Our recommended providers use encryption, support WireGuard & OpenVPN, and have a no logging policy. Read our full list of criteria for more information.

| Provider | Countries | WireGuard | Port Forwarding | IPv6 | Anonymous Payments |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| Proton | 127+ | | Partial Support | Limited Support | Cash |

| IVPN | 41+ | | | Outgoing Only | Monero Cash |

| Mullvad | 49+ | | | | Monero Cash |

Proton VPN is a strong contender in the VPN space, and they have been in operation since 2016. Proton AG is based in Switzerland and offers a limited free tier, as well as a more featured premium option.

Homepage (https://protonvpn.com)

* Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.protonvpn.android)

* App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1437005085)

* GitHub (https://github.com/ProtonVPN/android-app/releases)

* Windows (https://protonvpn.com/download-windows)

* macOS (https://protonvpn.com/download-macos)

* Linux (https://protonvpn.com/support/linux-vpn-setup)

Proton VPN has servers in 127 countries (https://protonvpn.com/vpn-servers)(1) or 10 (https://protonvpn.com/support/how-to-create-free-vpn-account) if you use their free plan (https://protonvpn.com/blog/product-roadmap-winter-2025-2026).(2) Picking a VPN provider with a server nearest to you will reduce latency of the network traffic you send. This is because of a shorter route (fewer hops) to the destination.

1. Of which at least 71 are virtual servers, meaning your IP will appear from the country but the server is in another. 12 more locations have both hardware and virtual servers. Source (https://protonvpn.com/support/how-smart-routing-works)

2. Last checked: 2025-10-28

We also think it's better for the security of the VPN provider's private keys if they use dedicated servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedicated_hosting_service), instead of cheaper shared solutions (with other customers) such as virtual private servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server).

Independent security researcher Ruben Santamarta conducted audits for Proton VPN's browser extensions (https://drive.proton.me/urls/RWDD2SHT98#v7ZrwNcafkG8) and apps (https://drive.proton.me/urls/RVW8TXG484#uTXX5Fc9GADo) in September 2024 and January 2025, respectively. Proton VPN's infrastrcture has undergone annual audits (https://protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit) by Securitum since 2022.

Previously, Proton VPN underwent an independent audit by SEC Consult in January 2020. SEC Consult found some medium and low risk vulnerabilities in Proton VPN's Windows, Android, and iOS applications, all of which were "properly fixed" by Proton VPN before the reports were published. None of the issues identified would have provided an attacker remote access to your device or traffic. You can view individual reports for each platform in their dedicated blog post (https://web.archive.org/web/20250307041036/https://protonvpn.com/blog/open-source) on the audit.

Proton VPN provides the source code for their desktop and mobile clients in their GitHub organization (https://github.com/ProtonVPN).

Proton VPN, in addition to accepting credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Tcf362fBitcoin, also accepts cash/local currency as an anonymous form of payment.

Proton VPN supports the WireGuard® protocol. WireGuard (https://wireguard.com) is a newer protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography (https://wireguard.com/protocol). Additionally, WireGuard aims to be simpler and more performant.

Proton VPN recommends (https://protonvpn.com/blog/wireguard) the use of WireGuard with their service. Proton VPN also offers a WireGuard configuration generator for use with the official WireGuard apps (https://wireguard.com/install).

Proton now supports IPv6 (https://protonvpn.com/support/prevent-ipv6-vpn-leaks) in their browser extension and Linux client, but only 80% of their servers are IPv6-compatible. On other platforms, the Proton VPN client will block all outgoing IPv6 traffic, so you don't have to worry about your IPv6 address being leaked, but you will not be able to connect to any IPv6-only sites, nor will you be able to connect to Proton VPN from an IPv6-only network.

Proton VPN currently only supports ephemeral remote port forwarding (https://protonvpn.com/support/port-forwarding) via NAT-PMP, with 60 second lease times. The official Windows and Linux apps provide an easy-to-access option for it, while on other operating systems you'll need to run your own NAT-PMP client (https://protonvpn.com/support/port-forwarding-manual-setup). Torrent applications often support NAT-PMP natively.

Proton VPN has their Stealth (https://protonvpn.com/blog/stealth-vpn-protocol) protocol which may help in situations where VPN protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard are blocked with various rudimentary techniques. Stealth encapsulates the VPN tunnel in TLS session in order to look like more generic internet traffic.

Unfortunately, it does not work very well in countries where sophisticated filters that analyze all outgoing traffic in an attempt to discover encrypted tunnels are deployed. Stealth is available on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, but it's not yet available on Linux.

