Proton review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
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.
Key facts
- Best for
- A single subscription covering a password manager, a VPN and encrypted storage, starting at $4.99.
- Price from
- $4.99↗
- Free plan
- Yes↗
- Free plan limits
- 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↗
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave↗
- Protocols
- WireGuard, OpenVPN↗
- Logging policy
- No permanent IP logs by default; temporary IP logs kept to combat abuse and fraud; authentication logging off by default; Proton states it has no technical means to access encrypted passwords or notes↗
- Jurisdiction
- CH↗
- Open source
- Yes↗
- Legal entity
- Proton AG↗
- Headquarters
- Switzerland↗
- Founded
- 2014↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre, Community↗
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- proton.me
VPN
Password managers
- Family plan
- Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel↗
- Passkeys
- Yes↗
- Security audit
- Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty↗
- Encryption
- End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys↗
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- Yes↗
Secure email
Encrypted storage
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 11 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
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.
- The VPN spans 140 server countries across 10 devices over WireGuard and OpenVPN.
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 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.
How Proton compares
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Which devices and browsers does it run on?+
Platforms cover Windows, macOS and Linux, so a single vault works across desktop, mobile, web and the command line. Browser extensions come with the same account, which helps when you switch between a work laptop and a personal phone.
Where is Proton based and what does it log?+
Proton AG is registered in Switzerland and sits under the Proton Foundation. On records, the default keeps nothing permanent tied to IP addresses, short-lived IP details are held only to fight abuse and fraud, and sign-in logging is left switched off. Proton also says it has no way to read your encrypted passwords or notes.
How many devices and server countries does the VPN cover?+
The VPN covers 10 devices and 140 server countries over WireGuard and OpenVPN, with kill switch and no logs, streaming and travel in the feature list and Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ supported for streaming. Terms run as far as 24, so a longer commitment lowers the effective rate.
How much storage comes with the account?+
Free storage starts at 5 GB, and beyond that Drive charges $95.88 per TB per year. Files sit under encryption Proton says it cannot read, and paid tiers add capacity alongside the password manager and VPN.
Is the software open source and independently audited?+
The password manager is open source under a copyleft licence, has been reviewed by outside security researchers, and comes with a public bug bounty. Proton also holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, so claims about unreadable vaults sit alongside outside review.
What is the refund window on a longer commitment?+
The VPN comes with a 30 money back window, so an annual or longer commitment carries less risk. Terms run as far as 24, and support runs on email, chat and help centre if you want help walking through a refund.
Sources
- proton.me/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Legal entity, Owner
“Proton was born in Switzerland in 2014 when a team of scientists who met at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) decided to build a better internet where privacy is the default.”
- proton.me/blog/soc-2 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Compliance certifications
“Proton has completed a SOC 2 Type II attestation. It adds to our ISO 27001 certification”
- proton.me/drive checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free storage
“5 GB of storage”
- proton.me/drive/security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Zero-knowledge encryption
“end-to-end and zero-access encryption”
- proton.me/legal/privacy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Jurisdiction, Logging policy, Support channels
“It is therefore governed by the laws and regulations of Switzerland.”
- proton.me/pass/download/android checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Open source
“We're a community-driven company based in Switzerland”
- proton.me/pass/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Custom domains, Family plan, Free plan, Free plan limits, Pricing model, Platforms
“Your custom domain for aliases”
- proton.me/pass/security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: End-to-end encryption, Encryption, Passkeys, Security audit
“Proton Pass doesn't just encrypt the password field but applies end-to-end encryption to all fields, including usernames, web addresses, and all data contained in your encrypted notes”
- proton.me/vpn checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Devices, Features, Features, Longest plan (months), Money-back period, Protocols, Server countries, Streaming services
“Business VPN”
- capterra.com/p/10029940/Proton-Drive/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Price per TB per year
“approximately $95.88 per TB annually”
- privacyjournal.net/proton-pass-review checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Price from
“Proton Plus costs $4.99 per month when billed monthly.”
Compiled from 11 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
Proton
A single subscription covering a password manager, a VPN and encrypted storage, starting at $4.99.