Proton VPN vs Xeovo

Compare Proton VPN and Xeovo on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: ExpressVPN

Logo: Proton VPN

Proton VPN

Switzerland· VPN Services

Needs review

Shortlist Proton VPN when you want a Swiss Proton AG VPN with open-source clients, publicly linked Securitum no-logs infrastructure audits, Secure Core/Stealth, a real free tier, and optional Business SSO/SCIM inside the Proton suite. Skip when you need anonymous numbered accounts without email (prefer Mullvad) or first-class remote port forwarding/DDNS (prefer AirVPN).

Swiss-operated (Proton AG)Open-source clientsSecuritum no-logs auditsSecure Core double-hopFree unlimited-data tierBusiness SSO / SCIM
Logo: Xeovo

Xeovo

Finland· VPN Services

Needs review

Shortlist Xeovo when you need a Finnish EU operator with WireGuard/OpenVPN plus a real stealth-proxy toolkit (AmneziaWG, multi-protocol obfuscation, Hysteria 2) and cash/crypto payment options. Skip when you require independent no-logs audits, port forwarding, dedicated IPs, or streaming reliability—prefer Mullvad or Proton VPN instead.

Finnish Xeovo OyWireGuard + OpenVPNStealth proxies + AmneziaWGCash & crypto paymentsAnnual transparency reports
Proton VPN vs Xeovo: Snapshot
FeatureLogo: Proton VPNProton VPNLogo: XeovoXeovo
Country of originSwitzerlandFinland
CategoryVPN ServicesVPN Services
Open sourceYesNo
Self-hostedNoNo
HeadquartersSwitzerlandFinland
Legal entityProton AG (Route de la Galaise 32, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva); EU rep Proton Europe sàrl (Luxembourg)Xeovo Oy (reg. no. 3233901-7), Rautiontie 5G 30, 00640 Helsinki, Finland
Governing lawSwitzerland (vendor privacy/legal framework)Finnish courts for unresolved disputes (terms of service)
US parent / controlNo known US parentNo known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)MediumMedium
Hosting / residencyVPN/account infrastructure: Proton-owned/controlled servers; account data stated in CH/DE/NO; Secure Core owned in CH/IS/SE; global VPN exits with full-disk encryption. Support/payments processors include US-group Zendesk, Stripe, Chargebee, PayPal (and HubSpot for sales forms) per privacy policy—not the VPN tunnel path.No public infrastructure/subprocessor register. Privacy policy claims stored personal data is not transferred outside the EEA. VPN and stealth exit nodes on status.xeovo.com include EU/EEA locations plus Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and multiple US cities. Payment rails include global card networks, PayPal, and crypto; Xeovo states it does not store full card data.
Summary

Swiss Proton AG VPN with open-source clients, Securitum-audited no-logs infrastructure, Secure Core/Stealth, free unlimited-data tier, and Business SSO/SCIM packaging.

Finland-based Xeovo Oy VPN with WireGuard/OpenVPN plus stealth proxies (Shadowsocks, AmneziaWG, VLESS/VMess/Trojan, Hysteria) for censorship resistance, no-logs policy claims, and privacy-friendly payments.

Tags
At a glance: Proton VPN vs Xeovo
At a glanceLogo: Proton VPNProton VPNLogo: XeovoXeovo
HQ / entityProton AG, Plan-les-Ouates (Geneva), SwitzerlandNot listed
GovernancePrimary shareholder: non-profit Proton Foundation (vendor claim)Not listed
ProtocolsWireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, StealthWireGuard, OpenVPN, AmneziaWG, Shadowsocks, VLESS/VMess, Trojan, Hysteria 2
Network (vendor)20,000+ servers, 140+ countries (re-check live)Not listed
Free tier1 device, unlimited data, limited countries, no adsNot listed
Paid consumer devicesUp to 10 simultaneous (typical Plus packaging)Not listed
Open sourceOfficial clients yes; not a self-host server productNo (uses open protocols; service not OSS)
BusinessSSO, SCIM, dedicated IPs/gateways, DPA publishedNot listed
HQNot listedHelsinki, Finland (Xeovo Oy)
Legal entityNot listedXeovo Oy, reg. 3233901-7
TimelineNot listedPublic product history from April 2016
NetworkNot listed~27 countries / ~60 servers (vendor); live status map
Self-hostNot listedNo (SaaS VPN)
Commercial modelNot listedPrepaid subscription; 5 devices; 30-day refund (limits apply)
Key capabilities: Proton VPN vs Xeovo
Key capabilitiesLogo: Proton VPNProton VPNLogo: XeovoXeovo
Swiss-operated (Proton AG)YesNot listed
Open-source clientsYesNot listed
Securitum no-logs auditsYesNot listed
Secure Core double-hopYesNot listed
Free unlimited-data tierYesNot listed
Business SSO / SCIMYesNot listed
Finnish Xeovo OyNot listedYes
WireGuard + OpenVPNNot listedYes
Stealth proxies + AmneziaWGNot listedYes
Cash & crypto paymentsNot listedYes
Annual transparency reportsNot listedYes

