Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordVPN Threat Protection vs Proton
What sets them apart
| Compare |  NordVPN Threat Protection |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €14.99 | $4.99 |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Apple TV | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Logging policy | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits | 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 |
| 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 |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | CH |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Free plan: only Proton.
- Platforms: only NordVPN Threat Protection offers Android TV, Apple TV.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Safari.
- Protocols: only NordVPN Threat Protection offers NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Protocols: only Proton offers WireGuard.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Email, Community.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN Threat Protection: 2012 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1Entry price of €14.99 ranks 115 of 131 brands, against a €6.84 median. | 9.2HigherEntry 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 | 9.2 | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 9.1 | 9.1 |
How they place
| Ranking | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 2 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 2 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Free VPNs | 2 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Switzerland |
What we checked
NordVPN Threat Protection
- nordvpn.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
- proton.me: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | Nord Security | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Chat | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
VPN
| Fact | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | €3.49 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | 150Higher | 140 |
| No-logs audit | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Renewal price | €139.08 to €269.88 | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Owner | Nord Security | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | 27 monthsHigher | 24 months |
Antivirus
| Fact | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | €65.88 to €103.08 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | No | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | NordVPN Threat Protection | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | NordVPN Threat Protection | 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 | NordVPN Threat Protection | 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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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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