Which VPN Ought to You Select?

As two privacy-focused VPNs, each NordVPN and Proton VPN supply robust options that might make it onerous to decide on one answer over the opposite.

NordVPN offers an throughout service with an intensive server community and reliably quick VPN efficiency. Then again, Proton VPN operates in privacy-friendly Switzerland and provides a beneficiant free VPN, which may entice budget-oriented customers.

On this article, we check out which VPN is finest for you and your group.

• NordVPN: Finest for many companies that desire a feature-packed VPN that provides a geographically various server suite and quick VPN speeds.
• Proton VPN: Finest for particular person customers who desire a privacy-centric VPN with a devoted free model that may very well be used long-term.

NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Comparability

Each VPNs embrace the identical quantity of simultaneous system connections and beginning worth. They do differ of their respective server suite and free trial entry.

NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Pricing

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN’s paid plans have three tiers, with every tier having a month-to-month, an annual and a two-year plan possibility. The tiers are NordVPN Fundamental, Plus and Final — with Final having essentially the most options out of the bunch.

SEE: How to Run a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)

Under is an outline of pricing and have variations with every tier:

Personally, I believe the NordVPN Plus plan for one 12 months at $5.99 monthly is the perfect package deal among the many three plans. It provides you extra safety features on prime of the VPN whereas nonetheless not going overboard when it comes to the month-to-month payment.

Whereas I’m glad NordVPN has a seven-day free trial, I discover it unlucky that it’s solely out there by way of its Android cellular app. This makes it tough for iOS and iPhone customers who’re presumably fascinated about test-driving NordVPN. Hopefully, NordVPN makes its trial out there for each iOS and Android customers, opening it as much as extra customers, no matter their smartphone preferences.

Fortunately, customers can attempt NordVPN on desktop after accessing the free trial on Android — which is how I examined NordVPN’s premium subscription.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full NordVPN review.

Proton VPN pricing

As compared, Proton VPN has two tiers for its paid service and a devoted free model. Its paid plans are referred to as Proton VPN Plus and Limitless, each with month-to-month, annual and two-year contract choices.

Whereas Proton VPN doesn’t have a free trial of its paid tiers, I like the way it offers a full free model of its VPN service. This allows customers to get a glimpse of its VPN with none preliminary cost or subscription.

The free model itself is restricted in that it solely offers you entry to 5 international locations and slower speeds. Nonetheless, it’s beneficiant given the way it offers limitless bandwidth and information — one thing that isn’t widespread on different free VPNs. As compared, NordVPN doesn’t presently supply any kind of free model.

By way of its paid plans, I discover the Plus subscription for one 12 months to be the perfect worth. Whereas not essentially the most inexpensive, it’s nonetheless on par with NordVPN’s equal beginning subscription at $4.99 monthly. You get Proton’s VPN service, together with the total server fleet, with out the opposite Proton companies within the Limitless tier which will or is probably not of use to you.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full Proton VPN review and see this guide on how to use Proton VPN.

NordVPN vs Proton VPN: Characteristic comparability

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

Each NordVPN and Proton VPN have VPN protocols that present combine between pace and safety. NordVPN provides the OpenVPN protocol and its proprietary NordLynx protocol primarily based on WireGuard. Then again, Proton VPN carries OpenVPN, WireGuard and its personal Stealth protocol constructed to disguise VPN use.

To me, a contemporary VPN ought to a minimum of have the security-focused OpenVPN protocol and the speed-oriented WireGuard protocol. Fortuitously, we get variations of each with NordVPN and Proton VPN.

SEE: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Is Best? (TechRepublic)

Each VPNs additionally include top-grade encryption algorithms, equipping their software program with AES-256 encryption. AES-256 is taken into account the usual for safeguarding consumer information, utilized by authorities businesses, banks and navy establishments to maintain delicate info safe in opposition to malicious actors.

VPN server community and areas

Winner: NordVPN

For servers, NordVPN has the sting over Proton VPN. As of July 2024, NordVPN presently has 6,400+ servers throughout 111 international locations. In distinction, Proton VPN provides entry to six,300+ servers in 100 international locations.

Whereas the distinction in server rely is negligible, I discover extra worth in NordVPN having a further 11 extra international locations over Proton VPN. That is essential as a result of one of many essential makes use of of a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material.

With the upper nation rely, customers and companies could have extra location choices to select from in terms of unblocking.

Third-party audits and observe file

Winner: Proton VPN

So far as general observe file and third-party audits go, I’m giving the win to Proton VPN. Whereas each VPN suppliers have undergone intensive and up to date unbiased audits, I really feel Proton VPN offers extra transparency to the general public in terms of audit outcomes.

As of July 2024, Proton VPN has completed its third consecutive independent audit, confirming its no-logs coverage. On the flipside, NordVPN has undergone four independent security audits confirming the identical.

The distinction lies in how they share their respective audit outcomes. In its most up-to-date audit, NordVPN opted to not share the total outcomes to make sure the findings weren’t “taken out of context or misunderstood” — offering full entry to the report solely to these with a NordVPN account.

SEE: 4 Best Free VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)

Then again, Proton VPN offers a full hyperlink to its 2024 Securitum security audit. The audit outcomes are accessible to each the general public and official Proton VPN customers.

I actually commend Proton VPN right here, showcasing its robust dedication to maintaining customers knowledgeable about its service’s efficiency, good or dangerous. Whereas NordVPN’s suite of audits is stable in its personal proper, I’ve to provide this spherical to Proton VPN for its transparency.

Standout options

Winner: NordVPN

For standout options, NordVPN wins over Proton VPN. Apart from its essential VPN service, NordVPN features a ton of safety and privacy-focused options that make it a compelling safety instrument for companies.

