In the wake of the Proton controversy, I’ve been looking towards alternatives towards their services. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a good alternative to ProtonVPN. I’m looking for the following in a VPN service:

  • Port forwarding support
  • Open source
  • Android app and Firefox extension available
  • Relatively cheap, around $3-4 month (okay with annual pricing)

The only options I found were Private Internet Access and Windscribe, but I found issues with them. If I’m cutting ties with Proton based on ideals I disagree with, I should be rejecting alternatives on the same basis.

Based on what I saw in the PIA subreddit, Private Internet Access seems to have some issues with service reliability and concerns about its ownership having ties to Israel, implying Zionist affiliation. Windscribe seems to have better service, but they have had a questionable social media history: edgy marketing including an AI-generated Hitler and a controversy where, according to them, they joked about a guy being mentally ill but their post easily looked like they were saying trans people are mentally ill.

Is there an option I missed? Should I try one of these options despite their faults? I’d like to know your thoughts.

  • saltesc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    41·
    2 days ago

    I use Mullvad but know nothing about them. Apparently they were good back in the day when I got them, no idea now.

    It works.

      • storm_shadow@piefed.socialEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago

        Hey now, they’re not right wing extremists. All they want to do is deport all the non-whites, since they’re criminals!

    • smoothspoon@feddit.onlineOPEnglish
      131·
      2 days ago

      Even ignoring the fact that they discontinued port forwarding, there is the whole controversy about their CEO donating to far right politicians. It’s a shame because they seem to be pretty good service-wise, and I might’ve considered going with them despite the no port forwarding.

    • jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      112·
      2 days ago

      Mullvad is arguably the best VPN provider for security and anonymity.

      Unfortunately, they stopped offering port forwarding a few years ago because people were hosting some awful stuff and causing their servers to be confiscated by authorities. Their reasoning for it was sound - servers being disconnected meant it was disrupting other users on that server as well.

      They refunded everyone for their remaining time (if requested) after removing port forwarding.