Serious Discussion Is it just me, or does ProtonVPN free seems slower now?

[Parkinsond]

Try AdGuard Public DNS. Put https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query into DoH setting in your web browser. Then, go to AdGuard test website to see if it's working. And then open incognito tab and try to visit the website you couldn't access.

If website loads, then it's NextDNS issue. If doesn't, the web is censored by using DPI and I'd recommend you to try Cloudflare WARP as it's free, unlimited and encrypted. There are many ways to bypass censorship.

I can reinstall ProtonVPN to bypass the restriction, but then why I need to visit ProtonVPN website!

 

[Marko :)]

I can reinstall ProtonVPN to bypass the restriction, but then why I need to visit ProtonVPN website!

This is why I recommended you to try changing your DNS as it may let you access the website.

 

[simmerskool]

Knowing the company, I wouldn't be surprised if they are doing that on purpose to make you buy premium plan. It wouldn't be their first time.

for some reason, (not sure why other than origination of proton) I would not have thought that of them, but I don't know the full history. I was an early user of their mail.

 

[simmerskool]

Must be French desperately accessing PornHub.

Wait, you can change the country again? I swear I couldn't the last time I tried it. I could only use "quick connect".

What DNS are you using? Try changing it. A lot of times, DNS is the reason why you can't access a website.

Yes.

I don't know about the proton vpn free as I have a long-standing paid business account. Only thing I notice recent past delay in updating...

 

[Parkinsond]

This is why I recommended you to try changing your DNS as it may let you access the website.

You are absolutely right; changing DNS to Adguard solved the problem; I do not know what is wrong with NextDNS!

 

[Marko :)]

for some reason, (not sure why other than origination of proton) I would not have thought that of them, but I don't know the full history. I was an early user of their mail.

Basically, they offered a lot for free then gradually, with each new version, removed more and more features from the free plan to the point where you can't even choose a country, let alone server. As a free user, you only get option to connect to random (not necessary good) server and you can only use the service for web browsing; torrent is completely blocked as well. This is why I don't like them; basically luring and scamming users.

I get that they are a company, they have to earn money, nothing in life is free, yada, yada, yada. But man... it's just wrong to leave your free users in the dark. They are still your users after all. You might not earn money on them, but they have power to refer you to their friends and family, who might fell in love with the product and purchase it. Not all users need access to all countries/servers, and not everyone needs port forwarding or some other additional features.

You are absolutely right; changing DNS to Adguard solved the problem; I do not know what is wrong with NextDNS!

This is why I tend to stick only to popular DNS services as they are less likely to cause issues. I'd only use Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1, AdGuard Public DNS and Google Public DNS. I refuse to use anything else as you never know what issues might arise.

From what I understand, AdGuard when unable to resolve domain on their own, they ask Cloudflare and Google to resolve domains for them. All while protecting your privacy, not forwarding your details. If neither can resolve domain, then the website is unreachable. NextDNS, on the other hand, doesn't have a backup and if they can't resolve domain, it's automatically unreachable.

I don't know what kind of NextDNS configuration you're using, did you just enter their IPs or you configured it yourself; but something is for sure blocking their website.

 

[Parkinsond]

Basically, they offered a lot for free then gradually, with each new version, removed more and more features from the free plan to the point where you can't even choose a country, let alone server. As a free user, you only get option to connect to random (not necessary good) server and you can only use the service for web browsing; torrent is completely blocked as well. This is why I don't like them; basically luring and scamming users.

I get that they are a company, they have to earn money, nothing in life is free, yada, yada, yada. But man... it's just wrong to leave your free users in the dark. They are still your users after all. You might not earn money on them, but they have power to refer you to their friends and family, who might fell in love with the product and purchase it. Not all users need access to all countries/servers, and not everyone needs port forwarding or some other additional features.

This is why I tend to stick only to popular DNS services as they are less likely to cause issues. I'd only use Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1, AdGuard Public DNS and Google Public DNS. I refuse to use anything else as you never know what issues might arise.

From what I understand, AdGuard when unable to resolve domain on their own, they ask Cloudflare and Google to resolve domains for them. All while protecting your privacy, not forwarding your details. If neither can resolve domain, then the website is unreachable. NextDNS, on the other hand, doesn't have a backup and if they can't resolve domain, it's automatically unreachable.

I was using controlD; just changed to NextDNS today after reading good feedback about on MT.
Cloudflare (even their malware blocking service), Google, and Adguard do not block malware as effective as ControlD, DNS0 Zero (almost the same as NextDNS, but no customization), and Quad9, according to test results.
In my region, Quad9 is the fastest; was blocking Vodafone website earlier, but currently not.

 

[Marko :)]

I was using controlD; just changed to NextDNS today after reading good feedback about on MT.
Cloudflare (even their malware blocking service), Google, and Adguard do not block malware as effective as ControlD, DNS0 Zero (almost the same as NextDNS, but no customization), and Quad9, according to test results.
In my region, Quad9 is the fastest; was blocking Vodafone website earlier, but currently not.

Then use AdGuard Public DNS and add Osprey Browser Protection in your web browser. Just make sure to enable DNS0.eu in its settings; then you get reliability AdGuard Public DNS + DNS0.eu malware protection. Best of both worlds.

Keep in mind: just because you have lower ping to the DNS server, it doesn't mean it's the fastest. What matters the most is response time; how fast is DNS server able to resolve your query. You can have 1ms ping to DNS server, but if it takes 1 second to resolve a domain, you'll surf slowly. I have 1ms ping to Cloudflare, yet, I'm using AdGuard to which I have 15ms ping; because they both resolve queries fast, the difference is unnoticeable.

 

[Jonny Quest]

What a wonderfully helpful forum, and thread

 

[Parkinsond]

Then use AdGuard Public DNS and add Osprey Browser Protection in your web browser. Just make sure to enable DNS0.eu in its settings; then you get reliability AdGuard Public DNS + DNS0.eu malware protection. Best of both worlds.

Keep in mind: just because you have lower ping to the DNS server, it doesn't mean it's the fastest. What matters the most is response time; how fast is DNS server able to resolve your query. You can have 1ms ping to DNS server, but if it takes 1 second to resolve a domain, you'll surf slowly. I have 1ms ping to Cloudflare, yet, I'm using AdGuard to which I have 15ms ping; because they both resolve queries fast the difference is unnoticeable.

I do not test latancy with ping; it does not even work for me lately; I use this on powershell:

Measure-Command {nslookup www.google.com 9.9.9.9}