Proton VPN vs. NordVPN 2024: Who Takes The Edge?

Both Proton VPN and NordVPN are high-end VPN options, but our research found that NordVPN still came out on top when directly comparing features, price, speed, and security.

If you’re looking for a virtual private network (VPN), Proton VPN and NordVPN are two of the best VPN options on the market. Both are committed to privacy with their strict no-logs policies, privacy-friendly headquarters, and additional security features like double VPN servers. They each also have thousands of VPN servers to choose from and a few extra features that make them more appealing than just your standard VPN.

However, NordVPN offers more affordable pricing and a higher number of servers. On the other hand, Proton VPN has a free plan, which could be the tie breaker for you.

We'll go over what you should consider choosing between NordVPN and Proton VPN.

Proton VPN vs. NordVPN at a glance

Proton VPN and NordVPN share a lot of similarities, but they have key differences when it comes to server network and pricing. For instance, NordVPN has a server network with more than 6,800+ servers, while Proton VPN boasts 9,100+ servers. 

Server locations may be important if you’re looking to stream Netflix from a variety of locations or if you need to connect to different countries for privacy. NordVPN offers servers in 111 countries, while Proton offers servers in 112 countries.  

• Proton VPN: Best for a free plan
• NordVPN: Best all-inclusive paid plan

How do Proton VPN and NordVPN compare?

		Our Pick
Price	From $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	From $2.99/mo (billed every two years)
Max # of simultaneous connections	10	10
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more
# of servers	9,100+ servers in 112 countries	6,800+ servers in 111 countries
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, Stealth	NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
	Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review

Proton VPN pros and cons

Proton VPN is a great option, offering the prized combination of speed, privacy, and the ability to access all the top streaming services. Its no-logs policy was even tested in court once, which is about as good as you can get in terms of verifying their claims.

Though it's one of the more expensive options, it does offer a free version that doesn't have bandwidth caps. That said, the free version does come with very limited features, like servers in only three countries and no streaming support.

NordVPN pros and cons

NordVPN is one of the most popular and highly-rated VPNs on the market. It comes chalk full with all the advanced features you'd expect from a premium option, coming out with flying colors against all the test we've thrown at it.

While it doesn't offer a free plan, it does have a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you purchase the VPN and don’t like it. That means your first month is basically a trial run to see if it works for your needs.

Which VPN is the better value?

Overall, NordVPN is the better value, thanks to its huge assortment of features and its ultra-competitive two-year plan. 

		Our Pick
Price range	Free–$9.99/mo	$2.99–$17.99/mo
Best value plan	2-year plan for $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	2-year Basic plan for $2.99/mo (billed every two years)
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
	Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review

If you’re considering either of these VPN providers, you can rest assured that both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try them risk-free. Proton VPN also has a free plan that has limited features, but it could be the right plan based on your needs. 

They both also offer different subscription tiers so that you can select the tier that suits you best. Proton VPN’s highest tier, Proton Unlimited, offers all of its additional features, such as:

• Proton Mail, which allows you to send encrypted emails.
• Proton Drive, which allows you to store documents in an encrypted place.
• Proton Calendar, which is an encrypted calendar feature.

If you’re only looking for a VPN and don’t need any of these extra features, you can opt for Proton’s VPN Plus subscription.

NordVPN’s pricing tiers are a little bit different, but with each tier, you gain access to additional features such as an encrypted drive, password manager, and a data breach scanner. NordVPN’s Standard subscription includes the VPN, malware protection, and a tracker and ad blocker. NordVPN’s Plus and Complete plans add extra features on top of the VPN services included in the Standard plan, such as cloud storage and file encryption. 

When you compare the two VPNs, NordVPN’s Basic plan is the best deal. You get everything you need in a VPN, and the cost is much lower if you’re willing to commit to a two-year plan.

Payment options

You may not have considered how you’d pay for your VPN subscription, but if you’re concerned about government censorship or your overall internet privacy, you may want to pay for your VPN in a less traditional manner. Both VPNs offer the usual payment options, such as credit cards and PayPal. You may also pay with bitcoin if you’re using ProtonVPN or with cryptocurrency on NordVPN.

Proton VPN payment options

• Credit or debit card
• PayPal

NordVPN payment options

• Credit card
• PayPal
• Google Pay
• Cryptocurrency

Which VPN is faster?

NordVPN wins this category thanks to its blazing fast speeds.

		Our Pick
Speed % difference with U.S. server	-15% slower	+45% faster
Speed % difference with U.K. server	-22% slower	+35% faster
Speed % difference with Australian server	-35% slower	+12% faster
	Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review

One important part of using a VPN is making sure that your VPN connection doesn’t drastically affect the overall speed of your internet. We tested both NordVPN and Proton VPN in several server locations, including the U.S., the U.K., and Australia.

