Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ESET vs Proton
Where ESET and Proton differ
| Compare |  ESET |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 3 to 25Higher | 10 |
| Server countries | 40 to 70 | 140Higher |
| Jurisdiction | BR | CH |
| Protocols | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, Stealth, Wstunnel | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, ObfuscationCovers more | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Various streaming platforms | 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 | Not confirmed | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 months |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Devices is higher at ESET: 3 to 25 vs 10.
- Server countries is higher at Proton: 140 vs 40 to 70.
- Protocols: only ESET offers IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP.
- Protocols: only Proton offers OpenVPN.
- Features: only ESET offers Split tunnelling, Obfuscation.
- Streaming services: only ESET offers Various streaming platforms.
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Support channels: only ESET offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
ESET
ESET suits households that want antivirus, a VPN and parental controls in one plan, with device counts of 3 to 25 on shared subscriptions. Buyers who put server reach first may prefer Namecheap, since ESET's 40 to 70 sits below the wider VPN field.
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 | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2Entry 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 | 9.0 | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 9.5HigherCompany is ESET, spol. s r.o., headquartered and registered in BR, founded 1992, with support across email, help centre and community. | 9.1 |
What each covers
| Features | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | No |
| Obfuscation | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 8 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Free VPNs | 7 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
Licences and countries
| Country | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brazil | Switzerland |
Sources behind this comparison
ESET
- eset.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
- proton.me: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | ESET, spol. s r.o. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Brazil | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1992Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community, Phone | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Antivirus
| Fact | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | R$64.22 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Parental controls | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | 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 | 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 |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | ESET | 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 | ESET | 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 | ESET | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 3 to 25highest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 40 to 70above the median | 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 monthsabove the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ESET
Pros
- Antivirus plans bundle a VPN and parental controls as vpn and parental controls.
- The VPN supports WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN UDP plus kill switch, split tunnelling and obfuscation for routing and connection control.
- Plans cover 3 to 25 with a money back window of 30 days.
Cons
- The first year price of BRL 64.22 sits above the €49.95 median across the site.
- Server reach stops at 40 to 70, short of the 86.75 upper quartile on the site.
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
ESET
Who it suits
- Households sharing one plan across 3 to 25.
- Families that want parental controls in the same subscription.
- Small business users covered by a business focused provider.
Who should look elsewhere
- Travelers who need broader server reach, since Namecheap lists from 100.
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
ESET
Current offer
Discount code
ESET Customer Month: up to 40% off
Promotional banner on the ESET Brasil home and plans pages; applies to ESET HOME Security plans in Brazil
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free 30-day trial of ESET HOME Security: 30 days
Download from the ESET Brasil site; FAQ also says the 30-day return policy gives a full refund of the purchase price.
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
Country by country
| Country | ESET | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
ESET
How much does ESET cost?+
The first year price is BRL 64.22. Long term plan prices across the site sit at a median of €3.97, so weigh those against the introductory figure rather than assuming one carries the other.
Who is ESET aimed at?+
ESET is built for a business audience, and its protection plans carry a VPN and parental controls as extras. Devices per plan range across 3 to 25, so a household can share one plan without separate subscriptions.
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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