ProtonVPN vs NordVPN: An Honest Look at Features (No Hype)

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Neutral feature comparison chart of Proton VPN and NordVPN

Proton VPN and NordVPN are two of the best-known VPN services, and comparison pages for them are full of superlatives. This article takes a quieter approach. It looks at what each company publicly says about its product, where the two differ in ways that matter, and how to decide whether either one is right for you.

A note on sources: everything below comes from the providers' own websites, support pages and blogs, checked in October 2026. Those pages are marketing material as well as information, and features, plans and prices change often, so check the current pages before buying. We do not list prices for that reason, and this article contains no affiliate links.

First, What a VPN Does and Does Not Do

A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN provider's server, and shows websites the server's address instead of yours. That can help on untrusted networks such as public Wi-Fi, and it hides your browsing from your internet provider or local network. It does not make you anonymous, stop phishing, protect an account with a weak password or replace two-factor authentication. You also shift trust from your internet provider to the VPN company, which is why its policies and independent checks matter. Our guide on whether you actually need a VPN goes deeper. The FTC makes a similar point in its guidance on VPN apps: a VPN shifts trust from your network to the VPN provider.

Quick Overview

  • Proton VPN is made by Proton AG, a company based in Geneva, Switzerland, that also makes Proton Mail. It has a free plan and paid plans.
  • NordVPN is a paid service that says it operates out of Panama. It also sells extras such as a dark web monitor, call protection and cloud storage under the same brand, depending on the plan. Its pricing page advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Free Plan: The Biggest Practical Difference

Proton VPN offers a free plan that it describes as free forever. Its free VPN page lists one device, no ads, no logs and no data limits. Proton's pricing page says the free plan has no artificial speed limits, but its plan comparison rates free-plan speed as "medium." Free users connect to servers in 10 countries. Proton first connects you to the fastest free server for your location. If you switch, Proton chooses the next server at random, and there is a cooldown before you can switch again. Proton says its free service is supported by paying users. The kill switch and the Stealth protocol are included on the free plan. Secure Core, NetShield, P2P support, streaming support and the full server network require a paid plan.

NordVPN does not offer a permanent free VPN plan. Its site advertises a 7-day free trial for new customers who choose a 1-year or 2-year Prime plan. You enter payment details up front and are charged unless you cancel before the trial ends. NordVPN says the trial is offered in the US and a limited list of other countries, and not when you buy through app stores; Android users get a separate 3-day trial through Google Play. NordVPN also says its Meshnet feature can be used free. On its features page, NordVPN argues that free VPN services often collect and sell user data because they need to make money somehow. That describes many free VPNs, but Proton positions its free tier differently. If you only want to try a VPN, or need one occasionally on public Wi-Fi, Proton's free tier works without a payment card. If you want it for several devices, both companies point to paid plans.

Devices and Coverage

  • Proton says its paid plans cover up to 10 devices at a time. It lists apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone and iPad, Linux and Chromebook, plus Chrome and Firefox browser extensions and apps for Android TV and Fire TV.
  • NordVPN says one account can secure up to 10 devices at once. It lists apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, plus lightweight proxy extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
  • Proton says its paid plans include more than 20,000 servers in more than 140 countries. NordVPN advertises servers across more than 225 locations, and its server list counts several cities in some countries. These numbers are not measured the same way, and for everyday use a nearby server matters more than a long list.

Privacy and Independent Audits

Both companies say they do not keep logs of what you do online, and both have had third parties examine that claim. They differ in how they do it and what they share.

  • Proton VPN: Proton says its no-logs policy has passed five consecutive annual audits by Securitum, covering 2022 through 2026, and that it publishes the full reports for anyone to read. Proton also says its apps are open source and have been through independent security audits. It states that under the current Swiss legal framework, Proton VPN has no logging requirements.
  • NordVPN: NordVPN says its no-logs policy has passed six independent reviews. PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland did the first two, in 2018 and 2020, and Deloitte did the later ones. The most recent engagement was carried out by Deloitte Lithuania under the ISAE 3000 (Revised) standard between November 10 and December 12, 2025, and the report was issued on December 12, 2025. NordVPN describes it as a point-in-time assessment. It says it does not publish excerpts because of the report's technical nature, and that users can read the full report by logging in to their Nord Account. NordVPN says Panama has no data retention laws that would apply to VPN providers.

What to take from this: audits raise confidence, but they are snapshots. An audit does not guarantee future behavior, and reading a full public report is different from reading a summary or a report you can only see after signing in. Neither company can prove that nothing will ever go wrong.

Feature Comparison

Malware, ad and tracker blocking

Proton VPN's paid plans include NetShield, a DNS filter that Proton says can block ads, trackers and malware. NordVPN's equivalent was formerly called Threat Protection Pro. NordVPN now markets it as a next-gen antivirus, and in the app it appears as "Scam, phishing, and malware protection." On NordVPN's pricing page, the Basic plan includes DNS-based scam and phishing protection that works while you are connected to the VPN. Download scanning and the ad and tracker blocker are listed only for the Complete and Prime plans, and only on desktop. Either is an extra layer, not a replacement for good habits.

