If you need basic privacy on one device at no subscription cost, Proton VPN Free is the sensible starting point. If you need streaming, P2P, Secure Core, broader server choice, and 10 simultaneous devices, Proton VPN Plus is the better fit. ExpressVPN is worth paying for when its Lightway protocol, platform support, kill-switch behavior, split tunneling, or streaming-oriented service solves a specific device problem.
Start by listing the devices and services that matter this week: phone, computer, smart TV, Fire TV, router, console, browser, streaming platform, work network, or torrent client. Then compare the same billing term, US currency, upfront amount, renewal price, device limit, refund terms, and operating-system support. The free Proton account is a separate choice from a paid trial or a money-back guarantee.
Key takeaways
- Pick Proton VPN Free for unlimited data, one device, and basic privacy at $0.
- Pick Proton VPN Plus for streaming, P2P, Secure Core, 10 devices, and broader server choice.
- Pick ExpressVPN when Lightway, platform support, split tunneling, or upload performance matters more than Proton’s free tier and audited no-logs evidence.
- Treat speed and streaming results as time- and location-specific, then use the refund period to test your actual devices and services.
- Confirm the live checkout amount, renewal price, taxes, billing interval, bonus time, and refund terms before submitting payment.
Which VPN fits the decision in front of you?
The right choice depends on the job, not the brand name. For public Wi-Fi and everyday browsing on one device, Proton VPN Free covers the basic connection without a subscription. It provides unlimited data, no-logs protection, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch, but it limits you to one device and randomly selected free servers in 10 countries.
Choose Proton VPN Plus when several devices, streaming, P2P, or a wider choice of countries matters. Proton lists 10 simultaneous devices, paid servers in more than 140 countries, streaming support, Secure Core, P2P, NetShield, and split tunneling. The tradeoff is a paid plan and the possibility that streaming platforms still block particular VPN addresses.
Choose ExpressVPN when the specific platform experience matters most. Its Basic, Advanced, and Pro tiers include Lightway, and its documentation describes kill-switch and split-tunneling features across several operating systems. ExpressVPN may suit a reader setting up a phone, computer, router, TV platform, or other device where app support and configuration options matter more than a free tier.
A conditional verdict is the clearest answer: pick Proton VPN Free if the job is low-cost privacy on one device. Pick Proton VPN Plus if you want the broader Proton feature set. Pick ExpressVPN if its exact app, protocol, or device support fits your setup better. Before paying, confirm the operating system, app version, installation channel, and whether the service needs an app, router setup, or DNS-based option. The Free vs Paid VPN comparison is the next useful decision if the main question is whether paying is necessary.
What does Proton Free give you before you pay?
Proton VPN Free costs $0 in the US, has no paid billing term, has an effective monthly cost of $0, and has no renewal charge. It is a free tier, not a free trial and not a money-back offer. The plan provides unlimited data, but only one device can use the account at a time. Prices checked October 28, 2026.
Free users receive a randomly selected server in one of 10 countries. Server changes are not fully manual in the way they are on a paid plan. Proton states that the first server change has a 45-second cooldown, followed by 10-minute intervals between later changes. That matters if you are trying to find a suitable connection for a particular service or location.
Proton Free does not guarantee streaming coverage. Proton says paid plans support streaming and recommends a Plus server for that purpose. Free servers can also be slower during busy periods, and distance, server load, protocol, and the original connection affect the result.
The free tier still has useful privacy controls. Proton provides no-logs protection, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection for free users. Those features protect the connection between your device and the VPN server, but they do not make websites unable to identify you through an account, cookie, GPS signal, tracking pixel, or browser fingerprint.
For a phone or laptop used on hotel Wi-Fi, an airport network, or a coffee shop, Proton Free can be enough if one device and random server choice meet the need. It is a poor match for a household with several devices, a regular streaming requirement, or a location-specific connection. If the free tier fits, there is no reason to treat it as a temporary trial. It can remain free without a paid renewal.
What do the paid plans cost and renew at?
The figures below use US dollars and the pricing information dated October 28, 2026. Promotions, taxes, billing channels, account eligibility, and checkout terms can change the amount shown. Read the live checkout immediately before payment.
Proton’s US pricing page showed Plus at $3.49 per month for 24 months, with $83.76 due for the first 24 months and renewal at $83.88 every 12 months. The displayed first-term effective monthly cost is $3.49. Proton states a 30-day money-back guarantee. That refund window is separate from the Free tier. Prices checked October 28, 2026.
ExpressVPN’s two-year introductory equivalents were reported as $2.99 for Basic, $4.49 for Advanced, and $7.49 for Pro per month. ExpressVPN states that two-year introductory offers renew annually after the initial term. The exact renewal price for each tier should be confirmed on the live US checkout page, along with taxes and the total amount due.