Proton VPN

  • Audited no-logs on Proton-owned VPN infrastructure

    Strict no-logs policy for VPN session activity (no traffic content, destination, or session metadata that identifies a user to a server, per published Securitum infrastructure reviews). Account data lives on Proton-controlled servers in Switzerland, Germany, or Norway; Secure Core machines are Proton-owned in CH/IS/SE. Suits privacy officers who need public audit PDFs, not NDA-only claims.

  • Secure Core double-hop via CH, IS, or SE

    Paid Secure Core routes traffic through hardened Proton-owned entry servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before the exit country—extra hop against network-level attacks if an exit were compromised. Adds latency; best for high-threat models, not every streaming session.

  • Stealth protocol and free-tier censorship tools

    Stealth obfuscates the tunnel (TLS-over-TCP style) to reduce DPI/VPN-block detection and is available on Free as well as paid apps. Free plan: one device, unlimited data, no ads, limited country set, kill switch; paid unlocks multi-device, streaming profiles, Secure Core, and full NetShield packaging.

  • Open-source clients across major platforms

    Official apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser extensions are open source on GitHub (ProtonVPN org) with third-party app security reviews published over time. Server-side VPN stack is not a public full OSS product—inspect clients and audit reports, not the entire backend.

  • NetShield DNS filtering and multi-protocol stack

    NetShield is Proton's DNS-based blocker for ads, trackers, and malware domains (feature depth varies by plan). Protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Stealth; kill switch and leak protections are first-class client features for untrusted Wi-Fi.

  • Business org controls: SSO, SCIM, dedicated IPs

    Proton VPN for Business adds organization admin, private gateways, dedicated servers/IPs, enforced 2FA, SSO, and SCIM provisioning (docs cover Okta/Google examples). Fits SMB remote access and policy control—not a numbered-account anonymity product.

Xeovo

  • WireGuard and OpenVPN with published crypto details

    Official features page documents WireGuard (ChaCha20/Poly1305, Curve25519; ports 51280/53/80/443, AmneziaWG configs) and OpenVPN (AES-256-GCM, TLS 1.3, TCP 443 and UDP 1196). Suits teams that want modern defaults without proprietary tunnels—still validate leaks on your OS stack.

  • Stealth proxies for DPI and censorship resistance

    Shadowsocks (+ v2ray plugin), VLESS/VMess (WS+TLS), Trojan (TLS/WS+TLS), AmneziaWG, and Hub-announced Hysteria 2.0 for networks that block plain VPN. Subscription generators target tested third-party clients; no SOCKS5. Availability claims for restricted countries are vendor status-matrix based.

  • Config generator, custom DNS, optional ad/tracker block lists

    Built-in generators produce VPN and stealth subscription configs. WireGuard/AmneziaWG/OpenVPN can use custom DNS or Xeovo’s ad/tracker-blocking DNS (lists such as pgl.yoyo.org, AdAway, oisd). Useful for power users; block lists may break some sites.

  • Compact multi-region map with live P2P labels

    Marketing cites ~27 countries / ~60 servers with quality-over-quantity positioning. status.xeovo.com shows per-node health and which VPN/stealth locations allow P2P. Five concurrent devices, unlimited bandwidth marketing, IPv6, WireGuard kill-switch—no port forwarding or dedicated IPs.

