Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Kaspersky vs Proton
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Kaspersky |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 93 | 140Higher |
| Protocols | WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPNCovers more |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnellingCovers more | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HuluCovers more |
| 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: Devices (10), Money-back period (30 days), Jurisdiction (CH).
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Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Server countries is higher at Proton: 140 vs 93.
- Protocols: only Proton offers OpenVPN.
- Features: only Kaspersky offers Split tunnelling.
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Hulu.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Email, Chat.
- Founded is lower at Kaspersky: 1997 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
Kaspersky
Kaspersky Secure Connection fits households already inside the Kaspersky ecosystem, since one subscription carries the VPN, password manager and parental controls together. Server reach of 93 countries sits above the median VPN, and 10 devices at once covers a couple or a family.
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 | Kaspersky | 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 | 8.9The offer pairs a 30 day refund window with a 30 day free trial on the wider Kaspersky suite. | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 9.1 |
A third option
NordVPN has server countries at 150, against 93 for Kaspersky and 140 for Proton.
NordVPN reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 6 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 5 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Free VPNs | 5 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
| Authenticator apps | 3 of 55 | 6 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | AO Kaspersky Lab | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1997Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Family plan | One Kaspersky Premium subscription shared with family members via the same account | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Yes | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | AES-256 with key derived from the master password via PBKDF2, zero-knowledge architecture | 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 |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Kaspersky | 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 |
| Logging policy | VPN claims your online actions are not logged | 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 |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Browser | Not confirmed |
Antivirus
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager, Parental controls | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Kaspersky | 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 | Kaspersky | 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 | Kaspersky | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10at the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 93above 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
Kaspersky
Pros
- Kaspersky Premium bundles the VPN, password manager and parental controls (vpn, password manager and parental controls) in one subscription a family plan can share
- Device and platform coverage is generous: 10 devices at once, with apps for Windows, macOS and Android on desktop and mobile
- Streaming and travel are stated features, with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ supported and kill switch and split tunnelling built in as standard
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, so quick answers go through documentation or the community rather than live chat
- The protocol list is WireGuard, so readers who want a wider choice of protocols have less room to compare
- The free version that Kaspersky lists sits with antivirus rather than a free VPN, so VPN features start on a paid subscription
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
Kaspersky
Who it suits
- Households that already pay for Kaspersky security software and want the VPN folded into the same subscription rather than bought separately
- Travellers who want one app for secure connections on Windows, macOS and Android across phones and desktops while abroad
- Families sharing one account, since the family plan passes the same subscription across to other members in the household
Who should look elsewhere
- AVG, if server spread matters most, since its coverage starts at from 100 countries, further than Kaspersky reaches
- Namecheap, if you want the widest server list, since it lists from 100 countries or more across its network
- ESET Brasil, if device counts drive the choice, since its plans scale from 3 to 25 devices under one plan
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
Kaspersky
Current offer
Free trial
7-day free trial of Kaspersky VPN: 7 days free
Free for 7 days, auto-renews to a paid subscription unless cancelled in My Kaspersky; 2 days' reminder before trial end
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
Kaspersky
What does Kaspersky Premium include besides the VPN?+
One Kaspersky Premium subscription covers vpn, password manager and parental controls, and the family plan lets the same subscription be shared with family members through one account. That bundle is the main reason to look here rather than a standalone VPN.
How many devices can one Kaspersky subscription cover?+
The plan covers 10 devices at once, which suits a couple or a shared family without straining. Server reach runs to 93 countries, a wider spread than the median VPN listed on the site.
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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