NordVPN vs Proton VPN
Proton VPN scores 9.2 out of 10, NordVPN scores 9.0. Compared on price, jurisdiction, measured speed loss and logging policy — the same independent tests we run on every provider.
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Recommended |
| Price / mo | $3.49 | $4.99 |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | Switzerland |
| Speed loss | 6% | 8% |
| Logs policy | No-logs, audited (Deloitte) | No-logs, audited (Securitum) |
| Best for | streaming,torrenting | privacy,streaming |
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes, a full Internet Kill Switch plus an App Kill Switch for specific programs | Yes, standard and advanced modes, all platforms |
| Split tunneling | Yes, Windows and Android only | Yes, Windows only alongside the kill switch |
| Tor support | Yes, Onion Over VPN servers, no separate Tor Browser needed | Yes, built in Tor servers |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard based), OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2, Stealth |
| Encryption | AES-256 with SHA-512 hashing, perfect forward secrecy | AES-256 / ChaCha20, RSA-4096 key exchange |
| Ad and malware blocker | Threat Protection Pro, blocks ads, trackers, and malware downloads | NetShield, over 90% of ads blocked in testing |
| Leak protection | DNS leak protection through NordVPN's own DNS servers | No DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks across 60 countries tested |
| Full disk encryption | RAM only servers instead of disk encryption, all data wiped on every reboot | Yes, on all Proton owned servers |
| Bug bounty program | Yes, public bug bounty via HackerOne, up to $50,000 for critical vulnerabilities | Yes, public bug bounty program via Bugcrowd, up to $10,000 per report |
| Gaming latency impact | Minimal impact; NordLynx is the fastest measured protocol in this comparison | Roughly 120% ping increase, the weakest area |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat under 30 seconds; email replies within one business day | Live chat under 30s response, 9am to midnight CET; email under 24h |
| Money back guarantee | 30 days on paid plans, first purchase only | 30 days on paid plans |
| Server network | 9,500+ servers across 149 countries | 16,000+ servers advertised across 145 countries, physical presence varies by location |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 devices per subscription | 10 devices on paid plans, 1 on the free plan |
| Router support | Config support for Asus, TP-Link, DD-WRT, Tomato, and Mikrotik routers | No native router app; manual WireGuard or OpenVPN config on AsusWRT, DD-WRT, OpenWRT, or pfSense |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extensions, plus native apps for every major platform | Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extensions, alongside native apps for every major platform |
| Works in restrictive countries | Not officially supported; obfuscated servers help but connectivity is not guaranteed | Not officially supported; connectivity in restrictive countries is inconsistent |
| Payment methods | Credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, UnionPay, and cryptocurrency including Bitcoin | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, and Proton credits |
| Business plan | Yes, NordLayer is sold separately as network access for teams and businesses | Yes, Proton VPN for Business is sold separately from consumer plans |
NordVPN
Fastest median speeds in our 2026 logs, though the marketing claims outrun the substance.
- Fastest measured speeds of any provider we compared
- Six independent no-logs audits since 2018 (PwC, then Deloitte)
- Threat Protection Pro blocks malware and trackers at the network level
- 9,500+ servers across 149 countries
Proton VPN
Swiss jurisdiction, open source audited apps, and the rare free tier that is not a bait and switch.
- Swiss privacy law jurisdiction, outside 5/9/14-Eyes alliances
- Genuinely usable free tier with no data cap
- Secure Core routing through hardened Swiss and Icelandic servers
- Fully open-source, independently audited apps