Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordVPN vs Proton Mail
NordVPN
Higher score in this comparison
Proton Mail
NordVPN vs Proton Mail: the differences
| Compare | NordVPNReviewVisitVisit | Proton MailReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €14.99 | $4.99 |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| 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 on all devices; no vault or item sharing |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | CH |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- NordVPN scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Free plan: only Proton Mail.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers Android TV, TvOS.
- Platforms: only Proton Mail offers Web app, Command line interface, Safari.
- Support channels: only NordVPN offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Proton Mail offers Community.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN: 2012 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Proton Mail offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
NordVPN
NordVPN suits people who want broad server reach and a no-logs policy under independent audit, and who can commit to a long plan. The catch is entry price: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan, with €139.08 due at renewal.
Proton Mail
Proton Mail suits readers who want a password manager that is open source, free to start and end-to-end encrypted on every field, metadata included. Support runs on email, help centre and community, and the budget plan starts at $4.99, while the group median monthly price is €6.47.
Score breakdown
| Area | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 9.0Higher | 8.9 |
Choosing between them
Pick NordVPN if offer matter most.
Pick Proton Mail if cost and free plan matter most.
What we checked
NordVPN
- nordvpn.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nordlocker.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
- proton.me: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 1 of 281 | 11 of 281 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free, BudgetCovers more |
| Legal entity | Nord Security | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, Obfuscation | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | €77.88 | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $2,000,000 | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Pros and cons
NordVPN
Pros
- Covers 150 server countries, the highest count in the ranking, with 10 devices per account
- Features include kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop alongside the stated no logs, streaming and travel use cases
- Protocol choice covers OpenVPN, NordLynx and NordWhisper
Cons
- Entry price is high: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan puts it near the bottom of the monthly price ranking
- There is no free plan, so the free version comparison starts with nothing to test
- Renewal is charged at €139.08, a jump from the €3.49 monthly rate on the introductory long plan
Proton Mail
Pros
- End-to-end encryption covers passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata, and only the user can decrypt.
- The client is open source, and by its logging policy the company has no technical means to reach encrypted passwords or notes.
- Paid entry is light: the budget plan starts at $4.99, and custom domains are supported.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line and no live chat in that list.
- The free plan limits leave out vault and item sharing, so a free account suits one person rather than a household.
- By its logging policy, temporary IP logs are kept to combat abuse and fraud, and authentication logging is off by default.
Who each suits
NordVPN
Who it suits
- People who need coverage across 150 server countries rather than a handful of nearby ones
- Households or small teams that need 10 connected devices on one subscription
- Subscribers comfortable committing to a long plan, since €3.49 is only reached on the longest term
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting a free tier, since there is no free plan to start on
- Anyone who needs to pay month to month on a small budget, as €14.99 a month is the priciest end of the monthly ranking
- Readers who need phone support, since the listed channels are email, chat and help centre
Proton Mail
Who it suits
- Readers who want open source, end-to-end encrypted storage with a free plan to start on.
- Single users on a budget: paid entry starts at $4.99 on the budget plan.
- Readers who want a named operator: Proton AG, founded in 2014 and under CH jurisdiction.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, which arrives inside iCloud+ rather than as a standalone vault and whose free plan limits leave it out of the entry iCloud plan.
- Apple Inc. for anyone shopping only inside the Apple ecosystem, since the free plan limits exclude Hide My Email from the entry iCloud plan.
- addy.io, whose free plan limits cap recipients, alias domains and monthly bandwidth, so it suits lighter alias use.
Current offers
NordVPN
Current offer
Discount code
75% off + 3 months extra: 75% off
Intro offer on the 2-year plan (first 27 months), VAT may apply, savings versus renewal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
+ 3 EXTRA months on 2-year plans: 3 extra months
Offer terms apply, additional terms apply to Ultra plan, VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial for new users on Android: 3 days free
New users, Android app via Google Play; not available in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
Current offer
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee on Pass Plus and Proton Unlimited: 30 days
Applies to premium Pass Plus and Proton Unlimited plans; cancel and request refund within 30 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Pass Plus discount on yearly plans: 40% off
Pass Plus annual billing
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | NordVPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| 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
NordVPN
How much does NordVPN cost to start with?+
The monthly plan is priced at €14.99. Committing to the longest term, 27 months, brings the monthly figure down to €3.49. That lower rate is introductory, and the 30 money back window still applies if the subscription is not a fit.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
Renewal is charged at €139.08 for the long term, against the €3.49 monthly rate that applies at the start. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the headline monthly number, since the per month rate is the part that is promotional. The two prices together tell the full cost of staying.
Proton Mail
How much does Proton Mail cost?+
There is a free plan, and the budget plan starts at $4.99. For context, the median monthly price across secure email brands in this group is €6.47, and the median long-term rate is €4.67. Entry pricing sits below that group median.
Can Proton Mail read my passwords?+
No. End-to-end encryption covers passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata inside AES-GCM vaults, so only the user can decrypt. By its logging policy, Proton states it has no technical means to reach encrypted passwords or notes, and the client is open source under CH law.
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