  • Privacy-oriented payments and optional email accounts

    Accepts cash, Monero, Bitcoin, and Litecoin alongside cards and PayPal. Registration needs a username/password; email is optional for recovery and billing notices. Prepaid plans with a one-time 30-day money-back window (crypto refunds excluded per terms).

Assurance & compliance: Proton VPN vs Xeovo
Assurance & complianceLogo: Proton VPNProton VPNLogo: XeovoXeovo
Independent no-logs / security audit
Verified

Multi-year Securitum infrastructure no-logs audits published with downloadable reports (see no-logs audit blog). Client app security reviews also published over time.

Not found

Privacy policy claims detailed no-logs; annual Hub transparency reports are first-party only. No public third-party audit PDF located.

ISO 27001
Vendor claimed

Proton announces ISO 27001 (May 2024) and links a certificate from the Trust Center; re-validate scope/certificate for your ISMS.

Not found
SOC 2 / SOC 3
Vendor claimed

Trust Center and company blog assert SOC 2 Type II; obtain the report under your vendor process if required.

Not found
GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

Swiss operator claims GDPR alignment; EU representative in Luxembourg; Swiss FADP also applies.

Vendor claimed

Finnish controller Xeovo Oy; privacy policy cites GDPR and Finnish DPA (tietosuoja.fi); claims no transfer of stored personal data outside EEA.

US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)
Partial

No known US parent (Proton AG / Foundation). VPN designed no-logs on Proton paths. US-group processors for support/payments (Zendesk, Stripe, Chargebee, PayPal; HubSpot sales) raise indicative exposure for account identity data. Not legal advice.

Partial

EU entity / no known US parent and claimed EEA storage for account data, but no public hosting/subprocessor list and public US exit locations. Residual exposure medium. Not legal advice.

Data processing agreement (B2B)
Vendor claimed

Public DPA published at proton.me/legal/dpa; confirm countersignature/process for your business SKU.

Not found

No public B2B DPA download or subprocessor schedule found; privacy policy is consumer-oriented.

EU AI Act
Not applicable

VPN connectivity product; separate Lumo AI offering is out of scope for this VPN entry.

Not applicable

Consumer VPN/stealth-proxy service, not an AI system offering under typical AI Act scoping.

Considerations & known limitations: Proton VPN vs Xeovo
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: Proton VPNProton VPNLogo: XeovoXeovo
US SaaS for support and payments
Medium

Privacy policy lists Zendesk, Stripe, Chargebee, PayPal (and HubSpot for sales) as processors. This is not VPN traffic logging, but billing/support identity can leave the Swiss-only path—map to your transfer assessment.

Not listed
Global exit nodes outside EU/CH
Medium

Large multi-country network means traffic can exit outside the EU depending on server choice. Strict residency policies need operational controls (allowed countries, Secure Core preferences), not HQ alone.

Not listed
Free tier capacity and country limits
Low

Free is one device and a limited country pool; shared free capacity can mean slower peaks. Not a full substitute for paid multi-device org rollout.

Not listed
Account identity vs numbered anonymity
Low

Standard Proton account (email or external address options) is not the same threat model as cash/number-only VPN accounts. Cash/Bitcoin payment options exist for paid plans but account recovery fields may still apply.

Not listed
ISO/SOC scope verification
Low

ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II are vendor-asserted on Trust Center; procurement should confirm certificate/attestation scope covers the VPN services in use.

Not listed
No public independent no-logs auditNot listed
High

High-sensitivity buyers must treat no-logs and transparency reports as first-party claims. Demand external evidence or shortlist an audited peer.

Infrastructure and subprocessors not publishedNot listed
Medium

Without a DC/payment/email/hosting register, residual transfer and CLOUD Act analysis stays incomplete even with Finnish HQ and EEA storage claims for account data.

Optional US and other non-EU exit nodesNot listed
Medium

Status map includes multiple US cities and other non-EU locations. Choose EU exits deliberately when residency of tunnel egress matters.

No port forwarding or dedicated IPs; streaming weakNot listed
Medium

FAQ denies port forwarding and dedicated/residential IPs; major streaming services likely blocked. Hard blockers for some use cases.

Five concurrent devices; personal accountsNot listed
Low

Five simultaneous connections and terms against multi-person account sharing constrain household or team rollouts.

