ProtonVPN Alternatives 2026: 5 Options, 2 Free

Verdict:Leave ProtonVPN when you need more than one device, or when its paid plan no longer fits your budget. If you only need a VPN on one device, ProtonVPN Free remains the zero-cost option, and its data is not capped. Windscribe is the nearest free step when you want a second device for light use, with 10GB a month after email confirmation. For a paid switch, Mullvad gives one flat monthly price in euros with no tiers and no commitment, though it costs more per month than ProtonVPN Plus at $3.49. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are cheaper per month, but their lowest prices depend on long billing terms and neither has a free plan. The trade-off to check first is the commitment: a lower monthly price from Surfshark or ExpressVPN is real only if you accept a two-year or 24-month term, while ProtonVPN's free tier already covers one device with no data limit. Test the free tier on your own traffic before you pay for anything.

Tool	Price	Platforms	Best for	Tested
Windscribe	Free (10 GB of data per month with a confirmed email (2 GB without), 10 server locations); paid from $3 per Build-A-Plan minimum purchase ($1 per location per month); Pro is $9 monthly or $69 per year	Desktop and mobile apps	Light use on a free plan	Docs only
TunnelBear	Free (2GB of secure browsing per account, described as testing and limited usage; reset period not stated); paid from $3.33	Desktop and mobile apps	Trying a simple VPN app	Docs only
Mullvad VPN	Paid from EUR 5 per month, flat rate including VAT; pay monthly or top up for a year at the same rate	Desktop and mobile apps	A predictable monthly bill	Docs only
Surfshark	Paid from $2.49 per month on the 24-month billing option	Desktop and mobile apps	Several devices at a lower rate	Docs only
ExpressVPN	Paid from $2.99 per month, 2-year plan with 30-day money-back guarantee (Basic; charged $83.72 for the first 28 months)	Desktop and mobile apps	Users who commit to two years	Docs only

ProtonVPN today: Free (Free plan: 1 device at a time, medium speed, 10 countries (randomly selected), no data limit); paid from $3.49 per month, billed for 24 months (VPN Plus) (ProtonVPN pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Why people look for ProtonVPN alternatives

Proton VPN Free allows one device at a time, medium speed and 10 randomly selected countries. Streaming, P2P and the malware and ads blocker are left for paid plans. VPN Plus is $3.49 per month on the 2-year deal, billed $83.76 for the first 24 months, then $83.88 every 12 months, about $6.99 per month. Plus covers 10 devices at once, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Windscribe

Compared with ProtonVPN: ProtonVPN Free allows one device at a time with no data limit. Windscribe's free plan gives 10GB a month after email confirmation, so it suits a second device for light use. You give up the unlimited data.

Price: Free (10 GB of data per month with a confirmed email (2 GB without), 10 server locations); paid from $3 per Build-A-Plan minimum purchase ($1 per location per month); Pro is $9 monthly or $69 per year (Windscribe pricing, checked 2026-10-23).