Proton VPN vs Turbo VPN
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Proton VPN
A Swiss VPN with open-source, audited apps and one of the few free tiers without a data cap.
Turbo VPN
Consumer VPN with a free ad-supported tier and premium plans for phones, computers and consoles.
The short answer
Both have a free tier, but they are built for different users. Proton VPN suits privacy-minded people: its apps are open source and audited, and the free plan has no data cap and no ads. Turbo VPN suits casual users who want a simple VPN on their phone, with apps for consoles too, though its free tier shows ads and uses a limited set of servers.
Proton VPN or Turbo VPN: our take
The biggest difference is trust and transparency. Proton VPN comes from the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, runs under a no-logs policy from Switzerland, and publishes open-source apps that have been independently audited. Turbo VPN is run by Singapore-based Innovative Connecting and states a no-logs policy, but its apps are not open source, and its own catalog entry notes that people with strict privacy needs may prefer a provider with published audits.
The free tiers also differ. Proton's free plan has no data cap and no ads, but it is limited to one device and fewer server locations. Turbo VPN's free tier needs no subscription and connects to a limited set of servers, with ads on mobile. Paying for Turbo VPN removes the ads and unlocks servers in 111 locations, a kill switch and split tunnelling. Proton's paid plans unlock the full network, Secure Core multi-hop routing, streaming support, P2P, a tracker and ad blocker, and up to 10 devices.
On price, both rely on long commitments for the lowest rates. Proton VPN Plus starts at $3.49/month on a 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront). Turbo VPN Gold is $3.33/month, billed $89.99 every 27 months, and Platinum is $4.58/month, billed $109.99 every 24 months. Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Platforms overlap but are not identical: Proton covers Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and browsers, while Turbo VPN covers Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Chrome and adds setups for Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.
Pick Proton VPN if privacy is the reason you want a VPN, if you use Linux, or if you want a free plan without ads or data limits. Pick Turbo VPN if you mainly want to change your IP address now and then on a phone, don't mind ads on the free tier, or want console support on a premium plan.
Which should you pick?
Choose Proton VPN if…
- Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust
- You want open-source software
- You need Linux, which Turbo VPN doesn't list
- Free plan with no data cap and no ads
- Open-source, audited apps on every platform
Choose Turbo VPN if…
- Casual users who want a free, simple VPN on their phone
- Free tier with no subscription needed
- Apps for phones, computers, Chrome and consoles
About each app
What is Proton VPN?
Proton VPN comes from Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, Proton Pass and Proton Drive. Its apps are open source and independently audited, and the service operates under a no-logs policy from Switzerland. The free plan is unusual: it has no data limit and no ads, though it is limited to one device and a reduced choice of servers. Paid plans unlock the full network, faster servers, Secure Core multi-hop routing through privacy-friendly countries, streaming support, P2P, a tracker and ad blocker, and up to ten devices. Proton also sells bundles that include its other privacy apps. Pricing is subscription based with discounts for longer terms and a 30-day refund window. Apps run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebooks, browsers and TV devices. It suits privacy-minded people who want a trustworthy provider, and anyone who needs a genuinely usable free VPN.
What is Turbo VPN?
Turbo VPN is a mass-market VPN from Singapore-based Innovative Connecting, best known for its free mobile app. The free tier lets anyone connect to a limited set of servers to change their IP address and encrypt traffic, supported by ads on mobile. Premium plans remove ads and unlock the full network, which the company puts at servers in 111 locations, along with a kill switch, split tunnelling and support for up to 10 or 20 devices at once depending on the plan. Apps are available for Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac, plus a Chrome extension and setups for Xbox, PlayStation and Switch. Premium is sold on long subscriptions with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the company states a no-logs policy. It suits casual users who want a simple, free VPN for occasional use. People with strict privacy needs may prefer a provider with published independent audits and open-source apps.
