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Proton VPN vs IceVPN is a comparison of free plans first. Proton’s free tier has no data cap and 5 audits in our table; IceVPN’s gives 20 GB a month without a card, from a company that launched its VPN in 2025.
Paid plans matter too, and IceVPN has rare coverage in some regions. This guide compares both tiers. Our IceVPN review covers the second service in depth.
Proton VPN vs IceVPN on Audits
In our audit table, Proton VPN carries 5 Securitum audits, and its app code is public.
State of Surveillance found no independent audit of IceVPN, and its network is partly rented. On proof, Proton leads clearly.
A 20 GB Free Plan
IceVPN gives 20 GB a month free on one device with no card, and Pro adds 80+ locations and five devices, its store listings say.
Proton’s free plan sets no data cap at all, so it beats 20 GB for anyone who streams or downloads.
Speed
Our speed table records a 16% loss for Proton VPN in CNET’s tests.
Speeds were not a highlight in either Cloudwards’ or State of Surveillance’s review. Proton’s measured speed loss is modest; IceVPN’s speed was not a highlight in reviews.
Two-Year Cost
Our tables put Proton VPN Plus near $2.99 a month over two years, about $71.76 in total, with renewal around $83.88 a year.
IceVPN Pro starts from about $3.99 a month, Cloudwards reports. Paid prices are close: about $2.99 a month for Proton on two years and about $3.99 for IceVPN Pro.
Free Use and Devices
A free Proton VPN plan with no data cap exists, our refund table records, and our Proton VPN free guide details it.
IceVPN’s free plan offers 20 GB a month on one device, and Pro covers five. Proton’s free plan has no cap; IceVPN’s stops at 20 GB on one device.
Jurisdiction and Ownership
Proton AG runs Proton VPN from Switzerland, outside the Fourteen Eyes, and our audit table records a move of infrastructure to the EU.
Ice Privacy LTD, a Gibraltar company in the Icedrive family, runs IceVPN. Switzerland sits outside the Fourteen Eyes; Gibraltar has British ties.
Security Features
Paid Proton VPN plans add Secure Core multi-hop routing and NetShield blocking to the standard kill switch.
Pro adds a kill switch and split tunnelling on supported devices, plus ad and tracker blocking.
Platforms and Support
Apps for Proton VPN span Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and TVs. Apps cover Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with manual router profiles.
Support from Proton runs through tickets and a detailed help centre. Support runs by email, backed by a knowledge base.
Protocols and Streaming
For protocols, Proton VPN offers WireGuard, OpenVPN and Stealth, which disguises VPN traffic.
IceVPN supports WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPSec, Cloudwards reports, while State of Surveillance found streaming mostly broken. IceVPN’s streaming was mostly broken in tests, so Proton is the safer streaming choice.
Which Is Better Value?
Proton gives more for free and costs less to upgrade. IceVPN’s value lies in its unusual regional coverage.
Proton’s renewal near $83.88 a year sits mid-market, and the free tier gives a no-cost fallback.
Which Plan to Pick
Proton’s free plan is the natural test, with Plus on two years as the upgrade. With IceVPN, the free plan is the natural test before Pro.
Payment and Checkout
Prices online often exclude tax, so compare the final checkout figure for each. Then set a reminder before the renewal date.
Refunds
Proton VPN offers 30 days for a full refund, according to our refund table.
State of Surveillance found IceVPN’s refund terms contradict its marketing. Proton’s 30-day refund is clear; IceVPN’s terms are disputed.
Who Each Is For
Proton VPN fits readers who value open source, audits and a usable free plan. IceVPN suits light users who want a generous free allowance.
In short, IceVPN fits users who want rare regions such as Africa or the Caribbean; Proton fits nearly everyone else.
What Else to Know About IceVPN
One more point: IceVPN launched in January 2025, and Cloudwards calls it legitimate, not a scam. Look-alike apps use similar names, so check that the developer reads Ice Privacy Ltd.
What Else to Know About Proton VPN
Beyond the VPN, Proton runs Mail, Drive and Pass, bundled in Proton Unlimited, while Plus covers just the VPN.
Testing Both
Give each service the same tasks for a day: browsing, a video call and a stream. Then run a leak test with our guide to checking if a VPN is working.
Switching Between Them
When switching, start the new service before stopping the old one. That way, no device drops back to an unprotected connection.
Related pages on IceVPN cover IceVPN alternatives and whether IceVPN is safe.
Readers weighing similar options can also read Proton VPN vs UltraVPN and Proton VPN vs AdGuard VPN.
How We Research
For this Proton VPN vs IceVPN comparison, Proton VPN’s audits, prices, devices, speed and refunds come from our tables. IceVPN’s figures come from our research for the IceVPN review, mainly State of Surveillance’s IceVPN review, read on 21 October 2026. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Proton VPN vs IceVPN FAQ
Proton’s, with no data cap and audits.
20 GB a month on one device.
Proton, at about $2.99 a month on two years.
No.
Yes, Cloudwards calls it legitimate.
The Verdict
Proton VPN vs IceVPN: Proton wins on free data, audits and price. IceVPN is a legitimate newcomer with rare regions, but not yet a match for Proton.