Affiliate disclosure: VPN Vetted is reader-supported. Some links below are affiliate links (marked “sponsored”): if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We rank and recommend by published price, refund terms and audits, never by commission. NordVPN belongs to Nord Security, the same group that owns Surfshark; Proton VPN is part of Proton AG, which is not related to either. We hold all of them to the same criteria.
NordVPN and Proton VPN prices and offer terms checked October 23, 2026, between 01:10 and 01:15 BRT, on the official US pricing pages, in USD, before sales tax.
Verdict in 30 seconds
Pick Proton VPN if privacy transparency and long-run price matter most. Its 2026 no-logs audit report is public, its apps are open source, it is based in Switzerland, and VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year, almost the same as its intro bill. It also has a real free plan for one device.
Pick NordVPN if you want a bigger security bundle around the VPN. Every plan includes scam and phishing protection and Dark Web Monitor, and Complete and Prime add antivirus, a password manager, 1 TB of cloud storage and (Prime) US identity-theft insurance. The trade-off is renewal: Basic jumps from $94.23 for the first 27 months to $139.08 a year.
Both allow 10 devices and offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our opinion: for a privacy-first reader who only needs a VPN, Proton VPN Plus is the safer long-term pick on today’s numbers.
Side-by-side table
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Company and base | NordVPN, operating under Panama jurisdiction; parent Nord Security based in the Netherlands | Proton AG, Geneva, Switzerland |
| Entry paid plan (2-year intro) | Basic: $3.49/mo, $94.23 for the first 27 months | VPN Plus: $3.49/mo, $83.76 for the first 24 months |
| Published renewal (entry plan) | $139.08/year | $83.88/year |
| Monthly plan (entry) | $14.99 | $9.99 |
| Free plan | None on the pricing page | Yes: 1 device, servers in 10 randomly selected countries |
| Devices (paid) | 10 at once | 10 at once |
| Refund window | 30 days from initial purchase | 30 days from purchase |
| Latest no-logs check | Deloitte Lithuania, ISAE 3000 (Revised), report issued Dec 12, 2025 (sixth) | Securitum, fifth consecutive annual audit, 2026 report public |
| Report access | Full report after Nord Account login | Published openly |
| Kill switch | Yes (versions differ by platform) | Yes |
| Multi-server routing | Double VPN servers | Secure Core (all paid plans) |
| DNS threat blocking | Scam and phishing protection on all plans | NetShield on paid plans |
| Network size (provider’s claim) | Thousands of servers, 225+ locations | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries |
| Checked | Oct 23, 2026, 01:10–01:15 BRT | Oct 23, 2026, 01:12 BRT |
Sources: nordvpn.com/pricing/, protonvpn.com/pricing and the support and audit pages listed at the end. US view, USD. Taxes are extra where they apply.
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Privacy, audits and jurisdiction
NordVPN. NordVPN’s support center says the service “is based and operates under the jurisdiction of Panama,” while its parent company, Nord Security, is based in the Netherlands. NordVPN says Panama has no mandatory data retention law, so it does not need to store logs. On February 3, 2026, NordVPN announced its sixth independent no-logs assurance engagement: Deloitte Lithuania ran a reasonable assurance engagement under ISAE 3000 (Revised) between November 10 and December 12, 2025, and issued the report on December 12, 2025. NordVPN does not publish excerpts; customers can read the full report in their Nord Account.
Proton VPN. Proton AG is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Proton says it is not obligated to keep connection logs under Swiss law. Its no-logs audit page (updated June 16, 2026) reports a fifth consecutive annual audit, by Securitum, and the 2026 report is published openly. Securitum’s 2026 report says the technical evidence it reviewed “did not indicate that the examined Proton VPN server infrastructure logs users’ browsing activity, DNS queries, destination services, network traffic contents or user-identifiable connection metadata.” Proton’s pricing page also says its apps are 100% open source.
What this means. Both have repeated independent checks; the difference is what you can read before you pay. Our opinion: for verifiable transparency, Proton has the edge.
