Quick answer (July 2026): NordVPN wins on price and streaming; ProtonVPN wins on privacy jurisdiction and device count. If you want the best balance of speed, price, and features — pick NordVPN ($3.39/mo). If you need Swiss-level privacy protection, unlimited free tier, or 10 simultaneous connections — pick ProtonVPN.
TL;DR Quick Answer
NordVPN wins overall — scoring 9.2/10 vs ProtonVPN's 9.0/10. Choose NordVPN for lower price, better streaming, and proven network performance. Choose ProtonVPN for Swiss privacy jurisdiction, free tier, and 10 device connections. Both have 30-day money-back guarantees.
NordVPN
NordVPN
6,400+ servers, PwC-audited no-logs, from $3.39/mo
Score: 9.2/10
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN
9,300+ servers, Swiss-based, free tier, from $4.99/mo
Score: 9.0/10
Winner
Our Verdict
NordVPN
Best for most users — see full reasoning below
→ Read our reasoning
NordVPNVPN · from $3.39/mo (2-year)
6,400+ servers across 111 countries. PwC-audited no-logs policy. Panama-based. Best for streaming, speed, and price. SmartPlay technology unblocks 45+ streaming services.
ProtonVPNVPN · from $4.99/mo (2-year)
9,300+ servers across 110+ countries. Swiss jurisdiction, KPMG-audited, open-source apps. 10 simultaneous connections. Unique free tier with no bandwidth limits.
Verdict at a Glance
Both are premium, audited, no-logs VPNs serving the same core use case. The differences come down to price vs. privacy jurisdiction, streaming vs. free tier, and 6 devices vs. 10 devices.
NordVPN ($3.39/mo on 2-year) is the better all-rounder — faster speeds in independent tests, proven streaming performance, and a lower entry price. It wins for the majority of users.
ProtonVPN ($4.99/mo on 2-year) is the better choice for privacy-conscious users who want Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, or a genuinely free VPN with no bandwidth caps. The 10-device limit also suits families or power users.
Pricing Comparison
NordVPN is cheaper than ProtonVPN at every tier. ProtonVPN's free plan is the only genuine no-limits free VPN among the major providers.
NordVPN vs ProtonVPN pricing comparison 2026
| Plan | NordVPN | ProtonVPN |
|---|
| Free tier | None (30-day money-back) | Yes — unlimited bandwidth |
| 2-year starting price | $3.39/mo | $4.99/mo |
| 1-year price | $4.99/mo | $5.99/mo |
| Monthly price | $12.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous devices | 6 | 10 |
Note: ProtonVPN's monthly plan is actually cheaper ($9.99 vs $12.99), but long-term 2-year plans favour NordVPN. Verify current prices at each provider before purchasing as these can change.
Feature Comparison
NordVPN vs ProtonVPN features 2026
| Feature | NordVPN | ProtonVPN |
|---|
| Servers | 6,400+ in 111 countries | 9,300+ in 110+ countries |
| Privacy jurisdiction | Panama | Switzerland |
| No-logs audit | PwC (independent) | KPMG (independent) |
| Open-source apps | No | Yes (all platforms) |
| Free tier | No | Yes (unlimited bandwidth, 3 countries) |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 | 10 |
| Streaming performance | Excellent (SmartPlay) | Good |
| WireGuard support | Yes (NordLynx) | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Double VPN / Secure Core | Yes (Double VPN) | Yes (Secure Core) |
| Tor over VPN | Yes (Onion over VPN) | Yes (Tor over VPN) |
| Dedicated IP | Available (add-on) | Available (add-on) |
| Overall score | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
Our Final Verdict
After comparing pricing, features, server count, privacy track record, and streaming performance, NordVPN is our pick for most users. Here is the breakdown:
- Choose NordVPN if you prioritise lower price ($3.39/mo on 2-year), proven streaming performance, or you only need 6 device connections. NordVPN's speed benchmarks consistently outperform ProtonVPN in third-party tests.
- Choose ProtonVPN if you want Swiss jurisdiction for maximum legal privacy protection, open-source audited apps, 10 simultaneous connections, or a genuine free VPN (no bandwidth limits — rare among major providers).
- Both are trustworthy. Neither has been implicated in a data breach or logs-exposure incident. The privacy difference between Panama and Switzerland is meaningful in theory but negligible for most everyday users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NordVPN better than ProtonVPN?
NordVPN scores 9.2/10 vs ProtonVPN's 9.0/10 in our editorial scoring. NordVPN is better for most users due to lower price, better streaming performance, and faster speeds. ProtonVPN is better for privacy-first users (Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps) and anyone wanting a free tier with unlimited bandwidth.
How much does NordVPN cost vs ProtonVPN?
NordVPN starts at $3.39/mo on a 2-year plan. ProtonVPN starts at $4.99/mo on a 2-year plan. ProtonVPN also has a free tier with no bandwidth limits. Both have 30-day money-back guarantees.
Which VPN has more servers — NordVPN or ProtonVPN?
ProtonVPN has 9,300+ servers across 110+ countries. NordVPN has 6,400+ servers in 111 countries. Both provide excellent global coverage — the difference in server count rarely matters for everyday use.
Does ProtonVPN have a free plan?
Yes — ProtonVPN's free tier has unlimited bandwidth (no data cap), servers in 3 countries (US, Netherlands, Romania), and 1 simultaneous connection. No credit card required. It is one of the only major VPNs offering a genuinely free, no-strings tier.
Which is more private — NordVPN or ProtonVPN?
Both have independently-audited no-logs policies. ProtonVPN operates from Switzerland (strict Federal Data Protection Act), NordVPN from Panama (no mandatory data retention laws). Privacy advocates typically favour ProtonVPN for its jurisdiction and open-source apps. For most everyday users the practical privacy difference is negligible — both are among the most trusted VPNs available.