Extra hops and obfuscation

Proton's Secure Core first routes your traffic through Proton-operated servers in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden, then through a second VPN server. Its Stealth protocol disguises VPN traffic to help in places where VPNs are blocked, and Proton says it is available on all plans, including the free plan. NordVPN lists Double VPN, which sends traffic through two VPN servers, along with Onion Over VPN, obfuscated servers and a protocol called NordWhisper for networks that block VPN traffic. These features matter mostly for people with unusual privacy needs or those using restrictive networks. For everyday public Wi-Fi safety, you do not need them.

Protocols

Proton lists WireGuard and OpenVPN, plus its own Stealth protocol. NordVPN's default protocol is NordLynx, which it says is based on WireGuard. NordVPN also lists NordWhisper and OpenVPN, and offers IKEv2/IPSec for manual setup only. Most people can leave the app's default or automatic setting on.

Kill switch and split tunneling

Both providers advertise a kill switch, which blocks traffic if the VPN drops, and Proton includes it on its free plan. Both also offer split tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the VPN. NordVPN lists it on its features page. Proton says it is a paid feature on Windows, macOS (experimental), Linux, Android, Android TV and its browser extension. Proton also notes that on most platforms, split tunneling cannot be used together with its kill switch. Check that each feature exists on your operating system, as availability differs by platform.

Private networking

NordVPN offers Meshnet, a private encrypted network between your own devices. In 2025 NordVPN announced plans to discontinue it. On September 29, 2025, it reversed course, said Meshnet is staying, and said it would open-source it. It is a niche feature.

Extras beyond the VPN

NordVPN's pricing page lists extras by plan. All plans include its Dark Web Monitor. The Complete and Prime plans add call protection, a password manager and 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. Prime adds credit monitoring and identity theft insurance; NordVPN says the insurance is available to US residents except those in New York. A dedicated IP is a paid add-on. Proton offers a wider family of privacy products, including mail and a password manager, sold separately or bundled in its Proton Unlimited plan. Only pay for what you will use.

What About Speed and Streaming?

Both companies make speed and streaming claims. Speed varies by distance, device, network and time of day, and streaming services may block some VPN servers. Be careful with marketing figures, including "fastest" claims, because they depend on the tests behind them. For example, NordVPN's footnote for its "fastest VPN" claim cites tests by Artifact Security (June 2026) and West Coast Labs (October 2025). It adds that some of the supporting media articles were published through paid partnerships. The best method is to use the free plan, trial or money-back window and try it on your own connection.

How to Choose

  1. Decide why you want a VPN. Occasional protection on public Wi-Fi is a different need from privacy from your internet provider or bypassing regional blocks.
  2. Try before you commit. Proton's free plan lets you test the app without paying. NordVPN's 7-day trial requires payment details and turns into a paid plan unless you cancel in time.
  3. Count your devices. Both companies' paid plans cover up to 10 devices. Compare the current plans if you need that many.
  4. Read the audit and privacy pages. See what is published, by whom and how recently.
  5. Look at the refund terms. Both companies advertise a 30-day money-back guarantee. Proton's terms say you must cancel and request the refund within 30 days of the initial purchase. Proton refunds only once per user and does not refund cash or bank-transfer payments. NordVPN says you must request a refund from its support team within 30 days of purchase. With both, refunds for app store purchases go through the store.
  6. Check renewal pricing. Introductory offers often differ from the renewal cost. NordVPN's terms say renewal prices may be higher than introductory prices, and Proton's checkout shows the renewal amount as well, so look at both before you pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more private, ProtonVPN or NordVPN?

Both make strong no-logs claims backed by third-party audits. Proton publishes its full audit reports openly, while NordVPN makes its report available to users who sign in to their Nord Account. Which you prefer depends on how much you value public access to reports.

Is a free VPN ever a good idea?

Many free VPNs make money from user data or ads, so be selective. Proton states that its free tier has no ads and does not log activity. It also limits free users to one device and servers in 10 countries. Read the privacy policy of any free service first.

Does NordVPN have a free version?

Not a permanent one. NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial on 1-year and 2-year Prime plans for new customers in selected countries, and you must cancel before it ends to avoid being charged. It also says Meshnet can be used without a subscription.

Will a VPN protect me from hackers?

It protects the connection on the network path. It does not stop phishing, malware you install or stolen passwords.

Do I need both ProtonVPN and NordVPN?

No. Pick one, and revisit the choice when your plan renews.

Related Guides

Conclusion

Proton VPN and NordVPN are both established services with independent no-logs audits and a broad set of features. Proton stands out for a usable free plan, with limits, and openly published audit reports. NordVPN stands out for its wide feature bundle and plan-based extras. Neither is magic, and neither replaces strong passwords, two-factor authentication and caution with links. Decide what you need a VPN for, test with the free plan, trial or refund period, and choose the one that fits your budget and comfort level.

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