NordVPN vs Proton VPN (2026): Which Is Better?
NordVPN is the better all-rounder — faster, far stronger for streaming, with a more complete app. Proton VPN is the better choice if privacy is the reason you are buying: Swiss jurisdiction, foundation ownership, open-source audited apps, Secure Core, and port forwarding that NordVPN lacks. Proton also has the only free plan we recommend. Pick by what you want the VPN for.
Who wins each category
- Privacy & securityProton VPNNordVPN 9.6 · Proton 9.8
- SpeedNordVPNNordVPN 9.8 · Proton 8.6
- StreamingNordVPNNordVPN 9.8 · Proton 8.4
- Apps & easeNordVPNNordVPN 9.5 · Proton 8.8
- ValueNordVPNNordVPN 9.4 · Proton 8.9
Sub-scores from this month's tests; weights are privacy & security 30%, speed 25%, streaming 15%, apps & ease 15%, value 15%. Methodology
Choose NordVPN if…
- Streaming is a priority — 14 of 14 services against Proton's 11
- You want the fastest speeds, especially to distant servers
- You want a dedicated IP, Meshnet or Threat Protection Pro
Choose Proton VPN if…
- Privacy credentials matter most: Swiss, open-source, foundation-owned
- You torrent and want port forwarding included
- You want a safe free plan before committing
NordVPN vs Proton VPN: the numbers
 NordVPN |  Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.7 | 8.9 |
| Rank · badge | #1 · Top rated overall | #4 · Best free tier |
| 2-year price / mo | $3.39 | $4.49 |
| 1-year price / mo | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Monthly price | $12.99 | $9.99 |
| Renewal | renews at the 1-year rate | renews at the same rate |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | 10 |
| Avg download speed | 712 Mbps | 541 Mbps |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | Switzerland |
| Owner | Nord Security | Proton AG (Proton Foundation) |
| No-logs audit | Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 | Securitum no-logs audit, 2024 |
| Servers | 7,400+ in 118 countries | 12,000+ in 117 countries |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| Torrenting | P2P allowed on dedicated P2P servers | P2P allowed on P2P servers (paid plans) |
| Free plan | No | no data cap, no ads, 1 device, auto-chosen country |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre | email, help centre, live chat (paid plans) |
| Visit NordVPN | Visit Proton VPN |
Full reviews: NordVPN · Proton VPN
What each one actually costs
The advertised rate covers the first term only. These are the totals once the renewal is counted.
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan priced | 24-month plan | 24-month plan |
| Intro rate / mo | $3.39 | $4.49 |
| Then renews at / mo | $4.99 (+47%) | $4.49 — no jump |
| First term, up front | $81.36 | $107.76 |
| Total over 3 years | $141.24 | $161.64 |
| True cost / mo over 3 years | $3.92 | $4.49 |
| Money-back | 30 days — we got ours in 4 days | 30 days — pro-rated refund, processed in 5 days |
| Check NordVPN price | Check Proton VPN price |
NordVPN is cheaper both ways — lower to start and $20.40 less across three years once the renewals are counted. Same arithmetic as our price calculator: the first term at the advertised rate, every month after it at the rate the provider publishes for renewals.
Speed by region
Download on a 940 Mbps line, 3 runs per server, median reported. Highlighted cell = fastest.
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| US East | 771 Mbps | 602 Mbps |
| UK | 742 Mbps | 576 Mbps |
| Singapore | 668 Mbps | 498 Mbps |
| Australia | 667 Mbps | 488 Mbps |
| Added latency | +4 ms | +9 ms |
Streaming, service by service
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Unblocked | 14 of 14 | 11 of 14 |
| Netflix US | ||
| Netflix UK | ||
| Netflix JP | ||
| Netflix CA | ||
| Netflix AU | ||
| Prime Video | ||
| Disney+ | ||
| Hulu | ||
| Max | ||
| Paramount+ | ||
| Peacock | ||
| BBC iPlayer | ||
| ITVX | ||
| DAZN |
Security features
| NordVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunnelling | ||
| Obfuscation / stealth | ||
| Port forwarding | ||
| Dedicated IP | ||
| Ad & tracker blocking | ||
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | ||
| RAM-only servers | ||
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers |
Has the no-logs promise ever been tested?
Every VPN on this page says it keeps no logs. The claim only means something once someone has demanded the data — a police raid, a court order, a subpoena. Here is what happened to each of these two when that came up, and what it means if it never has.
- NordVPNNever tested
No police raid, court order or subpoena against NordVPN has been made public. That is not a mark against it — most providers have never been asked — but it does mean the policy has never had to hold up under pressure.
Audit: Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 · Panama
- Proton VPNHeld
Fought data requests in court. The claim held — there was nothing useful to hand over. That is the one form of proof no audit can give you, because it happened under real pressure rather than on a scheduled visit.
Audit: Securitum no-logs audit, 2024 · Switzerland
What each one is our top pick for
One of these scores higher overall, which does not make it the right buy for every job. These are the use cases where each one comes first on its own list.
- NordVPN16 categories
- Proton VPN2 categories
No data cap, no ads, no logs, open-source apps on every platform. Limits: one device, an auto-chosen country, no streaming or P2P.
Questions
Is Proton VPN better than NordVPN?
For privacy purists, arguably yes — open-source apps, Swiss law and Secure Core. For everything else NordVPN measured better: faster, more streaming services, more polished apps. Both are audited no-logs providers.
Is Proton VPN's free plan better than paying for NordVPN?
It is the best free VPN, but it does not do streaming or torrenting and is limited to one device. If you need either, NordVPN's 30-day refund is the cheaper way to test the real thing.
Which is faster, NordVPN or Proton VPN?
NordVPN — 712 Mbps against 541 Mbps average in our tests, with a bigger gap on Singapore and Australia servers.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Scores and the winner are decided by the tests before any commercial consideration. Disclosure