Proton VPN has published App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1437005085) and Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.protonvpn.android) clients, both supporting an easy-to-use interface as opposed to requiring you to manually configure your WireGuard connection. The Android client is also available on GitHub (https://github.com/ProtonVPN/android-app/releases).

On Android, Proton hides telemetry settings under the misleadingly labeled "Help us fight censorship" menu in the settings panel. On other platforms these settings can be found under the "Usage statistics" menu.

We are noting this because while we don't necessarily recommend against sharing anonymous usage statistics with developers, it is important that these settings are easily found and clearly labeled.

Proton VPN clients support two-factor authentication on all platforms. Proton VPN has their own servers and datacenters in Switzerland, Iceland and Sweden. They offer content blocking and known-malware blocking with their DNS service. Additionally, Proton VPN also offers "Tor" servers allowing you to easily connect to onion sites, but we still strongly recommend using Tcf362fthe official Tor Browser for this purpose.

Proton VPN's kill switch on macOS does not block any traffic when you intentionally disconnect from the VPN, including when you disconnect by switching servers. You should not make any sensitive connections while the VPN is turned off, nor when switching servers. It is only designed to prevent traffic leaks in the case of an unexpected VPN disconnection, which is still a useful feature to have, but it does not provide the same level of protection as a kill switch that blocks all traffic when the VPN is turned off.

Additionally, system crashes may occur (https://protonvpn.com/support/macos-t2-chip-kill-switch) on Intel-based Macs when using the VPN kill switch. If you require this feature, and you are using a Mac with Intel chipset, you should consider using another VPN service.

IVPN is another premium VPN provider, and they have been in operation since 2009. IVPN is based in Gibraltar and does not offer a free trial.

Homepage (https://ivpn.net)

* Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.ivpn.client)

* App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1193122683)

* Accrescent (https://accrescent.app/app/net.ivpn.client)

* GitHub (https://github.com/ivpn/android-app/releases)

* Windows (https://ivpn.net/apps-windows)

* macOS (https://ivpn.net/apps-macos)

* Linux (https://ivpn.net/apps-linux)

IVPN has servers in 41 countries (https://ivpn.net/status).(1) Picking a VPN provider with a server nearest to you will reduce latency of the network traffic you send. This is because of a shorter route (fewer hops) to the destination.

1. Last checked: 2025-10-28

We also think it's better for the security of the VPN provider's private keys if they use dedicated servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedicated_hosting_service), instead of cheaper shared solutions (with other customers) such as virtual private servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server).

IVPN has had multiple independent audits (https://ivpn.net/en/blog/tags/audit) since 2019 and has publicly announced their commitment to annual security audits (https://ivpn.net/blog/ivpn-apps-security-audit-concluded).

As of February 2020 IVPN applications are now open source (https://ivpn.net/blog/ivpn-applications-are-now-open-source). Source code can be obtained from their GitHub organization (https://github.com/ivpn).

In addition to accepting credit/debit cards and PayPal, IVPN accepts Bitcoin, Monero and cash/local currency (on annual plans) as anonymous forms of payment. You can also purchase prepaid cards (https://ivpn.net/knowledgebase/billing/voucher-cards-faq) with redeem codes.

IVPN supports the WireGuard® protocol. WireGuard (https://wireguard.com) is a newer protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography (https://wireguard.com/protocol). Additionally, WireGuard aims to be simpler and more performant.

IVPN recommends (https://ivpn.net/wireguard) the use of WireGuard with their service and, as such, the protocol is the default on all of IVPN's apps. IVPN also offers a WireGuard configuration generator for use with the official WireGuard apps (https://wireguard.com/install).

IVPN allows you to connect to services using IPv6 (https://ivpn.net/knowledgebase/general/do-you-support-ipv6) but doesn't allow you to connect from a device using an IPv6 address.

IVPN previously supported port forwarding, but removed the option in June 2023 (https://ivpn.net/blog/gradual-removal-of-port-forwarding). Missing this feature could negatively impact certain applications, especially peer-to-peer applications like torrent clients.

IVPN has obfuscation modes using V2Ray (https://v2ray.com/en/index) which helps in situations where VPN protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard are blocked. It has two modes where it can use VMess (https://guide.v2fly.org/en_US/basics/vmess) over QUIC or TCP connections. QUIC is a modern protocol with better congestion control and therefore may be faster with reduced latency. The TCP mode makes your data appear as regular HTTP traffic.

IVPN has published App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1193122683) and Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.ivpn.client) clients, both supporting an easy-to-use interface as opposed to requiring you to manually configure your WireGuard connection. The Android client is also available on GitHub (https://github.com/ivpn/android-app/releases).

