Self-Hosted (WireGuard / Algo) vs Proton VPN
Both are free/open-source alternatives to NordVPN. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Self-Hosted (WireGuard / Algo)
Run your own VPN on a server you control — total ownership.
Instead of trusting any VPN company, run your own tunnel on a cheap VPS using WireGuard — or an installer like Algo VPN or Outline that automates the whole setup. You get an encrypted connection to a server only you use: maximum control, and no third-party no-logs promise to take on faith. The honest trade-off is that this hides your traffic from your ISP and secures public Wi-Fi, but it does NOT give you a shared IP for anonymity or reliable geo-unblocking the way a commercial VPN does — you're the only person on that IP — and you run the server yourself.
Proton VPN
Open-source, audited, with a genuinely unlimited free tier.
Proton VPN, from the Swiss maker of Proton Mail, was the first major provider to open-source its apps on every platform, and its no-logs policy has passed independent audits five years running (Securitum). Its free tier is the rare honest one — unlimited data, no bandwidth throttling — and the paid plans add more servers, streaming, and Secure Core routing. It's the best all-rounder for people who want strong, transparent privacy without giving up convenience.
Side by side
| Self-Hosted (WireGuard / Algo) | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 95 | 86 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-2.0 (WireGuard) / AGPL-3.0 (Algo) | GPL-3.0 (apps) |
| Pricing | Free software; ~$4–5/month for the small VPS you run it on | Free tier with unlimited data; paid Plus roughly $5–10/month |
Self-Hosted (WireGuard / Algo) edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Self-Hosted (WireGuard / Algo)
Strengths
- +You own the whole thing — no provider to trust
- +No-logs by definition: it's your server
- +Very cheap; one setup covers all your devices
Trade-offs
- −Not for anonymity or streaming — a single-user IP that's yours
- −You install, secure, and maintain the server
- −Some technical comfort required (Algo automates most of it)
Proton VPN
Strengths
- +Fully open-source apps, audited no-logs (five years running)
- +Genuinely unlimited free tier, no throttling
- +Swiss-based, strong privacy jurisdiction
- +Part of the wider Proton privacy suite (Mail, Drive, Pass)
Trade-offs
- −Free tier limits server choice and speed
- −A hosted service you don't self-host
- −Best features are on the paid plan
Facts verified 2026-07-14. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.