LimeVPN vs ProtonVPN
Which Privacy VPN Wins in 2026?
ProtonVPN's Swiss privacy laws, open-source apps, and 18,000+ servers make it a privacy powerhouse. LimeVPN delivers similar core protections at 50% lower cost, with dedicated IP available. We compare both objectively.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LimeVPN | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5.99/mo Core (no contract) | $2.99/mo (2-yr Plus) |
| Free plan | — (30-day MBG) | ✅ Unlimited bandwidth, 10 countries |
| Server count | 30+ locations | 18,000+ servers, 129 countries |
| Simultaneous devices | 5 | 10 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| Open-source apps | — | ✅ All clients on GitHub |
| Independent audit | Planned 2026 | ✅ Securitum (multiple) |
| Jurisdiction | Privacy-friendly | Switzerland 🇨🇭 |
| No-logs policy | ✅ No browsing or activity logs | ✅ Audited |
| Kill switch | ✅ | ✅ |
| DNS leak protection | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dedicated IP | ✅ Available | — |
| Split tunneling | ✅ | ✅ |
| Secure Core (double VPN) | — | ✅ |
| NetShield (ad blocker) | — | ✅ |
| Tor over VPN | — | ✅ |
| Stealth obfuscation | — | ✅ (bypass DPI) |
| VPN Accelerator | — | ✅ (multi-server speedup) |
| Streaming (Netflix US) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Crypto payments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Money-back guarantee | 7 days | 7 days |
🇨🇭 ProtonVPN's Swiss Jurisdiction Advantage
Switzerland is outside the European Union, NATO's intelligence-sharing alliances, and the 5/9/14-Eyes surveillance partnerships. Swiss privacy law is among the strongest in the world, with significant legal protections for VPN providers against cooperating with foreign law enforcement.
ProtonVPN has reported a 100% denial rate on all law enforcement requests — not because they ignored them, but because their no-logs architecture meant there was nothing to provide. LimeVPN similarly operates from a privacy-friendly jurisdiction and has fulfilled zero data requests to date (documented in our transparency report).
💰 Pricing Comparison
Pros & Cons
LimeVPN
Pros
Cons
ProtonVPN
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Choose LimeVPN if you:
- • Want more affordable entry — Core $5.99/mo or $49/yr
- • Need dedicated IP included in plan (Plus $9.99/mo)
- • Want a focused, no-bloat VPN experience
- • Already use a browser-level ad blocker
- • Value transparency reports and privacy-first practices
Choose ProtonVPN if you:
- • Want Swiss legal protections for your VPN data
- • Need open-source, fully audited apps
- • Want a free VPN with no bandwidth limits
- • Need Secure Core double-VPN for high-risk situations
- • Already use ProtonMail and want one subscription
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ProtonVPN better than LimeVPN for privacy?
Both have strong no-logs policies. ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which has some of the strongest privacy laws in the world and is outside EU/US surveillance alliances. ProtonVPN's open-source apps and multiple audits (Securitum) give it strong verifiability. LimeVPN maintains a privacy-first minimal-log policy. For most users, both provide excellent privacy; ProtonVPN has a stronger audit trail and Swiss legal protection.
Does ProtonVPN have a free plan?
Yes. ProtonVPN offers a genuinely free tier with unlimited bandwidth — a rare offering in the VPN industry. The free plan is limited to 3 server locations and is slower than paid plans due to resource sharing. LimeVPN does not offer a free plan, but starts at $5.99/month (no contract) with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
What is ProtonVPN's Secure Core feature?
Secure Core routes your traffic through two VPN servers — first through a server in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction (Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden), then to your destination. Even if an exit server is compromised, your real IP and traffic can't be traced back to you. This is ProtonVPN's version of double VPN. LimeVPN doesn't currently offer multi-hop routing.
Is ProtonVPN owned by the same company as ProtonMail?
Yes. ProtonVPN and ProtonMail (now Proton Mail) are both products of Proton AG, a Swiss company. This integration means you can use one Proton subscription to access ProtonMail, ProtonVPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar. If you're already a Proton Mail user, ProtonVPN is a natural bundle.
How does LimeVPN's pricing compare to ProtonVPN?
LimeVPN Core starts at $5.99/month (no contract) or $49/year. LimeVPN Plus with dedicated IP is $9.99/month or $84/year. ProtonVPN Plus costs $2.99/month (2-year plan) but jumps to ~$4.99/month on shorter plans. If you only need the VPN (not the Proton Mail/Calendar/Drive bundle), LimeVPN Core offers a competitive price with no long-term commitment required.
Does ProtonVPN work with Netflix?
Yes. ProtonVPN reliably unblocks Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and other major streaming services. LimeVPN also unblocks these services, and additionally offers dedicated IP addresses which provide more consistent streaming access.
Get LimeVPN — More Affordable Entry, Dedicated IP Available
LimeVPN Core from $5.99/month (no contract), Plus with dedicated IP from $9.99/month. Strong privacy, no browsing logs, quarterly transparency reports, 14-day money-back guarantee.
Get LimeVPN — From $5.99/moAES-256 Encryption · No-Logs Policy · 30+ Locations · Kill Switch