Proton VPN vs NordVPN: which is better for privacy, streaming and long-term cost
Proton VPN scores 6.12 and NordVPN 5.58 out of 10. Proton VPN leads overall; the table shows where each one is stronger.
Proton VPN vs NordVPN
| What we compare | Proton VPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 6.12 (better) | 5.58 |
| Privacy and jurisdiction | 6.0 | 6.3 (better) |
| Security and protocols | 7.9 (better) | 7.1 |
| Price and fair terms | 5.3 (better) | 3.1 |
| Censorship bypass | 2.4 (better) | 1.9 |
| Network and streaming | 8.7 (better) | 6.9 |
| Platforms and support | 7.1 | 8.1 (better) |
| Cheapest price, € a month | €3.00 | €3.00 |
| Renewal vs first term | 2.0× (better) | 3.3× |
| Refund window, days | 30 | 30 |
| Free plan | Yes (better) | — |
| Independent no-logs audit | Yes | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Obfuscation | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto payments | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland (outside 14 Eyes) | Panama (outside 14 Eyes) |
| Platforms supported | 10 (better) | 9 |
Proton VPN scores 6.12 out of 10 against NordVPN's 5.58 and leads in four of the six scored areas: security, price and fair terms, censorship bypass, and the network with streaming. NordVPN takes privacy and support. The right pick depends on whether a cheaper second year matters more to you than round-the-clock help.
Why NordVPN wins privacy and support but still trails overall
Both gaps trace back to one detail each. NordVPN's policy states it keeps no connection IP; Proton holds that address briefly to fight abuse and fraud, and the scoring reads a temporary hold as a hold. Proton recovers part of the gap through a warrant canary that NordVPN does not run, yet the privacy point stays with NordVPN. Support is decided by the clock: NordVPN staffs chat 24/7, while Proton lists chat as a priority perk for paid plans. That outweighs Proton's longer app list and public status page.
Where Proton builds its lead: open code, servers and streaming promises
Proton publishes a separate security audit, open-source clients on GitHub and perfect forward secrecy. NordVPN counters with infrastructure: RAM-only servers, post-quantum encryption in every app and two-factor sign-in, none of which Proton publishes. NordVPN does not publish its app source code.
The network score swings on scale and written claims. Proton runs 20,000+ servers on its own hardware across 140+ countries, some with 10 Gbps ports, and names its streaming targets: Netflix (US, UK, France), Disney+, Prime Video. NordVPN covers more countries (150) and sells a dedicated IP as a checkout add-on, but publishes no streaming claim for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ or Prime Video. On censorship bypass both offer obfuscation, Proton's Stealth protocol against NordVPN's obfuscated servers and NordWhisper, and neither publishes VLESS Reality, Trojan, Shadowsocks or Hysteria2, so both scores stay low. Proton edges ahead with alternative routing and a Telegram channel.
First payment against the second-year price
| Service and plan | First term | First payment | Per month | Yearly renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Free | none | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Proton Plus | 24 months | $83.76 | $3.49 | $83.88 |
| Proton Unlimited | 24 months | $191.76 | $7.99 | $119.88 |
| NordVPN Basic | 27 months | $94.23 | $3.49 | $139.08 |
| NordVPN Complete | 27 months | $121.23 | $4.49 | $219.48 |
| NordVPN Prime | 27 months | $202.23 | $7.49 | $296.28 |
Entry prices match at $3.49 a month, and NordVPN stretches its intro over 27 months. The renewal breaks the tie: Proton's bill grows 2.0x, NordVPN's 3.3x. From the second bill, Proton Plus costs $83.88 a year against $139.08 for NordVPN Basic, as the NordVPN pricing breakdown shows. Bundles diverge too: Unlimited adds Pass Premium, 500 GB of Drive and dark web monitoring, while Complete and Prime bundle a password manager, desktop antivirus, 1 TB of cloud storage and, on Prime, identity insurance.
Money-back rules and paying without a card
Thirty days on both, with caveats. Proton refunds once per user on direct purchases only; cash and bank transfer payments get nothing back. NordVPN routes app-store buyers to the store itself. Both accept cards, PayPal, Bitcoin and cash (Proton as account credit, NordVPN as prepaid retail cards, plus ETH, LTC, a stablecoin and regional methods like iDEAL).
Geneva and Panama City: what each policy collects
| Policy item | Proton VPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| yes | yes | |
| Connection IP | held briefly | not kept |
| Last session | not published | wiped within 15 minutes |
| Bandwidth | no | no |
Proton AG in Geneva discloses data only when a Swiss authority order binds it and says it challenges weak ones; the company also runs Proton Mail, Drive and Pass. NordVPN is run by nordvpn S.A. in Panama City and owned by Nord Security, and it says it usually has nothing to hand over. Both sit outside the 5, 9 and 14 Eyes alliances and publish transparency reports.
Proton VPN vs NordVPN FAQ
Is NordVPN faster than Proton VPN?
No lab result settles it here. VPNRadarLab rates what providers state publicly and runs no speed, ping or streaming tests.
Can Proton's free plan replace a paid NordVPN plan?
For one device and light browsing, yes: unlimited data, medium speed, servers in 10 random countries. Streaming, P2P and NetShield stay locked, and NordVPN publishes no free tier or trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which one is better for torrenting?
Both allow P2P. Proton permits it on paid plans and gives port forwarding there; NordVPN permits it on its specialty servers and offers port forwarding only through dedicated servers or a dedicated IP.
Choosing by use
- Cheapest long-term with a free fallback: Proton VPN Plus.
- 24/7 chat and post-quantum keys: NordVPN.
- Antivirus, storage and identity cover on one bill: NordVPN Complete or Prime.
- Mail, passwords and a family plan: Proton.
The verdict: Proton wins more areas and keeps its renewal sane; NordVPN is the pick if stricter logging terms and around-the-clock support matter more than price.