Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Kaspersky vs Proton
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Kaspersky |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 93 | 140Higher |
| Jurisdiction | RU | CH |
| Protocols | WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPNCovers more |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter, Location | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HuluCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, BraveCovers more |
| Owner | Privately owned; CEO Eugene Kaspersky | Proton Foundation |
| No-logs audit | SOC 2 Type II audit by an independent accounting firm, 2026 | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 months |
Same on both: Devices (10), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Kaspersky scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Server countries is higher at Proton: 140 vs 93.
- Protocols: only Proton offers OpenVPN.
- Features: only Kaspersky offers Screen time, Web filter, Location.
- Features: only Proton offers Kill switch.
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Hulu.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Chrome.
- Support channels: only Kaspersky offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Kaspersky: 1997 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
Kaspersky
Kaspersky suits households and small businesses who want one subscription covering antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls. Its bundles span 10 devices and Windows, macOS and Android, with server reach across 93 countries and a SOC 2 Type II audit behind SOC 2 Type II audit by an independent accounting firm, 2026.
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 | 9.7Higher | 9.5 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.1Higher |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | 93 | 140 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
How they place
| Ranking | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 4 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Password managers | 3 of 69 | 8 of 69 |
| Privacy tools | 3 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Free VPNs | 3 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
| Authenticator apps | 1 of 55 | 6 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | AO Kaspersky Lab | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1997Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Family plan | Security plan licence shareable with family members in one 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-bit, key derived from master password with PBKDF2 | 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 | Free antivirus version for Android only; premium VPN, identity protection and password manager require a paid plan | 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 | Not confirmed | 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 | 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
- Bundles a VPN, password manager and parental controls with antivirus in a single subscription.
- Covers Windows, macOS and Android, with VPN server reach across 93 countries.
- Password manager uses AES-256-bit, key derived from master password with PBKDF2 encryption and supports passkeys.
Cons
- The free antivirus build covers Android only, and the premium VPN, identity protection and password manager need a paid plan.
- The provider is Privately owned; CEO Eugene Kaspersky, with a AO Kaspersky Lab legal entity in a RU jurisdiction.
- Price at renewal is separate from the entry price, and long term plans sit at €3.97 a month against a €7.89 monthly median.
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 want antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls in one place.
- Small businesses that need a single security bundle rather than separate tools.
- Travelers and streamers who value streaming and travel VPN coverage.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., which covers Apple platforms such as iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS and watchOS and fits people already inside its ecosystem.
- Comodo (Xcitium), which runs on Windows and Linux and suits buyers who want protection on Windows and Linux only.
- ESET Brasil, whose coverage of Windows, Windows Server and macOS suits buyers in Brazil who need a local store listing.
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
Bonus
Kaspersky Safe Kids free for 1 year with Standard, Plus and Premium plans (limited time offer): Kaspersky Safe Kids 1 year free
Marked as a limited time offer; shown alongside the Standard, Plus and Premium plans; 30-day money-back guarantee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Kaspersky Standard free trial: 30 days free
Free 30-day trial of Kaspersky Standard; compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
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 | Kaspersky | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Yes | No |
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
8 of 47 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Kaspersky
What does Kaspersky cover in a single subscription?+
A paid plan bundles antivirus with the extras Kaspersky lists as vpn, password manager and parental controls. That means the VPN, password manager and parental controls come in the same subscription, and parental controls add screen time, web filter and location tools such as screen time and location limits.
Is there a free Kaspersky antivirus?+
Yes, but the free build is limited. The free antivirus version covers Android only, and the premium VPN, identity protection and password manager require a paid plan. The password manager does have a free plan, and passkeys are supported there.
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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