Proton VPN's main advantage is its permanent Free plan with no traffic limit, but it supports only one connection, and free servers are selected with restrictions. If you need unlimited connections, manual selection of a free location, more countries or a different payment model, there are better-suited options.
In short: what to choose instead of Proton VPN
Windscribe — for a Free plan across multiple devices and manual selection of a free location.
Surfshark — for unlimited connections on a paid plan.
NordVPN — for broader server geography.
Mullvad — for an account without email and a fixed price.
PIA — for unlimited connections with port forwarding.
Proton VPN and alternatives in numbers
| VPN | Key difference | Price | Devices | Free / trial | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | The original service | Free; Plus from $2.99/mo on the 2-year plan | Free — 1; Plus — up to 10 | Permanent Free | 20,000+ servers, 140+ countries |
| Surfshark | Unlimited connections | $2.49/mo for 27 mo | Unlimited | 7 days, up to 3 devices | 4,500+ servers, 100 countries |
| Windscribe | Free with location choice | Pro — $5.75/mo when paid annually | No fixed limit | Free — up to 10 GB/mo with email | 69+ countries; server count not published |
| NordVPN | Broader geography | $3.49/mo for 27 mo | Up to 10 | Android via Google Play | 8,400+ servers, 167+ countries |
| Mullvad | Account without email | €5/mo regardless of term | Up to 5 | None | About 570 servers, 50 countries |
| PIA | Unlimited connections | $2.03/mo for 39 mo | Unlimited | 7 days with the annual plan | 91 countries, 154 locations |
Data and prices were verified in September 2026 against the services' official websites and may change.
5 best Proton VPN alternatives
1. Windscribe — a Free plan for multiple devices
Windscribe Free gives up to 10 GB per month after email confirmation or 2 GB without it, works on multiple devices and lets you choose servers in 10 free countries. Proton VPN Free has no traffic limit, but only one device works at a time, and switching servers comes with restrictions.
Learn more: Windscribe vs Proton VPN.
2. Surfshark — for unlimited connections
Surfshark is a good fit if the number of devices matters more: the paid subscription does not limit the number of simultaneous connections, versus 10 on Proton VPN Plus. The long-term price is also lower — $2.49 versus $2.99 per month — but Surfshark has no permanent Free plan.
Learn more: Surfshark vs Proton VPN.
3. NordVPN — for broader server geography
NordVPN is a good fit if country choice matters more: 8,400+ servers in 167+ countries versus 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries on Proton VPN. In other words, Proton publishes more servers, while NordVPN covers more countries. Both paid services support up to 10 connections.
Learn more: NordVPN vs Proton VPN.
4. Mullvad — for an account without email and simple pricing
Mullvad requires no email or password — a random number is used for the account. The price is fixed: €5 per month regardless of term. The trade-off is up to five devices, no Free plan and a network in 50 countries.
Learn more: Proton VPN vs Mullvad.
5. PIA — for port forwarding and unlimited connections
PIA is a good fit if you need unlimited connections: Proton VPN Plus supports up to 10 devices, while PIA has no fixed limit. Both services offer port forwarding on paid plans, so PIA's advantage here lies specifically in the number of connections and a lower long-term price — $2.03 versus $2.99 per month.
Learn more: Proton VPN vs PIA.
How to choose a Proton VPN alternative
If you need a free VPN on multiple devices with location choice, look at Windscribe, but keep the traffic limit in mind. For unlimited connections after paying, Surfshark and PIA are a good fit; for broader geography, NordVPN; for a fixed price and an account without email, Mullvad. If Proton VPN's main advantage for you is permanent Free with no traffic limit, a direct replacement is harder to find.
Want to try a Proton VPN alternative without a bank card?
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See also: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN · NordVPN vs Proton VPN · Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN · NordVPN vs CyberGhost · NordVPN vs Surfshark · Surfshark vs ExpressVPN · Surfshark vs Proton VPN · Surfshark vs CyberGhost