Proton VPN Vs. NordVPN 2024: Which Is Best For You? (2024)

Proton VPN and NordVPN are among the best VPNs for individuals and businesses interested in protecting their online activity and keeping their data safe. Both companies offer robust features to customers with a broad server reach.When it comes to speed, NordVPN is arguably the quicker option, especially with its proprietary Nordlayer protocol. Yet, server location and usage also play a role.

Proton VPN

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Price

Free option, other pricing varies by plan

Connections

Up to 10

NordVPN

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Price

Starting at $83.43 for the first 2 years

Connections

Up to 6

Expert Take

When comparing Proton VPN vs. NordVPN, Proton VPN stands out for its open source apps and free plan, whereas NordVPN has a unique meshnet feature and expansive server network. NordVPN is the better virtual private network (VPN) for Apple TV users and those wanting cyber insurance. Meanwhile, multi-device households and consumers who need email services may prefer Proton VPN.

Proton VPN

The employee-owned, Swiss-based Proton VPN offers free and paid plans and user-friendly apps. Thousands of users trust Proton, and with good reason, as it provides full transparency about its network, VPN apps and mission.

Pros

• Proton VPN offers complete network and app transparency
• The free VPN plan doesn’t throttle bandwidth
• Users can bundle email services

See Also

Best Free VPNs for the USA (2023)

Cons

• Prices increase at renewal
• There is no VPN app for Apple TV
• It has fewer servers in fewer countries, compared to NordVPN

NordVPN

Headquartered in Panama, NordVPN’s vast network includes peer-to-peer (P2P), obfuscated and double VPN servers. Intuitive, multi-platform apps and security features help consumers protect their online privacy without a steep learning curve.

Pros

• Plans include a private encrypted local area network (LAN)
• Users can bundle cyber protection insurance
• Llve customer support is available around the clock

Cons

• Fewer connections allowed compared to Proton VPN
• No streaming-optimized servers
• The monthly plans are expensive

Vault’s Viewpoints on Proton VPN vs. NordVPN

NordVPN’s network includes 2,200 more servers than Proton VPN’s. It has over 1,970 servers in the United States alone, whereas Proton VPN only offers 1,109. In most cases, NordVPN also has more servers per international location than Proton VPN. But NordVPN doesn’t share details about server numbers in all regions, like Serbia and Slovakia, while Proton VPN does. NordVPN’s coverage includes 19 additional countries, though Proton VPN has more servers in select countries like the United Arab Emirates and India.

With support for six connected devices, including Apple and Android TVs, and lower long-term rates, NordVPN is a reliable solution for everyday use. It’s also affordable to bundle cyber protection—identity theft recovery and extortion insurance—with VPN services.

Proton VPN’s 10-device limit works better for family sharing, and the free VPN protects your privacy without cost, albeit at lower speeds than paid plans. Consumers looking for email hosting services can centralize billing with a bundled plan.

Proton VPN Highlights

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Earning Rewards With Proton VPN

Overall, Proton VPN offers fewer discounts and promotional offers than NordVPN. Despite this, you can save money or earn rewards through a few different methods.

• Proton Partners Program: Bloggers, Vloggers and social media influencers can earn commissions from sign-ups and renewals.
• Proton VPN coupons: This VPN provider may offer promotions on its website, though it cautions shoppers against trusting coupons from third-party sites.
• Credit card rewards: Some of the best rewards credit cards may offer cash back on your Proton VPN purchase.

Other Benefits of Proton VPN

• Save cash using the free forever VPN: Proton VPN’s free service offers 248 servers and the VPN app’s core anti-censorship and privacy features, including a kill switch and Stealth VPN protocol.
• Take advantage of intro pricing backed by a guarantee: Prepay for one or two years to save between $48 and $120 off your initial costs. If you’re unsatisfied with the VPN services, you can cancel within 30 days and receive a full refund.
• Simple Tor over VPN connections: With Proton VPN, you can access onion sites and the Tor network with one click without installing a Tor browser. Look for servers marked with TOR or the onion symbol.
• Protect devices with NetShield: Prevent ads and trackers from loading to improve browsing speeds and privacy. Use the online dashboard to see how many malware and ad attempts were blocked or to adjust your protection levels.
• Easily access optimized servers: Proton VPN displays server locations, load usage and supported activities. Find servers optimized for streaming, torrenting or extra security. Additionally, all VPN apps include the VPN Accelerator, which can improve performance regardless of server choice and help users with poor internet connectivity.
• Bundle email and VPN services: Ensure your email communications are secure by bundling your VPN with Proton Mail. It provides zero-access and end-to-end encryption, ensuring no one (not even Proton) can view your emails or attachments.

Is Proton VPN Worth It?

