Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
FastestVPN vs Proton
FastestVPN vs Proton: the differences
| Compare |  FastestVPN |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 49 | 140Higher |
| Money-back period | 31 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | KY | CH |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP, OpenConnectCovers more | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnellingCovers more | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Hulu, HBO | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Xbox, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Router | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Monthly price | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | $0.83 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Altius IT | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Proton Foundation |
Same on both: Devices (10), Longest plan (months) (24 months).
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Key differences
- FastestVPN scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Server countries is higher at Proton: 140 vs 49.
- Protocols: only FastestVPN offers IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP.
- Features: only FastestVPN offers Split tunnelling.
- Streaming services: only FastestVPN offers HBO.
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Amazon Prime Video, Disney+.
- Platforms: only FastestVPN offers Fire TV, Xbox, Router.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Safari.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Community.
- Money-back period is higher at FastestVPN: 31 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
FastestVPN
FastestVPN suits readers who want a plain privacy tool at a budget price and will commit to a long subscription. It sits in Cayman Islands, covers 10 devices on one plan and has had its no-logs policy reviewed by Altius IT, which few budget rivals can match.
Proton
Proton bundles a password manager, VPN and encrypted storage in one account, with Pass starting at $4.99 and a free tier. It suits readers who want passwords, private files and a VPN in a single subscription, and who can live with free plan limits that leave out an authenticator, password sharing and file attachments.
Score breakdown
| Area | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherLong-term plan at $0.83 a month with a money-back period of 31 days keeps entry cost low. | 9.2Entry at $4.99 sits under the site median of €6.84, with storage at $95.88 per TB per year and a free plan. |
| Offer | 9.3One plan covers 10 devices, with a no-logs review by Altius IT and servers in 49 countries. | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 9.8Higher | 9.1 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | 49 | 140 |
| Money-back period | 31 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 24 months |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 10 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Budget | Free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Cayman Islands | Switzerland |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys and password health alerts; no 2FA authenticator, secure sharing, file attachments or dark web monitoring |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | All fields end-to-end encrypted: passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata; 256-bit AES-GCM vaults; only the user can decrypt, Proton cannot |
| Custom domains | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | FastestVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | $95.88 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FastestVPN | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $5below the median | Not confirmed | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | $0.83lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $4.50 |
| Devices | 10at the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 49below the median | 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | $5below the median | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Money-back period | 31 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
FastestVPN
Pros
- Long-term plan at $0.83 a month, the lowest entry price among the brands compared
- The no-logs policy has been reviewed by Altius IT, and the company sits in Cayman Islands
- One plan covers 10 devices and servers in 49 countries
Cons
- Renewal returns to $5 a month, well above the long-term rate
- Server spread is modest, with servers in 49 countries
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line
Proton
Pros
- A single account covers a password manager, a VPN and end-to-end encrypted storage, with a free plan to start.
- Passkeys, custom domains and a Family plan with an admin panel suit single-user and shared use.
- Vaults use AES-GCM encryption with OpenPGP and ECC keys, and only the account holder can decrypt.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre with no phone line.
- Free plan limits leave out the authenticator app, password sharing, attachments and dark web monitoring.
- Extra storage costs $95.88 per TB per year beyond 5 GB free.
Who each suits
FastestVPN
Who it suits
- Households that want a reviewed no-logs policy at a budget price
- People who need a router app alongside desktop and mobile apps
- Readers who will commit to the long-term plan to get the low monthly rate
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., if you want a plan priced lower each month
- Sinew Software Systems, if you want a password manager rather than a VPN
- ESET Brasil, if covering more devices on one plan matters most
Proton
Who it suits
- Readers who want a password manager, a VPN and private files under a single subscription rather than separate products.
- Households and small teams that need shared accounts, since the Family plan bundles several Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel.
- Buyers who care about open source under a copyleft licence, outside security audits and a public bug bounty.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email at $0.99 if email aliasing is the whole job, since Proton adds a VPN, storage and a password manager.
- Apple Inc. at $0.99 when aliasing is the priority; Proton's $4.99 entry brings a VPN, storage and password manager in the same account.
- EasyOptOuts at $19.99 for a single higher priced subscription, against Proton's $4.99 entry and a free plan.
Current offers
FastestVPN
Current offer
First period offer
Lifetime plan 93% off: $40 one-time lifetime plan, save 93%
With a 31-day money-back guarantee for new purchases
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
1 Year + 1 Year Free, save 83%: $19.95 billed biennially ($0.83/mo)
Recurring biennial plan, 31-day money-back guarantee for new purchases
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
93% off plus 2TB Internxt Encrypted Cloud Storage and FastestPass Password Manager free: 93% off + 2TB Internxt storage + FastestPass password manager free
Site-wide offer banner; deal page linked as
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
Current offer
Discount code
40% off Pass Plus: 40% off
Shown on the Proton Pass pricing page alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee; applies to the Pass Plus paid plan
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
FastestVPN
How much does FastestVPN cost at the start and at renewal?+
The long-term plan runs at $0.83 a month and can run for 24 months, while the month-to-month rate is $5. Renewal sits at $5 a month, so the low headline rate holds while you stay on the long-term plan.
Has the no-logs policy been checked by anyone?+
Yes. The no-logs policy has been reviewed by Altius IT, and the company is registered in Cayman Islands. That gives the claim more weight than a policy stated without review, though the review covers the logging promise rather than every part of the service.
Proton
How much is Proton Pass at the entry price?+
Proton Pass starts at $4.99, and there is a free plan beside it. The paid tiers widen the set of features, so the entry price only pays off if you want more hide my email aliases, passkeys and password health alerts.
What does the free plan leave out?+
The free plan covers as many logins, notes, cards and devices as you like, but it leaves out the authenticator app, sharing with other people, file attachments and dark web monitoring. Those sit on paid Pass plans, where entry starts at $4.99.
Other options to compare
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