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ProtonVPN vs PrivateVPN compares two European services that both sell themselves on privacy, but back the claim very differently. Proton, from Switzerland, has five yearly Securitum audits and open-source apps. PrivateVPN, from Sweden, has no audit in our table and runs its roughly 200 servers from disk, though it includes port forwarding, a SOCKS5 proxy and, on one plan, a dedicated IP.
This guide compares their evidence, jurisdictions, torrent tools, price, free use and fit.
ProtonVPN vs PrivateVPN on Evidence
A privacy claim is only as strong as what backs it. Proton’s annual Securitum audits, the fifth published in June 2026, check its systems against its policy. PrivateVPN publishes a no-logs policy but has no independent audit in our table.
Disk-based servers, as PrivateVPN uses, make that gap matter more. Our VPN audit tracker explains why.
ProtonVPN vs PrivateVPN: Switzerland or Sweden
Switzerland sits outside the EU and the intelligence-sharing alliances, while Sweden is an EU member in the Fourteen Eyes group. Sweden’s data retention law does not apply to VPN operators in its current form, a 2026 review notes.
Jurisdiction matters less than what a provider stores, which brings the comparison back to audits. Our Five Eyes guide covers the alliances.
Torrenting Tools
Both include port forwarding on paid plans. PrivateVPN adds a SOCKS5 proxy and, on one plan, a dedicated IP at no extra charge; Proton offers neither, but its WireGuard files can carry port forwarding for router setups.
For torrent users wanting a proxy and a fixed address, PrivateVPN bundles more at no extra charge. Our torrenting guide compares others.
Free Use and Price
Proton offers a free plan with no data cap, one device and a server chosen from up to 10 countries. PrivateVPN has no free plan, so testing it means paying and relying on its 30-day refund.
Proton also refunds paid plans in full within 30 days of the first purchase, once per user, its terms say.
Proton costs about $71.76 for two years, then $83.88 a year. PrivateVPN costs around $2 a month on its three-year plan.
PrivateVPN is cheaper up front; check its renewal price at checkout before comparing long-term costs over several years.
Network, Streaming and Open Source
Proton lists more than 19,700 servers in 145 countries, Tom’s Guide reported; PrivateVPN runs about 200 in 63 countries. Proton supports streaming on paid plans, with more locations to try when a service blocks one.
Both allow 10 devices on paid plans.
Proton’s apps are open source, so outside researchers can inspect how they handle data. We found no comparable claim for PrivateVPN’s apps in our sources.
For readers who weigh transparency heavily, that is another point for Proton.
Extra Privacy Layers
Proton’s paid plans add Secure Core, which routes traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries first, NetShield blocking of ads and malware, and a Stealth protocol for restrictive networks. PrivateVPN’s appeal lies elsewhere, in its bundled torrent tools.
For layered privacy, Proton offers more, though all of it sits on paid plans.
Platforms and Testing Both
Proton covers Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV and Vega OS sticks, with router guides for OpenWrt, GL.iNet and others. Check PrivateVPN’s download page for the platforms you need.
Proton’s free plan also runs on its TV apps, without streaming support.
Start with Proton’s free plan to test its apps at no cost, then compare with PrivateVPN inside its 30-day refund window. Try your torrent client, streaming services and usual networks on each.
Keep order numbers for any refund request on either service.
Port Forwarding in Practice
Proton’s Windows app shows which port is forwarded and lets you save profiles with port forwarding enabled, its release notes say. PrivateVPN includes port forwarding too, alongside its SOCKS5 proxy.
Either works for a torrent client; check the forwarded port in the client’s settings after connecting.
Linux and Support
Proton’s official Linux app supports Debian and Ubuntu with GNOME, Fedora and Arch, with a Snap build that lacks Stealth, split tunnelling and ARM support, its setup guide says. Check PrivateVPN’s site for its Linux options before buying if you use Linux.
For a Linux desktop, Proton is the better-documented choice of the two.
Proton gives paid subscribers live chat, its release notes confirm. Test PrivateVPN’s support during its 30-day refund window, especially if you plan router or torrent setups.
Quick, clear answers matter most when something breaks during a torrent or streaming session.
Who Is Behind Each
Proton AG runs Proton VPN from Switzerland alongside Proton Mail, so many users already have an account. PrivateVPN is a small Swedish service that does not belong to Kape, Nord Security or Ziff Davis.
Neither is tied to review sites, which keeps their marketing simpler to judge. Our VPN ownership guide explains why ownership matters.
How We Research
This page draws on Proton’s plans page, terms and audit coverage, Tom’s Guide’s Proton coverage and our PrivateVPN, audit and price tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Proton VPN’s plans page. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Proton VPN vs PrivateVPN FAQ
Proton for audited privacy; PrivateVPN for SOCKS5 and a bundled dedicated IP.
Not in our table; Proton has five annual audits.
Proton, with no data cap.
PrivateVPN up front, at around $2 a month on three years.
Yes, on paid plans.
The Verdict
ProtonVPN vs PrivateVPN: Proton for audited, open-source privacy and a free plan; PrivateVPN for a cheap bundle of torrent tools.