Kitsmith / Compare / Proton VPN vs NordVPN
MacProton VPN vs NordVPN
Proton VPN vs NordVPN: verdict, pricing, and specs compared, so you can pick the right one for your Mac.
At a glance
Proton VPN
Free tier available; VPN Plus from $9.99/mo (as low as ~$2.99/mo on a 2-year plan)A privacy-focused VPN from the makers of Proton Mail, with a genuinely usable free tier and a native Mac app.
NordVPN
$14.99/mo billed monthly; from $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan (renews at $139.08/yr, ≈$11.59/mo)One of the largest VPN services by server count and brand recognition, with a native Mac App Store app and no-log servers in 118 countries.
Spec comparison
Proton VPN
- Price
- Free tier available; VPN Plus from $9.99/mo (as low as ~$2.99/mo on a 2-year plan)
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Menu bar
- Channels
- Homebrew · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
NordVPN
- Price
- $14.99/mo billed monthly; from $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan (renews at $139.08/yr, ≈$11.59/mo)
- Pricing model
- Paid
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Menu bar
- Channels
- Mac App Store · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
The verdict
Proton VPN is the one with a real free tier — no data cap, just 1 device and medium speed until you upgrade — so you can try a genuinely usable VPN without paying anything. NordVPN has no free tier at all, but covers more ground once you do pay: 118 countries and built-in Threat Protection (malware, tracker, and ad blocking) bundled into every plan, on top of an independently audited no-logs policy. If you want to test the water for free, start with Proton; if you’re paying either way, NordVPN’s bigger network and bundled protection are hard to match.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Proton VPN if…
- Pick Proton VPN if you want a genuinely free tier with no data cap, not just a trial
- Pick Proton VPN if you’re already in (or want) the Proton ecosystem — Mail, Pass, Calendar, and Drive bundle together under Proton Unlimited
- Pick Proton VPN if the lower end of paid pricing (≈$2.99/mo on a 2-year VPN Plus plan) fits your budget better than NordVPN’s ≈$3.49/mo
- Pick Proton VPN if you only need it on one device and don’t mind the free tier’s speed limit
Pick NordVPN if…
- Pick NordVPN if you want the larger server network — 118 countries, per its own listing
- Pick NordVPN if built-in Threat Protection (malware, tracker, and ad blocking) bundled into the base plan matters to you
- Pick NordVPN if an independently audited no-logs policy is something you want to point to
- Pick NordVPN if you’re paying for a VPN either way and would rather skip Proton’s free tier and its 1-device, medium-speed limits
Proton VPN vs NordVPN — questions people ask
Does Proton VPN have a real free tier?
Yes — no data cap, though it’s limited to 1 device and medium speeds until you upgrade to VPN Plus.
Is NordVPN ever free?
No — NordVPN has no free tier; pricing starts at $14.99/mo billed monthly, or from $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan.
Which is cheaper if I’m paying anyway?
They’re close — Proton VPN Plus starts around $2.99/mo on a 2-year commitment (up to $9.99/mo month-to-month), while NordVPN’s 2-year plan starts at $3.49/mo (up to $14.99/mo month-to-month).