ExpressVPN enables automatic renewal by default for payment methods that support it. Its standard 30-day guarantee applies to first-time users, with exclusions for renewal purchases, redemption-code purchases, and purchases through the Apple App Store or Google Play. App-store refund requests go through Apple or Google.
Record the initial amount, paid service period, renewal amount, renewal interval, tax, and refund terms shown immediately before payment. Treat bonus months as bonus time, not paid months, and record them separately only if checkout lists them clearly. Confirm the exact live figures before paying. If the renewal difference is the deciding factor, Proton Plus lists a renewal of $83.88 a year and ExpressVPN Basic lists $99.95 a year, both checked October 28, 2026.
What privacy evidence exists, and what can a VPN not do?
A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server and changes the IP address websites see. That can protect traffic and some metadata from an untrusted local network. It does not make you anonymous, remove account identifiers, or stop a website from recognizing the device or account you already use.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation says cookies, GPS, tracking pixels, logins, browser fingerprinting, and the VPN provider itself remain relevant. A VPN works alongside software updates, account security, phishing protection, and careful use of websites. It does not replace those measures.
Proton’s 2025 no-logs audit was conducted by Securitum. The report covered Proton’s production VPN infrastructure and no-logs policy. It stated that Proton did not log user activity, source IP addresses, connection timestamps, session duration, DNS queries, or traffic contents. The report also identified limited live traffic inspection on free-tier servers to block BitTorrent, without retaining that data.
ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol was audited by Cure53 in October 2024 and by Praetorian in September 2024. ExpressVPN also lists a Cure53 Windows-app audit from April 2024 addressing a DNS issue related to split tunneling. An audit has a defined date, auditor, systems, and scope. It is evidence about that scope, not a promise that every device or future app behaves identically.
Proton’s privacy evidence may suit readers who place more weight on the published no-logs audit and free plan. ExpressVPN may suit readers who place more weight on Lightway audits and the particular app controls they need. Neither service changes the law that applies where you are or the terms of the account and platform you use.
Which service is better for speed, streaming, and Netflix reliability?
Speed results are measurements from a particular location, connection, protocol, and date. HighSpeedInternet.com measured Proton VPN ahead locally on download speed, latency, and jitter, at 867 Mbps, 38.02 ms, and 4.63 ms, compared with ExpressVPN at 847 Mbps, 65.79 ms, and 14.96 ms. The same comparison measured ExpressVPN far ahead on local upload speed, at 864 Mbps versus Proton VPN at 311 Mbps.
The result changed with location. On a Hong Kong test, HighSpeedInternet.com reported latency of 292 ms for ExpressVPN and 420 ms for Proton VPN. Tom’s Guide reported Proton VPN WireGuard speeds of 1,783 Mbps on UK-to-UK connections and 1,379 Mbps on UK-to-US connections in its October 2026 review. These are independent measurements, not Tunnel Verdict testing, and they should be treated as time- and location-specific.
The practical choice depends on what your connection needs. Proton may fit a reader who values local download performance, lower measured latency, or lower jitter in the cited comparison. ExpressVPN may fit a reader who uploads large files, uses a distant location, or needs a particular app and protocol combination. Your own distance from the selected server and your internet connection can change the outcome.
Proton says paid Plus servers support streaming and recommends a Plus server for streaming. Tom’s Guide reported successful access with Proton VPN to Netflix libraries in Japan, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, plus most tested Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITV Play, Channel 4, 9Now, and 10 Play services. TechRadar reported successful ExpressVPN access to Netflix, 10Play, and 9Now in Australia, while noting that streaming services can require server changes.
Netflix states that VPN use may restrict viewers to globally licensed titles and that users may need to turn the VPN off to see titles available in their home region. A successful result on one server does not guarantee the same result later. Proton’s free tier has no guaranteed streaming coverage, so compare ExpressVPN with Proton Plus, not with the free tier.
Treat streaming access as changeable. Use the provider’s refund period to check the exact services and devices you use, and keep an official account with each streaming platform. If Netflix shows a proxy message, work through the Netflix proxy error fixes. Check the platform’s current terms before using a VPN for regional content.
How do protocols, kill switches, and split tunneling work by device?
ExpressVPN uses Lightway as its main protocol and lists Lightway Turbo on supported configurations. Proton VPN uses WireGuard, while Stealth is WireGuard tunneled over TLS. A protocol controls how the app creates the encrypted connection. The best choice can vary with the operating system, network, and whether a network blocks ordinary VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN’s Internet Kill Switch is enabled by default on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, and is always on for iOS with standard and advanced modes. Proton provides kill-switch and always-on VPN features, but the behavior and platform support vary. A kill switch blocks traffic if the VPN connection drops, though it can interfere with local-network devices, casting, banking, streaming, or location-sensitive apps.
Split tunneling sends selected traffic outside the VPN. Excluded traffic does not receive the VPN’s IP masking or tunnel protection. This can help a local printer or a service that needs your normal connection, but it should not be used for an app whose traffic you want inside the VPN.
