What is the difference between ProtonVPN and Private Internet Access?

ProtonVPN is best for Privacy-conscious users wanting free VPN from a trusted brand, while Private Internet Access is best for Privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs VPN with open-source transparency. ProtonVPN starts at Free and Private Internet Access starts at $2.03/mo.

Is ProtonVPN or Private Internet Access cheaper?

ProtonVPN starts at Free with a free tier. Private Internet Access starts at $2.03/mo.

Is there a free alternative to Private Internet Access?

Yes, ProtonVPN offers a free tier (Free with 3 countries).

ProtonVPN vs Private Internet Access

ProtonVPN is Free VPN from the makers of ProtonMail with no data limits and no ads, while Private Internet Access is Long-established VPN provider with open-source apps and a proven no-logs policy. The biggest difference up front: ProtonVPN is free, while Private Internet Access starts at $2.03/mo. ProtonVPN is built for privacy-conscious users wanting free vpn from a trusted brand, whereas Private Internet Access targets privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs vpn with open-source transparency.

At a glance

	ProtonVPN	Private Internet Access
Best for	Privacy-conscious users wanting free VPN from a trusted brand	Privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs VPN with open-source transparency
Starting price	Free	$2.03/mo
Free tier	✓	—
Open source	—	✓
Free tier available	✓	—
Open source	—	✓
35000+ servers	—	✓
No Ads	✓	—
No Data Limit	✓	—
No-logs	—	✓
Open source	—	✓
Secure Core	✓	—
Swiss Privacy	✓	—
Unlimited connections	—	✓
VPN	—	✓

ProtonVPN

Strengths

Includes No Data Limit as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Includes No Ads as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Free with 3 countries — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Includes swiss privacy alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in vpn
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try ProtonVPN → Full review

Private Internet Access

Strengths

No-logs policy proven in court — twice
All apps are open source for transparency
35,000+ servers — largest server network of any VPN
Very affordable on long-term plans

Weaknesses

Owned by Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider) — controversial parent company
Based in the US — Five Eyes jurisdiction
Speeds can be inconsistent on some servers
Interface is functional but not as polished as NordVPN

Try Private Internet Access → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: ProtonVPN is completely free (Free with 3 countries), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Private Internet Access starts at $2.03/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: ProtonVPN offers No Ads, No Data Limit and Secure Core that Private Internet Access lacks. Private Internet Access brings 35000+ servers, No-logs and Open source that ProtonVPN does not have.

Open source: Private Internet Access is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. ProtonVPN is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: ProtonVPN's biggest strengths are: includes no data limit as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. includes no ads as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. Private Internet Access's biggest strengths are: no-logs policy proven in court — twice. all apps are open source for transparency.

Watch out for: With ProtonVPN, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Private Internet Access, the main complaint is that owned by kape technologies (formerly crossrider) — controversial parent company.

Choose ProtonVPN if...

You need a tool built for privacy-conscious users wanting free vpn from a trusted brand
Budget is a hard constraint — ProtonVPN is free, Private Internet Access is not
You specifically need No Ads and No Data Limit
You care about includes no ads as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
The free tier works for you: free with 3 countries

Choose Private Internet Access if...

You need a tool built for privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs vpn with open-source transparency
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need 35000+ servers and No-logs
You care about all apps are open source for transparency