Comparison

Psiphon VPN vs Proton VPN

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Psiphon VPN

This app provides secure and private internet access, bypassing restrictions and censorship. It uses a combination of VPN, proxy, and circumvention technologies to ensure a fast and reliable connection, even on public Wi-Fi.

Highlights
  • One-tap connection
  • Automatic protocol selection
  • Global server network
  • Circumvention technologies
  • Secure browsing on public Wi-Fi
  • Access restricted content
  • Open-source technology
Read full description

Psiphon is a trusted, open-source VPN built to keep you connected to the open Internet. For over 20 years, Psiphon has helped millions of people around the world access their favorite apps, websites, and services. Psiphon combines VPN, proxy, and censorship circumvention technologies to deliver fast, secure, and reliable Internet access, even on restricted networks. Whether you’re protecting your connection on public Wi-Fi, browsing more privately, or trying to access the open Internet where content is blocked, Psiphon makes it easy to connect with just one tap. WHY PSIPHON? FAST & RELIABLE Psiphon automatically selects the best connection method for your network conditions, helping you stay connected wherever you are. BUILT TO OVERCOME RESTRICTIONS More than a traditional VPN. Psiphon uses multiple VPN, proxy, and circumvention technologies designed to keep you connected when websites, apps, or other Internet services are restricted. PRIVATE & SECURE Psiphon securely tunnels your Internet traffic between your device and the Psiphon network, helping protect your connection on public Wi-Fi and other untrusted networks. Psiphon does not collect personally identifiable information. OPEN SOURCE Psiphon is open source, providing transparency into the technology behind the service and allowing it to be independently reviewed. TRUSTED WORLDWIDE For over two decades, people around the world have relied on Psiphon to access the open Internet, including during some of the world’s most significant Internet censorship and blocking events. FEATURES ● Connect with one tap ● Automatic protocol selection based on network conditions ● Global network of servers ● Multiple VPN, proxy, and circumvention technologies ● Secure browsing on Wi-Fi and mobile networks ● Access websites, apps, and services on restricted networks ● Open-source technology ● Available in multiple languages PSIPHON PLUS Upgrade to Psiphon Plus to unlock more features and an ad-free experience. Subscriptions are charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Plans automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://psiphon.ca/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://psiphon.ca/license.html

About

Proton VPN

This app provides a secure, encrypted, and unlimited internet connection, protecting your privacy and unblocking content. It offers advanced security features and a strict no-logs policy, with both free and premium options available.

Highlights
  • Unlimited data, no speed restrictions
  • Strict no-logs policy
  • Bypass geo restrictions
  • Full disk encrypted servers
  • Ad blocker (NetShield)
  • Stream content from any service
  • Connect up to 10 devices
Features
Read full description

Trusted by millions worldwide, Proton VPN is the world's only free VPN app that is safe to use and respects your privacy. Our fast VPN offers secure, private and encrypted internet access with advanced security features. Proton VPN also unblocks access to popular websites and streaming platforms. Proton VPN was created by the CERN scientists behind Proton Mail - the world's largest encrypted email service. Proton’s secure no-logs VPN offers 24/7 safe and private internet access, and does not record your browsing history, display ads, sell your data to third parties, or limit downloads. Free VPN features available to all users: • Unlimited data with no bandwidth or speed restrictions • Strict no logs policy • Bypass geo restrictions: smart protocol selection automatically overcomes VPN bans and unblocks censored sites and content • Full disk encrypted servers protect your data • Perfect forward secrecy: encrypted traffic cannot be captured and decrypted later • DNS leak protection: we encrypt DNS queries to ensure that your browsing activity cannot be exposed through DNS leaks • Always-on VPN/ kill switch offers protection against leaks caused by accidental disconnections Premium VPN features: • Access 20,000+ high speed servers across 140+ countries worldwide including US, UK, France, Germany, India, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, etc. • Fast VPN: high speed servers with connections up to 10 Gbps • VPN Accelerator: unique technology increases Proton VPN's speeds by up to 400% to give a faster browsing experience • Unblock access to blocked or censored content • Connect up to 10 devices to the VPN at the same time • Ad blocker (NetShield): a DNS filtering feature that protects you from malware, blocks ads, and prevents website trackers from following you across the web • Stream films, sports events, and videos on any streaming service (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Max, BBC iPlayer etc) • File-sharing and P2P support • Secure Core servers protect against network-based attacks with multi-hop VPN • Tor over VPN provides automatic integration with the Tor anonymity network Why Proton VPN? • No personal data required to sign up • Easy-to-use VPN app for iPhone, iPad, visionOS, tvOS, Mac, and any other major devices • Highest strength encryption for your connection makes it better than an internet proxy • One tap Connect to secure your internet connection, especially on public Wifi hotspots • Unique VPN Accelerator technology increases your VPN speed by up to 400% for a faster internet connection • Proton VPN's Secure Core architecture allows our secure VPN service to defend against network-based attacks • We only use VPN protocols that are proven to be secure: WireGuard • Independently audited by third-party security experts and we publish all results on our website • Trusted open-source code that can be reviewed for security by anyone • Data protection using AES-256 and 4096 RSA encryption Join the privacy revolution • Your support is important as it allows us to continue our mission to bring online freedom to people around the globe. Get our private VPN free today and enjoy fast VPN connections and a secure internet, from anywhere. Global VPN server network • Proton VPN has thousands of secure VPN servers worldwide, including hundreds of free VPN servers to ensure a high-bandwidth server nearby. Experts’ opinion: PCMag: “[Proton VPN’s] is a slick VPN with an excellent collection of advanced features, and it has the best free subscription plan we've seen. Few competitors can match its mix of affordability, features, and design. For all that, it gets a rare five-star rating and earns our Editors' Choice award” TechRadar: “The completely free tier is something no other competitor [...] offers. Wired: "The best VPN" "Overall, Proton VPN is very fast"

