NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

The 21st technological advances brought us online streaming. Today, millions of people spend several hours hooked to their preferred streaming services catching up with their favorite movies. TV series, and other digital content. Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer offer an excellent choice of high-quality digital content. But besides all the incredible benefits offered by these services, they have this inconveniencing feature called geo-blocking.

Currently, there are 100s of VPNs available. With each VPN service promising heaven but delivering hell, customers are getting confused every day on how to determine a good VPN service. Before discussing which is a better VPN between NordVPN and ProtonVPN is, let’s highlight the features that you should look in every VPN.

First, a good VPN should have military grade encryption to guarantee data security. The AES-256 encryption is recommended because it is difficult to crack and guarantees data security. Also, before you use a VPN, ensure it has no log policy. That means, your VPN service provider does not share information with their governments. As a user, you must select a VPN that is compatible across multiple operating systems like Windows, Android, iOS and MacOS. And in an era of computing technology, multi-platform support is a big deal in choosing a VPN service to use.

A suitable VPN is one that offers constant speeds that cater to different needs, such as streaming. VPN services throttle internet speeds; and therefore, in comparing two or more VPNs, that which throttles the least comes on top. This VPN service must also maintain consistency in speed throughout a connection.

Also, a good VPN should have multiple servers and server locations. A VPN with multiple server locations is better because it guarantees stable speeds even during peak hours. A VPN service with the most multiple server locations offers users more possibilities of unblocking more geo-restricted digital content. Finally, check the pricing. Ensure that you select a VPN with good features but offers fair pricing.

Laws concerning the use of this software vary from country to country. We do not encourage or condone the use of this program if it is in violation of these laws. The regulation about the use of VPN services varies per country; If the Law of your country forbids or limits its usage, don’t download. Any unlawful behaviour of this software is not permitted. You are solely responsible for any use of the service.

In order to fully cover all the areas for the NordVPN and ProtonVPN comparison, we’ll look at the following areas: main features, which include connection speed, security, multi-platform support, customer support, streaming, and torrenting support; pricing; and ease of use. We’ll also examine user reviews from various platforms such as Quora and Reddit to get a glimpse of the most favored VPN.

The following is a comprehensive analysis of NordVPN vs. ProtonVPN.

Comparing-Main-Features

Comparing Main Features

NordVPN vs. ProtonVPN is a discussion that is not easily settled. Both of these VPN services are among the best in the market, each offering the best streaming, browsing, and torrenting experience. While their individual features might differ a little, their reliability is unquestionable.

Connection-Speeds

Connection Speeds

The number and location of servers are some of the primary factors when it comes to VPN connection speeds. With over 5,000 ultra-fast servers in nearly 60 countries, NordVPN has a comprehensive network coverage that is nearly double that of ProtonVPN. We did speed tests to determine which VPN service has better connection speeds.

When connected to NordVPN, connection speeds drop by about 10%, but on a ProtonVPN, they drop by around 40%. But even with a larger speed drop, ProtonVPN has pretty good connection speeds that can be used for streaming and browsing. On the other hand, NordVPN is good for streaming HD digital content, as demonstrated below:

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

One Reddit user carried out a speed test of the two VPN services and reported that there was a higher speed reduction in ProtonVPN; here are the speed test screenshots of the user:

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

Security

Security

Security is another important feature when doing a NordVPN vs. ProtonVPN comparison. Ideally, as a user, you require a VPN service that guarantees your privacy. Different VPN services employ different security features to secure your connections and data. When it comes to NordVPN vs. ProtonVPN, it is safe to say that both services are reliably secure. But let's dig deeper and see how each one protects your online activities.

First of all, both services use military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to protect data exchanged over a VPN connection, a multi-factor authentication system to protect user accounts, and a kill switch to ensure that your data will not be exposed in case of a connection drop. Additionally, they both have a zero-log policy, meaning they do not monitor, collect or share your private data.

Besides these common security features, both services have individual extra features that make them unique. ProtonVPN, for example, is headquartered in Switzerland, a country not part of fourteen eyes. Hence it cannot be coerced into spying on users. ProtonVPN also uses HMAC with SHA384 for message authentication. NordVPN comes equipped with extra security features such as malware protection, double encryption, and even DDoS protection, something that you don’t find in many other VPN services.

Multi-Platform-Support-and-Simultaneous-Connections

Multi-Platform Support and Simultaneous Connections

The chances are that you regularly access streaming services and other online applications using multiple devices with different operating systems. For example, you may be using a smart TV to stream digital content, and at the same time, a laptop for private browsing. For conveniences purposes, therefore, this means you require a VPN service that supports multi-platform and offers simultaneous connections in different devices. Lucky for you, both NordVPN and ProtonVPN have these features.

NordVPN supports the most used operating systems and devices, including Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux. The service is also available as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. NordVPN supports up to six simultaneous connections. ProtonVPN is also available as a multi-platform service, supporting leading operating systems and devices such as desktops, mobile, Windows, Android, and iOS. The service supports up to ten simultaneous connections.

Streaming-and-Torrenting-Support

Streaming and Torrenting Support

VPNs are mostly used for streaming and torrenting purposes because these are the services that are mostly regulated. The geo-blocking technologies employed by streaming services are quite effective against average VPNs. But NordVPN and ProtonVPN are not average providers. They are both among the leading options for streaming and work well with some of the major streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer.

As for torrenting, it is allowed for both cases, although with some limitations. Not all NordVPN servers allow torrenting, but the service has enough P2P optimized servers to accommodate users seeking to torrent. ProtonVPN also supports torrenting in some of its server locations.

Customer-Support

Customer Support

Customer service is what determines the user perception of a VPN provider. NordVPN has very good customer support services. They have a 24/7 live support chat where users can log in to the provider's online chat room and talk to the support team. NordVPN also has very active email support. While the email support appears a bit slow, it is efficient. Sometimes you might wait for a few hours until you get assistance.

On the other hand, ProtonVPN does not have a live chat, unfortunately. It is something we noticed the moment we visited their official website. But the service has email support.

Comparing-Pricing

Comparing Pricing

Pricing is also a major factor when choosing which VPN service to use. Virtually every major VPN provider prices their services on a long-term basis, for instance, an annual subscription. If you compare pricing plans for NordVPN and ProtonVPN, the former is a bit cheaper – the annual subscription for ProtonVPN’s Plus plan, for example, is nearly double that of NordVPN.

NordVPN
  • 1-month plan - $11,95/month
  • 1-year plan - $6,99/month
  • 3-year plan - $3,32/month
ProtonVPN
  • Free plan - $0 per month
  • Basic Plan - $4 per month
  • Plus Plan - $8 per month
Comparing-Ease-of-Use

Comparing Ease of Use

The installation and usage of both NordVPN and ProtonVPN are easy and go smoothly. The chances are that you won't need any assistance in any of the named processes, but if you need, there are tons of online materials you can refer to. Both providers also offer installation and usage tutorials.

Creating an account and setting up NordVPN is an easy process that only takes a few minutes. After setting up an account, you can then log in using your credential, and you are good to go.

NordVPN has a user-friendly user interface, with a map of all active server locations. You can connect to a server by directly clicking it on the map or selecting from the server list. The server list includes a sub-section that pools together specialty servers that support different activities such as torrenting and dedicated IP addresses.

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

NordVPN also offers many customizable options that you can access from the Settings tab. For other options and advanced settings, you can go to the Settings button at the upper corner. From here, you can activate or deactivate various NordVPN features and manage your connection. You can select security protocols of your choice, enable or disable the kill switch, or connect to obfuscated or TOR servers, etc. Overall, NordVPN has made everything seem simple and easy.

A service like NordVPN is easy to install and navigate through. Their applications are user-friendly. It has an easy-to-use interface, too; it also incorporates a server map from where you can pick a server location of your choice. While ProtonVPN has fewer options on the main page as compared to NordVPN, it still includes essential activities such as Connection tabs, from which you can connect or disconnect to a server.

ProtonVPN’s main page also includes Advanced settings that allow you to customize your connection and activate or deactivate the features that you prefer. From the Settings tab, you can enable or disable the kill switch, enable or disable DNS leak protection, enable or disable IPv6 leak protection, and enable or disable Split tunneling.

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

One of the main highlights of ProtonVPN is that you can develop a profile complete with settings, servers, and features you prefer to be using. This will enable you to connect easily depending on a specific task you want to achieve, and so you won’t have to come back and set it up again.

One thing that differentiates ProtonVPN's user interface from NordVPN is the Session traffic counter at the bottom of the page, which is a good addition.

NordVPN vs ProtonVPN

Summary Overview

Criteria

Overall Rating

4.8/5

4.2/5

Servers

5280+ Servers in 50+ Countries

1,250+ Servers in 50+ Locations

Torrenting/P2P

Yes

Supported Platforms

10
Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Amazon Fire TV / Firestick, Router

6

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Router

Simultaneous Connections

Up to 6 Devices

Up to 10 Devices

Customer Support

24/7 Live Chat + Email Support

Email Support

Pricing

$12 Monthly

Visionary Plan - $24 Monthly

Free Plan

No

Yes

And the winner is..NordVPN

As earlier stated, NordVPN vs. ProtonVPN is a discussion that is hard to settle. However, based on the comparisons we have done, NordVPN is a better option. It is cheaper, has a wider network coverage, and has advanced VPN features. Despite ProtonVPN having some limitations, the service has one thing that makes it stand out – a free subscription.

FAQ

  • Are NordVPN and ProtonVPN Free?

    NordVPN is a premium service without free plans or trials. But it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for those who are skeptical about it. On the other hand, ProtonVPN has a free plan that comes with limited features like medium speeds and a reduced number of servers.

  • Which One Is Faster?

    Between the two, NordVPN is faster. Speed tests demonstrate that NordVPN has fast and consistent speeds with minor reductions for the furthest servers. But while ProtonVPN falls behind, it is still reliable for normal streaming, torrenting, and browsing.

  • Which One Is Safer?

    As far as security is concerned, both VPNs employ the best security features in the market. They both use AES 256-bit military-grade encryption to protect data being transmitted over VPN; they also employ strong VPN protocols such as OpenVPN to secure VPN connections. Additionally, both NordVPN and ProtonVPN have a built-in kill switch that cuts off the internet in case of a drop in the VPN connection.

  • Which One Guarantees Privacy?

    Technically, no VPN service can guarantee privacy, but major providers such as NordVPN and ProtonVPN have in place the most robust security features to protect their users' online activities. Both of these providers have a zero policy regarding user activities; that means they cannot track, collect, or share user information.