I was suprised when I saw that this VPN was less than $3 per month, and that it includes advanced features for that price, too — here's how you can grab yours

It’s easy to assume that the best privacy tools don't come cheap. Fortunately, this isn't true when it comes to many of the best VPNs.

I've watched prices steadily drop to meet growing demand in recent years – even ExpressVPN has dropped its prices to stay competitive.

Today, January 28, is Data Protection Day. It’s a timely reminder of the privacy risks we face daily, and in my experience, a solid VPN remains one of the most effective ways to shore up your defenses.

While several providers are currently offering discounts, one specific offer from Proton VPN stands out from the pack

Proton is a household name among many privacy purists, and after reviewing it late last year, I think it deserves even more appreciation than it gets. It has a solid privacy-first location, extensive suite of security features and top-tier performance.

At $2.99 per month on a 2-year plan, it's currently at a near-all-time low and a significant drop from its usual $3.59 per month price point. The very lowest we've even seen it is $2.79 per month.

Proton VPN: now only $2.99 per month (usually $3.59!) on 2-year plans
Proton VPN is a fan-favorite. It offers servers in 126 countries, the second-fastest WireGuard speeds we tested, and loads of cool additional features. Personally, I love:

👥'Profiles' that provide customizable, automated connections in one click
⚙️Secure Core VPN routing through privacy-friendly locations
🛡 NetShield malware and phishing protection
📱Super simple apps that are accessible for all

What's more, all of Proton VPN's apps look great and are available across most platforms. You can try Proton risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Why care?

Most top VPNs now include additional features in their VPN deals. That said, more often than not, these features seem like they are included for the sake of it rather than being genuinely useful.

Proton VPN's features don't fit this mould. Secure Core is Proton VPN's unique take on double VPN (sometimes known as Multihop) connections. It routes your traffic through two VPN servers, one of which is in a location with strong privacy laws. This means your connection gets the maximum protection possible.

Profiles is the Proton VPN feature I've found myself using most. It allows you to create customizable connection processes that can trigger your chosen settings in one click. For me, I have a 'Streaming' profile set up, which instantly connects me to a server and loads Netflix without me having to open my browser separately.

For many, however, the most beneficial addition will be NetShield. This is Proton VPN's ad, tracker, and malware protection solution, which is incorporated into all of its apps. You just have to select it on the device you want to protect, and everything from there happens in the background.

Other VPNs to consider

There are several other VPNs worth considering, depending on the features you're looking for.

NordVPN has Threat Protection Pro, a service similar to Proton's NetShield, which performed marginally better during our review testing. However, its full capabilities are more limited, as they are only available on Windows and Mac.

If you're after unique features like Proton's 'Profiles', Surfshark is a great alternative. Its Alternative ID feature gives you a new, secure identity you can use to sign up for services online without handing over your details. Should this identity be found in a data breach, you can simply delete it and start again without putting sensitive information at risk.

Finally if you're after top security capabilities like Proton's Secure Core, check out ExpressVPN. It provides some of the toughest encryption of any VPN we've tested—including post-quantum encryption—and its performance remains among the best in the industry.