As two privacy-focused VPNs, each NordVPN and Proton VPN supply robust options that might make it onerous to decide on one answer over the opposite.
NordVPN gives an throughout service with an in depth server community and reliably quick VPN efficiency. Then again, Proton VPN operates in privacy-friendly Switzerland and affords a beneficiant free VPN, which might entice budget-oriented customers.
On this article, we check out which VPN is greatest for you and your group.
- NordVPN: Greatest for many companies that need a feature-packed VPN that gives a geographically numerous server suite and quick VPN speeds.
- Proton VPN: Greatest for particular person customers who need a privacy-centric VPN with a devoted free model that might be used long-term.
NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Comparability
Each VPNs embrace the identical quantity of simultaneous gadget connections and beginning worth. They do differ of their respective server suite and free trial entry.
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NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Pricing
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN’s paid plans have three tiers, with every tier having a month-to-month, an annual and a two-year plan choice. The tiers are NordVPN Fundamental, Plus and Final — with Final having probably the most options out of the bunch.
SEE: The right way to Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)
Beneath is an outline of pricing and have variations with every tier:
| Fundamental | Plus | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month-to-month | $12.99 per thirty days | $13.99 per thirty days | $15.99 per thirty days |
| 1 12 months | $4.99 per thirty days | $5.99 per thirty days | $7.99 per thirty days |
| 2 years | $3.99 per thirty days | $4.99 per thirty days | $6.99 per thirty days |
| Options | Consists of essential VPN | All Fundamental options plus anti-malware and looking safety, advert and tracker blocker and information breach scanner | All Plus options plus 1TB encrypted cloud storage, cyber extortion safety and identification theft restoration profit |
Personally, I feel the NordVPN Plus plan for one 12 months at $5.99 per thirty days is the perfect package deal among the many three plans. It affords you extra security measures on high of the VPN whereas nonetheless not going overboard by way of the month-to-month charge.
Whereas I’m glad NordVPN has a seven-day free trial, I discover it unlucky that it’s solely accessible through its Android cell app. This makes it tough for iOS and iPhone customers who’re presumably focused on test-driving NordVPN. Hopefully, NordVPN makes its trial accessible for each iOS and Android customers, opening it as much as extra customers, no matter their smartphone preferences.
Fortunately, customers can strive NordVPN on desktop after accessing the free trial on Android — which is how I examined NordVPN’s premium subscription.
If you wish to study extra, learn our full NordVPN evaluation.
Proton VPN pricing
As compared, Proton VPN has two tiers for its paid service and a devoted free model. Its paid plans are referred to as Proton VPN Plus and Limitless, each with month-to-month, annual and two-year contract choices.
| Proton VPN Free | Proton VPN Plus | Proton Limitless | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month-to-month | Free | $9.99 per thirty days | $12.99 per thirty days |
| Annual | Free | $4.99 per thirty days | $9.99 per thirty days |
| 2 years | Free | $4.49 per thirty days | $7.99 per thirty days |
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Whereas Proton VPN doesn’t have a free trial of its paid tiers, I like the way it gives a full free model of its VPN service. This permits customers to get a glimpse of its VPN with none preliminary fee or subscription.
The free model itself is restricted in that it solely offers you entry to 5 nations and slower speeds. Nonetheless, it’s beneficiant given the way it gives limitless bandwidth and information — one thing that isn’t widespread on different free VPNs. As compared, NordVPN doesn’t at present supply any form of free model.
By way of its paid plans, I discover the Plus subscription for one 12 months to be the perfect worth. Whereas not probably the most reasonably priced, it’s nonetheless on par with NordVPN’s equal beginning subscription at $4.99 per thirty days. You get Proton’s VPN service, together with the total server fleet, with out the opposite Proton companies within the Limitless tier that will or will not be of use to you.
If you wish to study extra, learn our full Proton VPN evaluation and see this information on learn how to use Proton VPN.
NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Characteristic comparability
Safety protocols and encryption
Winner: Tie
Each NordVPN and Proton VPN have VPN protocols that present an excellent combine between pace and safety. NordVPN affords the OpenVPN protocol and its proprietary NordLynx protocol based mostly on WireGuard. Then again, Proton VPN carries OpenVPN, WireGuard and its personal Stealth protocol constructed to disguise VPN use.
