Stealth VPNs: The 2 Best Picks, Where They Work and How to Turn One On
A stealth VPN disguises VPN traffic so networks that block VPNs let it through. See the 2 best picks, where stealth helps, real prices and how to turn it on.
Quick Answer
Proton VPN is the best stealth VPN for most people: its Stealth protocol was built from scratch to look like normal HTTPS traffic, and you choose it in the app, from $2.49 a month. PureVPN’s obfuscated servers are the simpler option, switching on by themselves from $1.69 a month. Stealth hides your VPN from the network, not from the sites you visit.
A normal VPN connection has patterns a network can recognize. Schools, offices, hotels and some governments use deep packet inspection to spot those patterns and cut you off, even on a paid VPN. A stealth VPN disguises the connection as ordinary web traffic, so it’s far less likely to get blocked.
The 2 Best Stealth VPNs in 2026
Both give you a full VPN with a disguised connection. Proton VPN gives you the control, and PureVPN does it for you.
Proton VPN Plus
- Stealth on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Android TV
- Open-source apps and 5 Securitum no-logs audits
- $2.49 a month on 2 years ($59.76), 10 devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
2-year plan
PureVPN
- Obfuscated servers, on automatically after you log in
- Kill switch and split tunneling, with 65+ countries
- $1.69 a month on 5 years ($101.55), 10 devices
- 31-day money-back guarantee
5-year plan·$1.69/mo $12.95/mo
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Where a Stealth VPN Helps
Find the network or block you’re dealing with. No VPN gets through every network, so test yours during the refund window.
| Your situation | Does stealth help? | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| School or campus Wi-Fi | Yes. These filters often look for VPN traffic. Your school’s rules still apply. See VPN for school Wi-Fi. | Proton VPN or PureVPN |
| Hotel, airport or café Wi-Fi that drops your VPN | Yes. Traffic that looks like HTTPS usually gets through. See the best VPN for travel. | Proton VPN or PureVPN |
| Countries that restrict VPNs | This is what Proton built Stealth for, working with users under censorship. Blocks differ by country and change often. See UAE, Egypt and Iran. | Proton VPN |
| An internet provider that slows VPN traffic | Worth testing. PureVPN names throttling as a use for its obfuscated servers. See can your provider block your VPN. | PureVPN |
| Keeping your provider or network from seeing you use a VPN | It makes that much harder. Proton calls Stealth “almost completely undetectable”, but no tool can promise that on every network. | Proton VPN |
| Everyday use and games on an open network | Regular protocols suit this better. Proton’s Smart Protocol picks one for you. For games, see VPN NAT type. | Any protocol in either app |
How a Stealth VPN Works
Popular protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard are relatively easy to recognize on a network. A stealth protocol wraps the connection so that a filter sees what looks like a common HTTPS connection, the same kind your browser makes all day. Blocking it would risk blocking normal websites too.
| What to compare | Stealth VPN | Regular VPN protocol |
|---|---|---|
| What the network sees | Traffic that looks like normal HTTPS | Patterns a filter can recognize as a VPN |
| How Proton’s version runs | Obfuscated TLS tunneling over TCP | Usually UDP |
| Best on | Networks that block or limit VPNs | Open networks, everyday use and games |
| Encrypted? | Yes | Yes |
4 Ways Networks Block VPNs
| Method | What it looks at | Does stealth help? |
|---|---|---|
| Deep packet inspection | The shape of your traffic, for signs of a VPN | Yes, this is what it’s built to beat |
| Protocol blocking | Known VPN protocols such as OpenVPN or WireGuard | Yes, since the traffic no longer looks like them |
| Port blocking | Ports that VPNs commonly use | Usually, since it behaves like a web connection |
| IP blocking | Lists of known VPN server addresses | Not by itself: try another server |
For more on the regular protocols, see OpenVPN vs WireGuard and UDP vs TCP for a VPN.
