Proton VPN alternative: Tinted VPN vs Proton VPN
Both apps use WireGuard, and on a phone both can start without an account: Proton’s Android and iPhone apps have a guest mode, and Tinted VPN has no account at all. The differences are in the details. Proton’s free plan connects you to servers in 10 countries that are randomly selected, while Tinted VPN’s free sessions let you choose Helsinki or Boston. Proton’s free plan has no data cap, and Tinted VPN’s free sessions stop after 30 minutes or 500 MB, up to three a day. For a year of Premium, Tinted VPN is $39.99 in the US.
Tinted VPN vs Proton VPN side by side
| Tinted VPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Account needed | None. No email, password or sign-in. The app makes a random device ID. Tinted VPN privacy policy | Not for the free plan on Android and iPhone (guest mode). Paid plans need a Proton account. |
| What’s logged | Doesn’t collect the sites or apps you use, DNS queries or per-user bandwidth, and a free session keeps only its start and end time, for up to two days. Processes a random device ID, its WireGuard key and subscription status. Tinted VPN privacy policy | Doesn’t log the sites you visit, your traffic or your IP address. Keeps account information. Proton VPN no-logs page |
| Protocols | WireGuard (Fast) and AmneziaWG (Stealth). Auto picks between them. | WireGuard, Stealth and Smart Protocol. OpenVPN on Linux, IKEv2 on macOS. Proton VPN protocol guide |
| Free tier | Free sessions of 30 minutes or 500 MB, up to three a day, in Helsinki and Boston. No sign-up. Tinted VPN pricing | Yes. One device, servers in 10 countries picked at random. Proton VPN pricing No data cap. Proton VPN free plan page |
| Platforms | Android 7.0 or later. iPhone, iPad and Mac are coming to the App Store. Tinted VPN pricing | Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone and iPad, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Chromebook, Android TV and Fire TV. Proton VPN free plan page |
| Locations | 3 countries, 4 cities: Helsinki, Falkenstein, Boston and Hillsboro. | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries. Proton VPN pricing |
| Price | $6.99 a month, or $39.99 a year ($3.33 a month). | VPN Plus: $9.99 for one month, or $83.76 for the first two years, then $83.88 a year. Proton VPN pricing |
| Devices | One phone at a time. Restore purchases moves Premium to a new phone on the same store account. | 10 on VPN Plus, one on the free plan. Proton VPN pricing |
Where Tinted VPN is weaker
- Proton VPN lists servers in more than 140 countries. Tinted VPN has four cities in three countries.
- Proton’s free plan has no data cap. Tinted VPN’s free sessions end after 30 minutes or 500 MB, up to three a day.
- Proton has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, TVs and browsers. Tinted VPN is on Android only for now, with the iPhone, iPad and Mac apps still to come.
- Proton says its apps are open source and that a third-party audit has confirmed its no-logs policy five years running. Tinted VPN hasn’t published an independent audit yet.
- Proton VPN Plus covers 10 devices at a time. Tinted VPN Premium works on one phone at a time.
Pick Proton VPN if…
Pick Proton VPN if you want a free plan with no data cap, more than 140 countries on Plus, or apps on your computer and TV.
Pick Tinted VPN if…
Pick Tinted VPN if you want to choose where your free sessions connect, a simple one-tap app on your phone, and a yearly price of $39.99. There’s no account on free sessions or on Premium: Google Play takes the payment, and we never hold an email address for you.
Proton VPN vs Tinted VPN: questions
Do I need an account to use Proton VPN for free?
Not on a phone. Proton’s Android and iPhone guides say you can tap Continue as guest and use the free features without a Proton account; paid features need a Proton VPN account. Tinted VPN has no account on free sessions or on Premium.
Which gives more free data, Proton VPN or Tinted VPN?
Proton VPN. Its free plan has no data cap. Tinted VPN’s free sessions last 30 minutes or 500 MB each, whichever comes first, and you can start up to three a day.
Can I choose the country on the free plan?
On Proton’s free plan, servers are in 10 countries and are randomly selected, so you don’t pick one. In Tinted VPN’s free sessions you choose Helsinki or Boston.
How do Proton VPN and Tinted VPN prices compare?
Proton VPN Plus was listed on protonvpn.com on 7 November 2026 at $9.99 for one month, or $83.76 for the first two years, then $83.88 a year. Its checkout can show other offers. Tinted VPN Premium is $6.99 a month or $39.99 a year on Google Play in the US.
Do both use WireGuard?
Yes. Proton lists WireGuard with OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth and Smart Protocol. Tinted VPN uses WireGuard in Fast mode and AmneziaWG, a WireGuard variant, in Stealth mode. Auto picks between them, and all three modes work in free sessions.
Which devices does each app run on?
Proton VPN runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone and iPad, Linux, Chromebook, TVs and two browsers. Tinted VPN runs on Android 7.0 or later. The iPhone, iPad and Mac apps are coming to the App Store.
Sources (each read on 7 November 2026):
- Proton VPN free plan page: protonvpn.com
- Proton VPN no-logs page: protonvpn.com
- Proton VPN protocol guide: protonvpn.com
- Proton VPN pricing: protonvpn.com
- Proton VPN no-logs audit post: protonvpn.com
- Tinted VPN privacy policy: vpn-api.acefina.com
- Tinted VPN pricing: tintedvpn.com
All comparisons
Tinted VPN next to five other VPN apps in one table.
See the table →Tinted VPN vs Mullvad
Neither asks for an email. Mullvad is paid only. Tinted VPN has free sessions.
Read the comparison →Tinted VPN vs Windscribe
Windscribe needs a username and password. Tinted VPN needs no account.
Read the comparison →Tinted VPN vs TunnelBear
TunnelBear asks for an email and counts your monthly data. Tinted VPN does neither.
Read the comparison →Tinted VPN vs WARP
WARP is free with no sign-up, but you can’t pick a country. Tinted VPN lets you choose.
Read the comparison →