Compare Claude and Proton VPN: Which App is the Best?
Claude is a smart, privacy-friendly AI assistant that gives you quick answers and helps with all kinds of tasks. It’s easy to use, looks great, and works well for both simple questions and bigger projects. | Proton VPN is a premium privacy-focused VPN service with Swiss-based privacy protection, independent audits, and an excellent free tier that offers unlimited bandwidth with no ads. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
|
|
| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 8.5 Winner in this category | 8.3 |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads |
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | |
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 8.0 Claude has a lot of useful features:
It’s great for writing, research, or just getting things done. We liked how Claude could give both short and detailed answers. The file and image tools were handy, and we felt safe using it because of the privacy focus. The main downsides: chat limits can be annoying, and you need to pay for some extras. We also wish it remembered more between chats. Overall, Claude has most of what you need for work or personal use. We give features an 8.0. | 9.0 Proton VPN delivers an exceptional set of features that prioritize privacy and security over flashy functionality. The app's feature set is comprehensive and focused on providing genuine privacy protection, which aligns perfectly with its target audience of privacy-conscious users. Key features we found most valuable include:
Proton VPN excels in providing advanced privacy features that are typically only available in premium VPNs. The free tier offers unlimited bandwidth with no ads, which is exceptional in the VPN market. The premium features are genuinely useful and not just cosmetic add-ons. While the core features are excellent, some limitations affect the overall experience. The free tier has limited server locations, and some users report connection issues. However, these limitations are reasonable for a privacy-focused service. For users who need advanced privacy features, Proton VPN offers the most comprehensive solution available. Alternatives like NordVPN provide more server locations, while Thunder VPN offers a more user-friendly free experience. We rate features at 9.0 out of 10—excellent privacy-focused features with genuine value for privacy-conscious users. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Claude is fast and works well. The app opens quickly, and we almost never had to wait for answers, even for tough questions. Everything ran smoothly, and we didn’t see any lag. Most people agree: Claude is quick and reliable. Sometimes it slows down if you upload big files or during busy times, and chat limits can break the flow. But for everyday use, Claude is solid. We give performance an 9.0. Winner in this category | 7.0 Proton VPN's performance presents a mixed picture that reflects the challenges of maintaining a privacy-focused VPN service. While the app can deliver good connections when working properly, some users report performance issues that impact the overall experience. Performance strengths include:
However, some performance issues undermine the user experience:
User reviews reveal mixed experiences, with some users praising the app's performance while others report connection issues. The app's focus on privacy over performance may be impacting server quality and maintenance. For users seeking reliable performance, alternatives like NordVPN offer more consistent performance with better server maintenance, while Thunder VPN provides more user-friendly performance. We rate performance at 7.0 out of 10—good performance when working but some connection issues and speed limitations that impact the overall experience. |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 8.5 Claude looks clean and simple. The app is easy to read and not cluttered, so you can focus on your chat. We liked the clear text, smooth animations, and how easy it was to add files or images. Lots of people like how Claude looks. Some might want more ways to customize it, but we thought it was both nice to look at and easy to use. We give design an 8.5. Winner in this category | 8.5 Proton VPN's design philosophy centers on functionality and privacy over flashy aesthetics, which works well for its target audience of privacy-conscious users. The interface is clean, professional, and focuses on providing clear information about privacy and security features. Design strengths we observed include:
The design experience is significantly better than competitors like Turbo VPN and Now VPN, with no advertising interruptions. Users consistently praise the app's clean interface and professional appearance, making it one of the most trustworthy-looking VPNs available. While the core interface design is excellent, some users find the interface less intuitive than more user-friendly alternatives. However, this is a minor issue compared to the overall design quality. For users who value a clean, professional interface, Proton VPN offers one of the best experiences available. Alternatives like Thunder VPN offer more user-friendly design, while NordVPN provides a more modern interface. We rate design at 8.5 out of 10—excellent design principles with professional aesthetics that inspire trust and confidence. Winner in this category |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 7.8 Claude’s free version is really good. You can do a lot without paying, and there are no hidden costs or ads. If you want more—like longer chats or extra features—you’ll need to pay, and it can get expensive. If you use Claude a lot, the paid plans are worth it. But if you just need it now and then, the free version is enough. Some people might find the price high, and chat limits in the free version can be a pain. We give value for money a 7.8. | 8.5 Proton VPN's value proposition is excellent for privacy-conscious users, offering a genuinely useful free service with no ads and comprehensive privacy protection. The app provides exceptional value for users who prioritize privacy over cost. Value strengths include:
