Vpn services: Proton VPN 2025 vs. NordVPN 2025
Quick Verdict
Both are excellent VPN choices, with NordVPN emphasizing speed and Proton VPN highlighting enhanced security features.
- Both offer strong security and no-logs policies.
- NordVPN boasts faster speeds based on provided data.
- Proton VPN offers Secure Core servers for enhanced privacy.
Key features – Side-by-Side
| Attribute | Proton VPN 2025 | NordVPN 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Server Locations (Number of Countries) | 117 countries, increased to 154 locations | 117-165 |
| Number of Servers | Over 13,000 (approximately 11,000 in early 2025) | 7,300-8000 |
| VPN Protocols Supported | WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), IKEv2/IPsec, and Stealth | OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx, and NordWhisper |
| Encryption Standard Used | AES-256 for OpenVPN and IKEv2, ChaCha20 for WireGuard | AES-256 |
| Logging Policy | Strict no-logs policy, independently audited. Doesn't log websites visited, traffic content, IP addresses, or session lengths. Securitum audit in 2024 confirmed no metadata logs. | Strict no-logs policy. Does not monitor, record, log, store, or pass user internet activity to third parties. They don't store used bandwidth, traffic logs, IP addresses, or browsing data. |
| Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Up to 10 devices on paid plans | 10 |
| Kill Switch Feature | Available on all platforms. Blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks. | Available and effective. Automatically disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks. |
| Specialty Servers | Secure Core (multi-hop through privacy-friendly countries), P2P (almost all paid servers), Tor over VPN (access dark web sites) | P2P, Dedicated IP, Double VPN, Obfuscated servers, and Onion Over VPN |
| Speed Performance | Retains approximately 88% of base internet speeds on average. Download speeds up to 271 Mbps in the UK and 308 Mbps in France. VPN Accelerator technology improves speeds. Download speeds of 229 Mbps on an Australian server and 183 Mbps on a Japanese server. | Fastest VPN. The NordLynx protocol delivers the best performance. Download speeds of up to 2964 Mb/s in the US, 2760 Mb/s in the UK, and 2820 Mb/s in Japan. Servers near a user's location didn't register speed losses beyond 7%. |
| Customer Support | Online help center with articles, live chat for paying customers (not 24/7), email support | Written FAQs, live chat, and email support. Responsive, fast, and surprisingly human. |
| Platform Compatibility | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Fire TV. Browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome. | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Android TV. Also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. |
Overall Comparison
Servers: ProtonVPN has more; Speed: NordVPN is faster; Logging: Both No-Logs
Pros and Cons
Proton VPN 2025
Pros:
- Bypasses geo-restrictions for streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer)
- Open source apps allow community to find and fix vulnerabilities
- Easy to install and manage across different devices
- Clean and intuitive mobile apps
- IPv6 leak prevention
- Runs own DNS servers to ensure DNS requests are encrypted
- Supports router installations on DD-WRT, AsusWRT, and Tomato firmware
Cons:
- Live chat support is only for paying customers and is not available 24/7
- Using a VPN can drain phone battery faster
NordVPN 2025
Pros:
- Fast speeds
- Large server network
- Strong security features
- No-logs policy independently audited
- Bypasses geo-restrictions
- Easy to use
- Responsive customer support
- IPv6 and DNS leak protection
Cons:
- No major disadvantages reported.
User Experiences and Feedback
Proton VPN 2025
What Users Love
- No highlights reported.
Common Complaints
- No major complaints reported.
Value Perception
- No value feedback reported.
NordVPN 2025
What Users Love
- Speeds were just slightly below the baseline connections without a VPN.
- The service team is really responsive, fast, and surprisingly human.
- The apps are easy to navigate, and setup is a breeze, even on a router.
- NordVPN reliably bypasses geo-restrictions for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
Common Complaints
- No major complaints reported.
Value Perception
- No value feedback reported.