Proton VPN customers appreciate the company’s transparency and dedication to online privacy. Most find the VPN apps intuitive, making ProtonVPN suitable for beginners and experienced users. However, recent changes to the free version have left some customers dissatisfied.

Long-term introductory pricing is a good deal and renewal rates are about average for VPN services. Yet, if your main concern is with a vendor’s ownership, history and mission, Proton VPN’s value extends beyond its features. Unlike competitors, Proton VPN isn’t part of a holding company and offers more details about its infrastructure.

The Unlimited plan is also worth it for individuals who want secure storage, password, email and VPN services. The regular monthly price of $12.99 includes 15 email addresses and 25 calendars. You also get 50 digital password vaults to share with up to 10 people. Proton VPN is an excellent place to start if you want to lock down your online presence.

NordVPN Highlights

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Earning Rewards With NordVPN

Along with frequent deals, NordVPN offers discounts for students, healthcare workers, teachers and select others. Indeed, there are several ways to earn NordVPN rewards.

• NordVPN coupons: Check out NordVPN’s discount codes for special rates, terms and limited-time deals.
• Refer-a-Friend program: Invite unlimited friends to subscribe to NordVPN and get free months of VPN service when they do.
• Cash-back apps: NordVPN may partner with some of the best money-making apps, like Rakuten, allowing new customers to earn a percentage back on their purchases.
• NordVPN discounts: The company partners with Student Beans and Beans iD to provide special pricing for first responders, teachers, students, healthcare workers, graduates and military members.
• Credit card rewards: Review your credit card rewards programs to see which offers the highest cashback on a VPN subscription purchase.
• NordVPN affiliate program: Earn commission when YouTube, website or social media followers purchase or renew VPN service via your link.

Other Benefits of NordVPN

• Try the service before making a long-term commitment: If you download the NordVPN app for Android on Google Play, you can test the service free for seven days. Alternatively, the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Leverage a private network: Use your VPN to establish a secure network for remote device access, collaboration or gaming. You can connect up to 10 owned devices and 50 external ones.
• Lower renewal rates with longer billing terms: Prepaying for one or two years drops your monthly cost to $3.99 for the base plan, $4.99 for Plus users and $6.99 for Ultimate plans.
• Supports speed and security: Besides choosing a nearby VPN server, you can pick one optimized for P2P traffic, onion networks or areas with high government censorship. NordVPN has servers for dedicated IP users and provides the fast NordLynx protocol.
• Block ads and malware: NordVPN’s built-in threat protection automatically scans downloads for malware and deletes unsafe attachments. It prevents adware tracking and blocks pop-ups, banners and ads.
• Get peace of mind with cyber insurance: Ultimate users receive cyber protection benefits through HSB Specialty Insurance Company. This coverage includes extortion and identity theft recovery.

Is NordVPN Worth It?

NordVPN customers are generally satisfied with VPN speeds and performance. The apps are easy to navigate and offer nearly every feature users expect, and even a less technical savvy consumer can download NordVPN and improve their security without much of a learning curve. Those who prefer to customize their experience will appreciate options to choose servers or protocols and exclude applications via split tunneling.

By paying for one or two years, your monthly fee for the base plan can be as low as $3.39/month. In addition to being affordable, this entry-tier subscription includes threat protection and access to a large server network.

The Plus package isn’t as solid of a deal if you use free password managers and data breach tools. In addition, the higher-priced renewal fees for Ultimate users can be a drawback. Still, if you’ve researched other cyber insurance options and prefer to bundle services, NordVPN’s dedicated IPs, cyber benefits and one terabyte of cloud storage could be worth it.

Who Is Proton VPN Best For?

Proton VPN is excellent for multi-device households and anyone wanting secure VPN, email and cloud drive services in one. It’s also a good choice for those looking for a free VPN service. Proton VPN is a brand you can trust, whether using the paid or free version (although the free VPN works better for online browsing, not streaming). But if you need VPN apps for Apple TVs and prefer the Edge browser, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Who Is NordVPN Best For?

NordVPN is ideal for streaming on Android and Apple TVs, keeping tabs on data breaches and getting insurance for protection against cybercrime. The meshnet feature supports groups of like-minded people who want to meet securely online, whereas the add-on static IPs offer dedicated VPN servers. However, go with Proton VPN (or another provider) if you wish to inspect the source code or view detailed network information.

Proton VPN vs. NordVPN Differences

Who Should Consider An Alternative?

Even though Proton VPN and NordVPN are top-rated providers, an alternative may be a better fit in some cases. If you need more speed than a free VPN offers but don’t have the budget for NordVPN or Proton VPN, consider a vendor like Mullvad.

Conversely, world travelers may prefer network coverage in other countries. CyberGhost and Surfshark both have servers in over 100 countries, though coverage may be available in locations that aren’t yet serviced by NordVPN or Proton VPN.