Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton Drive vs Surfshark Alert
Proton Drive
Surfshark Alert
Higher score in this comparison
Proton Drive vs Surfshark Alert: the differences
| Compare | Proton DriveReviewVisitVisit | Surfshark AlertReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | 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 | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers, Chromebook, Smart TVs, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation |
| Logging policy | 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 | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Jurisdiction | CH | NL |
| Price from | $4.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | Doh |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Private dns, Ad blocker, Search |
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
- Surfshark Alert scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Free plan: only Proton Drive.
- Platforms: only Proton Drive offers Web app, Command line interface, Safari.
- Platforms: only Surfshark Alert offers Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV.
- Support channels: only Proton Drive offers Community.
- Support channels: only Surfshark Alert offers Chat, Email.
- Founded is lower at Proton Drive: 2014 vs 2018.
- Pricing model: only Proton Drive offers Free.
Our verdict on each
Proton Drive
Proton Drive suits people who want encrypted storage with a bundled password manager and open source code. It ranks 18 of 31 on yearly cost per TB, so value sits in the bundle rather than in raw storage price.
Surfshark Alert
Surfshark Alert ranks 2 of 54 brands on monthly price, with entry costs of €2.49 a month. It suits readers who want identity alerts, private DNS and ad blocking inside a single budget account rather than a large insurance payout after fraud.
Score breakdown
| Area | Proton Drive | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Entry at $4.99, storage at $95.88 a year, free tier at 5. | 9.2HigherMonthly price of €2.49, ranked 2 of 54 brands, with a 7-day trial standing in for a free plan. |
| Offer | 8.7Encryption Proton says it cannot break, open source and ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, set against thin free storage at 5. | 9.2HigherInsurance of $1,000,000 sits 10 of 45 brands, held up by private dns, ad blocker and search extras and chat, email and help centre support. |
| Privacy | 8.7Higher | 8.2 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Proton Drive | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 13 of 281 | 8 of 281 |
Where these facts come from
Proton Drive
- proton.me: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark Alert
- surfshark.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton Drive | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, BudgetCovers more | Budget |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2014Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Chat, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Proton Drive | Surfshark Alert | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99below the median | Not confirmed | $8 |
Median across 83 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Proton Drive
Pros
- Encryption Proton says it has no technical means to access
- Open source, audited under ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II
- Bundled password manager alongside the drive
Cons
- Free tier holds only 5 of storage
- Support runs on help centre and community only
- The free password plan caps hide-my-email aliases and leaves out secure sharing, file attachments and dark web monitoring
Surfshark Alert
Pros
- Monthly price of €2.49 places Surfshark Alert 2 of 54 brands in our data, near the floor of the monthly prices we compare
- Deloitte has independently audited the no-logs policy, and the server network runs in RAM rather than writing anything to disk, which is the main privacy claim to weigh
- The same Surfshark subscription covers private dns, ad blocker and search alongside identity alerts, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from phones to routers and consoles, so a single vendor covers monitoring and browsing
Cons
- Phone support is not among its support channels (chat, email and help centre), which matters most when a fraud alert needs an answer the same day
- Insurance of $1,000,000 ranks 10 of 45 brands, so a bigger payout means a bigger bill, as at Norton or LifeLock
Who each suits
Proton Drive
Who it suits
- People who want encrypted files and passwords under the same account
- Readers who put open source code and outside audits ahead of the cheapest storage rate
Who should look elsewhere
- Storage buyers chasing the largest free allowance, where MEGA offers 20 and Degoo 20
- Apple iCloud users already inside their ecosystem, where storage runs $119.88 a year
Surfshark Alert
Who it suits
- Readers who mainly want alerts on their personal details rather than a large insurance payout, and who weigh the entry price before anything else on the plan
- People already paying for Surfshark who want alerts, private DNS, ad blocking and private search in a single account instead of separate tools
- Households that treat an audited no-logs policy and a RAM server network as part of identity protection, and who are comfortable starting on a short trial
Who should look elsewhere
- LifeLock and Norton readers who rank the insurance payout first, since LifeLock runs $10.42 to $34.99 a month and Norton $34.99 a month
- Allstate Identity Protection readers who want identity monitoring sold on its own at $3 a month rather than bundled with DNS and search
- Readers who want a standing free tier, since the free plan is no and the trial is limited to 7-day free trial, 3 devices, so testing is short
Current offers
Surfshark Alert
Current offer
Bonus
3 extra months on 24-month plans: 27 months for the price of 24 (Starter €67.23, One €75.33, One+ €121.23)
24-month Starter, One or One+ subscription; sale price applies to the first 27 months; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
7-day free trial: 7 days free, then automatic paid renewal
New users only, 12- and 24-month plans, payment details required (credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay), 3 devices during trial; plus 30-day money-back guarantee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Proton Drive
How much does Proton Drive cost?+
Plans start at $4.99. Priced by storage, that works out to $95.88 a year, close to the €82.87 typical across this group. Paid tiers are the way most people reach more space, while the free tier covers 5.
Is there a free plan, and how much space?+
There is a free plan, and it includes 5 of storage, which matches the 5 median for this group. Alongside it sits a free password manager that covers as many logins, notes, payment cards and connected devices as needed, with a cap on hide-my-email aliases.
Surfshark Alert
How much does Surfshark Alert cost each month?+
Surfshark Alert runs at €2.49 a month and ranks 2 of 54 brands on monthly price. A budget entry price draws most readers here, and the renewal figure is worth reading before you commit to a term.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
There is no free plan. The free trial lasts 7 days, and 7-day free trial, 3 devices sets the terms of that look. It is a short taste of the alerts rather than a free tier you can keep.
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