Proton VPN vs Psiphon

Proton VPN is a virtual private network service from Proton, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It encrypts traffic with AES-256 or ChaCha20 over WireGuard or OpenVPN, and lists a kill switch, streaming support and torrent support. Proton describes the service as no-logs, open-source and independently audited. Its free plan has unlimited data, no artificial speed limits and no ads; it supports one device at a time and connects to randomly selected servers in 10 countries. Paid plan listings show VPN Plus and Proton Unlimited at $0.00 per month, with the first month and renewal also listed at $0.00; both support 10 devices. Apps are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, as well as browsers, Chromebook, Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV. NetShield uses DNS filtering to block ads, trackers, phishing scams, malicious sites and malware. The service advertises 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries. Payments can be refunded within 30 days, and subscriptions can be canceled at any time.

Psiphon routes internet traffic through its network to help users reach websites and services that may be blocked or restricted. It automatically tries different connection methods and adapts when network conditions change. The app is intended for browsing, messaging, calls, video, gaming and downloads, and users can install and connect without an account or email address. Psiphon says its network includes more than 50,000 servers across 33 countries. Its free Basic plan is ad-supported, has reduced features and costs nothing; Plus costs $2.88 a month and is described as offering the full network, no ads and every feature. Premium, Premium Monthly and Premium Annual are also listed, with no prices stated; their listed benefits are fewer ads and a faster VPN. Psiphon says it processes limited technical information to operate, secure and improve its network, without building identity or browsing profiles. Client apps and core tunnelling technology are open source, and the Trust Center lists independent reviews including Cure53 audits from May 2024. Android, iOS, Windows and macOS appear in the platform facts, though the native macOS app is in development.