Proton VPN has expanded its server network to 145 countries, claiming the title of the world's largest VPN service by geographic coverage.
The Swiss privacy company, known for its ProtonMail service, has grown its infrastructure aggressively in 2026 as demand for privacy tools surges amid geopolitical instability and increasing government surveillance legislation in multiple countries.
The expansion is driven by demand from three segments: privacy-conscious consumers in democratic countries, activists and journalists in authoritarian regimes, and remote workers who need to access corporate resources from anywhere in the world.
Proton's free tier — which offers VPN access in 5 countries — has been a powerful growth engine. The company reports that 22% of free users convert to paid plans within 12 months, a conversion rate that significantly exceeds industry averages.
The VPN market as a whole is booming. Global VPN usage increased 31% in 2025, driven by rising concerns about government surveillance, corporate data collection, and the general erosion of digital privacy.