Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Norton vs Proton
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Norton |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 1 to 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100 | 140 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Protocols | Mimic, WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsecCovers more | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter, Location | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Streaming | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, BraveCovers more |
| Owner | Gen Digital Inc. | Proton Foundation |
| Monthly price | $34.99 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | VerSprite, July 2025 (Technical Privacy Impact Assessment) | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | $59.99 | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | CH |
Same on both: Longest plan (months) (24 months).
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Key differences
- Norton scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Protocols: only Norton offers Mimic, IPsec.
- Features: only Norton offers Screen time, Web filter, Location.
- Features: only Proton offers Kill switch.
- Streaming services: only Norton offers Streaming.
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Support channels: only Norton offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Norton: 60 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
Norton
Norton suits households who want antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under one subscription, and it stays affordable after the first term. Norton Deluxe opens at $19.99 and renews at $59.99, which is still under the antivirus median of €49.95.
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 | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherNorton Deluxe opens at $19.99 and renews at $59.99, priced below the antivirus median of €49.95. | 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 | 9.1 | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 9.9Higher | 9.1 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 1 to 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100 | 140 |
| Money-back period | 60 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 24 months |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 20 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Password managers | 14 of 69 | 8 of 69 |
| Privacy tools | 67 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Secure cloud storage and backup | 7 of 70 | 2 of 70 |
| Free VPNs | 16 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
Where these facts come from
Norton
- us.norton.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- lifelock.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
- proton.me: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Gen Digital Inc. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1982Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Identity protection
| Fact | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 to 3 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $1,050,000 to $3,000,000 | Not confirmed |
| Family plan price | $18.75 to $52.50 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 7 days | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9.99 | $4.99Lower |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Encrypted online vault; data stored encrypted in the cloud | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Parental controls
| Fact | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $49.99 | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Norton | 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 |
Secure email
| Fact | Norton | 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 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Norton | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $34.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $9 |
| Devices | 1 to 10at the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100highest quarter | 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | $59.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsabove the median | 24 monthsabove the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Norton
Pros
- Entry price of $19.99 for Norton Deluxe is well under the antivirus median of €49.95, and renewal at $59.99 still sits low.
- One subscription covers 1 to 10 across Windows, macOS and Android and bundles vpn, password manager and parental controls that would otherwise be separate subscriptions.
- A free version of the apps lets you try the security side before paying, with a free trial of 7 days and a money back window of 60 days.
Cons
- Renewal sits well above entry: Norton Deluxe jumps from $19.99 to $59.99, and many antivirus plans renew under €3.97 a month.
- The Norton Deluxe device allowance of 1 to 10 is behind the antivirus median of 10, while Apple covers more device types through iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community, so help is by phone, help centre and community only.
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
Norton
Who it suits
- Households wanting vpn, password manager and parental controls bundled into one subscription rather than bought separately.
- Apple households already inside iOS, iPadOS and macOS who want protection that extends beyond their own devices.
- Buyers who want a free version of the apps, a free trial of 7 days and a money back window of 60 days before committing.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on a strict budget who only want a password manager, at $9.99 on its own.
- Buyers who need a device allowance above the antivirus median of 10.
- People who want a US supplier replaced by a European option, since US is the stated headquarters country.
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
Norton
Current offer
First period offer
Norton AntiVirus Plus limited-time offer: $19.99 first year (66% off, $59.99 renewal)
US annual subscription, auto-renews at $59.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Norton 360 Deluxe limited-time offer: $29.99 first year (76% off, $124.99 renewal)
US annual subscription for 5 devices, auto-renews at $124.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled; works out as $2.50/month
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Norton 360 Standard limited-time offer: $24.99 first year (73% off, $94.99 renewal)
US annual subscription for 3 devices, auto-renews at $94.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Norton free trials
A payment method is required at sign-up and will be charged at the end of the trial period, unless cancelled first
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 | Norton | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Japan | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
8 of 12 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Norton
How much is Norton Deluxe for the first year?+
Norton Deluxe costs $19.99 for the first year. That is the introductory figure, not the ongoing one, and it sits under the antivirus median of €49.95. Several Norton products are sold separately, so the plan you choose changes the entry price.
What does Norton Deluxe cost when it renews?+
Norton Deluxe renews at $59.99, so the price roughly triples once the first term ends. That renewal is still low among antivirus plans, where comparable products sit around €3.97 a month. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the entry price.
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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