ProtonVPN Wins
Winner
VS
Score Comparison
Criteria
ProtonVPN
Private Internet Access
Overall Score
8.7
8.3
Security
9.5
9.0
Speed
8.2
8.0
Features
8.5
8.5
Pricing/Value
8.5
8.5
Ease of Use
8.5
7.5
Pricing & Features
Specification
ProtonVPN
Private Internet Access
Starting Price
Free / $4.99/mo
$2.19/mo
Free Tier
Pricing Model
Freemium
Subscription
Making Your Decision
When to Choose ProtonVPN
Privacy advocates who trust the Proton brand and want a free option
ProtonVPN offers the best free VPN tier available with no catches, backed by Swiss privacy laws and the trusted Proton name, making it ideal for privacy-focused users on any budget.
Strengths
- Genuinely free tier with no data limits or ads
- Swiss-based with strong privacy laws
- All apps are open-source and independently audited
- Secure Core servers route through privacy-friendly countries
Limitations
- Free tier limited to 3 server locations
- Speeds can be slower than premium competitors
- Streaming features only on higher-tier plans
When to Choose Private Internet Access
Privacy purists and tech-savvy users who want proven no-logs protection
Private Internet Access offers court-proven privacy with unlimited connections and open-source transparency, though its US jurisdiction and dated interface may concern some users.
Strengths
- Proven no-logs policy verified in court cases
- Unlimited device connections
- Open-source apps for transparency
- Highly configurable with advanced settings
Limitations
- US-based company (Five Eyes jurisdiction)
- Interface is less polished than competitors
- Streaming support is inconsistent