For instance, it has its Meshnet function that lets customers create their very own personal encrypted community, permitting them to share recordsdata or entry different units extra securely.

I personally like this double VPN function that routes the consumer’s connection to 2 completely different VPN server areas, offering a further layer of safety alongside the encrypted VPN connection.

Different options embrace a built-in malware, net tracker and advert blocker, in addition to a darkish net monitor to maintain observe of compromised credentials, amongst different safety capabilities.

SEE: Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet Speed? (TechRepublic)

That isn’t to say Proton VPN doesn’t have its personal standout inclusions. A spotlight for me is its Swiss-based privateness. Whereas not a software program function per se, Proton VPN’s operations are primarily based in Switzerland, a rustic with a number of the strongest privateness legal guidelines on the planet. Which means Proton customers gained’t have to fret about their information being illegally accessed.

It additionally has a novel Stealth VPN protocol that makes use of obfuscation know-how to masks your VPN visitors, making it seem to be you aren’t related by way of a VPN. This may be essential for customers in restrictive areas that don’t essentially permit VPNs.

Total, whereas Proton VPN consists of helpful privacy-focused options, I give the benefit to NordVPN for its intensive suite of extra performance on prime of its essential VPN capabilities.

Efficiency and pace

Winner: NordVPN

In relation to pace, I’ve to provide NordVPN the benefit. Throughout my testing, I related to each VPNs and did my typical workflow as a author. This concerned having a number of tabs open for analysis, attending on-line video conferences, utilizing Google Workspace apps like Docs and Drive and streaming the occasional 1080p YouTube video.

Per my expertise, I had extra steady speeds with NordVPN in comparison with Proton VPN. Whereas I anticipated a lower in pace whereas related to a NordVPN server in comparison with my web service supplier, I truthfully felt zero to little distinction in pace.

SEE: How Much Does a VPN Cost? + Savings Tips (TechRepublic)

As compared, Proton VPN additionally supplied decently quick speeds. Nonetheless, I did really feel NordVPN had that slight edge when it comes to consistency and general reliability with its connection.

In case your precedence is having the perfect speeds, I discover NordVPN to be the higher alternative out of the 2.

Ease of use and design

Winner: NordVPN

For consumer expertise, ease of use and design, NordVPN is my winner. NordVPN makes use of a minimalist, light-themed consumer interface that’s simple on the eyes and intuitive to navigate.

It has a sidebar on the left that neatly organizes all its essential options and helps present a clear interface that doesn’t really feel cluttered, regardless of the variety of options it homes.

In the meantime, Proton VPN adopts a darker themed desktop software that I discover a bit much less organized in comparison with NordVPN. Whereas the app itself performs properly, I believe there’s a bit an excessive amount of happening with its desktop app that might confuse customers.

I personally assume it may do a greater job of organizing its options into separate menus as an alternative  of its present iteration the place it has a number of buttons on a single web page. For instance, if we have a look at Proton VPN’s sidebar, we get a Nations and Profiles tab, three function buttons, a search menu and the server record multi functional place.

Personally, I believe having all these options in a single part makes Proton VPN really feel a bit cluttered and disorganized. In distinction, NordVPN has a devoted tab for every of its options, together with its server record, Meshnet instrument and different options.

With this, I really feel it helps make NordVPN the better VPN to make use of out of the field. That is particularly essential for newcomers who is probably not aware of how VPNs work.

Simultaneous system connections

Winner: Tie

Wanting into simultaneous system connections, NordVPN and Proton VPN are tied. Each VPNs permit for as much as 10 units to be concurrently related to their VPN servers.

Whereas I might have most well-liked being able to attach a vast variety of units, like Private Internet Access VPN or Surfshark VPN, I believe 10 units remains to be a adequate quantity for many companies and customers. It will permit most organizations to have a handful of smartphones, laptops and different units related to a VPN server all on the identical time.

NordVPN execs and cons

Professionals

• Servers in 111 international locations, with 6,400+ servers.
• Effectively-designed and intuitive desktop software.
• Consists of quite a lot of security-focused extra options.

Cons

• Full audit outcomes require a NordVPN account.
• Free trial solely accessible by way of Android.
• No free model.

Proton VPN execs and cons

Professionals

• Primarily based in privacy-friendly Switzerland.
• Extra clear audit outcomes.
• Has a free model with limitless information.

Cons

• Desktop app may very well be streamlined.
• Fewer nation areas in comparison with NordVPN.

Ought to your group use NordVPN or Proton VPN?

For many companies, I like to recommend going with NordVPN. It has a extra intensive 111-country server community, a bevy of extra privacy-focused options and an easy-to-use and well-designed VPN software.

I additionally actually like NordVPN for its general quick and constant VPN speeds, which offered virtually zero real-world drop in efficiency in comparison with my ISP.

This isn’t to dismiss Proton VPN. I really feel Proton VPN is an efficient alternative for newcomers who wish to attempt a free VPN with none information or bandwidth restrictions.

Proton VPN can be an important possibility for customers who’re notably frightened about authorities surveillance. As a Switzerland-based firm, it operates in a privacy-friendly nation that may supply peace of thoughts to companies and customers with privateness issues.

Methodology

My head-to-head match-up of NordVPN and Proton VPN concerned an in-depth evaluation of each VPN’s options, real-world efficiency and worth.

To judge every VPN, each companies have been scored on all the pieces from their server networks to their pricing. Particularly, I took into consideration 5 essential pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer help (30%).
• Skilled evaluation (5%).

I additionally regarded into actual consumer suggestions and respected opinions to spherical out my remaining suggestions for each NordVPN and Proton VPN.

For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows laptop and ran them by Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I additionally thought of which forms of companies or particular person customers would finest profit from both NordVPN or Proton VPN.