Element
Proton VPN
| Feature | Element | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $9.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | open-source-teams, governments, privacy-focused-orgs, developers | privacy-advocates, journalists, remote-workers, travelers |
| Founded | 2017 | 2017 |
| Encrypted Messaging | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Video Calls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spaces | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bridges | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Federation | ✓ | ✗ |
| No Logs Vpn | ✗ | ✓ |
| Kill Switch | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split Tunneling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure Core | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tor Over Vpn | ✗ | ✓ |
| Netshield | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Element Pros
- Decentralized architecture
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-hosting option
- Bridges to other platforms
✗ Element Cons
- Complex setup for non-technical users
- Smaller ecosystem
- Performance can lag on large rooms
✓ Proton VPN Pros
- Strong no-logs policy
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Open-source apps
- Free tier available
✗ Proton VPN Cons
- Free plan limited servers
- Slower than some competitors
- Fewer server locations
The Verdict
Element is built for open source teams and governments, with a focus on encrypted-messaging and voice-video-calls. Proton VPN targets privacy advocates and journalists and leads with no-logs-vpn and kill-switch.
Pricing is close: Element starts at $5/mo versus $9.99/mo for Proton VPN — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Bottom line: Proton VPN has a slight overall edge — but if decentralized architecture matters most to you, Element may still be the right call.