OBS Studio
Focus: screen recording, live streaming and open source. Also in Personal Productivity and Remote Work, like Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.7 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
Desktop App
Proton VPN
A free VPN with no data limits, no speed caps and no ads.
Rating
4.6 / 5
Pricing
Freemium
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
Windows, macOS, Linux
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is a VPN service from Proton whose free plan has no data, speed or time limits and never shows ads. It follows a strict no-logs policy for free users too, and the free plan includes a kill switch and a Stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs. Apps are offered for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad, Chromebook, Android TV and Fire TV, plus extensions for Chrome and Firefox. The free plan covers one device, while VPN Plus adds up to 10 devices, many more countries, faster servers, the NetShield ad and tracker blocker and P2P support.
Pros: what Proton VPN does well
- No data or speed limits on the free plan
- No ads and a no-logs policy
- Kill switch and Stealth protocol included free
Cons: where it falls short
- The free plan works on one device only
- Fewer server countries than the paid plan
Who Proton VPN is for
People who want a free VPN for public Wi-Fi without data caps.
Who can skip it
People who only browse on trusted home networks.
Proton VPN alternatives
Not sold on Proton VPN? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Screen Studio
Focus: screen recording, demos and tutorials. Also in Personal Productivity and Remote Work, like Proton VPN. Paid but Affordable (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.7 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppPaid but AffordablemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit
tmux
Focus: terminal, sessions and multiplexer. Also in Personal Productivity and Remote Work, like Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.7 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit
Deskflow
Focus: keyboard and mouse sharing, software kvm and multi-computer. Also in Remote Work and Personal Productivity, like Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
CleanShot X
Focus: screenshots, screen recording and annotation. Also in Remote Work and Personal Productivity, like Proton VPN. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Paid but Affordable (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.8 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Mac AppPaid but AffordablemacOS
4.8Visit
Upscayl
Focus: image upscaling, ai and electron. Shares privacy with Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.8 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeLinux, macOS
4.8Visit
Free alternatives to Proton VPN
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Founder.page
Focus: founders, indie makers and twitter directory. Also in Personal Productivity and Remote Work, like Proton VPN. A website, not a desktop app. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit
NetBird
Focus: private network, wireguard and remote access. Shares vpn with Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
VSCodium
Focus: code editor, vs code and open source. Shares privacy with Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Adds Offline. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
ActivityWatch
Focus: time tracking, screen time and open source. Shares privacy with Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.5 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.5Visit
BleachBit
Focus: disk cleaner, free space and cleanup. Shares privacy with Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.5 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, Linux
4.5Visit
Mullvad Browser
Focus: private browser, anti-tracking and fingerprinting. Shares privacy with Proton VPN. Free (Proton VPN: Freemium). Rated 4.5 (Proton VPN: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.5Visit
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