The free tier's value is exceptional, offering unlimited bandwidth with no ads and comprehensive privacy protection. However, some limitations affect the overall value:
The premium pricing is higher than some competitors, but the Swiss-based privacy protection and independent audits justify the cost for privacy-conscious users. Premium VPN services like NordVPN offer more comprehensive features for similar pricing, while Thunder VPN provides a more user-friendly free experience. For users seeking genuine privacy protection, Proton VPN offers exceptional value. Alternatives like NordVPN provide more server locations, while Thunder VPN offers a more user-friendly free experience. We rate value for money at 8.5 out of 10—excellent value for privacy-conscious users with exceptional free tier and premium features that justify the cost. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 8.5 Claude is super easy to start with. We were chatting in seconds, and everything was where we expected. Adding files or switching devices was simple. We liked how easy it was to pick up a conversation or start something new. The only thing that got in the way was having to repeat ourselves sometimes, since Claude doesn’t remember past chats. Chat limits can also stop longer talks. Still, for most things, Claude is smooth and easy. We give ease of use an 8.5. Winner in this category | 7.5 Proton VPN provides good usability with its one-tap connection approach, though the interface is more complex than simpler alternatives. The core functionality is straightforward, but the advanced features require some technical knowledge to use effectively. Usability strengths include:
However, the ease of use is somewhat compromised by the complexity of advanced features. Some users find the interface less intuitive than more user-friendly alternatives, and the advanced privacy features require some technical knowledge to configure properly. While the core interface is generally easy to use, the complexity of advanced features may overwhelm casual users. For users seeking a truly simple VPN experience, alternatives like Thunder VPN offer a more user-friendly interface, while NordVPN provides a more intuitive experience. We rate ease of use at 7.5 out of 10—good core usability with professional interface, but complexity of advanced features may overwhelm casual users. |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Claude takes privacy seriously. It only asks for what it needs, and there are no annoying ads or extra data collection. We felt good using it for private stuff, and the privacy policy is clear. You don’t have to give up personal info to use Claude, and it doesn’t keep your chats on your device. We’d like to know a bit more about what happens behind the scenes, and some people might want to see old chats, but overall, Claude is one of the safest AI apps we’ve tried. We give privacy a 9.0. | 9.5 Proton VPN's security and privacy practices represent the gold standard in the VPN industry, offering exceptional protection that goes far beyond basic VPN services. The app's commitment to privacy and security is unmatched by competitors. Security strengths include:
Proton VPN excels in providing genuine privacy protection that goes beyond marketing claims. The Swiss-based privacy protection and independent audits provide unmatched transparency and trust. Users consistently praise the app's privacy features and security practices. For users who prioritize privacy and security, Proton VPN offers the most comprehensive solution available. Alternatives like NordVPN provide good privacy protection, while Thunder VPN offers basic privacy features. We rate security and privacy at 9.5 out of 10—exceptional privacy protection with independent verification and transparent practices that inspire complete trust. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | Claude by Anthropic is a great AI assistant that’s easy to recommend. We liked its quick answers, smart help, and strong privacy. The app looks good and is simple to use, whether you’re asking something small or working on a big project. There are a few downsides: chat limits and not remembering past conversations can be annoying, and some features cost extra. But overall, Claude is reliable and stands out for keeping your data safe. If you want an AI assistant that’s fast, easy, and respects your privacy, Claude is a top choice. We recommend it for anyone who wants help with daily tasks or bigger projects. | Proton VPN represents the gold standard for privacy-focused VPN services, offering exceptional privacy protection with Swiss-based privacy laws and independent security audits. While the app delivers on its core promise of secure, private VPN access with no ads, some users report connection issues and speed limitations that may impact the overall experience. The app's exceptional popularity (50M+ downloads, 4.7-star rating) reflects genuine demand for privacy-focused VPN services, and many users do find value in its comprehensive privacy protection. However, the recent rating decline (4.7 to 4.04 in last 100 reviews) and increasing complaints about connection issues suggest that the service may be experiencing some technical challenges. For users who prioritize privacy over performance, Proton VPN provides the most comprehensive privacy protection available. For users seeking a more user-friendly VPN experience, Thunder VPN offers a more intuitive interface with better performance, while NordVPN provides more comprehensive features with better reliability. For those who prioritize privacy above all else, Proton VPN remains the best choice available. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
