Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Avira (Gen Digital) vs Proton
Avira (Gen Digital)
Proton
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Avira (Gen Digital)ReviewVisitVisit | ProtonReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 1 | 10Higher |
| Server countries | 36 | 140Higher |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | DE | CH |
| Streaming services | Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services) | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, BraveCovers more |
| Owner | Gen Digital Inc. | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 24 monthsHigher |
| Monthly price | €5.95 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | €4.00 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | €4.00 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
Same on both: Features (Kill switch).
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Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Devices is higher at Proton: 10 vs 1.
- Server countries is higher at Proton: 140 vs 36.
- Streaming services: only Avira (Gen Digital) offers Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services).
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at Proton: 24 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only Avira (Gen Digital) offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Avira (Gen Digital): 60 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
Avira (Gen Digital)
Avira (Gen Digital) suits readers who want a free tier or a short-term plan from a long-established security vendor, not readers shopping on server spread. VPN Pro costs €5.95 a month, with server coverage across 36 countries.
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 | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1The renewal price is €4.00 against €3.97 for the field, and the first-year antivirus price is €47.95. | 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 | 8.6A free VPN tier, a free antivirus version, a free password manager plan, and support on email, phone and help centre. | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 9.9Higher | 9.1 |
Pick Avira (Gen Digital) if, pick Proton if
Pick Avira (Gen Digital) if privacy and money-back period matter most.
Pick Proton if offer, devices, server countries, and platforms matter most.
Also worth a look
ESET Brasil has devices at 1 to 25, against 1 for Avira (Gen Digital) and 10 for Proton.
ESET Brasil reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 30 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Free VPNs | 25 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
| Authenticator apps | 15 of 55 | 6 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Avira Holding GmbH | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Germany | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1986Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Antivirus
| Fact | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | €47.95 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test certifications, antivirus products only (2020) | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | 256-bit encryption, bank-grade | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 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 |
| 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 | Avira (Gen Digital) | 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 | Avira (Gen Digital) | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €5.95below the median | Not confirmed | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €4.00above the median | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| Devices | 1lowest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 36below the median | 140highest quarter | 60 |
| Renewal price | €4.00lowest quarter | Not confirmed | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 134 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Avira (Gen Digital)
Pros
- Free plan on the password manager and a free version of the antivirus, plus a free VPN model
- VPN Pro carries a 60 day money-back guarantee
- Password manager protection uses 256-bit encryption, bank-grade in the same bundle
Cons
- One device at a time on the VPN checkout, below the 8 for VPN plans
- Server spread of 36 countries trails the 46.5 across VPN plans
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
Avira (Gen Digital)
Who it suits
- Readers who want a free VPN or free antivirus tier to start with
- People already inside the Gen Digital security bundle
- Travelers who mainly need a working connection, not a wide server choice
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. if you want a much lower monthly outlay from Apple services
- ESET Brasil if you need a wider device allowance than a single connection
- Sinew Software Systems if broad device coverage matters more than antivirus features
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
Avira (Gen Digital)
Current offer
Free trial
Try for 1 month: 1 month
Payment method required; paid monthly subscription starts when the trial ends unless cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
45% off Avira Prime: 45% off
Site-wide offer banner on Avira product pages; subscription automatically renews
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
Avira (Gen Digital)
What does the Avira VPN cost each month?+
VPN Pro is €5.95 on the monthly subscription and €4.00 on the longest plan, which runs 12 months. The renewal price matches the long-term figure, so the annual rate is the one to watch. A free plan is also available.
How many devices can use the Avira VPN at once?+
The VPN checkout lists 1 device at a time, well under the 8 for VPN plans. Households with several phones and laptops will need a plan with a wider device allowance than this one.
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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