ProtonVPN
Swiss-based, fully open-source, independently audited. The only VPN with a genuinely unlimited free tier. Best choice for privacy-first Windows users.
8.9/10 ScoreOpen SourceSwiss HQFree TierSecuritum Audited
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free tier — is it right for Windows PC?
Swiss-based, fully open-source, independently audited. The only VPN with a genuinely unlimited free tier. Best choice for privacy-first Windows users.
ProtonVPN's WireGuard achieved 91.5 Mbps on our 100 Mbps benchmark in July 2026 — solid, placing it fifth on our leaderboard. The free tier uses lower-priority routing and averaged around 40 Mbps in our tests, fine for browsing but not 4K streaming.
| Location | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (nearest) | 91.5 Mbps | 87.6 Mbps | 15ms |
| UK London | 89.8 Mbps | 85.4 Mbps | 23ms |
| US East | 88.1 Mbps | 84.0 Mbps | 94ms |
| Switzerland (Secure Core) | 76.4 Mbps | 71.2 Mbps | 28ms |
Secure Core routes traffic through a hardened server in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before the VPN exit node. Even if the exit server is compromised, traffic traces back only to the Secure Core server — not your real IP. This adds approximately 15–20 Mbps speed overhead (visible in the Switzerland row above) but provides the highest-privacy routing option on our list.
All ProtonVPN apps are published open-source on GitHub and audited by Securitum — anyone can verify the code. Headquartered in Switzerland, ProtonVPN operates outside 5/9/14 Eyes with some of the strongest legal privacy protections available. The no-logs policy is audit-confirmed. ProtonVPN is the only provider on our list with a genuinely data-uncapped free tier.
Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime unblocked reliably in our tests; BBC iPlayer succeeded in 14 of 20 sessions. Paid plans start at $4.99/month with 10 simultaneous connections, Secure Core, and full streaming server access. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies. The free tier covers the US, Netherlands, and Japan — the best free VPN option on our list.
Yes. Open-source, Securitum-audited, Swiss jurisdiction, and zero leaks in all our Windows security tests.
Yes — genuinely data-uncapped. Free servers in US, Netherlands, Japan. Speed is limited but suitable for browsing.
Yes, reliably on US, UK, and DE servers. BBC iPlayer worked in 14/20 tests — less consistent than top picks.
91.5 Mbps on WireGuard — fifth on our 2026 leaderboard. The free tier averages ~40 Mbps.