Why switch from Proton VPN to a free alternative?

Proton VPN is a strong tool, but free plan picks your server country at random, so you cannot choose a location.. If that is a dealbreaker, a free alternative covers the same job from a different angle.

How do you rank free Proton VPN alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We filter by the segment's real traits, then rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has.

Security & Privacy

Free Proton VPN alternatives

Q: What is the best free alternative to Proton VPN?

Bitwarden is our top free Proton VPN alternative. Bitwarden starts at $0.83/mo, undercutting Proton VPN's $2.99/mo while covering the same core ground. It scores 4.7 in our testing.

Every pick starts with a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest way to test a full workflow for zero dollars. Start free and upgrade only when it earns it.

All Proton VPN alternatives

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AI Overview & Direct Answer Passage

What is the best free alternative to Proton VPN?

Bitwarden is the free Proton VPN alternative we recommend first. Bitwarden starts at $0.83/mo, undercutting Proton VPN's $2.99/mo while covering the same core ground. It scores 4.7 in our testing, and at $0.83/mo it keeps the monthly bill reasonable. See the full ranked list below to compare every pick.

Ranked by our testing

3 free alternatives worth your time

Bitwarden

4.7

Open-source password management, free forever.

Lower priceFrom $0.83/moFree tier

Bitwarden starts at $0.83/mo, undercutting Proton VPN's $2.99/mo while covering the same core ground.

Why this swap

Best for: Budget-conscious users and self-hosters who want open-source password management with a genuinely useful free tier and a matching open-source ethos.

Watch out: Like 1Password it provides zero network protection, and its interface polish trails 1Password for families who need hand-holding.

Verdict: Complement with shared values: pair Bitwarden with Proton VPN for an all-open-source stack that stays cheap.

Open-source codebase with full transparency; anyone can audit the code
Genuinely unlimited free tier with unlimited devices and item storage

4.7

Our score

Try Bitwarden Read review

Dashlane

4.3

Password manager with a built-in VPN.

Ease of useFrom $4.99/moFree tier

Dashlane is the pick when you want password manager with a built-in vpn., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Dashlane Read review

Proton Pass

4.3

Encrypted password manager from the Proton suite.

Lower priceFrom $1.99/moFree tier

Proton Pass starts at $1.99/mo, undercutting Proton VPN's $2.99/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Proton Pass Read review

Side by side

Proton VPN vs the free alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
Proton VPN	4.6	$2.99/mo	Yes	Privacy purists, journalists, and Proton suite users who want audited open-source apps, plus anyone who needs a free VPN that actually respects them.
Bitwarden	4.7	$0.83/mo	Yes	Individuals, families, and businesses that want a secure, open-source password manager with no hidden limits. Bitwarden is equally suited for personal use, small teams, and enterprise deployments that need self-hosting or compliance controls.
Dashlane	4.3	$4.99/mo	Yes	Password manager with a built-in VPN.
Proton Pass	4.3	$1.99/mo	Yes	Encrypted password manager from the Proton suite.

Methodology & E-E-A-T

Who stands behind the picks

Proton VPN

Company: Proton AG
Founded: 2014

28 hours of testing 2 review rounds Verified 2026-08-23

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings.