Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton AG vs Opera
Where Proton AG and Opera differ
| Compare |  Proton AG |  Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10Higher | 6 |
| Server countries | from 140 | 48 |
| No-logs audit | Securitum, 2026 | Deloitte 2024 |
| Jurisdiction | CH | NO |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Lightway |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TVCovers more | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS |
| Owner | Proton AG | Opera Norway AS |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $8 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $4 |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Not confirmed |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Proton AG scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Devices is higher at Proton AG: 10 vs 6.
- Protocols: only Proton AG offers WireGuard, OpenVPN.
- Protocols: only Opera offers Lightway.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Chrome, Firefox, Android TV.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at Proton AG: 24 months vs 12 months.
- Founded is lower at Opera: 1995 vs 2014.
- Features: only Proton AG offers Streaming.
- Features: only Opera 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.
Opera
Opera packs a browser, an ad blocker and a free built-in VPN into a single download, which suits everyday browsing on a budget. VPN Pro costs $8 a month and falls to $4 a month on its 12 month term, and the free plan keeps the VPN included.
Score breakdown
| Area | Proton AG | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.0Entry price of $8 sits high among the 131 brands compared on price from, with an ad supported free plan underneath it. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherTerm choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 8.9 | 9.9Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Proton AG | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 26 of 232 | 28 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 24 of 280 | 27 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 12 of 63 | 14 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 22 of 189 | 24 of 189 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Proton AG | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Norway |
Where these facts come from
Proton AG
- protonvpn.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- proton.me: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Opera
- opera.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blogs.opera.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton AG | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Travel |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | Opera Norway AS |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Norway |
| Founded | 2014 | 1995Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Proton AG | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $8 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan limits | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. | Free of charge, ad-supported; free built-in VPN and AI chat included |
| Logging policy | No activity logs | Built-in free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log; Opera collects usage and ad-related data but states it does not log or store full browsing history |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Browser, Ad blockerCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | Proton AG | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Proton AG | Opera | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $8below the median | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $4below the median | $4.50 |
| Devices | 10at the median | 6below the median | 10 |
| Server countries | from 140highest quarter | 48below the median | 62 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 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.
Opera
Pros
- The free plan costs nothing, is ad supported, and still carries the built-in VPN and AI chat.
- Both the free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log, and the free browser VPN no-log claim was audited by Deloitte 2024.
- VPN Pro reaches 48 server countries over Lightway, with 6 devices covered.
Cons
- The free plan is ad supported, and Opera collects usage and ad related data, so ads sit in the mix alongside the free VPN.
- VPN Pro covers 6 devices, near the lower end of a site range of 1 to 50.
- The $8 entry price leaves Opera at 73 of 131 brands on price from.
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.
Opera
Who it suits
- People who want a browser with the VPN already inside it and left on at no cost.
- Readers who weigh an audited no-log claim highly, with Deloitte 2024 on record for the free browser VPN.
- Households that want the same tools across Windows, macOS and Linux.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers after an email hiding tool on its own: Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99.
- Readers who want a data removal subscription instead, where EasyOptOuts starts at $19.99.
Current offers
Opera
Current offer
Free trial
VPN Pro free trial: 7 days
Offered at Opera's discretion; unless cancelled before the trial ends the payment method is charged for the selected subscription period
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.
Opera
How much does VPN Pro cost?+
VPN Pro opens at $8, and the monthly rate is $8. The longest term runs 12 months. On price from, Opera sits 73 of 131 brands, so entry price is its weakest cost point.
What does the free plan include?+
The free plan costs nothing and shows ads, and it keeps the built-in VPN along with AI chat. The features listed for the free tier are no logs and travel, and the pricing model is free.
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