NordVPN vs Proton
VPN pricing comparison · 2026
NordVPN pricing ranges from $3.39–$25.29/month, while Proton ranges from $0–$29.99/month. NordVPN is typically 60% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most widely used consumer VPN services, developed by Nord Security,
verified 27d ago
$60
$200
Proton
Proton is a Swiss-based privacy company offering end-to-end encrypted alternatives to main
verified 27d ago
$60
$200
Verdict · Vendr median · year 1
NordVPN
saves
$140
vs
Proton
· 25 seats
Cheapest
$60
Spread
70%
Estimated license cost
at 25 seats
List price × seats. Click a tier below to lock it.
Basic (1-Year)
$1.5K/yr
year 1 license · $5/seat
Mail Plus (Monthly)
$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
$200/yr
Vendr · n=50
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
8 sourced facts
3 hidden-cost · 3 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
3w ago
Confidence
High confidence
Sources
13 sourced facts
9 hidden-cost · 2 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
3w 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
Must cancel before renewal date, but reports indicate charges occur earlier than stated
30 days notice before renewal for annual plans
Commitment
✓
Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available
✓
Varies by plan (monthly, 1-year, or 2-year)
Price escalation
Significant price increases after promotional period ends - introductory rates only apply to first term
Prices subject to change. Legacy pricing locked in if no subscription changes made. New pricing applies at renewal if subscription modified.
Can downgrade
No
✓
Yes
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
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (Monthly) | $12.99 /month | Free /user/month |
| Basic (1-Year) | $4.99 /month | $3.99 /user/month |
| Basic (2-Year) | $3.39 /month | $4.99 /user/month |
| Plus (Monthly) | $15.29 /month | $12.99 /user/month |
| Plus (1-Year) | $5.49 /month | $9.99 /user/month |
| Plus (2-Year) | $3.89 /month | $14.99 /user/month |
| Complete (Monthly) | $18.69 /month | $29.99 /user/month |
| Complete (1-Year) | $6.99 /month | — |
| Complete (2-Year) | $5.39 /month | — |
| Prime (Monthly) | $25.29 /month | — |
| Prime (1-Year) | $8.99 /month | — |
| Prime (2-Year) | $7.39 /month | — |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
NordVPN
4 scenarios$3.39/mo ($81.36 upfront for 2 years)
Individual User - Basic 2-Year Plan
After renewal, expect ~$99.48/year (~$8.29/mo).
$5.99/mo ($82.35/year)
Privacy-Conscious User - Plus 1-Year Plan
Replaces a separate password manager subscription, saving ~$36/year vs buying NordPass separately.
$5.39/mo ($129.36 upfront for 2 years)
Family/Household - Complete 2-Year Plan
Covers up to 10 devices, includes 1 TB encrypted cloud storage and password manager.
Proton
6 scenarios$9.99/month ($119.88/year on the 1-Year plan)
Individual Privacy User
$14.99/month ($179.88/year, or $7.50/user/month)
Couple Sharing Privacy Suite
$29.99/month ($359.88/year, or $5.00/user/month)
Privacy-Focused Family (6 members)
Market Intelligence
NordVPN
- Median annual cost
- $60
- Based on
- 59 deals
Proton
- Median annual cost
- $200
- Based on
- 50 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | NordVPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | Must cancel before renewal date, but reports indicate charges occur earlier than stated | 30 days notice before renewal for annual plans |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available | Varies by plan (monthly, 1-year, or 2-year) |
| Price escalation | Significant price increases after promotional period ends - introductory rates only apply to first term | Prices subject to change. Legacy pricing locked in if no subscription changes made. New pricing applies at renewal if subscription modified. |
| Can downgrade | No | Yes |