Proton’s Secure Core routes traffic through Proton-owned servers in Iceland, Switzerland or Sweden before it exits, which Proton says protects against an attacker who monitors a single VPN server. NordVPN’s audit names Double VPN among the server types Deloitte reviewed. Both are optional extras, not defaults.
Free plan (Proton) vs money-back (Nord)
Proton VPN Free costs $0, with no credit card required. The pricing page lists 1 device at a time, medium VPN speed and servers in 10 randomly selected countries. Proton says the free plan has no ads and no data limits. It is a real option if you need encryption on one laptop or phone, for example on public Wi-Fi.
NordVPN has no free plan on its pricing page. Instead it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee: you must ask for a refund “within 30 days of initial purchase” through its 24/7 support. Purchases made through the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon must be refunded through those stores.
Proton’s paid plans also carry a 30-day guarantee: per Proton’s terms, cancel and request the refund within 30 days of the initial purchase. Cash and bank-transfer payments are not refundable, and a refund can be requested only once per user.
Price: intro vs renewal
This is where the two differ most. Both advertise $3.49 a month on the 2-year deal, but they bill differently and renew very differently.
| Plan (2-year intro) | You pay upfront | First term | Published renewal | Monthly plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Basic | $94.23 | 27 months (24 + 3 extra) | $139.08/year | $14.99 |
| NordVPN Complete | $107.73 | 27 months | $219.48/year | $19.99 |
| NordVPN Prime | $188.73 | 27 months | $296.28/year | $29.99 |
| Proton VPN Plus | $83.76 | 24 months | $83.88/year | $9.99 |
| Proton Unlimited | $191.76 | 24 months | $119.88/year | $12.99 |
NordVPN’s offer terms say the intro price is “valid only for the first period of your subscription.” After that the plan renews automatically, and yearly renewals are charged “up to 14 days before the renewal,” with an email notice first for plans longer than one month. Proton’s pricing cards state both numbers directly, for example: “Billed at $83.76 for the first 24 months, then renews at $83.88 every 12 months.”
Intro plus one year of renewal (our arithmetic, before tax):
- Proton VPN Plus: $83.76 + $83.88 = $167.64 for 36 months (about $4.66 a month).
- NordVPN Basic: $94.23 + $139.08 = $233.31 for 39 months (about $5.98 a month).
- NordVPN Complete: $107.73 + $219.48 = $327.21 for 39 months (about $8.39 a month).
- Proton Unlimited: $191.76 + $119.88 = $311.64 for 36 months (about $8.66 a month).
The terms differ (36 vs 39 months), so compare the monthly averages. On the VPN-only plans, Proton is cheaper over three years. NordVPN Complete and Proton Unlimited cost about the same per month, but they bundle very different extras.
NordVPN’s pricing page shows a Black Friday banner (“Get NordVPN with a next-gen antivirus”), but the plan cards show the 2-year prices above. Prices can change at any time, so check the checkout page before you pay.
Apps and security features (kill switch, threat blocking)
Kill switch. Both have one. NordVPN’s support page describes internet and app kill switches on Windows, a system-wide one on Android 8.0+ and Linux, and equivalent routing-level protection on iOS. Proton lists Kill Switch on its pricing page and on the free plan too.
Threat blocking. NordVPN Basic includes scam and phishing protection, which filters traffic through NordVPN’s DNS servers to block ads and malicious domains while you are connected. Complete adds a next-gen antivirus and an ad and tracker blocker (both desktop only), email link scanning for Gmail and Yahoo (desktop), and call and message protection (message protection is Android only for now). Proton’s NetShield is included in VPN Plus and all paid plans. It works at the DNS level and can block malware only, or ads, trackers and malware.
Identity extras. NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor covers up to 5 emails on every plan (Complete: 8 emails plus phone, card and SSN). Prime adds identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000 and cyber extortion insurance up to $100,000 for US residents except New York, under a policy from HSB Specialty Insurance Company. Proton’s bundle is Proton Unlimited: VPN plus Pass, Mail, Calendar and Drive.
We did not measure speed, so we make no speed claims for either provider.
Pros and cons
NordVPN
- Pros: Six independent no-logs engagements, the latest by Deloitte (Dec 12, 2025); scam and phishing protection on every plan; large security bundle on Complete and Prime; 10 devices; 30-day refund.