Side by side
| Attribute | Proton VPN | Turbo VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Browser extension |
| Best for | Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust | Casual users who want a free, simple VPN on their phone |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Proton VPN | Turbo VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, $0 | Yes, limited servers with ads |
| Starting price | VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront) | $3.33/month, billed $89.99 every 27 months (Gold) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Proton VPN vs Turbo VPN pricing
Proton VPN: free plan + paid
- Free plan limits: 1 device, no data cap, no ads source
- Free plan: Yes, $0 source
- Starting price: VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront) source
- Proton Unlimited plan: $7.99/month on 2-year plan ($191.76 upfront) source
Turbo VPN: free plan + paid
- Free plan: Yes, limited servers with ads source
- Starting price: $3.33/month, billed $89.99 every 27 months (Gold) source
- Platinum plan: $4.58/month, billed $109.99 every 24 months source
Platforms
| Platform | Proton VPN | Turbo VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension |
Proton VPN facts
7 of 7 verified- Devices on VPN Plus
- 10
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Secure 10 devices at a time”
- Free plan limits
- 1 device, no data cap, no ads
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “1 device No ads No logs Unlimited and free forever”
- Open source
- Yes, apps open source and audited
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Proton VPN apps are easy to use, open source, and audited for security.”
- Free plan
- Yes, $0
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Proton Free $0.00 /month”
- Starting price
- VPN Plus: $3.49/month on 2-year plan ($83.76 upfront)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Billed at $83.76 for the first 24 months, then renews at $83.88 every 12 months.”
- Proton Unlimited plan
- $7.99/month on 2-year plan ($191.76 upfront)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Billed at $191.76 for the first 24 months, then renews at $119.88 every 12 months.”
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days
- Checked Nov 8, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “$3.49 /month Save $156 Get VPN Plus 30-day money-back guarantee”
Turbo VPN facts
7 of 7 verified- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “30-day money-back guarantee”
- Free plan
- Yes, limited servers with ads
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “limited to a handful of servers and for mobile client supported by occasional ads.”
- Server locations
- 111
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Servers in 111 VPN locations Connect to anywhere with all types of servers worldwide in Turbo.”
- Devices
- 10 on premium
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “And if you subscribe the free-trial premium plan , you can login to the premium account on 10 devices”
- Owner
- Innovative Connecting (Singapore)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “UEN: 201812738K ©Copyright 2025 INNOVATIVE CONNECTING PTE. LIMITED”
- Starting price
- $3.33/month, billed $89.99 every 27 months (Gold)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Gold Plan + 3 Months Free $ 3.33 /month Billed $323.73 $89.99 every 27 months”
- Platinum plan
- $4.58/month, billed $109.99 every 24 months
- Checked Nov 8, 2026turbovpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Platinum Plan $ 4.58 /month Billed $335.76 $109.99 every 24 months”
Pros and cons of Proton VPN
- Free plan with no data cap and no ads
- Open-source, audited apps on every platform
- Secure Core multi-hop routing on paid plans
- Free plan allows only one device and fewer locations
- Full price is high without a long commitment
- Some streaming and P2P features are paid only
Pros and cons of Turbo VPN
- Free tier with no subscription needed
- Apps for phones, computers, Chrome and consoles
- Up to 10 devices on the cheaper premium plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free tier shows ads and has limited servers
- Kill switch and split tunnelling need premium
- Best prices require multi-year subscriptions
Other apps to consider
Mullvad VPNInstead of Proton VPN
Flat monthly price and anonymous numbered accounts, also with open-source apps.
Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1)Instead of Turbo VPN
Free, fast and ad-free encryption of your traffic from Cloudflare, without the ads of free Turbo VPN.
Hotspot ShieldInstead of Turbo VPN
Another long-running free-plus-premium VPN with fast proprietary protocols.
TunnelBearInstead of Turbo VPN
Simple one-tap VPN with regular independent security audits and a small free monthly allowance.
Proton VPN vs Turbo VPN: common questions
Is Proton VPN better than Turbo VPN?
Both have a free tier, but they are built for different users. Proton VPN suits privacy-minded people: its apps are open source and audited, and the free plan has no data cap and no ads. Turbo VPN suits casual users who want a simple VPN on their phone, with apps for consoles too, though its free tier shows ads and uses a limited set of servers.
Is Proton VPN free?
Proton VPN has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Turbo VPN free?
Turbo VPN has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Proton VPN or Turbo VPN open source?
Proton VPN is open source; Turbo VPN is not.
Which platforms do Proton VPN and Turbo VPN support?
Proton VPN: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension. Turbo VPN: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Browser extension.