Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton vs Trend Micro
Proton vs Trend Micro: the differences
| Compare |  Proton |  Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Free standalone tools and apps only (HouseCall scanner, Deepfake Inspector, Password Generator); full multi-device protection requires a paid subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Chrome OS, Android, iOS |
| 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 | Collects information you provide plus certain information automatically from your devices; per-product data collection disclosure with opt-out |
| Jurisdiction | CH | JP |
| Price from | $4.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Trend Micro scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Platforms: only Trend Micro offers Chrome OS.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Email.
- Support channels: only Trend Micro offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at Trend Micro: 1988 vs 2014.
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.
Trend Micro
Trend Micro packs antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls into a single subscription, which suits households that prefer a single bill. Maximum Security covers 3 to 10 and costs $74.95 in the first year, above the €49.95 median on this site.
Score breakdown
| Area | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 9.1Maximum Security runs $74.95 in the first year, above the €49.95 median while the Trend Micro VPN term price of $29.95 sits under €3.97. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Privacy | 9.1 | 9.6Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 13 of 232 | 21 of 232 |
| Password managers | 8 of 69 | 15 of 69 |
| Privacy tools | 10 of 280 | 20 of 280 |
| Free VPNs | 9 of 189 | 17 of 189 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Japan |
Sources behind this comparison
Proton
- proton.me: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Trend Micro
- trendmicro.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | Trend Micro Incorporated |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Japan |
| Founded | 2014 | 1988Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Chat, Phone, Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $4.17 to $5.83 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $29.95 |
| Devices | 10 | 3 to 10 |
| Server countries | 140 | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Features | Kill switch | Screen time, Web filter |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu | Streaming |
| Owner | Proton Foundation | Trend Micro Incorporated |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsHigher | 12 months |
Password managers
| Fact | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | $95.88 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | $74.95 |
Identity protection
| Fact | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Proton | Trend Micro | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99below the median | Not confirmed | $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.
Trend Micro
Pros
- Free utilities are on offer, with a scanner, a deepfake inspector and a password generator
- The subscription adds a VPN, a password manager and parental controls to the antivirus core
- Maximum Security runs on Windows, macOS and Chrome OS and covers 3 to 10
Cons
- Maximum Security at $74.95 for the first year sits above the €49.95 site median
- The free plan limits cover single-purpose utilities only, so a household needs a paid plan for full protection
- The logging policy holds what you supply plus some data read automatically from your device, with an opt-out per product
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.
Trend Micro
Who it suits
- Households mixing desktop and mobile across Windows, macOS and Chrome OS
- Parents wanting screen time and web filtering in the same subscription
- People after protection and a VPN together, a pairing 97.1% of the brands here offer
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., when the devices in the household are Apple hardware
- Comodo (Xcitium), whose free edition reaches 50
- ESET Brasil, whose first-year price is BRL 64.22
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
Trend Micro
Current offer
First period offer
Maximum Security 5 devices 12 months, 29% off first year: USD 74.95 instead of USD 104.95
Introductory purchase price valid for the first term of a new subscription; renews each year at the then-current subscription renewal price; pricing subject to change
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Internet Security 3 devices 12 months, 29% off first year: USD 59.95 instead of USD 83.95
Introductory purchase price valid for the first term of a new subscription; renews each year at the then-current subscription renewal price; pricing subject to change
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Proton | Trend Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Egypt | No | Yes |
| Finland | No | Yes |
8 of 39 countries where either is available.
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.
Trend Micro
What does the first year of Maximum Security cost?+
Maximum Security lists $74.95 for the first year, and the same figure appears as the yearly price of $74.95 on that plan. That sits above the €49.95 median first-year price across the brands compared here.
How many devices does a subscription cover?+
Maximum Security covers 3 to 10 depending on the plan, which reaches the 10 upper quartile for device counts among the brands here. A larger household would look at a higher tier rather than this range.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Proton vs NordVPN
- Proton vs NordVPN Threat Protection
- Proton vs WEBROOT master
- Proton vs Apple Inc.
- Proton vs addy.io
- Proton vs Apple Hide My Email
- Proton vs Runbox
- Proton vs Kaspersky
- Proton vs Kaspersky Latam
- Proton vs Kaspersky
- Proton vs NordPass
- Proton vs ESET Brasil
- Proton vs ESET
- Proton vs FastestVPN
- Proton vs Surfshark Alert
- Proton vs Keeper
- Proton vs Keeper Secrets Manager
- Proton vs AdGuard
- Trend Micro vs Qustodio
- Proton vs Tresorit AG
- Proton vs Tresorit AG