CactusVPN and ProtonVPN represent two notably different tiers of VPN service, with overall scores of 60% and 89% respectively. While both providers share some foundational features, the gap between them is evident across nearly every tested category.
On the privacy and security front, both providers support WireGuard and include a kill switch, which are considered baseline expectations for a modern VPN. ProtonVPN, however, goes further with split tunneling and a bug bounty program, the latter of which signals a proactive commitment to identifying and resolving security vulnerabilities. ProtonVPN's privacy audit score of 100% stands in meaningful contrast to CactusVPN's 62%, suggesting that ProtonVPN has undergone more rigorous independent verification of its privacy practices. Jurisdiction also plays a role here. CactusVPN operates out of Moldova, while ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, a country widely regarded for its strong legal privacy protections.
Performance is one of the more striking differences between the two. CactusVPN received a speeds score of just 25%, which is among the lower results a VPN can receive in this category and may be a significant concern for users who prioritize fast, consistent connections. ProtonVPN scored 80% in the same category, reflecting considerably more reliable performance during testing. Application quality follows a similar pattern, with ProtonVPN earning 80% compared to CactusVPN's 47%, and the graphical interface scores tell much the same story at 100% versus 60%.
CactusVPN does demonstrate genuine strengths in specific areas. It earned a perfect 100% in both ethics and streaming, matching ProtonVPN's ethics score and coming close to its streaming result of 86%. This suggests that CactusVPN performs well for users whose primary goal is bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming platforms, and that the provider operates with transparent, principled business practices. Its pricing score of 82% also edges out ProtonVPN's 73%, which may indicate more competitive entry-level pricing relative to what is offered.
ProtonVPN's 100% scores in customer support, privacy auditing, and interface design reflect a provider that has invested heavily in the overall user experience and accountability. For users who want a well-rounded service backed by verified privacy claims and reliable speeds, ProtonVPN's higher overall score of 89% reflects a broader and more consistent level of quality across tested categories.