# What exactly is wrong with free VPN (Proton specifically) **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/what-exactly-is-wrong-with-free-vpn-proton-specifically/25439 **Category:** Questions **Created:** 2025-03-03T04:26:46Z **Posts:** 20 ## Post 1 by @Banjaie — 2025-03-03T04:26:47Z Privacy and security wise (not speed and such perks), what exactly is the downside of using free Proton VPN vs paid? --- ## Post 2 by @anon36940904 — 2025-03-03T05:06:50Z > [@Banjaie](#): > > Privacy and security wise (not speed and such perks) Short answer? Nothing. You get limited locations and speeds and of course, other benefits are missing. It’s clearly explained on their website too. --- ## Post 3 by @Banjaie — 2025-03-03T06:13:47Z Ahh, the amount of pitch fork crowd against free VPN makes one feel like all all and every free VPN are evil. --- ## Post 4 by @cupcake — 2025-03-03T08:36:18Z There might actually be benefit on using proton free vs prem. Proton free doesn’t need an account so less trackable PII that could be traced back to users. And since free plan have only a handfull of servers to choose from, logically theres more users connected to the same server and sharing the same ip, basically 1 users are more hidden amongs them all. --- ## Post 5 by @moonwriting — 2025-03-03T11:38:37Z The free plan doesn’t have Proton’s secure core feature that can help protect against certain attacks described [here](https://protonvpn.com/support/secure-core-vpn). --- ## Post 6 by @daredevil5842 — 2025-03-03T11:50:15Z I think it stems from the same idea as “free” platforms like Facebook, etc. If you aren’t paying for it, then you’re the product. So free VPN services aren’t evil, per se, but they could be selling your data to advertisers instead of charging for the service. I’m a bit skeptical of most VPN services in general, anyway. A lot of the features that they sell can be accomplished through other means, like Tor, Signal, etc. For instance, with a VPN provider like ProtonVPN or NordVPN, you are putting all of your trust in that provider to keep your data safe. Essentially, they become your ISP. With Tor, that trust is “distributed” among the different Tor relays, and if you find one untrustworthy, you can always change your Tor circuit or identity. --- ## Post 7 by @anon36940904 — 2025-03-03T13:28:15Z This argument does not apply to Proton and is an exception the the generally accepted rule. --- ## Post 8 by @daredevil5842 — 2025-03-03T15:00:12Z Ok, that’s reassuring! Perhaps I need to familiarize myself with Proton’s service a bit more. --- ## Post 9 by @anon36940904 — 2025-03-03T15:13:42Z Yes, please do. They are recommended by PG for a reason. --- ## Post 10 by @Banjaie — 2025-03-03T15:18:09Z Any other provide? --- ## Post 11 by @anon36940904 — 2025-03-03T15:20:35Z What? I don’t follow. --- ## Post 12 by @Banjaie — 2025-03-03T15:41:16Z Any other free VPN provider like Proton (that’s as good)? --- ## Post 13 by @anon36940904 — 2025-03-03T15:42:23Z Not that I know of. I believe Proton is the only exception. --- ## Post 14 by @TinFoilHat — 2025-03-03T16:15:56Z “FREE” “VPN” services involves two elements. 1. Any commercial services whithout a clear, sustainable business model is a big red flag. 2. Any VPN that fail to provide decent privacy policy and being audited is another red flag. In this case, while Proton offers free tier VPN, they have a clear and sustainable business model, and they have decent track record and privacy policy, so no concerns here. --- ## Post 15 by @agentfalco — 2025-03-04T12:24:47Z Menwhile free VPN that has payed version too just benefits from the free users as more trafic is harder to snoop. --- ## Post 16 by @privacylover — 2025-03-05T03:57:52Z They don´t, Proton has dedicated free servers for only free users, paid users have faster servers with no free users. --- ## Post 17 by @anon36940904 — 2025-03-05T04:33:56Z When you say harder to snoop, what do you mean exactly? VPN traffic cannot be snooped upon. It’s encrypted. At best, only traffic analysis could be done with how much bandwidth is being consumed. So what do you mean by what you said? --- ## Post 18 by @agentfalco — 2025-03-05T06:16:51Z That is a bit sad --- ## Post 19 by @agentfalco — 2025-03-05T06:19:24Z Traffic analysis was my thinking. The more traffic from the more source the harder to get any results. But meanwhile it turned out they use dedicated servers for free users so it is not a factor. --- ## Post 20 by @davidcollini — 2025-03-05T13:40:15Z Windscribe has a pretty good free plan