Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs Proton
AdGuard vs Proton: the differences
| Compare |  AdGuard |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys and password health alerts; no 2FA authenticator, secure sharing, file attachments or dark web monitoring |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | No permanent IP logs by default; temporary IP logs kept to combat abuse and fraud; authentication logging off by default; Proton states it has no technical means to access encrypted passwords or notes |
| Jurisdiction | CY | CH |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Private dns | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Open source (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers Android TV, Opera, Yandex Browser.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Brave.
- Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
- Protocols: only Proton offers WireGuard, OpenVPN.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at AdGuard: 2009 vs 2014.
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
Proton bundles a password manager, VPN and encrypted storage in one account, with Pass starting at $4.99 and a free tier. It suits readers who want passwords, private files and a VPN in a single subscription, and who can live with free plan limits that leave out an authenticator, password sharing and file attachments.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.2HigherEntry at $4.99 sits under the site median of €6.84, with storage at $95.88 per TB per year and a free plan. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.5 |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 9.1 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 18 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
What each covers
| Protocols | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Doh | Yes | No |
| Dot | Yes | No |
| Doq | Yes | No |
| Dnscrypt | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- proton.me: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 140 |
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 24 months |
Password managers
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | All fields end-to-end encrypted: passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata; 256-bit AES-GCM vaults; only the user can decrypt, Proton cannot |
| Custom domains | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | $95.88 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AdGuard | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99below the median | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
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
Pros
- A single account covers a password manager, a VPN and end-to-end encrypted storage, with a free plan to start.
- Passkeys, custom domains and a Family plan with an admin panel suit single-user and shared use.
- Vaults use AES-GCM encryption with OpenPGP and ECC keys, and only the account holder can decrypt.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre with no phone line.
- Free plan limits leave out the authenticator app, password sharing, attachments and dark web monitoring.
- Extra storage costs $95.88 per TB per year beyond 5 GB free.
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
Who it suits
- Readers who want a password manager, a VPN and private files under a single subscription rather than separate products.
- Households and small teams that need shared accounts, since the Family plan bundles several Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel.
- Buyers who care about open source under a copyleft licence, outside security audits and a public bug bounty.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email at $0.99 if email aliasing is the whole job, since Proton adds a VPN, storage and a password manager.
- Apple Inc. at $0.99 when aliasing is the priority; Proton's $4.99 entry brings a VPN, storage and password manager in the same account.
- EasyOptOuts at $19.99 for a single higher priced subscription, against Proton's $4.99 entry and a free plan.
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
Proton
Current offer
Discount code
40% off Pass Plus: 40% off
Shown on the Proton Pass pricing page alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee; applies to the Pass Plus paid plan
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
How much is Proton Pass at the entry price?+
Proton Pass starts at $4.99, and there is a free plan beside it. The paid tiers widen the set of features, so the entry price only pays off if you want more hide my email aliases, passkeys and password health alerts.
What does the free plan leave out?+
The free plan covers as many logins, notes, cards and devices as you like, but it leaves out the authenticator app, sharing with other people, file attachments and dark web monitoring. Those sit on paid Pass plans, where entry starts at $4.99.
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