Proton VPN for Windows – Platform Evaluation
Does Proton VPN work on Windows? How fast is it? Is Proton VPN safe to use on a PC? The Windows client is the most feature-complete version of Proton VPN. Testing was conducted across multiple Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems to deliver an accurate, data-backed assessment.
Proton VPN – Windows
The Windows application is polished, fast, and includes the full Proton VPN feature set: Secure Core, NetShield, split tunneling, and a reliable kill switch.
Setup & Initial Configuration
Installation is straightforward. The process from download to first connected server takes under three minutes under normal conditions.
Installer Download
The Windows installer (.exe) is available from Proton VPN's official site. The file is digitally signed by Proton AG – the signature can be verified via the certificate details before running the installer.
Installation & Authentication
The installer runs with standard user permissions. No administrator elevation is required for the application itself. After installation, users authenticate with existing Proton account credentials.
Protocol Selection
WireGuard is the recommended default for most use cases. OpenVPN or Stealth should be selected for restricted network environments. Connection establishment typically completes in under two seconds.
Windows-Specific Features – Testing Notes
Split Tunneling
Split tunneling allows routing only selected applications through the VPN tunnel, leaving others on the direct connection. Configured at the per-application level in Windows. Tested and confirmed functional across multiple app combinations.
Kill Switch & Always-On Mode
The permanent kill switch mode blocks all internet traffic if the VPN disconnects, and remains active even when the application window is closed. Tested by force-disconnecting the VPN tunnel – no unprotected traffic was observed.
Secure Core
Traffic is routed through a hardened relay server in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before reaching the chosen exit node. This provides protection against exit-node-level monitoring. Performance impact is measurable – see speed table below.
NetShield DNS Filtering
NetShield intercepts DNS requests to known malware, advertising, and tracker domains before they resolve. Available in malware-only or full ad-blocking configurations. No measurable speed impact was recorded during testing.
LAN Device Access
Local network devices (printers, NAS storage, routers) remain accessible while the VPN is active, via the LAN exclusion setting. This was confirmed to function without disabling the kill switch.
Stealth Protocol
The Stealth protocol wraps VPN traffic to appear as standard HTTPS. This makes it resistant to deep-packet inspection by ISPs and firewalls. Confirmed operational in network environments where standard VPN protocols were blocked.
Performance Results – Windows
Testing was conducted on a 500 Mbps baseline connection. Results represent averages across multiple test runs at different times of day.
| Server Location | Protocol | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest (local country) | WireGuard | ~470 Mbps | ~440 Mbps | 8 ms |
| United States | WireGuard | ~310 Mbps | ~280 Mbps | 95 ms |
| United Kingdom | WireGuard | ~390 Mbps | ~350 Mbps | 22 ms |
| Japan | WireGuard | ~180 Mbps | ~160 Mbps | 210 ms |
| Nearest (local) | OpenVPN UDP | ~230 Mbps | ~200 Mbps | 12 ms |
| Switzerland (Secure Core) | WireGuard | ~140 Mbps | ~120 Mbps | 45 ms |
📊 Observations: WireGuard consistently outperformed OpenVPN by 40–60% across test locations. Secure Core added 35–50 ms of additional latency as expected from the double-hop architecture – throughput remained adequate for HD streaming and video calls. Zero DNS leaks were detected in any test configuration.
Strengths – Windows
- Most complete feature set across all platforms
- Split tunneling confirmed functional
- Permanent kill switch – active even with app closed
- Stealth protocol available and tested
- Map-based server UI is clear and responsive
- WireGuard delivers near-native connection speeds
Limitations – Windows
- No auto-connect trigger based on specific Wi-Fi network names
- Map view becomes visually cluttered when many servers are displayed
- OpenVPN significantly slower than WireGuard in all tests
Scoring criteria are explained in detail in our review methodology.
View Proton VPN for Windows →