing-enabled servers behave just like the other servers on the Proton VPN network do. They are also run on our own bare metal servers, so they are equally secure. When using a Smart Routing server, you will appear to access the internet from that location, and will benefit from all the features and security advantages of using Proton VPN.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Great disappointment

Heard recommendations from knowledgable, experienced IT collegues and read good reviews online. Glad I tried Proton VPN for 1 month as I was about to purchase a year or two year subscription on reviews online. This VPN is the worse VPN I have ever tried, constantly crashing, non-responsive and often freezing websites. It took many minutes to load Amazon, many minutes to load any of my emails on a very fast PC with superfast broadband! No thanks!

14 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. That doesn't sound right.

What OS are you running Proton VPN on exactly? Are you receiving any error messages? What type of internet connection are you using? Do you have any antivirus or firewall app installed on your device?

Please contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact with more details so we can have a better understanding of the issues you're experiencing and help you troubleshoot.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

other review but ok soo i got a refued…

other review but ok soo i got a refued but i switched to windows soo i could get it but they removed the email and i want to sign in and they i got out plan so i need to buy it again pls give me it back

30 June 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. We're sorry to see that you're dissatisfied.

Would you mind clarifying your review further? We'd be more than happy to help with anything, but we need to have a clear understanding first. Contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact so we can assist you further.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Review for the Chromecast TV version of proton VPN

I have a free version of this (I assume it's this company as the app is called proton VPN), which I downloaded onto my Google Chromecast, it's free and I connected to the United States (I'm in New Zealand) a week ago using it. it displays code on the screen and you go to a URL but it gives you and enter that code in on some other device and then it connects your Chromecast.

Anyway, I have been watching movies and using it for an entire week now hasn't cost me a cent and has stayed connected for an entire week. I have not needed to reconnect at all. I haven't read the other reviews here but as I went to write this one saw that it looks like there's been negative reviews. I don't know whether that's because other versions of this VPN on other devices don't work as well or whether there is some other crappy VPN using the same name But the proton VPN that you can download for Chromecast which from memory has an app which has blue colours in it when you see it on your Chromecast homepage, that has been absolutely fantastic fit my purposes perfectly and has been rock solid, reliable. And hasn't cost me a sense so can't complain about the price LOL.

5 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Thank you for your positive review.

We're happy to see that you're satisfied with Proton VPN. That said, if there happens to be anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact at any time. We're always eager to help!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Hello Proton VPN Support,

Hello Proton VPN Support,

I received confirmation that my Proton VPN subscription was cancelled and that I’ve been downgraded to the free plan.

However, I still haven’t received the refund of PKR 2,285 that was promised.

Can you please confirm when I will receive it in my bank account?

I paid via Google Pay or debit card, and the refund was confirmed by your team a few days ago.

Kindly update me as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Mate

10 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. Sorry to hear that.

Would you mind sharing your ticket number with us here? We'd be more than happy to check on your inquiry so we can provide you with more details about your case.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute garbage.

Absolute garbage.
Can't use email with it, get countless captcha's on any site, can't use pretty much any website without causing problems, banking doesn't work etc etc etc.
Utterly useless and a complete waste of money, just use one of the better known ones.
Avoid like the plague, complete crap.

10 July 2025
Unprompted review
Proton VPN logo

Reply from Proton VPN

Hi. We're sorry to hear that.

CAPTCHA is usually prompted when there are many users connected to the same server and trying to access the same website simultaneously, which may be interpreted as a bot. Moreover, some web services are not VPN-friendly and actively block known VPN IP addresses.

Contact us at https://protonvpn.com/support/contact with more details about the services in question, as well as the servers you're connected to when trying to access them so we can help. Meanwhile, you can try switching between multiple different servers to see how it goes.

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