Tool A

Proton VPN

Tool B

NordVPN

vs.

BestStacked · Head-to-Head Comparison

Proton VPN vs NordVPN: Which VPN Fits You?

Two audited no-logs VPNs compared on features, audit evidence, support, platforms, free plans, business options and total cost, using each vendor's own pages.

Reviewed by Carlos Gil·Published October 15, 2026·Last updated October 15, 2026·Editorial methodology →

Try Proton VPN Try NordVPN

The Short Answer

Proton VPN and NordVPN both run audited no-logs services on 10 devices, with obfuscation, a kill switch and multi-hop servers. Pick Proton VPN if you want a free plan (one device, no data cap), public audit reports and open-source apps, or a lower renewal: VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year. Pick NordVPN if you want Meshnet, Double VPN and Onion over VPN servers, dark web monitoring, and 24/7 chat for every customer; Basic costs $94.23 for the first 27 months, then $139.08 a year. For teams, Proton VPN for Business needs 2 users and NordLayer 5. Neither was tested hands-on; prices checked October 15, 2026.

The 5 Rounds

Where each tool actually wins

Round 1 / Audit Evidence

Round 1: No-logs audits and transparency

Round called a tie

Both vendors say they keep no activity logs, and both pay outside firms to check. What differs is who audits, how often, and how much of the evidence you can read.

01Proton says Securitum has audited its no-logs policy every year from 2022 to 2026, and its announcement links each year's report.
02NordVPN's no-logs page lists PwC reviews in 2018 and 2020 and Deloitte reviews from 2022; the latest Deloitte engagement ran from November 10 to December 12, 2025, and the full report is available after signing in to a Nord Account.
03NordVPN also published a Cure53 security assessment from May, June and October 2025 covering its apps, browser extensions, APIs and VPN servers.
04Proton says all of its apps out of beta are open source, with code on GitHub, and publishes app security audit reports.

What the other tool still got right

It's a split: Proton's audit reports and app code are public, while NordVPN uses a Big Four firm for no-logs assurance and adds a broad Cure53 assessment of apps and servers.

Round 2 / Features

Round 2: Privacy and power-user features

Round called a tie

01Multi-hop: Proton's Secure Core routes through Iceland, Switzerland or Sweden first; NordVPN offers Double VPN servers.
02Proton includes port forwarding on P2P servers (Windows, Linux, macOS early access); NordVPN supports it only with its paid Dedicated Server add-on.
03NordVPN adds Meshnet private networking, Onion over VPN, a Dedicated IP add-on and Dark Web Monitor; Proton offers Tor over VPN servers and no personal dedicated IP.
04Both block ads and malware on paid tiers: Proton's NetShield comes with VPN Plus, while NordVPN's ad blocker and anti-malware start on Complete (Basic gets scam and phishing protection).

What the other tool still got right

It depends on the buyer: Proton suits people who want port forwarding and Secure Core in the base paid plan; NordVPN suits people who want Meshnet, specialty servers and identity monitoring.

Round 3 / Free Plan & Cost

Round 3: Free plan and total cost over two years

Winner — Proton VPN

Introductory prices end after the first term on both, so we compared what you pay over one and two years at published prices (our calculations, tax excluded).

01Proton has a free plan: one device, no data cap, no ads, servers picked at random. NordVPN has no free VPN plan, only a 7-day trial in listed countries (card required) and a free Meshnet-only app.
02Over two years on 2-year plans: Proton VPN Plus costs $83.76 for 24 months; NordVPN Basic costs $94.23 for 27 months and Complete $121.23. Per month, Plus and Basic both work out to $3.49.
03On 1-year plans renewed once: Proton VPN Plus costs $53.88 + $83.88 = $137.76; NordVPN Basic $65.88 + $139.08 = $204.96; Complete $77.88 + $219.48 = $297.36.
04Renewals: Proton VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year; NordVPN Basic at $139.08 and Complete at $219.48. Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on new subscriptions.

What NordVPN still got right

NordVPN's 2-year plans include three extra months, and Complete's price covers the ad blocker, anti-malware and Dark Web Monitor Pro that Proton doesn't match feature for feature.

Round 4 / Support & Platforms

Round 4: Help when you need it, on the devices you use

Round called a tie

01NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat (starting with an AI chatbot) and email to every customer, and no phone support.
02Proton offers 24/7 live chat to paid-plan users only; free users get the support center and contact form.
03Both list apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV and Apple TV, Chrome and Firefox extensions, and router setups; NordVPN also lists an Edge extension, which Proton's download page doesn't.
04Split tunneling: Proton documents Windows, macOS (experimental), Linux, Android, Android TV and its extension; NordVPN documents Windows, Android and Android TV, with an allowlist on Linux.

What the other tool still got right

A split again: NordVPN gives every paying customer chat with no free tier to exclude, while Proton covers more platforms with split tunneling.

