Updated October 17, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordVPN vs Proton Pass
NordVPN
Higher score in this comparison
Proton Pass
What sets them apart
| Compare | NordVPNReviewVisitVisit | Proton PassReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Chrome extension, Safari extension, Firefox extension, Edge extension, Brave extension, Command line interface |
| 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 Pass.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- Platforms: only Proton Pass offers Web app, Chrome extension, Safari extension.
- Support channels: only NordVPN offers Email, Chat.
- Support channels: only Proton Pass offers Community.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN: 2012 vs 2014.
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 Pass
Proton Pass’s listed free-plan features include unlimited logins, notes and credit cards, unlimited devices, 10 hide-my-email aliases, and passkey support. The provider also lists apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, and says all fields, including usernames and web addresses, are encrypted. These are provider descriptions, not an independent security assessment.
Score breakdown
| Area | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. | 9.0Higher |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Pick NordVPN if, pick Proton Pass if
Pick NordVPN if offer matter most.
Pick Proton Pass if cost and free plan matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Password managers | 1 of 69 | 9 of 69 |
| Privacy tools | 1 of 281 | 12 of 281 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Nord Security | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 | 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 |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, Obfuscation | TOTP |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | €77.88 | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Secure email
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 Pass
Pros
- The listed free-plan features include unlimited logins, notes and credit cards, plus unlimited devices.
- The provider lists 10 hide-my-email aliases and passkey support.
- Apps are listed for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Cons
- Vault contents cannot be unlocked by the company, so a lost route to the account leaves no fallback
- Built around a single account holder, so unlocking the vault depends on that person's own care
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 Pass
Who it suits
- People who want a password manager with listed apps across desktop and mobile platforms and passkey support.
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want a password manager that the provider can unlock for them
- Anyone wanting a tool limited to one type of device
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 Pass
Current offer
Discount code
40% off Pass Plus: 40% off
Offer link points to the yearly-billing Pass Plus signup; discount applied at signup
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | NordVPN | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pass
Which platforms are listed for Proton Pass apps?+
The provider lists Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Can outside experts check how the software works?+
The code behind the software is publicly available, so people outside the company can review it. This openness is part of its approach to transparency. Anyone who wants to understand how vault contents are protected can look at the encryption design, since only the account holder can read stored items.
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