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More servers doesn't necessarily mean better service, but it certainly doesn't hurt. That's the smallest server count of all the VPNs I've tested for macOS, most of whom have between 1,300 and 5,900 servers. The company currently offers approximately 517 servers in 41 countries. The biggest asterisk on ProtonVPN is the size and scope of its server fleet. That's a shame, but not a deal-breaker, as I advise readers to use a standalone tracker blocker anyway. ProtonVPN also doesn't provide ad-blocking. Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN both offer this feature. What ProtonVPN doesn't offer is split tunneling, which lets you route the traffic of specific apps within or without the encrypted VPN tunnel. NordVPN is the only other service I've tested for macOS that offers access to Tor, although you can connect to the system without the help of a VPN. You can also browse hidden websites on the Dark Web when connected to Tor. This routes your connection through several volunteer computers, effectively hiding your movements online. ProtonVPN also lets you connect to the Tor anonymization network. Both NordVPN and Surfshark offer multi-hop features, but not with such extravagant additional protection.
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The idea is that even if the second hop is somehow tainted by spies, they won't be able to tell who you are because the first hop will be secure. The first hop connects you to a clutch of servers personally monitored by ProtonVPN and in secured facilities including (I'm not kidding) a defunct military bunker.
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This routes your connection between two intermediary servers, for added privacy.
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ProtonVPN offers multi-hop connections, which it calls Secure Core. In addition to its generous pricing, ProtonVPN stands out for its collection of excellent privacy features. Although nearly every VPN offers discounted rates for longer subscriptions, I highly recommend customers start with a short-term subscription and see if the service really fits their needs. CyberGhost and ExpressVPN both cost $12.95 per month. While ProtonVPN is much more expensive than the most affordable paid service I've reviewed on macOS-Norton Secure VPN, which costs just $7.99 per month-it's by no means the most expensive. These are just assumptions based on the number of servers available at each tier, and not necessarily reflective of performance. Note that while ProtonVPN ranks its tiers with different speeds, the company doesn't throttle connections.
PROTONVPN FOR PC PLUS
For this review, I tested a Plus subscription. Tiers also mean you can keep costs well below the $10.80 average that a top-rated VPN costs.
PROTONVPN FOR PC FREE
While I am not keen on companies that lock features behind tiered subscriptions, I do appreciate that ProtonVPN provides the essential services at even its free tier. The final tier, called Visionary ($30 per month, $288 per year), doubles the number of simultaneous connections to 10 and adds the highest paid tier of the four-star ProtonMail, a secure email service from the same company. The next step up is the Plus subscription ($10 per month, $96 per year), which unlocks all ProtonVPN's servers and five simultaneous connections, as well as additional privacy features I discuss below. P2P file-sharing is allowed at this tier. The first paid tier is the Basic subscription ($5 per month, $48 per year), which allows two devices to be connected simultaneously and grants access to more of its servers.