ProtonVPN vs NordVPN (2026)
Full comparison based on April 2026 testing. Speed, privacy, streaming, price, and who each VPN is actually suited for.
9.1
ProtonVPN
9.2
NordVPN
Quick verdict
NordVPN wins overall (9.2/10 vs 9.1/10)
NordVPN and ProtonVPN are the two most credible privacy-focused VPNs in our ranking. ProtonVPN is headquartered in Switzerland (outside EU and US jurisdiction) and has open-source apps — meaningful advantages for privacy-critical use. NordVPN scores higher on streaming and speed. The decision comes down to your threat model: speed/streaming vs. jurisdictional privacy.
Score breakdown
Full feature comparison
| Feature | ProtonVPN9.1/10 | NordVPN9.2/10 |
|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| Monthly Price | $3.99/mo | $3.39/mo |
| Servers | 2,900+ | 6,400+ |
| Countries | 91 | 111 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Speed (tested) | 665 Mbps (87%) | 730 Mbps (96%) |
| No-Logs Policy | ||
| Independently Audited | ||
| Kill Switch | ||
| Ad Blocker | ||
| Streaming | ||
| Torrenting / P2P | ||
| Port Forwarding | ||
| Obfuscation | ||
| Double VPN | ||
| RAM-Only Servers | ||
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland (outside EU/US jurisdiction) | Panama (outside 5/9/14 Eyes) |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Who should choose which
Choose ProtonVPN if:
You need NordVPN for streaming (9.3/10 vs 7.8/10 streaming score), gaming, or a faster daily-use VPN with a larger server network.
Full ProtonVPN review →Choose NordVPN if:
You need ProtonVPN for journalism, activism, or high-risk use cases where Swiss jurisdiction, open-source code, and court-tested no-logs are meaningful differentiators.
Full NordVPN review →