Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs Proton AG
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AdGuard |  Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | No activity logs |
| Jurisdiction | CY | CH |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Private dnsCovers more | Ad blocker |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers Edge, Opera, Safari.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Chromebook, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV.
- Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
- Protocols: only Proton AG offers WireGuard, OpenVPN.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at AdGuard: 2009 vs 2014.
- Privacy tool type: only AdGuard offers Private dns.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard
AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.
Proton AG
Proton AG suits readers who want a published no-logs audit, a free tier and a bundled privacy suite rather than a bare tunnel, with the company based in Switzerland. Paid plans reach servers in from 140 countries and cover 10 devices, alongside free storage of 5 GB.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4Term choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 8.9 |
How they place
| Ranking | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 26 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 18 of 280 | 24 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 10 of 63 | 12 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 22 of 189 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Switzerland |
Sources behind this comparison
AdGuard
- adguard.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- adguard-dns.io: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton AG
- protonvpn.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- proton.me: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
VPN
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | from 140 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Securitum, 2026 |
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Proton AG |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 24 months |
Password managers
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Pros and cons
AdGuard
Pros
- Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
- The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
- Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
- The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.
Proton AG
Pros
- No-logs claims are audited rather than asserted: Securitum's audit (Securitum, 2026) sits behind a No activity logs policy.
- Free limits come with no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit.
- 10 simultaneous devices, above the ranked VPN median of 8.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, and there is no phone line among them.
- The free plan limits put you on a single device at medium speed with randomly selected countries, so constant use points at a paid plan.
- End-to-end encryption is marketed for Proton for Business, while the consumer plan encrypts only the connection from your device to Proton's servers.
Who each suits
AdGuard
Who it suits
- Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
- People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
- Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
- EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.
Proton AG
Who it suits
- Readers who want a VPN, a passkey vault and encrypted storage under a single account instead of separate subscriptions.
- Families sharing storage, since Pass Family covers several users and Pass Plus seats through a single admin panel.
- Teams buying under a business audience (business) who need GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications on file.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing more devices on a single account: Proton covers 10, while ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 devices.
- Readers choosing purely on server spread: AVG lists from 100 countries, a base close to Proton's from 140.
- Readers who want a different audit trail to compare: Session Technology Foundation lists Quarkslab 2021 against Proton's Securitum, 2026.
Current offers
AdGuard
Current offer
Free trial
AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days
Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days
In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription
Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key
For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
AdGuard
Is there a free AdGuard plan?+
Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.
What does the paid VPN plan include?+
The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.
Proton AG
What does Proton VPN cost, and how long are the commitments?+
The longest plan runs 24 months, the service is listed on a free model, and paid plans carry a 30-day money-back window. Across the ranked VPN field, monthly pricing has a median of €7.02 and long-term pricing a median of €3.97, which frames any quote you see.
Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?+
Yes. The free plan has no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit. It runs on a single device, reaches servers in a randomly selected group of countries and delivers medium speed, so the paid tier, which covers 10 devices, is the practical step for constant use.
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