IVPN clients support two-factor authentication. IVPN also provides "AntiTracker (https://ivpn.net/antitracker)" functionality, which blocks advertising networks and trackers from the network level.

Mullvad is a fast and inexpensive VPN with a serious focus on transparency and security. They have been in operation since 2009. Mullvad is based in Sweden and offers a 14-day money-back guarantee for payment methods (https://mullvad.net/en/help/refunds) that allow it.

Homepage (https://mullvad.net)

* Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.mullvad.mullvadvpn)

* App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1488466513)

* GitHub (https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app/releases)

* Windows (https://mullvad.net/en/download/windows)

* macOS (https://mullvad.net/en/download/macos)

* Linux (https://mullvad.net/en/download/linux)

Mullvad has servers in 49 countries (https://mullvad.net/servers).(1) Picking a VPN provider with a server nearest to you will reduce latency of the network traffic you send. This is because of a shorter route (fewer hops) to the destination.

1. Last checked: 2025-10-28

We also think it's better for the security of the VPN provider's private keys if they use dedicated servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedicated_hosting_service), instead of cheaper shared solutions (with other customers) such as virtual private servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server).

Mullvad has had multiple independent audits (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/tag/audits) and has publicly announced their endeavors to conduct annual audits (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/no-pii-or-privacy-leaks-found-cure53s-infrastructure-audit) of their apps and infrastructure.

Mullvad provides the source code for their desktop and mobile clients in their GitHub organization (https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app).

Mullvad, in addition to accepting credit/debit cards and PayPal, accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero and cash/local currency as anonymous forms of payment. You can also purchase prepaid cards (https://mullvad.net/en/help/partnerships-and-resellers) with redeem codes. Mullvad also accepts Swish and bank wire transfers, as well as a few European payment systems.

Mullvad supports the WireGuard® protocol. WireGuard (https://wireguard.com) is a newer protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography (https://wireguard.com/protocol). Additionally, WireGuard aims to be simpler and more performant.

Mullvad recommends (https://mullvad.net/en/help/why-wireguard) the use of WireGuard with their service. It is the only protocol supported on their mobile apps, and their desktop apps will lose OpenVPN support (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/reminder-that-openvpn-is-being-removed) in 2025. Additionally, their servers will stop accepting OpenVPN connections by January 15, 2026.

Mullvad also offers a WireGuard configuration generator for use with the official WireGuard apps (https://wireguard.com/install).

Mullvad allows you to access services hosted on IPv6 (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2014/9/15/ipv6-support) and connect from a device using an IPv6 address.

Mullvad previously supported port forwarding, but removed the option in May 2023 (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2023/5/29/removing-the-support-for-forwarded-ports). Missing this feature could negatively impact certain applications, especially peer-to-peer applications like torrent clients.

Mullvad offers several features to help bypass censorship and access the internet freely:

* Obfuscation modes: Mullvad has two built-in obfuscation modes: "UDP-over-TCP" and "WireGuard over Shadowsocks" (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/introducing-shadowsocks-obfuscation-for-wireguard). These modes disguise your VPN traffic as regular web traffic, making it harder for censors to detect and block. Supposedly, China has to use a new method to disrupt Shadowsocks-routed traffic (https://gfw.report/publications/usenixsecurity23/en).

* Advanced obfuscation with Shadowsocks and v2ray: For more advanced users, Mullvad provides a guide on how to use the Shadowsocks with v2ray (https://mullvad.net/en/help/shadowsocks-with-v2ray) plugin with Mullvad clients. This setup provides an additional layer of obfuscation and encryption.

* Custom server IPs: To counter IP-blocking, you can request custom server IPs from Mullvad's support team. Once you receive the custom IPs, you can input the text file in the "Server IP override" settings, which will override the chosen server IP addresses with ones that aren't known to the censor.

* Bridges and proxies: Mullvad also allows you to use bridges or proxies to reach their API (needed for authentication), which can help bypass censorship attempts that block access to the API itself.

Mullvad has published App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1488466513) and Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.mullvad.mullvadvpn) clients, both supporting an easy-to-use interface as opposed to requiring you to manually configure your WireGuard connection. The Android client is also available on GitHub (https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app/releases).

Mullvad is very transparent about which nodes they own or rent (https://mullvad.net/en/servers). They also provide the option to enable Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis (DAITA (https://mullvad.net/en/blog/daita-defense-against-ai-guided-traffic-analysis)) in their apps. DAITA protects against the threat of advanced traffic analysis which can be used to connect patterns in VPN traffic with specific websites.

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