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Explaining complex tech to your grandparents is not easy – let alone setting them up with something like a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – but silver surfers need scam protection too, particularly if they're using shared networks in supported accommodation.
I've spent over two years using Proton VPN and I'm pretty convinced that this is the one I'd suggest to my gran. I'm not saying she's going to understand the fineries of VPN protocols and kill switches, but I'd bet she'd be happy having the Proton auto-connected in the background without it becoming a problem.
First time VPN users that do want to get into the app and get under the hood will be pleasantly surprised, though. All Proton VPN apps are filled with tooltips explaining what the features do. It's got a solid customer support site, and its apps are clearly laid out to avoid confusion.
Right now, it's also cheaper than the best VPN overall, NordVPN, which starts at $3.09 per month for its most basic plan. Proton includes all of its VPN features in one plan, and, for now, it's only $2.99 per month.
That's a saving of about $10 over a 2-year plan. What's more, NordVPN also adds local tax to its advertised prices which Proton does not.
If you know what you're doing with VPNs already, there are a couple of other good choices.
Surfshark is the best cheap VPN and starts at around $1.99 per month. It still performs just as well as Proton, offers more features to secure your data outside of the VPN, and has apps simple enough for most people.
For the absolute best performance, NordVPN is the pick. It's the most expensive of the three and carries hefty auto-renewal costs, but its worth it. No VPN is as good with unblocking streaming services, and it has very strong security credentials too.
