Privacy online matters more than ever. And one VPN provider just made a massive move to protect more people around the world.

Proton VPN quietly expanded its global network over the past two weeks. The Swiss-based privacy company now runs about 20,000 servers across 145 countries. That’s not just impressive — it officially makes Proton VPN the top provider for worldwide coverage on CNET’s best VPN list.

So what pushed them to grow so fast, and does it actually matter for everyday users? Let’s dig in.

Six New Countries Just Got Added

The latest expansion added server locations in Lebanon, Nicaragua, Gabon, Papua New Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

These aren’t random choices. Proton VPN consistently targets regions where internet freedom is under pressure. That’s a deliberate strategy, not just a numbers game.

Proton VPN expands global network coverage across 145 countries worldwide

“Expanding our network over the past few weeks has been essential to our core mission: supporting open access to the internet in places where it is increasingly restricted or under threat,” said David Peterson, Proton VPN’s general manager. “We prioritize expanding into countries where online censorship, surveillance, and information control are common.”

That’s a meaningful commitment. Many VPN providers chase profitable markets. Proton goes where people genuinely need a lifeline to uncensored information.

How Proton VPN Stacks Up Against the Competition

The numbers here are pretty striking. NordVPN — one of the most recognized VPN brands on the planet — operates about 9,300 servers across 135 countries. Proton runs more than double the servers and covers 10 more countries.

ExpressVPN reaches 105 countries. Surfshark covers just 11. Neither comes close to what Proton now offers in terms of raw global footprint.

Proton VPN runs double the servers compared to NordVPN competitor

For context, a virtual private network works by routing your internet traffic through a remote server, masking your real IP address in the process. More server locations mean more flexibility — you can appear to browse from almost anywhere on earth. That’s useful for streaming content from other regions, bypassing restrictive government firewalls, or simply keeping your browsing habits private from prying eyes.

One Gap Worth Knowing About

Proton VPN’s global reach is genuinely impressive, but there’s a catch worth mentioning. Unlike NordVPN, Proton doesn’t have server coverage in all 50 US states.

For most users, that’s a minor inconvenience rather than a dealbreaker. If you’re streaming TV shows and movies — especially while traveling internationally — Proton VPN still performs brilliantly. But if hyper-specific US regional coverage matters to you, NordVPN still holds an edge there.

The Free Tier Makes This Even More Compelling

Here’s something that separates Proton from nearly every competitor. Proton VPN also holds the top spot for best free VPN on the market. That’s a rare combination — leading free option AND leading global coverage in one package.

Proton VPN free tier bypasses censorship and government firewalls for users

Most free VPNs come loaded with restrictions, data caps, or questionable privacy practices. Proton’s free tier operates under the same Swiss privacy laws as its paid version. Switzerland sits outside the EU and US surveillance agreements, which gives Proton’s no-logs policy some serious legal teeth.

Why Global VPN Coverage Matters Right Now

Internet freedom continues to erode in many parts of the world. Governments increasingly block social media platforms, restrict news sources, and monitor citizen communications. A VPN with broad global coverage isn’t just a convenience tool — for millions of people, it’s essential infrastructure.

Proton clearly understands this. Their expansion choices consistently prioritize regions facing censorship and surveillance challenges over simply padding coverage numbers with easy markets.

For travelers, journalists, activists, or anyone who simply values online privacy, having 20,000 servers across 145 countries is a genuinely powerful resource. And the fact that it’s backed by Swiss privacy law adds a layer of protection that American or British-based providers simply can’t match.

Whether you use the free tier or the paid version, Proton VPN just became an even harder service to ignore.