NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Which VPN Is Better for You?
NordVPN is fast with lots of extras but leans on big discounts. Proton VPN has a real free plan and a strong privacy reputation. Prices, renewals and verdict.
Both are reputable, both have had independent audits, and both work well. The difference is in pricing style and priorities.
NordVPN is built for speed, streaming and extras, with big discounts on long plans.
Proton VPN puts privacy first and has the best genuinely free VPN plan around.
Before choosing either, it's worth asking whether you need a VPN at all. We answer that honestly in Do You Actually Need a VPN?
Price: read the renewal line
VPN pricing is famous for big first-term discounts.
NordVPN (as of October 2026):
- The 2-year Basic plan is advertised at roughly $3.25 to $3.49 a month, but you pay the full term upfront (around $80).
- Monthly billing is about $12.99 a month.
- Renewal prices are higher than the intro price. Check the exact renewal amount at checkout, and set a calendar reminder before it renews.
Proton VPN:
- Free plan: no data cap, no ads, one device, servers in a handful of countries.
- Paid plans are much cheaper per month on 1- and 2-year terms than on monthly billing.
Speed and streaming
NordVPN is consistently among the fastest VPNs in reviews and works with most major streaming services. If you want to watch your home country's shows while travelling, it's a strong choice.
Proton VPN paid plans are fast too and support streaming. The free plan doesn't unblock streaming services and is slower at busy times.
Privacy
Both say they keep no logs of your activity, and both have had their no-logs claims checked by independent auditors.
Proton has an edge in reputation: it's based in Switzerland, publishes its apps' code as open source, and comes from the company behind Proton Mail. Read more about that in the best private email services.
Extras
NordVPN bundles extras depending on the plan: malware and ad blocking (Threat Protection), password manager and cloud storage add-ons, and a dark web monitor.
Proton offers bundles too. Proton Unlimited includes VPN, Mail, Drive and Pass.
Our verdict
| You want... | Pick |
|---|---|
| A free VPN you can actually trust | Proton VPN Free |
| Fastest speeds and streaming | NordVPN |
| Strongest privacy reputation | Proton VPN |
| An all-in-one privacy bundle | Proton Unlimited |
| Lowest long-term price | Compare renewal prices, not intro prices |
