IVPN and ProtonVPN are two of the most principled VPN services in the industry. Both started from a privacy-first philosophy. They differ in how easy they are to get into and in which users they target.
Gibraltar VPN with open-source apps and yearly Cure53 audits since 2019. Suits privacy-focused users who can accept a small network and patchy streaming.
ProtonVPN is a Swiss VPN from the Proton Mail team with open-source apps and a free tier that has no data cap or ads. It suits privacy-first users.
IVPN and ProtonVPN are two of the most principled VPN services in the industry. Both started from a privacy-first philosophy. They differ in how easy they are to get into and in which users they target.
Both have strong principles. IVPN offers anonymous signup options and proactively removes features that could enable abuse. ProtonVPN operates under Swiss privacy laws and is transparent through open-source code. Only ProtonVPN has a free tier, with unlimited bandwidth (speed-limited). IVPN has no free tier and stays a boutique service.
IVPN prices its tiers by the number of simultaneous connections (2 or 7 devices), while ProtonVPN sets device limits by plan. ProtonVPN offers Secure Core routing and a full set of security tools. IVPN concentrates on core privacy features and does them well.
Neither service prioritizes geo-unblocking for streaming, though ProtonVPN has made more effort in this area. ProtonVPN's apps are easier to use and appeal to a mainstream privacy audience. IVPN keeps a boutique privacy focus with less mass-market appeal.
Both have excellent privacy credentials. ProtonVPN earns them through Swiss privacy laws and open-source transparency. IVPN earns them through ethical business practices and operational transparency.
| Feature | IVPN | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|
Ad & Tracker Blocking | ||
Anonymous Payment Methods | ||
Connection Protocols | ||
Custom VPN Protocols | ||
Customer Support Availability | ||
Dedicated IP Option | ||
Encryption Standard | ||
Independent Audits | ||
IPv6 Leak Protection | ||
Kill Switch | ||
Multi-Hop | ||
No-logs Policy | ||
Open Source Apps | ||
RAM-only Servers | ||
Simultaneous Connections | ||
Split Tunneling | ||
Streaming Support | ||
Support Channels | ||
Torrenting Support |
Both services are principled, so the choice comes down to how much ease of use matters to you. Choose IVPN if you are a privacy purist who prefers a smaller, more focused provider. It suits people who value a boutique privacy service, anonymous signup and ethical business practices. Choose ProtonVPN if you want Swiss privacy laws, a comprehensive free tier and apps that are easier to use. It also fits people who like a mainstream privacy provider with broader appeal. Both have excellent privacy principles. ProtonVPN is more accessible, while IVPN keeps a more boutique focus on ethics.
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