Proton VPN alternatives, matched to why you're switching
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · NordVPN Reviews · Updated October 1, 2026 · Grounded in 100 recent Proton VPN reviews
Disclosure: this site reviews NordVPN and earns a commission if you sign up through our links. NordVPN is one option below, and we say where it isn't the right fix.
Why buyers look past Proton VPN
Proton VPN doesn't invite Trustpilot reviews, so its recent reviews are almost all unprompted: the 99 from June 2 to September 30, 2026 averaged 2.0. The complaints repeat: speed and dropped connections, websites that detect and block Proton's servers, renewal prices close to double the intro price, refunds refused after the window, and slow support.
Its free plan is a common starting point, and its limits (one device, a server country chosen for you) push people to look around.
“Useless, many websites detect Proton and block it.”Luce Van der Whaal, Trustpilot, July 2026
“Slows your speed greatly and randomly will change the country you are VPNing to without telling you or you doing anything.”M.J. Atkinson, Trustpilot, September 2026
“Proton now appears to focus on attracting new customers with heavily discounted introductory offers, only to charge existing customers almost double when it comes time to renew.”Kyle Parry, Trustpilot, August 2026
Match the Proton VPN alternative to your reason for leaving
| Best alternative | Check before switching | |
|---|---|---|
| Slow speeds | NordVPN: CNET's fastest VPN (Sep 2026) | No free plan; renews at $139.08/yr |
| Sites blocking the VPN | NordVPN: 7,300+ servers, obfuscated servers, dedicated IP add-on | NordVPN reviewers also report sites that block VPNs |
| Renewal price | Surfshark: renews at $79/yr | Same parent group as NordVPN |
| Refund refused | Norton VPN: 60-day refund, renewals included | About 140 locations |
| Want privacy without an email | Mullvad: anonymous account number | 5 devices; no free plan |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-10-01. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
The 5 best Proton VPN alternatives
NordVPN
Faster, with malware blockingCNET rates NordVPN the fastest VPN, and it adds a malware scanner and ad blocker on Complete, free Meshnet, RAM-only servers, and a dedicated IP option. Its no-logs policy has been reviewed six times. NordVPN's recent unprompted Trustpilot reviews averaged 2.8 against Proton's 2.0, from a smaller sample (19 vs 99). On the app stores the two are close (NordVPN ahead on the App Store, Proton on Google Play). NordVPN has no free plan and renews higher ($139.08 vs $83.88 a year).
Full NordVPN vs Proton VPN comparison →Surfshark
Low price, unlimited devices$67.23 for 27 months on Starter, a $79 yearly renewal, unlimited devices, and a 7-day trial on annual plans. Caveat: its recent unprompted Trustpilot reviews were also low (2.1 from 10), and it shares a parent company with NordVPN.
NordVPN vs Surfshark →ExpressVPN
Polished apps, lower renewal than NordVPNCNET's best VPN overall in September 2026, with Basic renewing at $99.95 a year and 10 to 14 devices by tier. Caveat: no free plan, and no published server count.
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN →Mullvad
Privacy without an emailFor people who chose Proton for privacy: no email, cash payments, and a flat €5 a month. Caveat: 5 devices, 566 servers, and email-only support.
NordVPN vs Mullvad →Norton VPN
Longest refund window60 days to get a refund, renewals included, and $39.99 for the first year. Caveat: no free plan, and PCMag rates it 3.5.
NordVPN vs Norton VPN →
When to stay with Proton VPN
Stay if you rely on the free plan, want open-source apps and public audit reports, or need port forwarding. PCMag gives Proton VPN its only 5.0 score, and it renews for $83.88 a year.
Switch to NordVPN if speed and sites blocking Proton's servers are why you're leaving: CNET rates it fastest, its network covers 150 countries, and a dedicated IP is available.
See NordVPN pricingHow we sourced this: Proton VPN's 100 most recent Trustpilot reviews (June 2 to September 30, 2026; 99 unprompted, 1 invited, by Trustpilot's labels) and NordVPN's 200 most recent labelled reviews (September 14 to October 1, 2026; 181 invited, 19 unprompted). Prices and features come from each company's site, checked October 1, 2026. Quotes are verbatim.
Proton VPN alternatives FAQ
What are the best Proton VPN alternatives?+
NordVPN for speed and malware blocking, Surfshark for a low price and unlimited devices, ExpressVPN for polished apps, Mullvad for privacy without an email, and Norton VPN for a 60-day refund.
What do Proton VPN reviews say?+
Proton VPN rates 2.2 from 1,003 Trustpilot reviews, almost all unprompted, and 4.6 to 4.7 on the app stores. Recent Trustpilot complaints are about speed, blocked sites, renewal prices, and refunds.
Is NordVPN better than Proton VPN?+
NordVPN is faster by CNET's measure and adds malware blocking, Meshnet, and a dedicated IP option. Proton has a free plan, open-source apps, and lower renewals.
Does Proton VPN publish its pricing?+
Yes. VPN Plus is $3.49 a month on a 2-year plan ($83.76 for 24 months), renewing at $83.88 a year, or $9.99 month to month.