NordVPN vs Proton VPN
Proton VPN comes out ahead of NordVPN on 5 of the 7 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Proton VPN takes it, 5–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Proton VPN takes 5 of 7 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose NordVPN if…
- • You want NordVPN's edge on what customers say on trustpilot and how many countries it covers
Choose Proton VPN if…
- • You want Proton VPN's edge on what the long plan costs and trying it before you pay
Round by round
- Round 1What the long plan costsProton VPN wins
Proton VPN wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2Trying it before you payProton VPN winsNordVPN5/10
7-day free trial
Free trial availability
- No free plan, against Free plan
Source: security.org ↗
Proton VPN wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What customers say on TrustpilotNordVPN winsProton VPN5/10
2.1 out of 5
TrustScore from 1,006 reviews on Trustpilot
- 2.1 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
NordVPN wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What it costs to startProton VPN winsNordVPN5/10
$14.69/mo, billed monthly
Basic, 1-month plan (select "1-month plans")
- $14.99/mo, billed monthly, against $9.99/mo, billed monthly
Source: nordvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN8/10$9.99/mo, billed monthly
VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered
Source: protonvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 5How many countries it coversNordVPN winsNordVPN8/10
150 countries
Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)
Source: nordvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN5/10140+ countries
VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered
- 140+ countries, against 150 countries
Source: protonvpn.com ↗
NordVPN wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6How many servers it runsProton VPN winsNordVPN5/10
7,100+ servers
Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)
- 7,100+ servers, against 20,000+ servers
Source: nordvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN8/1020,000+ servers
VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered
Source: protonvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 7Ad and malware blocker includedProton VPN winsNordVPN5/10
Not in Basic (Complete and up)
Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)
- Not in Basic (Complete and up), against NetShield blocker (VPN Plus)
Source: nordvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN8/10NetShield blocker (VPN Plus)
VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered
Source: protonvpn.com ↗
Proton VPN wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- paid only
- Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)
- long plan, per month
- $3.49, against $2.99
- 4.2 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
- Not in Basic (Complete and up), against Blocks ads (Basic)
- $3.49, against $2.49
- 2.1 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
- 140+ countries, against 150 countries
- 2.1 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
- $2.99, against $2.49