- Cons: No free plan; Basic renews at $139.08/year after a $94.23 first term; latest audit report needs an account; yearly renewal can be charged up to 14 days early.
Proton VPN
- Pros: Public 2026 Securitum report; Swiss base; open-source apps; free plan for one device; VPN Plus renewal ($83.88/year) is almost the same as the intro bill; Secure Core on paid plans.
- Cons: 2-year deal is 24 months, not 27; free plan limited to one device and 10 random countries; no refunds for cash or bank-transfer payments; refund can be requested only once per user.
Who should pick which
- Privacy-first, VPN only: Proton VPN Plus. Public audit, Swiss base and the flattest renewal. Our opinion, based on the facts above.
- You want an all-in-one security suite in one app: NordVPN Complete, if you will actually use the antivirus, password manager and storage.
- You need US identity-theft insurance: NordVPN Prime (US residents except New York).
- You want privacy email and storage too: Proton Unlimited.
- You pay nothing: Proton VPN Free, on one device.
- You are comparing with Surfshark: read our NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison and our Surfshark vs Proton VPN guide. Remember NordVPN and Surfshark share a parent group.
For more detail on Proton alone, see our Proton VPN review. On a tight budget, see the best cheap VPN picks. If you are wondering about the law, see is using a VPN legal in the US.
How we evaluated
We read only official pages for NordVPN and Proton VPN: pricing, offer terms, refund and cancellation terms, support articles, audit announcements and ownership pages. We recorded the date and time in BRT and read the US/USD view of each pricing page. We did not run our own speed, leak or hands-on tests, and nothing here is a test result. Opinions are marked as opinions. This is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
Is Proton VPN better than NordVPN for privacy?
On published facts, Proton is more transparent: its 2026 Securitum report is public and its apps are open source. NordVPN’s latest Deloitte report (December 12, 2025) needs a Nord Account login. Our opinion: Proton has the edge.
Is NordVPN or Proton VPN cheaper after renewal?
Proton. On October 23, 2026, Proton VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year and NordVPN Basic at $139.08 a year, before tax.
Does Proton VPN have a free plan and NordVPN doesn’t?
Yes. Proton VPN Free costs $0 for one device, with servers in 10 randomly selected countries. NordVPN shows no free plan on its pricing page; it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
Have both been independently audited?
Yes. NordVPN: Deloitte Lithuania, sixth engagement, report issued December 12, 2025. Proton: Securitum, fifth consecutive annual audit, 2026 report public.
Which has more simultaneous connections?
Neither: both cover 10 devices at once on paid plans. Proton Free covers 1 device.
Verdict
Proton VPN wins on privacy transparency and long-run price. NordVPN wins on features around the VPN. If you pick NordVPN, budget for the $139.08 Basic renewal, or cancel inside 30 days.
Check NordVPN price · Check Proton VPN price
Sources (official pages, checked on October 23, 2026)
- NordVPN, pricing and offer terms (US/USD view): https://nordvpn.com/pricing/ (01:10 BRT, reconfirmed 01:15 BRT)
- NordVPN, sixth no-logs assurance engagement (Feb 3, 2026): https://nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-no-logs-assurance-engagement-2025/
- NordVPN Support, where is NordVPN based: https://support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19441152966161-Where-is-NordVPN-based
- NordVPN Support, kill switch: https://support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19509682644369
- Proton VPN, pricing (US view): https://protonvpn.com/pricing (01:12 BRT)
- Proton VPN, no-logs audit (updated June 16, 2026): https://protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit
- Proton VPN, free VPN: https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn
- Proton VPN Support, Secure Core: https://protonvpn.com/support/secure-core-vpn
- Proton VPN Support, NetShield: https://protonvpn.com/support/netshield
- Proton VPN Support, cancel a subscription and refunds: https://protonvpn.com/support/cancel-vpn-subscription
- Proton, Terms of Service (refunds): https://proton.me/legal/terms
- Surfshark, merger with Nord Security (ownership): https://surfshark.com/blog/surfshark-merges-with-nord-security