NordVPN

VS

Proton VPN

VPNs Comparison

NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Side-by-Side Comparison

NordVPN
Proton VPN
Rating
★★★★★★★★★★
4.7/5
★★★★★★★★★★
4.6/5
Free Tier
No
Yes
Trial Days
30-day trial
30-day trial
Pricing
Basic from $3.99/month (2-year). Standard from $4.99/month. Plus from $5.99/month.
Free tier available. Plus from $4.99/month (2-year). Proton Unlimited from $7.99/month.
Company
Nord Security
Proton AG
Founded
2012
2017
Best For
Security-conscious users wanting the fastest VPN with built-in malware protection
Privacy advocates wanting an audited open-source VPN with free tier and Swiss legal protection

Pros & Cons

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NordVPN

6,300+ servers in 111 countries provides extensive global coverage
Threat Protection blocks ads, trackers, and malware without VPN connection needed
Double VPN routes traffic through two servers for maximum encryption
Audited no-logs policy independently verified by PricewaterhouseCoopers
NordLynx protocol delivers the fastest speeds of any major VPN
2-year plan required for best pricing - monthly rates are expensive
Desktop app has had past security incidents requiring trust rebuilding

Proton VPN

Based in Switzerland with the strongest legal privacy protections of any VPN jurisdiction
Open-source apps with published code independently audited by SEC Consult
Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-safe countries before exiting to destination
Free tier available with no data limits and no ads or tracking
Netshield ad-blocker and Stealth protocol included on all paid plans
Speeds on the free plan are noticeably slower due to server congestion
Fewer total servers than NordVPN or Surfshark limits server selection variety

Use Case Analysis

Which is better for Privacy?

Both NordVPN and Proton VPN support Privacy workflows. NordVPN has a slight edge with a 4.7 rating and Most feature-rich VPN with Threat Protection ad-blocking working independently from VPN connection. If Privacy is your primary use case, NordVPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Streaming?

Both NordVPN and Proton VPN support Streaming workflows. NordVPN has a slight edge with a 4.7 rating and Most feature-rich VPN with Threat Protection ad-blocking working independently from VPN connection. If Streaming is your primary use case, NordVPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Encryption?

Both NordVPN and Proton VPN support Encryption workflows. NordVPN has a slight edge with a 4.7 rating and Most feature-rich VPN with Threat Protection ad-blocking working independently from VPN connection. If Encryption is your primary use case, NordVPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for No Logs?

Both NordVPN and Proton VPN support No Logs workflows. NordVPN has a slight edge with a 4.7 rating and Most feature-rich VPN with Threat Protection ad-blocking working independently from VPN connection. If No Logs is your primary use case, NordVPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Kill Switch?

Both NordVPN and Proton VPN support Kill Switch workflows. NordVPN has a slight edge with a 4.7 rating and Most feature-rich VPN with Threat Protection ad-blocking working independently from VPN connection. If Kill Switch is your primary use case, NordVPN is the safer pick.

Verdict

NordVPN edges out Proton VPN with a 4.7 vs 4.6 rating. NordVPN's main advantage: Most feature-rich VPN with Threat Protection ad-blocking working independently from VPN connection. That said, Proton VPN may still be the better choice if Privacy advocates wanting an audited open-source VPN with free tier and Swiss legal protection.

Try Them Yourself

The best way to choose is to trial both. See full details on each:

Try NordVPN Free Try for Free

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