Round 5 / Business

Round 5: Proton VPN for Business and Workspace vs NordLayer

Round called a tie

01Proton VPN for Business: VPN Essentials at $6.99 per user a month billed yearly (2-user minimum); VPN Professional at $9.99 adds a dedicated server and IP in 20+ countries.
02NordLayer: Lite at $8, Core at $11 and Premium at $14 per user a month billed yearly, with a 5-user minimum; Core and Premium require a dedicated server at $40 a month.
03NordLayer lists SSO on every plan, a cloud firewall and device posture checks on higher plans, a site-to-site connector on Premium, and ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type I and HIPAA claims.
04Proton's Workspace plans bundle Mail, Calendar, Drive and the VPN from $12.99 per user a month billed yearly; NordLayer is network security only.

What the other tool still got right

It depends on the team: small teams that want private email and files with a VPN fit Proton; teams that need network access controls fit NordLayer.

The Numbers

Pricing: Proton VPN vs NordVPN

Pricing: Proton VPN vs NordVPN
Tier	Proton VPN	NordVPN	Notes
Free	Proton Free: 1 device, no data cap, random server	No free VPN plan (free Meshnet-only app; 7-day trial in listed countries)
Monthly	VPN Plus $9.99/mo	Basic $14.99/mo; Complete $19.99/mo
1-year plan	VPN Plus $53.88 first year, renews at $83.88/yr	Basic $65.88, renews at $139.08/yr; Complete $77.88, renews at $219.48/yr
2-year plan	VPN Plus $83.76 for 24 months, then $83.88/yr	Basic $94.23 for 27 months, then $139.08/yr; Complete $121.23, then $219.48/yr	NordVPN's 2-year plans include 3 extra months
Bundle	Proton Unlimited $119.88/yr (Mail, Drive, Pass)	Prime $113.88 first year, renews at $296.28/yr
Business	VPN Essentials $6.99/user/mo yearly, 2-user minimum	NordLayer Lite $8/user/mo yearly, 5-user minimum

Pricing last verified October 15, 2026. Vendors change prices frequently — see our pricing change log.

Who Should Pick What

A decision matrix

Pick Proton VPN if

Pick Proton VPN if you…
Want a free VPN for one device with no data cap.
Pick Proton VPN if you…
Want to read the no-logs audit reports and inspect open-source app code.
Pick Proton VPN if you…
Need port forwarding without an add-on, or already use Proton Mail or Pass.

Try Proton VPN

Pick NordVPN if

Pick NordVPN if you…
Want Meshnet to link your own devices, or Double VPN and Onion over VPN servers.
Pick NordVPN if you…
Want 24/7 live chat and dark web monitoring in the same plan.
Pick NordLayer if you…
Run a team of five or more that needs SSO, a cloud firewall or device posture checks.

Try NordVPN

The Verdict

Overall winner: Tie

There's no single winner here; the right pick depends on the buyer. Both are audited no-logs VPNs for 10 devices with a kill switch, obfuscation and multi-hop servers, and both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Proton VPN is the choice if you want a free plan, public audit reports and open-source apps, port forwarding without an add-on, or a lower bill after the first term: VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year against $139.08 for NordVPN Basic. NordVPN is the choice if you want Meshnet, Onion over VPN, dark web monitoring and live chat for every customer, and you're comfortable with higher renewals or plan to re-shop when the intro term ends. For businesses the products diverge: Proton pairs a VPN with private email, calendars and files for teams from two users, while NordLayer is a network-security platform with SSO, firewall and posture controls for teams of five or more. Neither VPN makes you anonymous or compliant on its own.

If you only have $20

Proton Free if one device is enough; otherwise Proton VPN Plus on the 2-year plan ($83.76 for 24 months).

If money's not the issue

Proton Unlimited if you'll use Mail, Drive and Pass; NordVPN Complete or Prime if you want Nord's identity and malware protection.

Try Proton VPN Try NordVPN

Keep reading

More on Proton VPN and NordVPN

Common questions

Proton VPN vs NordVPN — FAQ

Over two years on 2-year plans, Proton VPN Plus costs $83.76 for 24 months and NordVPN Basic $94.23 for 27 months, the same $3.49 a month. After that, Proton Plus renews at $83.88 a year and NordVPN Basic at $139.08, per each vendor's pricing page on October 15, 2026.

No. NordVPN says you need a subscription or its 7-day free trial (card required, listed countries only) to use the VPN; its free app tier covers Meshnet only. Proton VPN has a permanent free plan for one device with no data cap.

Both have recent independent no-logs audits. Proton links Securitum's reports for 2022 to 2026. NordVPN's latest Deloitte engagement ran in November and December 2025, with the report available after signing in, and Cure53 assessed its apps and servers in 2025.

Proton VPN supports port forwarding on paid plans when connected to a P2P server, on Windows, Linux and macOS (early access). NordVPN supports it only with its paid Dedicated Server add-on.

Proton VPN for Business starts at $6.99 per user a month billed yearly with a 2-user minimum, and Proton's Workspace plans add private email and files. NordLayer starts at $8 per user a month billed yearly with a 5-user minimum and adds SSO, firewall and device posture options.

No. Both hide your IP address and encrypt your traffic on the local network, but accounts you sign in to, cookies and browser fingerprinting can still identify you.

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