BambooVPN focuses on simplicity: a one-tap app with weekly and yearly plans, a 7-day free trial, a free version with no ads and servers grouped by what you're doing. Proton VPN is a privacy-first VPN with 21,842 servers in 149 countries, a Swiss base, a stealth protocol and yearly independent audits. Pick BambooVPN for everyday, year-round protection on the yearly plan (with a 7-day free trial), a weekly plan for a short trip, or a free start. Pick Proton VPN if a Swiss base or audited privacy credentials matter most.
Disclosure: we make BambooVPN. Proton VPN facts come from Proton's own website, checked on 21 October 2026, and we cover what each VPN does best.
BambooVPN vs Proton VPN at a glance
| BambooVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Weekly or yearly (iPhone and Android) | Monthly, 1-year or 2-year |
| Free trial of paid features | 7 days on the yearly plan (App Store, Google Play) | No trial |
| Free version | Yes: a set of free servers, no ads | Yes: 1 device, 10 auto-selected countries, no data limit, no ads |
| Money-back | Through Apple's or Google's refund process | 30 days |
| Network | 50+ locations | 21,842 servers in 149 countries |
| Devices at once | 10 | 10 (Plus) |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, Stealth |
| Stealth mode | No | Stealth protocol |
| Multi-hop | Secure Core | Secure Core |
| Ad and malware blocking | BambooShield (Pro) | NetShield |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunneling | Android | Yes |
| Independent no-logs audit | Not yet | Securitum, 2026 (fifth annual audit) |
| Company based in | USA | Switzerland |
Prices aren't compared because they change often. See BambooVPN's plans and Proton VPN's pricing.
What BambooVPN does best
- Weekly and yearly plans. Use the yearly plan, with a 7-day free trial, for everyday protection all year, or the weekly plan for a short trip. Proton's paid plans start at one month.
- A free trial of the full app. BambooVPN's yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial; Proton offers a free plan and a money-back guarantee instead of a trial.
- Servers grouped by use. Choose streaming, gaming, social media, browsing or work, and the app recommends a server.
- One tap, simple setup. BambooVPN is designed for people who want to connect and go.
What Proton VPN offers
- Privacy credentials. Securitum has audited Proton's no-logs policy every year, most recently in 2026, and Proton is based in Switzerland.
- A large network. 21,842 servers in 149 countries.
- A free plan with no data limit. Proton's free plan has no data limit and no ads, though it's limited to one device and picks the country for you.
- Stealth protocol. Built for restrictive networks.
- Extras. 10 devices on Plus, Tor over VPN and port forwarding.
Plans, trials and refunds
BambooVPN is billed through the App Store or Google Play, with weekly and yearly plans. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial, and refunds go through Apple's or Google's normal process.
Proton VPN sells 1-month, 1-year and 2-year plans. There's no trial, but there is a free plan, and paid plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Privacy and security
Both have no-logs policies. BambooVPN's privacy policy says it doesn't log browsing activity, connection timestamps, IP addresses, DNS queries or the traffic that passes through the VPN. Proton backs its policy with yearly independent audits.
Both offer multi-hop routing, a kill switch and a blocker for ads and malicious sites.
Which should you choose?
- Choose BambooVPN for everyday, year-round protection on the yearly plan and its 7-day free trial, a weekly plan for a short trip, a free version to start with, or an app that picks the right server for what you're doing.
- Choose Proton VPN if an audited no-logs policy and a Swiss base matter most, you need servers in many countries, or you want a free plan with no data limit on one device.
Still deciding? See our comparison of 7 travel VPNs.
Frequently asked questions
Which free version is better, BambooVPN or Proton VPN?
They're different. BambooVPN's free version gives you a set of free servers in the full app, with no ads. Proton's free plan has no ads or data limit but covers one device and picks the country for you.
Does Proton VPN have a free trial?
No. On 21 October 2026, Proton offered a free plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee instead of a trial.
Is BambooVPN audited like Proton VPN?
Not yet. BambooVPN follows a no-logs policy, but it hasn't been independently audited, while Proton has had five annual audits.
Sources
Checked on 21 October 2026: Proton VPN pricing, free VPN, servers, features and no-logs audit; BambooVPN App Store, Google Play and privacy policy.
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