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ProtonVPN vs StrongVPN sets privacy evidence against living-room convenience. Proton VPN, from Proton AG in Zurich, passed its fifth yearly no-logs audit by Securitum in May 2026, CyberInsider reports. It costs $2.99 a month on two years, $71.76 in total, for 10 devices, and offers a free plan with no data cap. StrongVPN, owned by Ziff Davis in the US, has no audit in our table but includes Smart DNS for consoles, allows 12 devices and had the lowest local ping of 59 VPNs in Top10VPN’s 2026 tests.
This guide compares audits, Smart DNS, speed, cost, free use, devices and fit.
ProtonVPN vs StrongVPN on Audits
Proton’s fifth Securitum audit in May 2026 checked servers from its free and paid plans and found no records linking users to activity, CyberInsider reports. StrongVPN has no audit in our table, and Top10VPN notes its apps are unaudited and lack post-quantum encryption.
For proof of privacy claims, Proton is clearly ahead. Our VPN audit tracker compares providers.
ProtonVPN vs StrongVPN: Smart DNS for Consoles and TVs
A router running Proton is the alternative way to cover a console or smart TV.
StrongVPN includes Smart DNS with every plan, letting consoles and smart TVs reach streaming services without a VPN app, and Top10VPN rates it highly. Proton has no Smart DNS in our sources, so those devices need a router running Proton.
Smart DNS changes DNS lookups only and adds no encryption.
Speed and Ping
Gaming and video calls benefit most from low ping.
Ping is the delay before data starts to move; download speed is how fast it moves.
Top10VPN found StrongVPN had the lowest local ping of the 59 VPNs it reviewed in 2026, with strong long-distance speeds. Proton’s speeds suit everyday use, and its free plan runs at medium speed, Toolradar notes.
Gamers and frequent callers will notice StrongVPN’s low ping most.
Two-Year Cost
Set a reminder before the renewal date.
Compare renewal prices, not only the first bill.
Proton costs $71.76 for two years on its Plus plan. StrongVPN’s yearly plan costs $47.69, then $89.99, about $137.68 over two years, and its monthly plan is $11.99 with no refund.
Proton is far cheaper over two years. Our renewal price guide explains renewals.
Free Use and Devices
The free plan has no time limit, so you can keep using it while you decide.
Use the free plan to check Proton’s apps on your own devices.
Proton’s free plan has no data cap and no ads, with one device and servers in eight countries as of October 2025, Tom’s Guide reports, but no streaming support. StrongVPN has no free plan.
For a free start, ProtonVPN is the only option here.
Count consoles and TVs too.
Count every phone, laptop, tablet, TV and console before choosing.
StrongVPN allows 12 devices; Proton allows 10 on paid plans. Either covers a typical household, and a router counts as one device.
Families with 11 or 12 devices fit StrongVPN without a router.
Security Features
Secure Core routes traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries before the exit server, at some cost in speed.
Test any kill switch by switching Wi-Fi off and on while connected.
Proton adds Secure Core multi-hop and NetShield blocking on paid plans, and its apps are open source. StrongVPN’s kill switch is off by default, Top10VPN notes, and its split tunnelling works only on Android.
Turn on StrongVPN’s kill switch manually if you choose it.
Who Each Is For
Try Proton’s free plan before paying for either.
Evidence and devices decide between them.
ProtonVPN suits people who want current audits, open-source apps, a free plan and low cost. StrongVPN suits console owners who want Smart DNS, gamers chasing low ping, and households of up to 12 devices.
Both are long-running services: Proton from Switzerland, StrongVPN since 2005.
Protocols and Streaming
At home, WireGuard is the fast default on both.
StrongVPN uses WireGuard by default, also offers OpenVPN and IKEv2, and provides a WireGuard configuration generator for routers. Proton supports WireGuard and OpenVPN plus its Stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs.
For filtered networks, Proton’s Stealth is the more direct tool.
Results change as services update their blocks.
StrongVPN works best for US services, Top10VPN found, unblocking HBO Max on the first attempt while BBC iPlayer was unreliable. Proton supports streaming on paid plans only; its free tier does not, Toolradar notes. We put the two side by side in our PIA vs StrongVPN comparison.
Test the services you use within each refund window.
Refunds and Ownership
Both have long track records: StrongVPN since 2005, Proton VPN since 2017.
Keep your order number for any request.
Proton refunds paid plans within 30 days of the first purchase, once per user; StrongVPN refunds only yearly plans within 30 days. Ziff Davis owns StrongVPN along with IPVanish, PCMag and CNET; Proton AG is an independent Swiss company. For a head-to-head, see our Mullvad vs StrongVPN comparison.
Avoid StrongVPN’s monthly plan if you want a safety net.
How We Research
This page draws on CyberInsider’s report on Proton’s 2026 audit, Top10VPN’s StrongVPN review, Tom’s Guide’s report on Proton’s free servers, Security.org’s and Toolradar’s Proton coverage and our price and refund 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 Top10VPN’s StrongVPN review. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Proton VPN vs StrongVPN FAQ
Proton for audits, price and a free plan; StrongVPN for Smart DNS and low ping.
Not in our table; Proton has five yearly audits.
Not in our sources; StrongVPN does.
Proton, at $71.76.
StrongVPN, with 12 against 10.
The Verdict
ProtonVPN vs StrongVPN: Proton for audited privacy at a low price; StrongVPN for Smart DNS, low ping and 12 devices.