Proton VPN
Proton VPN was developed by the Swiss-based company behind the popular secure email service Proton Mail. The VPN has built a reputation for top-notch security and maximum transparency. Proton VPN’s apps are fully open-source, and the software is also regularly audited to help affirm the security of the VPN for users without the time or know-how to inspect the code. On top of security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, Proton VPN offers extras like malware protection, Tor over VPN and a stealth protocol to help hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. If you connect to Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers, you’ll be able to route your traffic through secure data centers located in Switzerland, Sweden or Iceland before exiting through another location. This provides a critical extra layer of security if you’re a user with heightened privacy needs. Aside from its robust privacy protections, Proton does well at unblocking content from various streaming providers, including Netflix.
Proton VPN is an excellent choice for budget-conscious VPN users looking for a free VPN. Proton VPN offers the only free VPN wholeheartedly recommended by CNET because it’s private and doesn’t put limits on speed, data or usage time — which is something the vast majority of free VPNs can’t claim. The free tier doesn’t include torrenting support or access to its Secure Core servers, but it delivers the same encryption standards and includes the same basic privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logging promise.
Free users are allotted one connection at a time and access to servers in five countries (Japan, The Netherlands, United States, Poland and Romania). It’s a great way to test out the service before you upgrade to the premium version, as there are no bandwidth limits or connection timeouts. The only real downside is that you can’t specify the server you connect to, but it’s still totally possible to access Netflix and other streaming sites if you want to see how it performs as an unblocking VPN. If you want to purchase a subscription to Proton VPN, it’s more affordable than premium VPN providers like ExpressVPN, although initially not quite as wallet-friendly as rivals including Surfshark and PIA. The monthly plan is on the cheap side at $10 per month, while the annual plan costs $60 for the first year before jumping to $80 annually, and the two-year plan costs $108 for the first 24 months (then $80 annually). Proton’s premium plans offer access to 11,800-plus servers peppering 117 countries, and you’ll get 10 simultaneous connections. Ultimately, Proton VPN is one of the best cheap VPNs for privacy enthusiasts and entertainment buffs alike.
PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN is a wallet-friendly VPN provider that sets you back $11 monthly, $20 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $30 total for the first two years (then $96 total for two years). This is an exceptionally cheap introductory offer that even other budget providers like Surfshark and PIA struggle to match. Aside from its paid premium plans, PrivadoVPN offers a free VPN tier giving you access to 13 different international servers, including spots in the US, UK, Canada, France, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. The zero-cost service lets you pick any server you like, but you’re limited to 10GB of monthly usage.
With a paid plan, PrivadoVPN offers hundreds of servers in 49 different countries. That’s fine for casual users, but well below the thousands of servers in 100-plus countries that competitors like ProtonVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN boast. In our testing, Privado was decent for casual users, providing largely user-friendly apps, solid streaming service unblocking and privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
However, its small server network, unreliable internet download speeds and lack of third-party audits make it tough to recommend for all but basic privacy. Power users seeking blazing-fast speeds for streaming, international travelers or folks with critical privacy needs (like political activists, asylum-seekers or paranoid torrenters) should look elsewhere. But if you need fundamental privacy for web browsing or streaming on a budget, Privado’s free or low-cost plans may fit the bill.