ExpressVPN’s current English feature page lists split tunneling for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with options that vary by platform. Its Spanish desktop support page says split tunneling is unavailable on macOS 11 and later and Windows 11 ARM64. Because the provider’s documentation differs, confirm the exact app version and installation channel before choosing ExpressVPN for that feature.
Proton lists split tunneling across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, and its browser extension. On macOS, Proton says split tunneling works only with WireGuard or Stealth, not IKEv2. Proton’s Linux implementation is limited to specified distributions and may require apps to be restarted.
For a Fire TV, smart TV, PS5, or router, first confirm whether the provider supports a native app, router installation, or DNS-based setup for the exact model and software version. A computer or phone app does not automatically solve a console or TV setup. The VPN on a router or your devices comparison helps with that choice.
How can you choose safely under platform terms?
Use both services for lawful activity and keep an official account with every streaming platform. Proton’s streaming guidance says Proton VPN should not be used to evade copyright regulations, and Proton’s terms prohibit illegal or prohibited activity, including intellectual-property infringement and unauthorized access.
A VPN subscription does not create a legal right to access content from another region. The law where you are, the service terms for the platform, the account rules, and the specific activity all matter. Laws and terms can change by country, service, and date, so check the current rules for the exact use case.
ExpressVPN’s terms govern its website, apps, software, and services. Automatic renewal applies by default when supported by the payment method. Before paying, check the refund eligibility for the billing channel you plan to use, especially if you are buying through Apple or Google.
What is the best next step after comparing them?
Write down the main job and the devices that must work. Pick Proton Free if one device, unlimited data, and basic privacy are enough. Pick Proton Plus if you need 10 devices, streaming, P2P, Secure Core, or broader server choice. Pick ExpressVPN if its Lightway setup, platform support, split tunneling, kill switch, or upload performance fits your use better.
Then confirm the live checkout figures, renewal price, taxes, paid period, bonus time, device limit, refund terms, and exact operating-system support. Use the refund period to test the services on the devices and platforms that matter, including the streaming services you actually use. If you need a different privacy model, compare the Proton VPN vs Mullvad privacy picks next.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need ExpressVPN?
No. You do not need ExpressVPN merely to browse the web, and Proton VPN Free may cover basic encrypted access on one device. ExpressVPN becomes a reasonable paid choice when its Lightway protocol, app support, split tunneling, kill-switch behavior, server access, or streaming features match a specific need.
What are the common complaints about ExpressVPN?
The main practical drawbacks are the difference between introductory pricing and annual renewal, platform-specific feature differences, and refund exclusions for Apple App Store and Google Play purchases. ExpressVPN’s support pages also describe split-tunneling limits on macOS 11 and later and Windows 11 ARM64, so confirm the feature in your exact app.
Is there a VPN better than Proton VPN?
There is no universal best choice. Proton may fit readers who want a free tier, audited no-logs evidence, broad country coverage, or lower measured latency, while ExpressVPN may fit readers who value its platform support or upload performance.
Is Proton VPN blocked by Netflix?
Netflix can restrict VPN users to globally licensed titles or require the VPN to be turned off. Proton says paid Plus servers support streaming, but users may need to change servers, and no VPN can guarantee that every Netflix server will work indefinitely.
What are the downsides of using Proton VPN?
Proton Free limits you to one device, 10 randomly selected countries, random server changes, and no guaranteed streaming coverage. Paid plans can still encounter blocked server addresses, catalog delays, app conflicts, or slower connections caused by distance, load, and network conditions.
Does Proton VPN leak your IP address?
Proton provides kill switch, always-on VPN, DNS leak protection, and IPv6 leak prevention or support depending on the platform. A VPN can still be bypassed or misconfigured through location services, browser features, split tunneling, or apps outside the tunnel, so verify the settings on the device you use.
Is it safe to leave Proton VPN on all the time?
Leaving Proton VPN connected can keep traffic inside the VPN tunnel, and Proton provides always-on VPN and kill-switch features. It can also interfere with local devices, banking, streaming, or apps that block VPN addresses, so use split tunneling only when excluded traffic does not need VPN protection.
Can I be tracked if I use Proton VPN?
Yes. Websites and apps can still identify you through accounts, cookies, GPS, tracking pixels, and browser fingerprinting. Proton’s audited no-logs policy limits what Proton says it retains, but it does not stop tracking performed by websites, apps, advertisers, employers, or account providers.
Why does Proton VPN not work anymore?
Possible causes include a blocked VPN address, server maintenance, firewall or antivirus interference, expired paid access, a streaming service rejecting the connection, incorrect system time, DNS-over-HTTPS conflicts, or an incompatible protocol. Proton recommends changing servers, updating the app, checking the firewall, and trying WireGuard or Stealth.
Glossary
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