Fit

Proton VPN

Best fit when

  • Privacy-conscious individuals who want Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and audited no-logs packaging
  • Users already on Proton Mail/Drive/Pass who want one account for VPN plus suite
  • People under network censorship who need Stealth (including on Free) and Secure Core on paid plans
  • SMBs needing managed VPN with SSO/SCIM, dedicated IPs/gateways, and a published DPA
  • Orgs that require downloadable third-party no-logs infrastructure reports rather than NDA-only claims

Poor fit when

  • Teams that require anonymous numbered accounts with no email (Mullvad-style)
  • Workloads whose primary need is multi-port remote forwarding and Dynamic DNS (AirVPN-style)
  • Policies that forbid any US-group SaaS for billing or support (Zendesk/Stripe/Chargebee/PayPal listed)
  • Buyers who need a fully self-hosted VPN control plane rather than Proton SaaS

Consider instead when

  • When: You need maximum account anonymity (no email identity)

    Consider: Mullvad

    Numbered accounts and cash/crypto-friendly privacy posture; less suite/Business packaging.

  • When: You need remote port forwarding and Dynamic DNS as core features

    Consider: AirVPN

    Technical inbound reachability; different product emphasis than Proton Free/Plus.

  • When: You want a large consumer network with different brand/jurisdiction tradeoffs

    Consider: NordVPN or catalog peers such as CyberGhost

    Re-check ownership, audit publication model, and streaming for your regions.

  • When: You need enterprise zero-trust mesh rather than a privacy VPN

    Consider: Tailscale, NetBird, or self-hosted WireGuard

    Different product class from consumer/privacy VPN.

Xeovo

Best fit when

  • Users under active DPI/censorship who need Shadowsocks, AmneziaWG, VLESS/VMess/Trojan, or Hysteria—not only plain WireGuard
  • Buyers who want a Finnish EU legal entity and GDPR-framed privacy policy with claimed EEA storage for account data
  • Privacy-oriented individuals who value optional email, cash/Monero/BTC/LTC payments, and prepaid subscriptions
  • Power users comfortable with config generators and third-party stealth clients rather than a single mega-app
  • Teams fine with a compact ~27-country map and live status/P2P labels instead of thousands of cities

Poor fit when

  • Procurement that requires independent no-logs audits, ISO 27001/SOC 2 evidence, and a public B2B DPA with subprocessors
  • Users who need port forwarding, dedicated/residential IPs, or reliable access to major streaming catalogues
  • Organisations standardising only on audited multi-hop or RAM-only infrastructure claims Xeovo does not publish
  • Households seeking a free tier or free trial (only prepaid + limited money-back)
  • Anyone who will treat vendor no-logs claims as verified without third-party evidence

Consider instead when

  • When: You need stronger anonymous-account culture and long-standing independent reputation

    Consider: Mullvad

    Better default when stealth protocols are secondary to audited privacy ops

  • When: You want a larger EU brand suite, free tier options, and deeper corporate security programme material

    Consider: Proton VPN

    Prefer for broader product integration and procurement packaging

  • When: You want simple Dutch consumer apps and lifetime packaging more than censorship tooling

    Consider: GOOSE VPN

    Different protocol story; fewer stealth-focused features

Open questions for due diligence

Proton VPN

  • Which current Securitum no-logs PDF applies to the server regions and features you will enable?
  • For Business, which subprocessors apply to your SKU and will Proton countersign the published DPA without material carve-outs?
  • Can org policy force EU/CH-only or Secure Core-only exits for all managed devices?
  • Do ISO 27001 / SOC 2 Type II reports' scope statements explicitly cover Proton VPN infrastructure used by your tenants?
  • If policy bans US payment processors, which payment methods (e.g. Bitcoin) meet your residual-risk tolerance?

Xeovo

  • Will Xeovo publish or provide under NDA a current infrastructure and subprocessor list (DCs, payment processors, email, CDN for stealth)?
  • Is an independent no-logs or application security audit planned or available on request?
  • For B2B: will Xeovo Oy sign a GDPR DPA with a named subprocessor schedule?
  • What exact retention periods apply to payment metadata, tickets, and WireGuard/proxy keys after account deletion?
  • Which official first-party apps (if any) ship kill-switch and DNS controls vs config import only per platform?