Proton Pass vs NordVPN
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Proton Pass is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.7. Proton Pass wins on 2 of the 5 scores, NordVPN on 3.
Privacy-minded people who want a free password manager with email aliases
Travelers and streamers who want a fast VPN that just works
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Proton Pass | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Privacy & Security | Privacy & Security |
| Category rank | #4 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | Proton AG | Nord Security |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Subscription |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Proton Pass better than NordVPN?
Proton Pass is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.7. Proton Pass wins on 2 of the 5 scores, NordVPN on 3.
Which is cheaper, Proton Pass or NordVPN?
Proton Pass: Free plan; Pass Plus is $2.99 a month, billed $35.88 a year. NordVPN: No free plan; monthly or longer plans, with the lowest monthly rate on long terms. On value for money, Proton Pass scores higher.
Do Proton Pass and NordVPN work on the same devices?
Only Proton Pass runs on Web.
Which is more private, Proton Pass or NordVPN?
Proton Pass scores higher on privacy (9.7/10). Open source and end-to-end encrypted, under Swiss privacy law. App Store label: only diagnostics, not linked to you. Google Play lists no data shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Proton Pass
- Free plan has no device or password limits
- Email aliases keep your real address private
- Open source with a clean privacy label
- Free plan caps aliases at 10
- 2FA codes and dark web monitoring need Plus
Proton Pass has one of the most generous free plans of any password manager. You get unlimited logins on unlimited devices, passkeys, a password generator and 10 hide-my-email aliases, so sites never see your real address. It's open source and end-to-end encrypted, from the team behind Proton Mail. Pass Plus adds unlimited aliases, a built-in 2FA authenticator, dark web monitoring and emergency access for $2.99 a month billed yearly.
Full Proton Pass review
NordVPN
- Consistently fast connections
- Reliable for streaming services abroad
- Lots of extras like Threat Protection and Dark Web Monitor
- Frequent upsells to bundles and add-ons
- Monthly plan costs far more than long-term plans
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs, and it's packed with extras. NordLynx connections are quick, servers cover more than 220 locations, and Threat Protection blocks scams, ads and trackers. This year added dedicated servers with port forwarding and moved obfuscated servers to NordWhisper. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited. The catch is constant upselling and a steep monthly rate unless you commit long-term.
Full NordVPN review
