Updated October 14, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordPass vs Proton
Where NordPass and Proton differ
| Compare |  NordPass |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €1.23 | $4.99 |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web vault, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Family plan | Family plan with 6 encrypted vaults shared with family and friends | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Security audit | Desktop app and browser extension independently audited by Cure53 | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | XChaCha20 with zero-knowledge architecture | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Features | TOTP | Kill switch |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Passkeys (Yes).
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Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Platforms: only NordPass offers Web vault, Opera.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Proton: 2014 vs 2019.
- Features: only NordPass offers TOTP.
- Features: only Proton offers Kill switch.
Our verdict on each
NordPass
NordPass presents separate password-management services for personal users and businesses. Its personal offer centers on storing and autofilling passwords, payment cards and documents across devices. For organizations, the homepage describes employee password and passkey management, access permissions, shared credential oversight, dark-web alerts, audit trails and an integrated two-factor authentication feature. This makes the product relevant...
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 | NordPass | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Higher | 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 | 9.3 | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 9.1Higher |
Pick NordPass if, pick Proton if
Pick NordPass if cost matter most.
Pick Proton if privacy matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | NordPass | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Switzerland |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | NordPass | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Password managers | 5 of 69 | 8 of 69 |
| Authenticator apps | 4 of 55 | 6 of 55 |
What we checked
NordPass
- nordpass.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nordsecurity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
- proton.me: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NordPass | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2019 | 2014Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
VPN
| Fact | NordPass | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 140 |
| Features | Not confirmed | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | CH |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 months |
Secure email
| Fact | NordPass | 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 | NordPass | 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 |
Pros and cons
NordPass
Pros
- The homepage describes distinct personal and business credential-management use cases.
- Business features listed include access permissions, audit trails and credential exposure alerts.
- The vendor describes autofill and synchronization across devices.
Cons
- Confirm the current plan price and feature availability for the controls your team needs.
- Security architecture and audit claims are vendor descriptions, not independent test results.
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
NordPass
Who it suits
- Individuals organizing logins across devices and organizations managing shared employee credentials.
Who should look elsewhere
- Organizations needing a confirmed integration, control or compliance requirement before selecting a 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
NordPass
Current offer
Free trial
Business free trial for Teams, Business and Enterprise plans
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 | NordPass | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Yes | No |
| Aland Islands | Yes | No |
| Albania | Yes | No |
| Algeria | Yes | No |
| American Samoa | Yes | No |
| Andorra | Yes | No |
| Angola | Yes | No |
| Anguilla | Yes | No |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
NordPass
Does NordPass serve personal and business users?+
Yes. the homepage describes personal credential storage and separate employee credential-management features for businesses.
What team controls are listed?+
The page names access permissions, shared-credential oversight, dark-web alerts and audit trails. Confirm plan availability with NordPass.
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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