Nord took the lead in these tests, actually increasing our speed in all three locations. This can happen if your ISP is throttling your connection or when the VPN connection is more efficient than your raw internet.

Although Proton decreased our speeds with each location, it's important to note that this is a more typical result for speed tests. The amount that Proton decreased our speed is actually not bad, since some of the slowest VPNs can half your speed. 

Which VPN is more secure?

This category is pretty evenly matched, though NordVPN does pull ahead a bit thanks to its better compatibility for split tunneling.

Feature		Our Pick
Number of servers	9,100+ servers in 112 countries	6,800+ servers in 111 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland	Panama
Encryption	AES-256 or ChaCha20	AES-256-GCM
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, Stealth	IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, NordLynx
Kill switch
Split tunneling	Windows and Android only
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
	Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review

These two VPNs have a lot of security features in common. They each use similar encryption and VPN protocols, which means your online activities will be protected with either option. 

To really pick the right VPN for you, it's important to understand how you'll use the VPN. If you’re traveling abroad and want to access Netflix and other streaming services, both Proton VPN and NordVPN will work well.

If you need VPN servers in a specific country or region, you may want to go with NordVPN, which has servers in a few more countries than Proton VPN. We do like that both VPN services offer specialty servers, including double VPN servers, obfuscated servers, dedicated IP servers, and more.

On the other hand, Proton VPN doesn't offer split tunneling on all devices. It's only available on Windows and Android, so if you’re looking for split tunneling with a Mac, you’ll want to use NordVPN. 

Another difference is that ProtonVPN offers port forwarding while NordVPN doesn't. Port forwarding allows you to route connections through Proton VPN’s firewall. This is useful for torrenting and improving gaming performance.

If you’re concerned about overall privacy, each VPN has a no-logs policy. They both also recently went through an audit to ensure their no-logs policy is true. In 2023, Proton VPN initiated an audit with Securitum. The security audit didn't find any concerns with Proton VPN’s no-log policy. In 2023, NordVPN hired Deloitte to look into the strength of its no-logs policy. Deloitte didn't find any instances where NordVPN’s no-logs policy was compromised.

Both Proton VPN and NordVPN offer an ad blocker with additional capabilities. Threat Protection can block ads, trackers, and malware, and even scan for malware and NetShield has the same functionality. 

Which VPN has the better compatibility and customer service?

While both VPNs offered user-friendly experiences, NordVPN has the edge in this category thanks to its better 24/7 live chat service.

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Router
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome, Firefox	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
	Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review

An easy-to-navigate interface is important when it comes to using a VPN. You want to know when you’re connected, it needs to be easy to switch VPN servers, and, overall, it should be an enjoyable user experience. Both NordVPN and Proton VPN had comparable experiences when it comes to the look and user experience of the interface.

From our experience, NordVPN and Proton VPN both worked in a similar fashion and each had a similar interface. Each VPN was simple when it came to switching to different server locations or turning on or off different features. When you compare the two based on compatibility, they both work with all of the popular devices out today.

One great feature of NordVPN is its Meshnet, which allows you to securely connect to other devices for additional privacy and security. This allows for file sharing, gaming, or accessing devices remotely. Meshnet acts as a local network for any device that's connectedd.

NordVPN offers 24/7 chat support, and the site has what appears to be a chatbot at the bottom of the screen. You'll need to ask the chatbot to speak with a representative in order to connect with an actual person, but they were quick and helpful once we were connected.

ProtonVPN does offer chat support , although it’s not 24/7. However, to use this, you have to sign in with your account credentials in order to make contact. While it’s not the end of the world, it was one more step to getting support. Once we signed in, we also were alerted that there were not any customer service agents available, and we had to fill out a form to get customer support.

If you’re just looking for answers to frequently asked questions, both NordVPN and Proton VPN had extensive knowledge bases and online guides. Each VPN support forum was easy to navigate and full of information.

FAQs

Is Proton VPN or NordVPN better?

Overall, after comparing NordVPN and Proton VPN, we thought that NordVPN offered a bit more for the price. With a two-year commitment, NordVPN is cheaper, offers more server locations, and doesn't jeopardize latency as much as ProtonVPN. NordVPN also offers upgradable plans that can include a password manager, dark web monitoring, and more to help keep you even more secure.

There are many different types of VPNs available on the market today. Each offers a variety of features to help make your internet privacy more secure. We found both NordVPN and Proton VPN as great choices for any VPN user. To pick the best VPN for you, make sure you understand how you plan on using the VPN so you have the right tools to protect yourself.

Top alternatives

Want to see how Nord and Proton compare against other top VPNs on the market? Check out three more options below: