Proton VPN vs NordVPN: which VPN is better in 2025?

Picking between Proton VPN and NordVPN can feel pretty frustrating. Both are super popular, offer solid security, and have loyal fan bases because of their excellent overall quality.

However, when you need a VPN to protect your online activities and unblock streaming sites without slowing you down, slight differences can matter more than you think. You don’t want to find out the hard way that your VPN can’t keep up in areas that matter.

As such, I collaborated with the Cybernews research team to dive deep into these two providers to make it easier for you to choose between them. We tested everything – speed, security, apps, and more. After putting them through their paces, one VPN stood out: NordVPN took the win over Proton VPN. Read on to see why.

Proton VPN vs NordVPN: overview

Proton VPN and NordVPN are solid choices if online privacy is your primary concern. Both are based in countries with strong privacy laws, don’t keep logs, and use top-tier encryption, so you can browse and stream with peace of mind.

But depending on what you’re after, one might suit you better than the other. Proton VPN is great if you’re looking for a trustworthy free plan or want access to a wider variety of server locations. It’s ideal for casual users who need something simple and secure that doesn’t break the bank.

On the flip side, NordVPN packs more punch for those wanting speed and flexibility. It's cheaper if you’re signing up for a longer plan, runs smoother with streaming platforms, and has extra tools like RAM-only servers, Smart DNS, and 24/7 live chat support for quick assistance anytime. If you stream a lot, work remotely, or just want more control over your connection, NordVPN is the better pick.

	NordVPN	Proton VPN
⭐ Rating:	4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
🥇 Overall rank:	#1 out of #41	#7 out of #41
🖥️ Servers:	7,600 + servers in 118 countries	12,600 + servers in 117 countries
📖 No logs policy:	No logs	No logs
💵 Price:	From $3.39/month	From $2.99/month
🔥 Coupons:	NordVPN coupon 76% OFF	Proton VPN coupon 70% OFF
🔒 VPN protocols:	OpenVPN, WireGuard (NordLynx), NordWhisper	WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, HBO Max, Disney+
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
📥 Simultaneous connections:	10	10
💁🏻 Support:	Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat	Guides, FAQs, support tickets, subreddit

Key differences between Proton VPN and NordVPN

Proton VPN and NordVPN are some of the best VPNs on the market. Even so, they have some differences that make them appealing to different users. Let's quickly overview those differences so you’d know which VPN is better suited for you.

• NordVPN is cheaper. NordVPN is more affordable if you choose its Basic plan, although you'll also get fewer features that way. Moreover, the provider has more subscription plans, leading to more flexibility.
• Proton VPN has a free tier. Proton VPN is the go-to option if you’re looking for a secure freemium VPN that’s available completely for free. With NordVPN, your only options are the 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
• NordVPN is faster. In-house tests showed that NordVPN is faster than Proton VPN, thanks to its proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol.
• Proton VPN has more servers. Proton VPN has more servers (12600 servers in 117 countries) than NordVPN (7600 servers in 118 countries).
• Unique features. NordVPN includes Meshnet, which is an entirely unique feature for creating secure LAN networks remotely. There’s also Threat Protection for blocking ads, trackers, and malware. Meanwhile, Proton VPN offers VPN Accelerator, which supposedly increases long-distance connection speeds.
• Proton VPN is open-source. Security experts have an easier time scrutinizing Proton VPN because its apps are open-source.

Proton VPN vs NordVPN price comparison

NordVPN is cheaper overall than Proton VPN, but the features included depend on your chosen subscription tier. However, Proton VPN offers a free plan besides its paid subscriptions, which might be the deciding factor for some potential customers.

Plan duration	NordVPN	Proton VPN
Free	–	$0.00
1-month plan	$12.99/month	$9.99/month
1-year plan	$4.99/month	$4.99/month
2-years plan	$3.39/month	$2.99month
	Check NordVPN pricing	Check Proton VPN pricing

Note. Pricing was last checked in May 2025.

Proton VPN and NordVPN have several subscription tier options, which I will discuss separately. One common feature among the two providers is the 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing customers to get a refund without hassle during the first month of any subscription.

Proton VPN pricing

Proton VPN’s most budget-friendly option is the free tier, which is an excellent advantage over NordVPN. Unsurprisingly, this version has some limitations over the paid plan, but nothing too severe. You have unlimited data, servers in five locations, no artificial speed limits, and no ads. However, you miss out on features like split tunneling, NetShield, or Secure Core. Still, it’s a worthwhile option if you just want the basics.

The second option is the cheapest Proton VPN Plus tier. It’s the go-to option if you only want Proton VPN without the provider’s other products, such as Proton Pass and Proton Drive. The monthly option costs $9.99/month, the annual plan is $4.99/month, and the lengthiest two-year plan costs $2.99/month. This subscription unlocks all of Proton VPN’s features, including VPN Accelerator, NetShield, Secure Core, and more.

The final option is Proton Unlimited, which unlocks all Proton products, including the VPN. The monthly subscription costs $12.99/month, the annual alternative is $9.99/month, and the two-year option is $7.99/month. Besides Proton VPN, you get the premium versions of Proton Mail, Drive, Calendar, Pass, and Wallet.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN’s alternative to Proton VPN’s free tier is the 7-day free trial. It unlocks the provider’s cheapest Basic plan, but there are some caveats. Namely, this trial is only available on the Google Play Store, and you have to provide your credit card details to qualify.

Frugal users should go with NordVPN’s most affordable Basic plan, which only unlocks the provider’s VPN features. The most significant drawback is the absence of Threat Protection Pro. This plan costs $12.99/month when paying monthly, $4.99/month annually, and $3.39/month for the two-year plan.

The second tier is Plus, which unlocks Threat Protection Pro and includes NordPass. This well-balanced subscription costs $13.99/month on the monthly plan, $5.99/month on the annual plan, and $4.39/month when signing up for two years.

The third option is Complete, which adds NordLocker to the previous plan’s benefits. Opting for this subscription will set you back $14.99/month on the monthly plan, $6.99/month on the annual plan, and $5.39/month on the two-year plan.

The final option is Prime, which includes NordProtect in addition to everything from the previous plan. NordVPN’s most expensive plan costs $17.99/month when paid monthly, $8.99/month when paid annually, and $7.39/month when picking the two-year plan.

Security overview: NordVPN vs Proton VPN

Both VPNs provide essential security features like a no-logs policy, AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. The two were also independently audited multiple times to verify their trustworthiness.

Additionally, NordVPN and Proton VPN are based in privacy-friendly countries. It’s also worth noting that Proton VPN is an open-source service, while NordVPN’s servers run on RAM-only servers.

	NordVPN	Proton VPN
Encryption	AES-256 or ChaCha20Poly1305	AES-256 or ChaCha20
Hash	SHA-512	SHA-384
RAM servers	✅ Yes	❌ No
Jurisdiction	Panama (Outside 5-9-14 eyes jurisdiction)	Switzerland (Outside 5-9-14 eyes jurisdiction)
No-logs policy	Audited 5 times, recent audit in December 2024	Audited 3 times, recent audit in 2024
Kill switch	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
DNS leak protection	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Jurisdiction

NordVPN is based in Panama, while Proton VPN is located in Switzerland. These countries are privacy-friendly and don’t have any mandatory data retention laws that would undermine user privacy.

Panama and Switzerland are outside the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes alliances, so you can be certain that the government isn’t requesting that the ISP collect data about users' online browsing activity.

No-logs policy

Both VPNs have undergone multiple independent audits, which confirmed their no-logs policies. NordVPN was audited twice by PwC and thrice by Deloitte, the latest in 2024. Meanwhile, Proton VPN was audited three times by Securitum, also in 2024. It’s clear that Proton VPN and NordVPN are committed to conducting annual third-party audits to maintain their reliability.

Regarding logging, NordVPN is a perfect example of a no-logs policy that is done right. The VPN doesn’t log anything personal, including connection timestamps, bandwidth usage, session info, IP addresses, etc.

It stores only crash error reports and app diagnostics data. However, you can simply opt out of this. NordVPN also uses RAM-only servers, which cannot store any information after being unplugged or rebooted.

Proton VPN is also really trustworthy. For one, it is open-source. The code for its Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux applications can be found on GitHub. When it comes to the no-logs policy, everything seems pretty great. It doesn’t log anything personal, including your IP address, browsing history, session lengths, or location-based info.

Encryption and tunneling protocols

Like most VPNs available today, NordVPN and Proton VPN use AES-256 encryption to mask your data. This type of encryption is virtually impossible to break, which means that using either of the services is completely safe.

When comparing Proton VPN vs NordVPN, NordVPN offers a more advanced selection of tunneling protocols. You can choose NordLynx, a new-generation tunneling protocol developed by NordVPN. Additionally, the provider offers OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, and IKEv2/IPsec, but only for manual setup.

Meanwhile, Proton VPN offers WireGuard, OpenVPN TCP, OpenVPN UDP, IKEv2/IPsec, and Stealth.

Kill switch

Proton VPN and NordVPN have reliable kill switches. During testing, the research team and I forced the VPN connection to drop. In both NordVPN and Proton VPN cases, the kill switch feature worked flawlessly, effectively cutting off the internet connection.

Every reliable VPN should have a well-functioning kill switch. Otherwise, your real IP address might get exposed in case your VPN suddenly crashes.

Interestingly enough, NordVPN has two kill switches: an internet kill switch and an app kill switch. As expected, the latter one enables making a list of apps you want to block when your VPN connection is compromised. On the other hand, the internet kill switch disables all internet access if you’re not connected to a VPN connection.

During in-house tests, NordVPN's kill switch worked really well. There were no cases of accidental IP leaks, so you can be certain of your security with NordVPN.

Luckily, Proton VPN also has a good kill switch. During our tests, the feature successfully cut off the internet connection. However, it was a bit difficult to get the internet back up and running on the Windows application.

DNS leak protection

Together with the research team, I conducted DNS leak tests using the DNSleaktest website. We made sure to enable Proton VPN and NordVPN DNS leak protection. For the test, we preferred the Extended test on the website, which sends more queries (36) compared to the Standard test (6). This test works by sending multiple domain names for the VPN to resolve.

As you can see, I didn't find any address or DNS leaks while using the NordVPN Windows client.

Unsurprisingly, I didn't encounter any issues while using Proton VPN either. This confirms that both providers are excellent options for securing your online connections.

Netflix and streaming performance

My tests showed that Proton VPN and NordVPN can easily bypass streaming service geo-restrictions. Together with the research team, we managed to unblock Netflix and various other popular services, like Max, Disney+, Hulu, and more.

Additionally, NordVPN is at the top of our list of best VPNs for Netflix. This provider is better at bypassing strict geo-restrictions and is overall more effective regarding streaming.

	NordVPN	Proton VPN
Netflix	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
BBC iPlayer	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Amazon Prime Video	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Hulu	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Max	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Disney+	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Youtube	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

During our tests, NordVPN easily accessed Netflix and other popular streaming sites. The service supports streaming on all servers, and the speed results are enough to stream in HD or 4K video quality without stuttering.

Another feature that NordVPN offers is Smart DNS. This feature allows you to watch geo-restricted content on devices that don’t support VPN connections.

On the other hand, when the research team and I tested Proton VPN, we managed to unblock almost all streaming sites, as with NordVPN. Additionally, Proton VPN has optimized servers for streaming sites, so you’ll need to pick them for the best streaming experience.

A significant loss for Proton VPN is that it lacks the Smart DNS feature, so you won’t be able to stream geo-locked content on devices that don’t support a VPN app, like smart TVs. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your home router to unlock content on such devices.

Which is faster – NordVPN or Proton VPN?

In terms of connection speeds, NordVPN was superior in all tested locations. Proton VPN demonstrated good results, offering speedy and stable worldwide connections. However, it wasn't as consistent as NordVPN.

Let's compare NordVPN and Proton VPN speed results using the WireGuard tunneling protocol or, in NordVPN’s case, their upgraded version, NordLynx.

Whichever location you look at, it's clear that NordLynx speeds drastically exceed Proton VPN's WireGuard. This means you won’t have issues with connection speeds or lagging. Meanwhile, there were inconsistencies with Proton VPN, which could eventually lead to performance issues.

Overall, the winner in this match is clear. The proprietary NordLynx protocol (a custom modification of WireGuard) is ahead of many offered by other best VPNs, so it’s no surprise that NordVPN has superior speed results.

Features overview

NordVPN offers more features than Proton VPN. While both providers have Double VPN, split tunneling, and Stealth VPN, Proton VPN lacks Smart DNS and RAM-only servers.

Even though extra features are usually not a VPN’s main selling point, it’s nice to have more freedom to configure your VPN connections. Sometimes, a feature might not be related to VPN usage at all (like NordVPN’s Threat Protection, which protects you from malware and other online nuisances).

	NordVPN	Proton VPN
Double VPN	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Split tunneling	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Smart DNS	✅ Yes	❌ No
RAM-only servers	✅ Yes	❌ No
Stealth VPN	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Double VPN

Double VPN is a feature available with both NordVPN and Proton VPN. With NordVPN, the feature is available as the Double VPN server category, while Proton VPN calls it Secure Core and makes it available only with a premium subscription. It is an additional protection layer, though not every user might need it. Double VPN allows you to connect through two different VPN servers for extra anonymity. When I tried using it with both providers, I discovered the internet connection was much slower. On the other hand, there was no leakage of IPs or DNS.

Split tunneling

NordVPN offers split tunneling on its Windows, Android, and Android TV apps, while Proton VPN provides it only on Windows and Android. Both services offer the same functionality, but split tunneling is slightly faster with NordVPN due to its higher overall speed.

You can enable split tunneling to exclude certain apps or websites from your VPN connection. If you prefer your VPN to encrypt all traffic, you can keep split tunneling turned off.

NordVPN’s version of split tunneling is quite configurable: you can disable and enable a VPN connection for the apps of your choice. However, you can’t configure it with IP addresses. This feature is available in the Windows and Android NordVPN applications.

Proton VPN’s split tunneling feature is also advanced. It allows you to include and exclude apps and IP addresses from the VPN tunnel. Like NordVPN, Proton VPN includes this feature on Windows and Android applications.

Specialty servers

Proton VPN and NordVPN offer specialty servers for accomplishing specific tasks. For example, Proton VPN has Tor over VPN servers. You can connect to the server first and then to the Tor network, adding an extra layer of security when using Tor. Read more about Proton VPN specialty servers in our detailed Proton VPN review. Also, the provider has special servers for P2P connections, so your torrenting experience is more secure and provides better speeds.

Similarly, NordVPN offers Onion over VPN for extra security. It also has specialized P2P servers for optimal torrenting speeds and a SOCKS5 proxy that adds additional encryption to your torrenting traffic, even if you forget to turn on the VPN.

Lastly, Dedicated IP servers allow you to purchase a dedicated IP address. So, whenever you boot up NordVPN, you can connect to a server with a dedicated IP that is exclusive to you. With NordVPN, anyone can purchase this service, which has roughly 18 country options. Meanwhile, Proton VPN only provides dedicated IP servers for businesses.

Exclusive features

It shouldn’t surprise you that Proton VPN and NordVPN offer a few exclusive perks to entice customers.

Starting with NordVPN, the service includes Threat Protection, which grants extra security against ads and malicious files. Additionally, the one-of-a-kind Meshnet tool allows connecting with remote devices to create LANs or share files. Finally, you won’t have to worry about data leaks because Dark Web Monitoring will notify you whenever one relevant to you occurs. Visit our detailed NordVPN review to learn more.

On the flip side, Proton VPN includes VPN Accelerator, which drastically improves connectivity over long distances. Moreover, the service’s apps are open-source, meaning anyone can scrutinize their security and implementation. Lastly, the Secure Core feature routes traffic through multiple servers in hardened data centers across Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden.

Server locations

Currently, Proton VPN has more servers than NordVPN. NordVPN has 7600 servers in 118 countries, while Proton VPN has around 12600 servers across 117 countries. Both providers offer specialty servers, such as obfuscated and P2P servers.

I noticed that the server numbers of these two providers tend to fluctuate, making it difficult to know for certain how long one will be in the lead over the other. Either way, both Proton VPN and NordVPN offer expansive server networks with plenty of options.

Why does a large server network matter? An extensive server fleet helps bypass geo-restrictions, which is excellent for avid streamers. Specialty categories like obfuscated and P2P improve security and performance for torrenting. Overall, a larger server network means faster, more reliable, and flexible VPN connections, making it easier for users to maintain privacy and access content globally.

Which is better for torrenting – NordVPN or Proton VPN?

It’s advisable to use a VPN when torrenting so that your ISP can’t monitor your activity (this is especially useful if your country forbids torrenting) or throttle your connection speeds.

NordVPN offers fast speeds and numerous P2P servers. Proton VPN ensures excellent security and privacy, but it is slower and has fewer P2P options. Both are user-friendly and work well for torrenting, with no issues encountered when testing.

NordVPN technically allows torrenting on all of its servers. However, you’ll get the best speed results and the most secure connections using the specialized P2P servers.

