Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Avira vs Proton AG
Avira vs Proton AG: the differences
| Compare |  Avira |  Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 5 | 10Higher |
| Server countries | 36 | from 140 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | DE | CH |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Split tunnellingCovers more |
| Streaming services | Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services) | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV |
| Owner | Gen Digital Inc. | Proton AG |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 24 monthsHigher |
| Monthly price | €5.95 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | €4.00 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Securitum, 2026 |
| Renewal price | €87.95 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
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Key differences
- Proton AG scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Devices is higher at Proton AG: 10 vs 5.
- Features: only Proton AG offers Split tunnelling.
- Streaming services: only Avira offers Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services).
- Streaming services: only Proton AG offers Netflix, Hulu, Disney+.
- Platforms: only Avira offers Mac.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers MacOS, Linux, Chromebook.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at Proton AG: 24 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Avira: 60 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
Avira
Avira suits readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager under one subscription, and who keep paying after the first year. The annual antivirus plan opens at €47.95 and renews at €87.95, so the renewal figure is the one to plan around.
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 | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Monthly billing sits at €5.95, and renewal at €87.95 outweighs the lower entry price. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.0Extras add vpn and password manager, a 30 day trial and a 60 day money-back window. | 9.4HigherTerm choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. |
| Privacy | 9.8Higher | 8.9 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 27 of 232 | 26 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 25 of 280 | 24 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 13 of 63 | 12 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 23 of 189 | 22 of 189 |
| Authenticator apps | 15 of 55 | 13 of 55 |
Pick Avira if, pick Proton AG if
Pick Avira if privacy and money-back period matter most.
Pick Proton AG if offer, devices, features, and longest plan (months) matter most.
Also worth a look
ESET Brasil has devices at 1 to 25, against 5 for Avira and 10 for Proton AG.
ESET Brasil reviewSources behind this comparison
Avira
- avira.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-shop.avira.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Proton AG
- protonvpn.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- proton.me: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Avira Operations GmbH | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Germany | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1986Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan limits | 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free) | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. |
| Logging policy | Strict no-logs policy; browsing activity not tracked and data not sold to third parties | No activity logs |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, BrowserCovers more | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test certifications, antivirus products only (2020) | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public |
| Encryption | 256-bit encryption, bank-grade | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Identity protection
| Fact | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Avira | 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 | Avira | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Avira | Proton AG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €5.95below the median | Not confirmed | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €4.00above the median | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| Devices | 5below the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 36below the median | from 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | €87.95above the median | Not confirmed | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Avira
Pros
- A free version and a free password manager plan sit alongside the paid tiers
- A single subscription covers 5 devices across Windows, Mac and Android
- The bundle adds vpn and password manager to the antivirus plan
Cons
- Renewal runs at €87.95 against a first year of €47.95
- Support runs on help centre and community only
- Free usage is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free)
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
Avira
Who it suits
- Readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager from a single subscription.
- Small households that fit within 5 devices and want a free version to fall back on.
- People who want coverage on Windows, Mac and Android without managing separate vendors.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need wider device coverage: Comodo (Xcitium) lists 50 devices.
- Readers shopping in Brazil, where ESET Brasil prices its first year at BRL 64.22.
- Readers already inside the Apple ecosystem, where iOS, iPadOS and macOS are covered.
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
Avira
Current offer
Free trial
Not ready to commit? Get FREE 30-day access to all our Premium products: 30 days free
No credit card required; email address required; homepage legal text states that for trials a payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial unless cancelled first
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Big savings. Strong online security: 45% off Avira Prime: 45% off the first year of Avira Prime (up to 5 devices)
Applies to the first annual period; subscription automatically renews at the renewal price unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Avira
What does Avira cost in the first year, and what happens at renewal?+
The annual antivirus plan is €47.95 for the first year and renews at €87.95. Monthly VPN billing is €5.95, and the long-term VPN plan runs €4.00. The step up at renewal is the part worth budgeting for if you stay subscribed.
Is there a free Avira version?+
Yes. Avira offers a free version of the antivirus, and the password manager has a free plan as well. The free VPN is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free), so it suits light use rather than everyday browsing. The free tiers give you a way to sample the products before paying.
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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