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NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

NordVPN and Proton VPN are both premium providers with audited no-logs policies. Proton VPN leans into privacy and open-source apps; NordVPN leans into streaming unblock breadth and faster WireGuard speeds.

NordVPN logoNordVPNWinner
Best for broad feature set and platform support
Long-term plan
$3.49/mo on the 24-month plan
Trustpilot 4.2
Visit NordVPN
Best for free tier and open-source apps
Long-term plan
$3.59/mo on the 24-month plan
Trustpilot 4.1
Visit ProtonVPN

Verdict: which is better?

Pick Proton VPN if open-source apps, jurisdiction in Switzerland, and the Secure Core multi-hop architecture matter most to you. Pick NordVPN for the better streaming unblock track record and faster long-distance speeds.

NordVPN wins on
  • Best long-term price
  • Countries
  • Trustpilot
  • Free trial
ProtonVPN wins on
  • Overall rating
  • Audited no-logs

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN: head-to-head

FeatureNordVPNProtonVPN
Best long-term price$3.49/mo on the 24-month plan$3.59/mo on the 24-month plan
Overall rating4.50 / 54.60 / 5
Server count8900+20000+
Countries149120
Streaming unblocks5 services5 services
Audited no-logs5 audits6 audits
JurisdictionPanamaSwitzerland
14 Eyes allianceNoNo
Trustpilot4.2 (34,500)4.1 (9,500)
Money-back window30 days30 days
Free trialYesNo

Pricing and specs are pulled from our latest data for each provider. Verify current pricing on the provider site before purchase.

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN FAQ

Is NordVPN cheaper than ProtonVPN?

NordVPN is the more affordable option at $3.49/mo on the 24-month plan, compared with $3.59/mo on the 24-month plan for ProtonVPN. Both prices reflect the longest published term; check the monthly rate for short-term signups.

Which is rated higher, NordVPN or ProtonVPN?

ProtonVPN scores higher on our 18-dimension rubric (4.60/5 vs 4.50/5 for NordVPN). The breakdown is in the table above, with weights published on /how-we-rank.

Has NordVPN or ProtonVPN been independently audited?

ProtonVPN has been independently audited 6 times. NordVPN has 5 on record. Audit count and recency are weighted heavily in our privacy scoring.

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN: which should I pick?

Choose NordVPN if broad feature set and platform support; choose ProtonVPN if free tier and open-source apps. The head-to-head above covers price, privacy, streaming, and trust signals so you can match the winner to your use case.

Read the full NordVPN reviewRead the full ProtonVPN review