Proton VPN’s open-source desktop clients run on Windows, macOS, and Linux with WireGuard, OpenVPN, and the Stealth protocol for restrictive networks. The Swiss legal footing and the audited no-log policy are why people install it. The friction shows up in the free tier and the daily login pattern. The free plan limits exit servers to three countries and shuts out streaming-optimised endpoints. The desktop client asks for a fresh login on most app restarts, and some users hit “cannot connect” loops on flaky cafe Wi-Fi. We tested seven Proton VPN alternatives on Windows 11, macOS Sequoia, and Ubuntu 24.04 to see which ones cover the gaps without giving up the open-source spirit.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad VPN | Anonymous flat-fee paid plan | No | €5/mo flat | 16-digit account, pay in cash or Monero |
| NordVPN | Speed and Meshnet remote access | No | $3.39/mo (24-month) | NordLynx (WireGuard) backbone |
| Surfshark | Unlimited devices in the same plan | No | $2.19/mo (24-month) | One subscription covers every household device |
| Windscribe | Free 10 GB/month and build-a-plan | Yes | $5.75/mo or Build-A-Plan | R.O.B.E.R.T. DNS-level blocking on free |
| ExpressVPN | Streaming and restrictive networks | No | $6.67/mo (15-month) | Lightway with fast resume from sleep |
| IVPN | Privacy-first with public audits | No | $6/mo Standard | Pro adds AntiTracker and multi-hop |
| Cloudflare WARP | Free always-on encrypted tunnel | Yes | Free or WARP+ for speed | No account required to install on desktop |
Why people leave Proton VPN
The free tier limit is the biggest one. Three exit countries cover the basics but cannot reach streaming endpoints, and the free server pool gets congested during evenings. Users who upgrade to Plus accept the price, but the renewal price climbs after the introductory two-year term. The Windows and macOS clients ask for a fresh sign-in on most restarts, which feels heavy for an always-on tool. A smaller group of users report that the Stealth protocol fails to connect on certain corporate networks where ExpressVPN’s Lightway succeeds, and that the macOS app occasionally refuses to wake the tunnel after sleep, requiring a manual reconnect.
The alternatives
Mullvad VPN — Best for anonymous flat-fee privacy
Mullvad charges €5 per month, full stop. Accounts are 16-digit numbers and the company accepts cash, bank transfer, card, and Monero. The Windows, macOS, and Linux clients are open-source, the audit trail is public, and WireGuard runs by default with Shadowsocks fallback for blocked networks.
Where it falls short: Mullvad blocks port forwarding entirely, and no streaming-optimised server set means BBC iPlayer and Netflix unblocking is a coin flip.
Pricing: €5/month flat. No annual contracts.
Vs Proton VPN: Comparable privacy paper trail, lower entry price than Plus, no streaming bonus.
Download: mullvad.net/download
Bottom line: Pick Mullvad if anonymous billing and flat pricing matter more than a free tier.
NordVPN — Best for raw speed and Meshnet
NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol runs WireGuard with a custom NAT layer that keeps the connection persistent without storing client IPs. Speeds consistently top independent benchmarks, and the Meshnet feature creates encrypted tunnels between user-owned machines without an extra service like Tailscale.
Where it falls short: Renewal pricing climbs after the introductory plan, and the home tab pushes NordPass, NordLocker, and Threat Protection upsells.
Pricing: From $3.39/month on the 24-month plan.
Vs Proton VPN: Faster on independent benchmarks, weaker open-source story, no free tier.
Download: nordvpn.com/download
Bottom line: Pick NordVPN if WireGuard speed and the built-in Meshnet earn the renewal cost.
Surfshark — Best for unlimited devices per subscription
Surfshark drops the device-count cap entirely. CleanWeb blocks ads and trackers at the DNS layer, MultiHop chains add layered routing, and the desktop clients on all three platforms share a consistent UI. WireGuard performance matches NordVPN in the same neighbourhood.
Where it falls short: Merged with Nord Security in 2022, so the independent-alternative argument is softer than it was. Pricing climbs after the first term.
Pricing: From $2.19/month on the 24-month Starter plan.
Vs Proton VPN: Cheaper per month at the multi-year tier with unlimited devices, weaker privacy paper trail.
Download: surfshark.com/download
Bottom line: Pick Surfshark for the device freedom if shared corporate ownership is acceptable.
Windscribe — Best for a 10 GB/month free tier and modular pricing
Windscribe’s free plan offers 10 GB per month with email verification, eleven country picks, and R.O.B.E.R.T., the DNS-level blocker that filters ads, malware, and adult content as configured. The Build-A-Plan tier lets users pick exact locations and bandwidth caps.