To me, a contemporary VPN ought to at the very least have the security-focused OpenVPN protocol and the speed-oriented WireGuard protocol. Thankfully, we get variations of each with NordVPN and Proton VPN.
SEE: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Is Greatest? (TechRepublic)
Each VPNs additionally include top-grade encryption algorithms, equipping their software program with AES-256 encryption. AES-256 is taken into account the usual for safeguarding consumer information, utilized by authorities businesses, banks and army establishments to maintain delicate info safe in opposition to malicious actors.
VPN server community and places
Winner: NordVPN
For servers, NordVPN has the sting over Proton VPN. As of July 2024, NordVPN at present has 6,400+ servers throughout 111 nations. In distinction, Proton VPN affords entry to six,300+ servers in 100 nations.
Whereas the distinction in server depend is negligible, I discover extra worth in NordVPN having a further 11 extra nations over Proton VPN. That is essential as a result of one of many essential makes use of of a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material.
With the upper nation depend, customers and companies could have extra location choices to select from in relation to unblocking.
Third-party audits and observe report
Winner: Proton VPN
So far as general observe report and third-party audits go, I’m giving the win to Proton VPN. Whereas each VPN suppliers have undergone intensive and up to date impartial audits, I really feel Proton VPN gives extra transparency to the general public in relation to audit outcomes.
As of July 2024, Proton VPN has completed its third consecutive impartial audit, confirming its no-logs coverage. On the flipside, NordVPN has undergone 4 impartial safety audits confirming the identical.
The distinction lies in how they share their respective audit outcomes. In its most up-to-date audit, NordVPN opted to not share the total outcomes to make sure the findings weren’t “taken out of context or misunderstood” — offering full entry to the report solely to these with a NordVPN account.
SEE: 4 Greatest Free VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)
Then again, Proton VPN gives a full hyperlink to its 2024 Securitum safety audit. The audit outcomes are accessible to each the general public and official Proton VPN customers.
I actually commend Proton VPN right here, showcasing its robust dedication to preserving customers knowledgeable about its service’s efficiency, good or dangerous. Whereas NordVPN’s suite of audits is strong in its personal proper, I’ve to provide this spherical to Proton VPN for its transparency.
Standout options
Winner: NordVPN
For standout options, NordVPN wins over Proton VPN. Except for its essential VPN service, NordVPN features a ton of safety and privacy-focused options that make it a compelling safety software for companies.
For instance, it has its Meshnet function that lets customers create their very own personal encrypted community, permitting them to share recordsdata or entry different units extra securely.
I personally like this double VPN function that routes the consumer’s connection to 2 completely different VPN server places, offering a further layer of safety alongside the encrypted VPN connection.
Different options embrace a built-in malware, net tracker and advert blocker, in addition to a darkish net monitor to maintain observe of compromised credentials, amongst different safety capabilities.
SEE: Does a VPN Sluggish Down Your Web Pace? (TechRepublic)
That isn’t to say Proton VPN doesn’t have its personal standout inclusions. A spotlight for me is its Swiss-based privateness. Whereas not a software program function per se, Proton VPN’s operations are based mostly in Switzerland, a rustic with a number of the strongest privateness legal guidelines on this planet. Because of this Proton customers gained’t have to fret about their information being illegally accessed.
It additionally has a novel Stealth VPN protocol that makes use of obfuscation know-how to masks your VPN site visitors, making it appear to be you aren’t related through a VPN. This may be essential for customers in restrictive areas that don’t essentially permit VPNs.
General, whereas Proton VPN contains helpful privacy-focused options, I give the benefit to NordVPN for its intensive suite of extra performance on high of its essential VPN capabilities.
Efficiency and pace
Winner: NordVPN
In relation to pace, I’ve to provide NordVPN the benefit. Throughout my testing, I related to each VPNs and did my normal workflow as a author. This concerned having a number of tabs open for analysis, attending on-line video conferences, utilizing Google Workspace apps like Docs and Drive and streaming the occasional 1080p YouTube video.
Per my expertise, I had extra steady speeds with NordVPN in comparison with Proton VPN. Whereas I anticipated a lower in pace whereas related to a NordVPN server in comparison with my web service supplier, I actually felt zero to little distinction in pace.
