Proton VPN vs Psiphon

Proton VPN9.3Visit Psiphon8.3Visit

Higher score Proton VPN #1 in Free VPNs for iPhone 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit Proton VPN

vs

Psiphon #7 in Free VPNs for iPhone 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit Psiphon

• Proton VPN fits best

  iPhone users who want a privacy-focused free VPN

• Psiphon fits best

  Users needing VPN access on restrictive networks

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Proton VPN 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Psiphon 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.3
Ranking	#1 in Free VPNs for iPhone	#7 in Free VPNs for iPhone
Best for	iPhone users who want a privacy-focused free VPN	Users needing VPN access on restrictive networks
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Docs	Email, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Proton VPN 0/1 · Psiphon 0/1
Ads in free app	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Free data limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free server locations	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Simultaneous connections	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported protocols	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Streaming support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
P2P support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free plan has no data limits and includes a kill switch Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps WireGuard, Secure Core, and split tunneling support	Combines VPN, SSH, and HTTP/SOCKS proxy connectivity with traffic obfuscation Automatically discovers servers across more than 20 selectable countries Offers open-source clients and split tunneling on Android
Cons	Free plan limits use to one simultaneous device Free servers are in 10 randomly selected countries Streaming and P2P support are paid-plan features	It is designed for circumvention rather than conventional VPN use Whole-device tunneling depends on supported configurations Paid subscriptions are needed to remove ads and increase speed
Our verdict	Proton VPN is a virtual private network service from Proton AG, with an iPhone app alongside versions for desktop, Android, and browsers. Its free plan is aimed at people who want encrypted connections without a data cap, plus an audited… Read the review →	Psiphon is open-source censorship-circumvention software for people trying to access content blocked by governments, institutions, or networks. It is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, with a free service and optional… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Proton VPN — where it wins

  • Free plan has no data limits and includes a kill switch
  • Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps
  • WireGuard, Secure Core, and split tunneling support

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan limits use to one simultaneous device
  • Free servers are in 10 randomly selected countries
  • Streaming and P2P support are paid-plan features

• Psiphon — where it wins

  • Combines VPN, SSH, and HTTP/SOCKS proxy connectivity with traffic obfuscation
  • Automatically discovers servers across more than 20 selectable countries
  • Offers open-source clients and split tunneling on Android

  Where it doesn't

  • It is designed for circumvention rather than conventional VPN use
  • Whole-device tunneling depends on supported configurations
  • Paid subscriptions are needed to remove ads and increase speed

• Proton VPN9.3/10 · Free plan

  Proton VPN pairs unlimited free data with privacy controls and broader paid-plan features.

  Visit Proton VPNFull verdict →
• Psiphon8.3/10 · Free plan

  A free, multi-mode tool for reaching blocked content, with optional faster, ad-free subscriptions.

  Visit PsiphonFull verdict →