Where it falls short: Less polished desktop UI than Proton VPN. Community-driven support rather than 24/7 chat.
Pricing: Free (10 GB/month). Pro $5.75/month annual, Build-A-Plan from $3/month.
Vs Proton VPN: Free tier capped at 10 GB, but unlocks streaming and ad-blocking that Proton’s free tier does not.
Download: windscribe.com/download
Bottom line: Pick Windscribe if pay-for-what-you-use beats the all-in subscription.
ExpressVPN — Best for streaming and restrictive networks
ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol wakes from sleep faster than any other client tested, and the obfuscated servers reliably bypass network restrictions that block plain WireGuard. The streaming success rate on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu is consistently the highest in the field.
Where it falls short: No free tier and no Linux GUI. Renewal pricing lands close to $100/year.
Pricing: From $6.67/month on the 15-month plan.
Vs Proton VPN: More reliable streaming and obfuscation, no free tier, pricier overall.
Download: expressvpn.com/vpn-download
Bottom line: Pick ExpressVPN if streaming consistency matters more than open-source apps.
IVPN — Best for privacy-first with public audits
IVPN takes the Mullvad approach and adds AntiTracker DNS filtering, multi-hop chains on the Pro plan, and a public team page. Apps are open-source on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and the warrant canary is updated quarterly.
Where it falls short: Smaller server footprint than Proton VPN, no streaming-optimised servers, pricier per month.
Pricing: Standard $6/month, Pro $10/month. Card, cash, or Monero.
Vs Proton VPN: Comparable privacy paper trail, weaker free tier, smaller server count.
Download: ivpn.net/apps
Bottom line: Pick IVPN if accountable, opinionated privacy beats server count.
Cloudflare WARP — Best for a free always-on encrypted tunnel
WARP’s Windows and macOS clients ship as drop-in installers with no account required, and the Linux build runs as a CLI daemon. The encrypted tunnel goes through Cloudflare’s edge network, which puts users on a routing fabric most ISPs cannot match. WARP+ optionally pays for argo-class routing on congested links.
Where it falls short: No country picker, so WARP is not a tool for geo-unblocking. The desktop client does not include a kill switch.
Pricing: Free. WARP+ from $4.99/month (Zero Trust agent split into a separate desktop app in 2026).
Vs Proton VPN: Different shape of product. WARP handles encrypted transit without subscriptions; Proton VPN handles geo-unblocking and country selection.
Download: 1.1.1.1
Bottom line: Pick Cloudflare WARP for everyday encrypted browsing on a desktop that does not need country picks.
How to choose
Pick Mullvad for the anonymous flat-fee privacy with the same open-source story. Pick NordVPN if WireGuard speed and Meshnet beat Proton’s open-source app trail. Pick Surfshark if your household needs more than ten device slots. Pick Windscribe for pay-for-what-you-use pricing and a real free fallback. Pick ExpressVPN if streaming reliability and restrictive-network success rates matter more than open-source apps. Pick IVPN if you want an opinionated, accountable privacy product. Pick Cloudflare WARP for free encrypted transit when geo-unblocking is not part of your daily routine. Stay on Proton VPN Plus if the Swiss jurisdiction and the open-source desktop apps are the things you care most about.
FAQ
Is Mullvad better than Proton VPN? Mullvad has the stronger privacy story by design (no email, anonymous accounts, flat fee), but Proton VPN has the better free tier and more polished desktop UI. For users who never plan to pay for a VPN, Proton VPN wins. For users committed to paying for one, Mullvad’s pricing and privacy posture are hard to beat.
Can I move my Proton VPN settings to another VPN client? Settings do not transfer, but WireGuard config files are portable. Proton VPN, Mullvad, and IVPN all support raw WireGuard configs, so a user comfortable in the CLI can keep the same private key and routing rules across providers.
Is there a Proton VPN alternative that is open-source on the desktop? Mullvad, IVPN, and Private Internet Access all publish their desktop client source code, which matches Proton VPN’s commitment. Windscribe is partly open-source.
What is the cheapest Proton VPN alternative for Windows or Mac? Cloudflare WARP is free for encrypted transit. For a full geo-unblocking VPN, Surfshark and Private Internet Access lead on multi-year pricing.
Does Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol have an equivalent on other VPNs? ExpressVPN’s Lightway has obfuscation built in, NordVPN offers obfuscated servers as an opt-in, and Mullvad bridges WireGuard through Shadowsocks for the same outcome. Lightway and Mullvad’s bridge are the closest to Stealth in restrictive-network success rate.
