Powerful Features for Complete Online Privacy

From Secure Core dual encryption to NetShield intelligent blocking, Proton VPN provides industry-leading privacy protection features.

Secure Core Architecture — Double Encryption, Ultimate Security

Secure Core is Proton VPN's unique advanced security architecture that provides the highest level of privacy protection through multi-hop routing technology. It works by routing your traffic through a secure server in a country with the strictest privacy laws before forwarding it to the destination server and ultimately to the website you're visiting.

How It Works

When you enable Secure Core, your traffic follows this path:

  1. First hop (entry node): Your device connects to a Secure Core server in a privacy-safe country (Iceland, Switzerland, or Sweden).
  2. Second hop (exit node): Traffic is encrypted and forwarded from the Secure Core server to a server in your target country.
  3. Final access: The destination website can only see the Secure Core server's IP address, making it impossible to trace back to your real identity.

Key Benefits

  • Defends against network surveillance: Even if the exit node is compromised, attackers can only see encrypted traffic from the Secure Core server, unable to trace your real IP.
  • Prevents ISP monitoring: Your ISP can only see that you connected to a Secure Core server, with no knowledge of which websites you visit.
  • Jurisdictional protection: Secure Core servers are deployed in Iceland, Switzerland, and Sweden, countries with the world's strictest privacy protection laws.
  • Ideal for high-risk scenarios: Journalists, activists, researchers, and other users who need extreme privacy protection will find Secure Core the ideal choice.

NetShield Protector — Intelligent Defense, Clean Browsing

NetShield is Proton VPN's built-in DNS-level content filtering feature that intelligently identifies and blocks ads, trackers, and malware before your device loads web pages. Unlike traditional browser plugins, NetShield runs on the VPN server side, protecting all applications and browsers on your device.

Three Protection Levels

  • Off: No content filtering, for scenarios requiring full access to all content.
  • Level 1 — Full Protection: Blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains. This is the recommended default setting, effectively blocking most ads and privacy tracking.
  • Level 2 — Enhanced Protection: Builds on Level 1 by additionally blocking scripts and website analytics tools. For users with higher privacy requirements.

NetShield Advantages

  • Ad blocking: Automatically blocks banner ads, pop-up ads, and video ads on web pages and in apps, improving your browsing experience.
  • Tracker blocking: Prevents third-party trackers like Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics from collecting your browsing data.
  • Malware protection: Based on a real-time updated malicious domain database, automatically blocks known phishing sites, malware download links, and scam pages.
  • Bandwidth savings & speed boost: Since ads and trackers are blocked before loading, page load speeds increase by an average of 20-30%, while reducing mobile data consumption.
  • All-app protection: Unlike browser plugins, NetShield protects network connections across all apps on your device, including browsers, social media apps, and streaming apps.

Ultra-Fast & Unlimited Bandwidth — Blazing Speed, Zero Limits

Proton VPN has deployed over 8,500 high-speed servers worldwide, all supporting 10 Gbps connection speeds. We never throttle bandwidth or limit speeds for any user, ensuring a smooth online experience.

10 Gbps Server Network

Our servers in 112 countries are equipped with 10 Gbps port bandwidth, which means:

  • 4K/8K streaming: Smooth ultra-HD video playback without buffering.
  • Large file downloads: Fast downloads for large files, game updates, and software packages.
  • Online gaming: Low-latency connections for smooth, lag-free gameplay.
  • Video conferencing: Stable HD video calls, perfect for remote work.

No Bandwidth Limits Policy

Whether you're a free or paid user, Proton VPN never sets any caps on your traffic. You can:

  • Use VPN connections for unlimited time
  • Transfer unlimited data
  • No speed throttling, no P2P download speed limits
  • Paid users enjoy higher priority server resource allocation

Vault Accelerator Technology

Proton VPN uses proprietary Vault accelerator technology that optimizes network routing and uses modern VPN protocols like WireGuard to maximize connection speed while maintaining security. Compared to traditional OpenVPN, WireGuard delivers speed improvements of over 60%.

Multi-Platform Protection — One Account, All Devices Secured

Proton VPN provides native apps for all major operating systems. Plus users can use the VPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously. No matter what device you use, enjoy consistent security protection.

Supported Platforms

  • Windows: Supports Windows 10/11 with a full-featured graphical client including all advanced features.
  • macOS: Native macOS app, fully compatible with both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) and Intel chips.
  • Linux: Supports Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch, and other major distributions with both GUI and command-line options.
  • Android: Native Android app supporting Android 8.0+, available on Google Play.
  • iOS: Native iOS app for iPhone and iPad, available on the App Store.
  • ChromeOS: Supports Chromebook devices via the Android app or manual configuration.
  • Android TV: App optimized for large screens, supporting Android TV and Google TV.
  • Routers: Supports VPN configuration on ASUS, Netgear, Linksys, TP-Link, and other router brands.

10 Simultaneous Device Connections

Plus and Unlimited users can use Proton VPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously. This means you can protect:

  • Personal computers (Windows/Mac/Linux)
  • Smartphones (Android/iOS)
  • Tablets
  • Smart TVs
  • Game consoles (via router)
  • Home network devices (via router configuration)

More Security Features

Beyond core features, Proton VPN offers multiple advanced security capabilities.

Kill Switch

Kill Switch is a critical security feature. When your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, it automatically cuts off your network connection, preventing data from leaking in an unencrypted state. This prevents your real IP address, browsing activity, and sensitive information from being exposed to your ISP, network administrator, or potential attackers. Available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps with both system-level (cuts all network) and app-level (cuts specific apps) modes.

DNS Leak Protection

DNS leaks are one of the most common security vulnerabilities in VPN usage. When your device uses your ISP's DNS servers instead of the VPN's, your ISP can see every website you visit. Proton VPN uses its own encrypted DNS servers for all domain resolution, eliminating DNS leaks at the source. Our DNS servers log no queries and are deployed in privacy-protective jurisdictions.

Tor over VPN

All Proton VPN servers support Tor network access without installing the Tor browser. By connecting through the VPN before accessing Tor, your ISP only sees that you connected to a VPN, not that you're using Tor. Meanwhile, Tor entry nodes can only see the VPN server's IP address, not your real identity. This dual anonymity mechanism provides the ultimate solution for users needing the highest level of privacy protection.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets you choose which apps route through the VPN encrypted connection and which connect directly to the internet. This is useful when you need to access local network resources (like printers and smart home devices) alongside international internet content. Flexibly configure work apps through VPN protection while local apps connect directly, balancing security and convenience.

Auto Connect

The auto-connect feature automatically starts VPN protection under specific conditions. You can set it to connect on device startup, when connecting to specific Wi-Fi networks, or when connecting to insecure public Wi-Fi. This way, you don't need to manually activate it each time, ensuring your device is always under VPN protection.

Perfect Forward Secrecy

Proton VPN uses Perfect Forward Secrecy technology, generating a completely new encryption key for each session. Even if one session key is compromised, it cannot be used to decrypt any past communications. Combined with AES-256 encryption and 2048-bit RSA key exchange, your data transfers achieve military-grade security standards.

Feature Comparison at a Glance

Feature Free Plus Unlimited
Basic encryption ✓ ✓ ✓
Kill Switch ✓ ✓ ✓
DNS leak protection ✓ ✓ ✓
NetShield blocker ✗ ✓ ✓
Secure Core ✗ ✓ ✓
Tor over VPN ✗ ✓ ✓
Split tunneling ✗ ✓ ✓
Streaming unlock ✗ ✓ ✓
P2P support ✗ ✓ ✓

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