# Proton VPN review: KYC policy, privacy and safety grades

> Proton VPN is a VPN operating since 2017. Its terms put it at KYC level 1 of 4: no ID mentioned. NoKYC Score grades it 6.4/10 for privacy (fair) and 7.3/10 for safety (strong). In its favour: accepts cash, open source and company named. To watch: it requires an email address. No incidents are on record.

Source: NoKYC Score, "Proton VPN review", reviewed 22 Oct 2026, https://nokycscore.com/service/protonvpn

## Key facts
- **Category:** VPNs
- **KYC level:** 1 of 4: No ID mentioned
- **Grades:** Privacy 6.4/10, Safety 7.3/10
- **Sign-up:** Email required
- **Jurisdiction:** Switzerland
- **Incidents on record:** 0
- **Last reviewed:** 22 Oct 2026
- **Official website:** https://protonvpn.com

## What it is
Proton VPN is the VPN service of Proton AG, a Swiss company that also runs Proton Mail. It offers a free tier and paid plans with open-source apps. The payment help page lists cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bitcoin, cash and bank transfer; Bitcoin is not shown when first creating an account, so users create a free Proton account and then upgrade from the account settings, and cash is accepted by post in US dollars, euros or Swiss francs. An account is required, which makes sign-up less anonymous than providers that issue numbered accounts.

## What the terms say about ID
No identity documents are requested; a Proton account is required and Bitcoin or posted cash can be used to pay.

## Features and warnings
- **Identity:** ID never required: not stated; No account needed: no; No email needed: no; No phone number: not stated
- **Payment:** Accepts Monero: not stated; Accepts Lightning: not stated; Accepts cash: yes
- **Access:** Tor onion address: not stated; Works without JavaScript: not stated
- **Trust:** Open source: yes; No-logs policy: not stated; Independent audit: not stated; Company named: yes; 5+ years operating: yes
- **Warnings:** May ask for ID: not in terms; Email required: yes; Phone number required: not in terms; Closed source: not in terms; Nobody accountable: not in terms

## Questions
### Does Proton VPN require KYC?
Proton VPN is rated KYC level 1 of 4 on this site: no ID mentioned. No identity documents are requested; a Proton account is required and Bitcoin or posted cash can be used to pay.

### Is Proton VPN safe to use?
Proton VPN has a Safety grade of 7.3 out of 10 and a Privacy grade of 6.4 out of 10. No incidents are on record. Evidence level: documentation reviewed.

### Is Proton VPN legit?
Proton VPN is a working VPN that has operated since 2017. It publishes the company that runs it, in Switzerland. Being real is not the same as being safe: its Safety grade here is 7.3 out of 10, built from custody, liquidity, track record and incidents.

### Is Proton VPN a scam?
NoKYC Score does not label services as scams; it records documented incidents with their sources and outcomes. No incidents are on record for Proton VPN.

### Do I need an account or email to use Proton VPN?
Email required.

### Does Proton VPN have a Tor onion address?
No official onion address was found on Proton VPN's own pages.

### Which cryptocurrencies does Proton VPN support?
Proton VPN supports BTC, and fiat payments in USD, EUR, CHF.

### Can I use Proton VPN over Tor?
Proton VPN does not publish an official onion address.

## Sources
- https://protonvpn.com/support/payment-options/
- https://github.com/ProtonVPN

How grades are calculated: https://nokycscore.com/methodology