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A Proton VPN alternative usually comes down to price or features, since Proton’s record is strong: five Securitum audits, independent ownership by the Proton Foundation and a free plan with no data cap. Its VPN Plus renewal of about $83.88 a year is higher than several rivals, and it allows 10 devices, Techlore notes. Our table also records Proton moving infrastructure to the EU.
This guide matches seven alternatives to the usual reasons for leaving, with figures from our renewal, audit, device and refund tables.
Why People Look for a Proton VPN Alternative
Price is a common reason. Our Proton VPN price guide shows renewal at about $83.88 a year, above PureVPN, CyberGhost, Mullvad, Windscribe and Surfshark. Households may want more than 10 devices. Others want features Proton does not focus on, or prefer a provider outside the EU as Proton moves infrastructure there.
The Comparison
Our renewal table puts Proton VPN at about $83.88. PureVPN renews at $47.95, CyberGhost at $56.94, Mullvad at about $65, Windscribe at about $69 and Surfshark at about $79. NordVPN costs more, at $139.08. On audits, Proton’s five trail only NordVPN’s six and Mullvad’s 10+ among these, with IVPN at eight.
Mullvad: The Privacy-First Pick
Mullvad is the alternative privacy communities most often compare with Proton. It uses account numbers instead of email addresses, a flat price of about $65 a year and 10+ audits in our table, but allows five devices. Our Mullvad vs Proton VPN page compares them.
IVPN: Small and Audited
IVPN has eight annual audits in our table, independent ownership and a Gibraltar base, though that jurisdiction’s status is disputed. It allows five devices, or 10 on its Pro Suite. Our IVPN review covers it.
Windscribe: Cheaper, With a Free Tier
Windscribe renews at about $69 a year, sets no device limit and has a free tier of up to 15 GB. It is independent, but has one audit under our method and a seven-day refund window. Our Proton VPN vs Windscribe page compares them.
NordVPN: More Audits, Higher Price
NordVPN has six audits in our table and obfuscated servers, but renews at $139.08 a year and belongs to Nord Security. Our NordVPN vs Proton VPN page compares them.
Surfshark and CyberGhost: Lower Renewals
Surfshark renews at about $79 with no device limit, and CyberGhost at $56.94 with a 45-day refund window on longer plans. Both have fewer audits than Proton in our table, and both belong to larger groups. Our Surfshark vs Proton VPN and CyberGhost vs Proton VPN pages compare them.
Streaming Considerations
If streaming is your main use, compare test coverage before switching. A Proton VPN alternative such as NordVPN or Surfshark has detailed streaming results in our guides; our Surfshark streaming guide gathers the results by service.
Free Plans
Proton’s free plan has no data cap, which few rivals match. Windscribe’s free tier offers up to 15 GB, and most other alternatives here have no free plan at all. If the free plan is why you use Proton, there may be no better Proton VPN alternative. Our Proton VPN free guide covers its limits.
Switching From the Free Plan
Free-plan users considering a Proton VPN alternative should compare like with like. Paid alternatives add servers and features but cost money; Windscribe’s free tier is the closest free option in our tables. Our Windscribe review covers its free tier and paid plan in detail, including the limits that come with each.
A Quick Rule
Want the same privacy for less? Mullvad, or Windscribe with its free tier. Want more features and audits? NordVPN, at a higher renewal price than Proton charges.
Independent Alternatives
If independence is why you chose Proton, our ownership table lists Mullvad, IVPN and Windscribe as standalone companies, outside the Kape and Nord Security groups. Our VPN ownership guide shows which providers share a parent.
Price Over Time
First-term deals hide the real cost. Our renewal price guide compares what each provider charges after the first term, which is what you pay from year three onwards. A cheaper first term can cost more later, so compare renewals.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
Switching Without a Gap
Sign up for the alternative before cancelling Proton VPN, so you are never without protection. Install it on one device, test the services you use most, and only then move the rest. Cancel Proton VPN’s renewal afterwards, and request a refund if you are still inside its window, as our Proton VPN refund guide explains.
Which Proton VPN Alternative Fits
Stronger anonymity: Mullvad. Smaller audited provider: IVPN. Lower price with a free tier: Windscribe. More audits and streaming features: NordVPN. More devices: Surfshark. Our VPN alternatives guide covers the wider market.
How We Research
This page draws on our renewal, audit, device, refund and ownership tables, Techlore on Proton VPN’s device limit, and our Proton VPN guides. 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 6 October 2026. Renewal, audit, device and refund figures from our tables. The main source we relied on is Proton VPN’s support centre. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Proton VPN Alternative FAQ
Mullvad for privacy, Windscribe for price, NordVPN for audits and features.
Yes. PureVPN, CyberGhost, Mullvad, Windscribe and Surfshark all renew lower, per our table.
Mullvad, IVPN and Windscribe, per our ownership table.
NordVPN with six and Mullvad with 10+, per our table.
Surfshark, PIA and Windscribe set no limit.
The Verdict
A Proton VPN alternative should match its privacy record while fixing your specific problem. Mullvad and IVPN keep the independence, Windscribe and Surfshark cost less, and NordVPN adds audits at a higher price.