Proton VPN

Proton VPN encrypts a device's internet connection and replaces its visible IP address with one from a server in a country of the user's choosing. Beyond basic tunneling, it offers a kill switch that blocks traffic if the VPN drops, an ad and malware blocker called NetShield, and a "Stealth" protocol meant to keep the VPN working in networks that try to detect and block VPN traffic. The paid tier gives access to a much larger server pool, higher speeds, and simultaneous use on more devices, while the free tier limits users to one device, a smaller set of server locations, and reduced speed.

The client applications are published as open source and are periodically checked by independent security audits commissioned by the developer, which is a meaningful trust signal for a tool whose entire job is to sit between the user and every website they visit. This makes Proton VPN a reasonable pick for privacy-conscious users, people who want to avoid ISP-level tracking, or anyone who needs to reach content or sites blocked in their region.

It suits users who want a general-purpose, no-configuration VPN rather than a self-hosted or protocol-level solution; those who need advanced routing, split-tunneling scripting, or a self-hosted VPN server would be better served elsewhere.