Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton AG vs NordVPN Threat Protection
Where Proton AG and NordVPN Threat Protection differ
| Compare |  Proton AG |  NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | from 140 | 150 |
| No-logs audit | Securitum, 2026 | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Apple TV |
| Owner | Proton AG | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 27 monthsHigher |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €14.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €3.49 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08 to €269.88 |
| Jurisdiction | CH | Not confirmed |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Devices (10), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Proton AG scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Protocols: only Proton AG offers WireGuard.
- Protocols: only NordVPN Threat Protection offers NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Features: only NordVPN Threat Protection offers Multi hop, Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Chromebook, Amazon Fire TV.
- Platforms: only NordVPN Threat Protection offers Edge.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at NordVPN Threat Protection: 27 months vs 24 months.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Email, Community.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN Threat Protection: 2012 vs 2014.
- Features: only NordVPN Threat Protection offers Travel.
Our verdict on each
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.
NordVPN Threat Protection
NordVPN Threat Protection bundles a VPN, ad blocking and a password manager under one paid subscription, with 10 devices on the same account. It suits readers who want one toolset rather than separate products, and less so anyone hoping to try a tier at no cost.
Score breakdown
| Area | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 8.1Entry price of €14.99 ranks 115 of 131 brands, against a €6.84 median. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherTerm choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. | 9.2 |
| Privacy | 8.9 | 9.1Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 26 of 232 | 2 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 24 of 280 | 2 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 12 of 63 | 2 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 22 of 189 | 2 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2014 | 2012Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Help centre, Chat |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €14.99 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. | Not confirmed |
| Logging policy | No activity logs | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel | Not confirmed |
| Passkeys | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 | Not confirmed |
Antivirus
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | Not confirmed | €65.88 to €103.08 |
| Free version | Not confirmed | No |
| Extras | Not confirmed | VPN, Password manager |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Proton AG | NordVPN Threat Protection | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €14.99highest quarter | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €3.49below the median | €3.99 |
| Devices | 10at the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | from 140highest quarter | 150highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08 to €269.88highest quarter | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
NordVPN Threat Protection
Pros
- Long-term plans drop to €3.49 a month against €14.99 on monthly billing.
- VPN servers keep no logs, a policy backed by independent no-log audits.
- A single subscription covers vpn and password manager, so the VPN and password manager arrive as a set.
Cons
- The free plan and the free version are both marked no, so every tier needs payment.
- Phone and email are not among its support channels (help centre and chat).
- Renewal runs €139.08 to €269.88 against a first year of €65.88 to €103.08.
Who each suits
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.
NordVPN Threat Protection
Who it suits
- Readers who want traffic encryption and ad blocking on one account rather than separate products.
- Households that will connect more than one gadget, since a single account covers 10 devices.
- People who travel or watch streaming services abroad, as no logs, streaming and travel covers no-logs, streaming and travel.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, at $0.99, if masking an email address is the only job.
- EasyOptOuts, at $19.99, for readers after data removal rather than VPN protection.
- Apple Inc., at $0.99, if the goal is iCloud account features rather than a VPN and ad blocker.
Current offers
NordVPN Threat Protection
Current offer
First period offer
2-year Basic plan with 3 extra months: EUR 3.49 per month for the first 27 months
Introductory price valid for the first period only; renews at EUR 139.08/year; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
2-year Complete plan with 3 extra months: EUR 4.49 per month for the first 27 months
Introductory price valid for the first period only; renews at EUR 219.48/year; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
2-year Ultra plan with 3 extra months: EUR 6.59 per month for the first 27 months
Introductory price valid for the first period only; renews at EUR 269.88/year; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
1-year plan discount: Basic EUR 5.49, Complete EUR 6.49, Ultra EUR 8.59 per month for the first 12 months
Introductory price valid for the first period only; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee: Full refund if not 100 percent satisfied within 30 days
All plans; refund must be requested within 30 days of initial purchase via 24/7 customer support
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
NordVPN Threat Protection
How much does NordVPN Threat Protection cost?+
The monthly plan runs at €14.99, and the longest term brings that down to €3.49 a month over 27 months. The first year is billed at €65.88 to €103.08, with a 30 day money back period attached.
What does it cost at renewal?+
The headline long-term rate covers the first term, then the renewal price runs €139.08 to €269.88 for a comparable term. Set against a first year of €65.88 to €103.08, that step is large, so anyone staying several years should weigh both figures before committing.
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