Proton VPN allows P2P file sharing on specialized servers for torrenting. However, you won’t get the best speeds with Proton VPN even on the P2P-optimized servers.

Platforms, interface, and ease of use

Proton VPN and NordVPN have done their homework correctly regarding device compatibility. No matter what kind of device you use, you’ll be able to download a quality app. Both providers support many other devices, like Android TV or Fire devices. However, NordVPN also supports Kodi devices.

	NordVPN	Proton VPN
Supported OS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Other software and devices	Kodi, Android TVs, Fire devices	Android TV, Fire devices
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Simultaneous connections	10	10
Usability level	Easy to set up	Easy to set up

It’s worth noting that Proton VPN supports more browsers. Meanwhile, both providers support 10 simultaneous device connections per account.

Desktop apps

NordVPN's desktop apps are pretty similar in terms of features. Both Windows and macOS applications display a map interface and a list of countries, making choosing the country you need easier.

However, the Mac version still lacks the split tunneling feature.

Additionally, there are two NordVPN app versions for macOS users. The one available on the App Store supports all tunneling protocols, including NordLynx. The one you can download from the website only supports OpenVPN but has more features.

Now, the desktop apps of Proton VPN are quite good, especially the Windows version. It includes the majority of the extra features aside from looking slick and modern. The main window displays a map and tons of information on your connection.

For example, you can see the connection time, the bandwidth you used in the past 60 seconds, and the connection duration. You can also see the server load. However, it only shows the load of the server you’re currently connected to.

Meanwhile, the macOS application lacks some features like split tunneling, IPv6 Leak Protection, and Custom DNS Servers.

Mobile apps

The NordVPN Android app is slightly more developed than the iOS one. That’s due to iOS applications lacking certain features like split tunneling or configurable kill switch.

However, other features, including the map interface in both versions, are the same whether you use iOS or Android. Additionally, you’ll get Dark Web monitoring, pausing, and auto-connect features with both apps.

Proton VPN’s Android and iOS apps are almost identical, except that the iOS version lacks split tunneling or alternate routing features. Both apps have the same map interface, and iOS users can add a Proton VPN widget to their screen.

Additionally, both versions are easily usable and intuitive to learn to navigate. Also, Proton VPN mobile apps can easily rival even the desktop app versions.

NordVPN and Proton VPN customer support

No matter how good a VPN is, you may still encounter a problem. In these cases, helpful customer support (and a convenient way to reach it) is a must. NordVPN exceeds Proton VPN in this round due to better human assistance options.

	NordVPN	Proton VPN
24/7 live chat	✅ Yes	❌ No
Email	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Phone support	❌ No	❌ No
Guides or articles	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
FAQs	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Proton VPN users have two main options. You can either create a support ticket (and get a reply directly to your email) or simply look for the answer in the knowledge center. If you’re a Redditor, you can also visit Proton VPN’s subreddit at r/ProtonVPN. Unfortunately, there is no live chat option for instant replies. I contacted Proton VPN support by filling out a ticket regarding RAM servers, and they replied quickly with detailed information.

It’s even easier to get help when using NordVPN. While the service offers ticket support and a knowledge base like Proton VPN, it went the extra mile by launching a 24/7 live chat that allows you to receive a reply in minutes. I contacted NordVPN support about China, and they responded promptly, providing helpful tutorials and displaying good knowledge.

Video comparison

If you prefer watching/listening over reading, our team prepared a handy video to compare the two providers:

NordVPN vs Proton VPN – which one wins?

Category	NordVPN	Proton VPN
Streaming	✅	❌
Price	✅	❌
Protection	✅	✅
Speed	✅	❌
Features	✅	❌
Servers	✅	✅
Torrenting	✅	❌
Ease of use	✅	✅
Customer support	✅	❌

Our analysis showed that, ultimately, NordVPN is better than Proton VPN. It outranks its competitor in the most vital aspects: speed, price, streaming, torrenting, and customer support. In other areas, the two are on par, which is still a net positive for Proton VPN since NordVPN is the leading VPN on the market.

However, Proton VPN's significant advantage over NordVPN is its inclusion of a free tier. This makes the provider an excellent entry point for anyone wanting to try VPN software without spending money. In most cases, free users will later upgrade to the paid tier to get more features in the already familiar package rather than switch to another paid VPN.

FAQ