SEE: How A lot Does a VPN Value? + Financial savings Ideas (TechRepublic)
As compared, Proton VPN additionally provided decently quick speeds. Nonetheless, I did really feel NordVPN had that slight edge by way of consistency and general reliability with its connection.
In case your precedence is having the perfect speeds, I discover NordVPN to be the higher alternative out of the 2.
Ease of use and design
Winner: NordVPN
For consumer expertise, ease of use and design, NordVPN is my winner. NordVPN makes use of a minimalist, light-themed consumer interface that’s straightforward on the eyes and intuitive to navigate.
It has a sidebar on the left that neatly organizes all its essential options and helps present a clear interface that doesn’t really feel cluttered, regardless of the variety of options it homes.
In the meantime, Proton VPN adopts a darker themed desktop software that I discover a bit much less organized in comparison with NordVPN. Whereas the app itself performs properly, I feel there’s a bit an excessive amount of occurring with its desktop app that might confuse customers.
I personally suppose it might do a greater job of organizing its options into separate menus as an alternative of its present iteration the place it has a number of buttons on a single web page. For instance, if we have a look at Proton VPN’s sidebar, we get a Nations and Profiles tab, three function buttons, a search menu and the server checklist multi functional place.
Personally, I feel having all these options in a single part makes Proton VPN really feel a bit cluttered and disorganized. In distinction, NordVPN has a devoted tab for every of its options, together with its server checklist, Meshnet software and different options.
With this, I really feel it helps make NordVPN the better VPN to make use of out of the field. That is particularly essential for learners who will not be accustomed to how VPNs work.
Simultaneous gadget connections
Winner: Tie
Wanting into simultaneous gadget connections, NordVPN and Proton VPN are tied. Each VPNs permit for as much as 10 units to be concurrently related to their VPN servers.
Whereas I might have most well-liked being able to attach a vast variety of units, like Personal Web Entry VPN or Surfshark VPN, I feel 10 units continues to be a adequate quantity for many companies and customers. It will permit most organizations to have a handful of smartphones, laptops and different units related to a VPN server all on the identical time.
NordVPN execs and cons
Execs
- Servers in 111 nations, with 6,400+ servers.
- Nicely-designed and intuitive desktop software.
- Consists of a wide range of security-focused extra options.
Cons
- Full audit outcomes require a NordVPN account.
- Free trial solely accessible through Android.
- No free model.
Proton VPN execs and cons
Execs
- Based mostly in privacy-friendly Switzerland.
- Extra clear audit outcomes.
- Has a free model with limitless information.
Cons
- Desktop app might be streamlined.
- Fewer nation places in comparison with NordVPN.
Ought to your group use NordVPN or Proton VPN?
For many companies, I like to recommend going with NordVPN. It has a extra intensive 111-country server community, a bevy of extra privacy-focused options and an easy-to-use and well-designed VPN software.
I additionally actually like NordVPN for its general quick and constant VPN speeds, which supplied nearly zero real-world drop in efficiency in comparison with my ISP.
This isn’t to dismiss Proton VPN. I really feel Proton VPN is an efficient alternative for learners who need to strive a free VPN with none information or bandwidth restrictions.
Proton VPN can also be an awesome choice for customers who’re notably fearful about authorities surveillance. As a Switzerland-based firm, it operates in a privacy-friendly nation that may supply peace of thoughts to companies and customers with privateness considerations.
Methodology
My head-to-head match-up of NordVPN and Proton VPN concerned an in-depth evaluation of each VPN’s options, real-world efficiency and worth.
To guage every VPN, each companies have been scored on the whole lot from their server networks to their pricing. Particularly, I took into consideration 5 essential pillars, every having corresponding weights:
- Pricing (20%).
- Core VPN options (30%).
- Ease of use (15%).
- Buyer assist (30%).
- Skilled evaluation (5%).
I additionally seemed into actual consumer suggestions and respected critiques to spherical out my closing suggestions for each NordVPN and Proton VPN.
For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows laptop and ran them by way of Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I additionally thought-about which kinds of companies or particular person customers would greatest profit from both NordVPN or Proton VPN.