Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton vs PureVPN
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Proton |  PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99Lower | $12.95 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, IPadOS, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Huawei, Chromebook, Routers |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTPCovers more |
| 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-log: does not store data generated by use of the service; independently audited no-log certification |
| Jurisdiction | CH | VG |
| Open source | 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 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- PureVPN scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Price from is lower at Proton: $4.99 vs $12.95.
- Free plan: only Proton.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Safari.
- Platforms: only PureVPN offers IPadOS, Apple TV, Android TV.
- Protocols: only PureVPN offers IKEv2, SSTP.
- Open source: only Proton.
- Founded is lower at PureVPN: 2007 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Proton offers Free.
- Pricing model: only PureVPN offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
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.
PureVPN
PureVPN suits households and small teams that want audited no-log privacy without the usual VPN price, with the long-term plan at $2.16 a month over 60 months. The catch sits at entry, since the monthly plan costs $12.95 and renewals stay at that rate.
Score breakdown
| Area | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan's $12.95 and its $12.95 renewal sit high, though $2.16 on the long-term plan is low. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.6HigherAudited no-log policy, 10 simultaneous devices, from 65 server countries and a 31 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.1 | 9.5Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Virgin Islands, British |
Pick Proton if, pick PureVPN if
Pick Proton if price from, free plan, and open source matter most.
Pick PureVPN if privacy and protocols matter most.
Cost in a real example
A year on the entry plan
Proton
$59.88
12 × $4.99
PureVPN
$155.40
12 × $12.95
Proton costs $95.52 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
A third option
Enpass has price from at $1.99, against $4.99 for Proton and $12.95 for PureVPN.
Enpass reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 13 of 232 | 11 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 10 of 280 | 6 of 280 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | GZ Systems Limited |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Virgin Islands, British |
| Founded | 2014 | 2007Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $12.95 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $2.16 |
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | 140 | from 65 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | KPMG 2020 (second always-on audit; first audit by Altius IT) |
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $12.95 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 31 daysHigher |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, ObfuscationCovers more |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Foxtel, HBO Max, ESPN, Fox, Kayo, ITVX, BT, NBC |
| Owner | Proton Foundation | Uzair, Umair and Aqib (founders) |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 60 monthsHigher |
Password managers
| Fact | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel | Not confirmed |
| Passkeys | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | 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 | Not confirmed |
| Custom domains | Yes | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Proton | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | $95.88 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Proton | PureVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99below the median | $12.95highest quarter | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
PureVPN
Pros
- A logging policy that keeps nothing generated by use of the service, with the audits recorded as KPMG 2020 (second always-on audit; first audit by Altius IT).
- The long-term plan runs $2.16 a month over 60 months, under the €3.97 median for VPN listings.
- One subscription covers 10 devices at once, with servers in from 65 countries and kill switch in kill switch, split tunnelling and obfuscation.
Cons
- The monthly plan costs $12.95 and renews at $12.95, placing it 104 of 133 on price.
- A free plan is not offered, so the $12.95 monthly plan is the only way in and the low rate needs 60 months.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line when a connection fails mid workday.
Who each suits
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.
PureVPN
Who it suits
- People ready to commit up front, since the long-term rate of $2.16 a month needs 60 months of commitment.
- Businesses and remote teams after obfuscation and split tunnelling in kill switch, split tunnelling and obfuscation, on a service listed for the business audience.
- Mixed-device households, since one account reaches Windows, macOS and Linux and covers phones, tablets, TVs and routers at the same time.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. buyers who only want Apple-side privacy, since PureVPN is a full VPN priced at $12.95 a month or $2.16 on the long-term plan.
- ESET Brasil customers, who want device protection across 3 to 25 devices rather than a VPN reaching from 65 server countries.
- Sinew Software Systems shoppers, who may prefer a different tool at $1.99 a month over a VPN commitment of 60 months.
Current offers
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
PureVPN
Current offer
First period offer
83% off + 3 extra months on 2-year plan: 83% off + 3 extra months (Standard $2.15/mo)
2-year plan, billed $57.95 on purchase for Standard
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
83% off on 5-year plan: 83% off
5-year plan, Standard $2.16/mo, Max $3.33/mo
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free 3 GB eSIM Data with Truely: 3 GB for 30 days
free with every Max Plan purchase; 30-day validity, no roaming fees
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
PureVPN
What does PureVPN cost to start?+
The monthly plan costs $12.95 a month, and the starting price advertised matches at $12.95. Committing for longer is far cheaper: the long-term plan works out at $2.16 a month when bought over 60 months. Short stays cost the most per month.
What happens to the price at renewal?+
Renewals on the monthly plan are listed at $12.95 a month, which matches the entry monthly price instead of dropping below it. The low headline figure on the long-term plan depends on paying for 60 months up front, so weigh that commitment against the renewal rate before you buy.
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