Stealth VPN Price: From $1.69 a Month
Stealth isn’t an add-on on either VPN: the plan price already includes it. Long plans save the most, with PureVPN’s 5-year plan at $1.69 a month against $12.95 month to month.
| Plan | Price | Stealth feature |
|---|---|---|
| PureVPN, 5 years | $1.69 a month ($101.55 for 60 months) | Obfuscated servers, on by themselves |
| PureVPN, 2 years | $2.15 a month ($58.20 for 27 months) | Obfuscated servers, on by themselves |
| Proton VPN Plus, 2 years | $2.49 a month ($59.76) | Stealth protocol, chosen in the app |
US prices before tax, read at checkout on November 6, 2026, during Black Friday offers. Seasonal deals, when running, show on the cards above. After the first term, plans renew at each VPN’s regular rate. Refunds don’t cover renewals, crypto on PureVPN, or cash and bank transfer on Proton VPN.
Get Stealth From $2.49 a MonthStealth VPN vs an Undetectable VPN: Which Block Do You Have?
There are two kinds of VPN block, and stealth handles one of them. It changes what the network between you and the site sees. The site at the end still sees the VPN server’s IP address, so a block based on that IP needs a different fix.
| What’s blocking you | Does stealth fix it? | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| A school, office or hotel network blocks VPN connections | Yes, this is its job | Stealth or obfuscation |
| An internet provider or government filter looks for VPN traffic | Yes, it’s built for this | Stealth or obfuscation |
| A streaming service says “proxy or VPN detected” | No: the service sees the server’s IP | Netflix proxy error fixes |
| A site or bank blocks shared VPN addresses | No: the IP is the problem | A dedicated IP |
| A site blocks every data center address | No: the IP type is the problem | A residential VPN |
For every way sites and networks spot a VPN, see how to make your VPN undetectable.
How to Turn On a Stealth VPN in 4 Steps
- Choose your VPN and plan. Pick Proton VPN Plus or PureVPN. If you’re about to travel, set it up before you leave, since a blocking network may also block VPN sites. Go to the 2 picks.
- Install the app and log in. Download the app for your device and log in. On PureVPN, that’s all you need: its obfuscated server turns on by itself.
- Select the Stealth protocol. On Proton VPN, open Settings and go to Protocol, then choose Stealth. The exact path for each device is in the table below.
- Connect and test your network. Connect, then open the app or site that was blocked. If it still fails, try another server. Run this test during your refund window.
| Device | Where to find Stealth in Proton VPN |
|---|---|
| Windows | Settings, Protocol (under Connections), Stealth |
| macOS | ProtonVPN menu, Settings, Connection, Protocol, Stealth |
| Android | Settings, Connection, Protocol, Stealth |
| iPhone and iPad | Settings, Protocol (under Security Options), Stealth |
| Android TV | Settings, Protocol, Stealth |
| Linux GUI app | Settings, Connection, turn on Proton Protocols, then Protocol, Stealth |
Stealth VPN Not Working? 4 Quick Fixes
It won’t connect on this network
Check that the protocol really says Stealth, then try another server or country. Filters don’t treat every server alike. More in why your VPN isn’t working.
It’s slower than usual
Stealth runs over TCP, which suits blocked networks better than fast ones. When the network doesn’t block VPNs, switch back to Smart Protocol or WireGuard.
The connection keeps dropping
Keep the kill switch on so nothing leaks, then pick a closer server. See VPN keeps disconnecting.
A site still says VPN detected
That’s an IP block, not a network block. Clear the site’s cookies, try another server, and see the table above for what to use.
Related Guides
Sources (checked November 6, 2026):
- • Proton: Stealth protocol announcement (October 6, 2022: design, TCP, plans) and Proton: protocols by app (current device paths)
- • PureVPN: its obfuscated VPN page (how it works, uses, automatic setup), Windows page (features) and order page (totals)