Lantern

VS

Proton VPN

VPNs Comparison

Lantern vs Proton VPN: Side-by-Side Comparison

Lantern
Proton VPN
Rating
★★★★★★★★★★
3.5/5
★★★★★★★★★★
4.6/5
Free Tier
Yes
Yes
Trial Days
None
30-day trial
Pricing
Free tier with data limits. Lantern Pro from $3.33/month (annual).
Free tier available. Plus from $4.99/month (2-year). Proton Unlimited from $7.99/month.
Company
Brave New Software
Proton AG
Founded
2012
2017
Best For
Users in China and Iran needing free emergency internet access when other VPN tools fail
Privacy advocates wanting an audited open-source VPN with free tier and Swiss legal protection

Pros & Cons

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Lantern

Peer-to-peer network designed specifically for circumventing government censorship
Free tier provides limited data for users in censored countries without payment
Works in China, Iran, and other heavily censored countries reliably
No account needed to start using - download and connect immediately
Used as an emergency tool by dissidents and civil society organizations
Free tier data limits are very restrictive for regular browsing activity
Privacy protections weaker than dedicated VPNs due to peer-to-peer architecture

Proton VPN

Based in Switzerland with the strongest legal privacy protections of any VPN jurisdiction
Open-source apps with published code independently audited by SEC Consult
Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-safe countries before exiting to destination
Free tier available with no data limits and no ads or tracking
Netshield ad-blocker and Stealth protocol included on all paid plans
Speeds on the free plan are noticeably slower due to server congestion
Fewer total servers than NordVPN or Surfshark limits server selection variety

Use Case Analysis

Which is better for Privacy?

Both Lantern and Proton VPN support Privacy workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Privacy is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Streaming?

Both Lantern and Proton VPN support Streaming workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Streaming is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Encryption?

Both Lantern and Proton VPN support Encryption workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Encryption is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Verdict

Proton VPN edges out Lantern with a 4.6 vs 3.5 rating. Proton VPN's main advantage: Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. That said, Lantern may still be the better choice if Users in China and Iran needing free emergency internet access when other VPN tools fail.

Try Them Yourself

The best way to choose is to trial both. See full details on each:

Get Lantern Free Try for Free

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Lantern vs NordVPN ExpressVPN vs Lantern Lantern vs Surfshark Lantern vs Private Internet Access
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