138
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by smoothspoon@feddit.online to c/privacy@lemmy.world

In the wake of the Proton controversy, I've been looking towards alternatives towards their services. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a good alternative to ProtonVPN. I'm looking for the following in a VPN service:

  • Port forwarding support
  • Open source
  • Android app and Firefox extension available
  • Relatively cheap, around $3-4 month (okay with annual pricing)

The only options I found were Private Internet Access and Windscribe, but I found issues with them. If I'm cutting ties with Proton based on ideals I disagree with, I should be rejecting alternatives on the same basis.

Based on what I saw in the PIA subreddit, Private Internet Access seems to have some issues with service reliability and concerns about its ownership having ties to Israel, implying Zionist affiliation. Windscribe seems to have better service, but they have had a questionable social media history: edgy marketing including an AI-generated Hitler and a controversy where, according to them, they joked about a guy being mentally ill but their post easily looked like they were saying trans people are mentally ill.

Is there an option I missed? Should I try one of these options despite their faults? I'd like to know your thoughts.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] smoothspoon@feddit.online 2 points 6 days ago

They seem legit except they discontinued port forwarding and they're out of my price range.

[-] SincerityIsCool@lemmy.ca 14 points 6 days ago
[-] smoothspoon@feddit.online 6 points 6 days ago

Whoops I responded to the wrong comment. This was meant for the reply mentioning IVPN.

[-] Squizzy@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

It seems reasonably priced, the website is shoddy and I havent heard it mentioned enough to compare is all.

[-] Davel23@fedia.io 2 points 6 days ago

Their 1 year plan is just under $3/mo.

this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2026
138 points (96.6% liked)

Privacy

11126 readers
323 users here now

A community for Lemmy users interested in privacy

Rules:

  1. Be civil
  2. No spam posting
  3. Keep posts on-topic
  4. No trolling

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS