Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordVPN vs Proton
Where NordVPN and Proton differ
| Compare |  NordVPN |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 150Higher | 140 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more | Kill switch |
| 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 |
| Owner | Nord Security | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | 27 monthsHigher | 24 months |
| Monthly price | €14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | €3.49 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | €139.08 | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | CH |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
Same on both: Devices (10), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Server countries is higher at NordVPN: 150 vs 140.
- Protocols: only NordVPN offers NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Protocols: only Proton offers WireGuard.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Split tunnelling, Multi hop, Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers Android TV, TvOS.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Safari.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at NordVPN: 27 months vs 24 months.
- Support channels: only Proton 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
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 | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. | 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 | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. | 9.5 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.1Higher |
Feature by feature
| Features | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | No |
| Multi hop | Yes | No |
| Obfuscation | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Switzerland |
If neither fits
PureVPN has longest plan (months) at 60 months, against 27 months for NordVPN and 24 months for Proton.
PureVPN reviewHow they place
| Ranking | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 1 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Password managers | 1 of 69 | 8 of 69 |
| Privacy tools | 1 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Secure cloud storage and backup | 1 of 70 | 2 of 70 |
| Free VPNs | 1 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Nord Security | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €14.99 | $4.99 |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | NordVPN | 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 | 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 |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 3 | 5Higher |
| Price per TB per year | €77.88 | $95.88 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
Identity protection
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $2,000,000 | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | NordVPN | 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 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | NordVPN | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €14.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €3.49below the median | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| Devices | 10at the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 150highest quarter | 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | €139.08highest quarter | Not confirmed | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
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
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
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
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
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
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 | NordVPN | 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
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
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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