NordVPN vs Proton VPN
VPN Services pricing comparison · 2026
NordVPN pricing ranges from $3.49–$7.49/month, while Proton VPN ranges from $0–$12.99/month. These products use different pricing models ( vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a Swiss-based VPN service developed by Proton AG, the same company behind th
verified 9w ago
$60
$199
Verdict · Vendr median · year 1
NordVPN
saves
$139
vs
Proton
· 25 seats
Cheapest
$60
Spread
70%
Estimated license cost
at 25 seats
List price × seats. Click a tier below to lock it.
Complete (2-Year)
$1.3K/yr
year 1 license · $4/seat
VPN Plus (1-Year)
$1.5K/yr
year 1 license · $5/seat
What buyers actually pay
median, annual
Vendr deal-flow data. The real benchmark, not list price.
↓ Lowest median
Median annual
$60/yr
Vendr · n=59
Median annual
$199/yr
Vendr · n=23
REF · 01
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Where this data comes from
Vendr · TrustRadius · Reddit · BBB · official docs
Sources
11 sourced facts
7 hidden-cost · 2 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
1w ago
Confidence
Medium confidence
Sources
19 sourced facts
13 hidden-cost · 3 contract · Vendr median · 2 review platforms
Last verified
2mo ago
Confidence
High confidence
REF · 02
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Tier ladder
Click a tier to lock the cost row to it. Locking surfaces a tier-specific Visit CTA.
REF · 04
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
NordVPN
Proton
Auto-renewal
Yes
Yes
Cancellation
30-day money-back guarantee from initial purchase date only
30-day money-back guarantee advertised; cancellation handled via email-only support with reported multi-day delays
Commitment
✓
Monthly billing available; 1-year and 2-year commitments required for discounted rates
✓
Monthly (no long-term minimum); 1-year and 2-year plans available at lower monthly rates
Price escalation
Users report significant price increases at renewal — one user reported renewal jumping from 94€ to 146€ (approximately 55% increase). Introductory promotional pricing for new subscribers is not maintained at renewal.
Users report introductory pricing nearly doubles at renewal; no published escalation schedule but pattern consistently reported by long-term customers
Can downgrade
—
—
REF · 05
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
User reviews
TrustRadius · Trustpilot · G2
Decide
Get a quote from each vendor
Each link opens the vendor's pricing page in a new tab.
Visit Proton pricing
Affiliate partner — does not affect ranking.
License cost is computed from publicly listed plans (real math, list price × seats).
Median annual cost is from Vendr's deal flow when available — see source badges.
Hidden costs and contract terms each cite their own sources. We do not invent composite scores.
VS
NordVPN and Proton VPN both operate in the vpn category. This page compares their list pricing.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | NordVPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (2-Year) | $3.49 /month | Free /month |
| Complete (2-Year) | $4.49 /month | $9.99 /month |
| Prime (2-Year) | $7.49 /month | $4.99 /month |
| VPN Plus (2-Year) | — | $2.99 /month |
| Proton Unlimited (Monthly) | — | $12.99 /month |
| Proton Unlimited (1-Year) | — | $9.99 /month |
| Proton Unlimited (2-Year) | — | $7.99 /month |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
NordVPN
4 scenarios$12.99/month ($155.88/year)
Single User — Monthly Flexibility
$3.09/month ($74.16 billed over 2 years)
Single User — Best Value Basic (2-Year)
$4.99/month ($119.76 billed over 2 years)
Single User — Complete Plan (2-Year)
Proton VPN
7 scenarios$0/mo
Budget-Conscious User - Free Plan
. Limited to 1 device, 5 countries, and medium speeds, but includes unlimited data and no ads.
$2.99/mo (billed as a 2-year term)
Privacy Advocate - VPN Plus 2-Year Plan
Access to 17,200+ servers, 10 devices, NetShield, and Stealth protocol.
$9.99/mo ($119.88/year)
Proton Ecosystem User - Unlimited 1-Year Plan
Replaces separate VPN, email, and password manager subscriptions.
Market Intelligence
NordVPN
- Median annual cost
- $60
- Based on
- 59 deals
Proton VPN
- Median annual cost
- $199
- Based on
- 23 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | NordVPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | 30-day money-back guarantee from initial purchase date only | 30-day money-back guarantee advertised; cancellation handled via email-only support with reported multi-day delays |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly billing available; 1-year and 2-year commitments required for discounted rates | Monthly (no long-term minimum); 1-year and 2-year plans available at lower monthly rates |
| Price escalation | Users report significant price increases at renewal — one user reported renewal jumping from 94€ to 146€ (approximately 55% increase). Introductory promotional pricing for new subscribers is not maintained at renewal. | Users report introductory pricing nearly doubles at renewal; no published escalation schedule but pattern consistently reported by long-term customers |