Screenshots

Psiphon VPN4 screens
Proton VPN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Proton VPN at 4.6 against Psiphon VPN's 3.9. Proton VPN also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (131K vs 8.8K). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Psiphon VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Proton VPN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Proton VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton VPN has 131K ratings behind it against 8.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Psiphon VPN's written reviews are positive against 54% of Proton VPN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Psiphon VPN ships an update every 3 weeks, Proton VPN every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Psiphon VPN versus Proton VPN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPsiphon VPNProton VPN
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (8.8K ratings)4.6 (131K ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.4% of reviews54.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.8K131K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank—#10 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB258 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPsiphon IncProton AG

Customer experience

Psiphon VPN

All ratings8,788 ratings
Positive68.9%
Neutral7.8%
Negative23.3%
Written reviews846 reviews
Positive40.4%
Neutral7.7%
Negative51.9%

Proton VPN

All ratings92,855 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews3,665 reviews
Positive54.1%
Neutral8.7%
Negative37.2%

User reviews

Psiphon VPN

From 8.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and reliable VPN
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🔒 Helps bypass censorship and restrictions
  • 💰 Free to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connection issues and frequent disconnections
  • 🔍 Lack of server locations and options
  • 🔋 High data consumption
  • 💲 Paid version required for better performance

Proton VPN

From 131K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and reliable VPN
  • 🔒 Excellent privacy and security
  • 👍 Seamless integration with iOS
  • 🌐 Wide range of server locations
  • 💰 Great value with free plan

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections and reconnection issues
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🔍 Limited server selection on free plan
  • 🤔 Inconsistent performance across devices
  • 💸 Expensive paid plans compared to competitors

Bugs and requests

Psiphon VPN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Disconnects WiFi on iOS devices
  • Incompatible with some apps like Hotstar
  • Doesn't work in certain regions like China

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more server locations, especially in India
  • Improve connection stability and speed
  • Introduce a data usage tracker
  • Offer a premium version with more features

Proton VPN

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to maintain stable connections
  • Unexpected disconnections and reconnections
  • Incompatibility with certain iOS versions
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching networks

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to select specific server locations
  • Always-on VPN mode
  • Improved kill switch functionality
  • Expanded server network for free users
  • Better integration with iOS features (e.g., widgets)

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Psiphon VPN

Subscriptions3
  • Premium 1 week$2.997 Days
  • Psiphon Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Psiphon Premium Annual3 Days trial$34.991 Year
4 purchases

Proton VPN

Subscriptions4
  • VPN Plus$11.991 Month
  • Proton Unlimited (1 month)$14.991 Month
  • VPN Plus1 Year trial$83.901 Year
Show 1 more
  • Proton Unlimited$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Psiphon VPN free?
Psiphon VPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Proton VPN free?
Proton VPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Psiphon VPN or Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is rated higher. Psiphon VPN averages 3.9 out of 5 from 8.8K ratings, while Proton VPN averages 4.6 from 131K ratings.
Do Psiphon VPN or Proton VPN have ads?
Psiphon VPN shows ads; Proton VPN does not.
Which is updated more often, Psiphon VPN or Proton VPN?
Psiphon VPN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Proton VPN every 2 weeks. Most recently, Psiphon VPN was updated on November 9, 2026 and Proton VPN on November 9, 2026.

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