Which is cheaper, NordVPN or Proton VPN?

NordVPN, at $3.39/mo against $4.49/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.

Which one has been audited more recently?

Proton VPN, most recently in 2026 against NordVPN’s 2025.

Does jurisdiction differ between them?

Yes. NordVPN operates from Panama and Proton VPN from Switzerland. Both sit in the same position relative to the Fourteen Eyes agreement.

Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026

NordVPN vs Proton VPN

Is NordVPN or Proton VPN better?

Proton VPN scores higher, 90.0 against 84.0 out of 100, a gap of 6 points. It wins 3 of the seven criteria to NordVPN's 2. The best-documented security stack of the four, and the only one you can test properly without paying.

Both are scored on the same seven criteria from the same sourced dataset, so this page and the main ranking can never disagree. The margin is worth reading past: NordVPN still wins 2 of the seven outright.

NordVPN

84.0

The most complete all-round package here, provided you accept closed-source clients and a renewal price above the introductory rate.

From: $3.39/mo
Based in: Panama
Devices: 10
Audits: 6

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Proton VPN

90.0

The best-documented security stack of the four, and the only one you can test properly without paying.

From: $4.49/mo
Based in: Switzerland
Devices: 10
Audits: 5

Visit Proton VPN

We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change Proton VPN’s score.

Criterion by criterion

NordVPN wins 2, Proton VPN wins 3, 2 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.

Weighted criterion scores, NordVPN against Proton VPN
Criterion	Weight	NordVPN	Proton VPN	Winner
Independent audit	20	9/10 (18.0)	10/10 (20.0)	Proton VPN
Jurisdiction and ownership	15	9/10 (13.5)	9/10 (13.5)	Tied
Protocol and crypto stack	15	8/10 (12.0)	9/10 (13.5)	Proton VPN
Leak protection	15	9/10 (13.5)	9/10 (13.5)	Tied
Transparency	15	6/10 (9.0)	9/10 (13.5)	Proton VPN
Price and refund terms	10	8/10 (8.0)	7/10 (7.0)	NordVPN
Platform coverage	10	10/10 (10.0)	9/10 (9.0)	NordVPN
Total	100	84.0	90.0	Proton VPN

Where each one actually wins

NordVPN is ahead on

Price and refund terms. Effective $3.39/month on a 2-year term with a full 30-day refund, but the monthly rate is $12.99 and renewals price above the intro term.
Platform coverage. Native apps across desktop, mobile, Apple TV, Android TV and routers, with 10 simultaneous connections.

Proton VPN is ahead on

Independent audit. Five consecutive annual no-logs audits by Securitum, 2022 through 2026, with every full report published rather than summarised.
Protocol and crypto stack. WireGuard and OpenVPN both shipped, plus a Stealth obfuscation mode for restrictive networks.
Transparency. Every client is open source with published audit reports; signup still requires an email address.

Choose NordVPN if

Households covering a mix of phones, laptops and TV devices on one subscription.

Choose Proton VPN if

Readers who want auditable software and a free option to try before subscribing.

Reasons to pick neither

Skip NordVPN if: You need open-source clients, port forwarding, or want to pay month to month. At $12.99 monthly it is the most expensive short-term option here.

Skip Proton VPN if: You want the cheapest possible long-term plan. Proton is priced as a security product, and even the 2-year rate is double what the budget options here charge.

Questions

Is NordVPN or Proton VPN better?: Proton VPN scores higher, 90.0 against 84.0 out of 100, a gap of 6 points. It wins 3 of the seven criteria to NordVPN's 2. The best-documented security stack of the four, and the only one you can test properly without paying.
Which is cheaper, NordVPN or Proton VPN?: NordVPN, at $3.39/mo against $4.49/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
Which one has been audited more recently?: Proton VPN, most recently in 2026 against NordVPN’s 2025.
Does jurisdiction differ between them?: Yes. NordVPN operates from Panama and Proton VPN from Switzerland. Both sit in the same position relative to the Fourteen Eyes agreement.

Related comparisons

Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.