Proton VPN (founded 2014, Switzerland, non-profit Proton Foundation majority owner) has completed five consecutive annual no-logs audits and offers fully open-source apps. NordVPN (founded 2012, Panama, Nord Security group) has been independently no-logs assured six times, most recently by Deloitte in December 2025. Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on your priorities.
VPN comparison
Proton VPN vs NordVPN: Which One Is Right for You?
By Editorial Team · Last updated 25 June 2026
Proton VPN vs NordVPN: the verified facts
| VPN | Trust & certifications | pricing | money-back | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Since 2014 | Open-source apps + independent no-logs audits | — | — | |
| NordVPN Since 2012 | Independent no-logs audit (Deloitte, 2025) | — | — |
Proton VPN Since 2014
- Trust & certifications
- Open-source apps + independent no-logs audits
- pricing
- —
- money-back
- —
NordVPN Since 2012
- Trust & certifications
- Independent no-logs audit (Deloitte, 2025)
- pricing
- —
- money-back
- —
Only fields we can verify (certifications, confirmed specs, launch year) are shown.
How do they compare on the facts?
Proton VPN was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Switzerland, a jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances and with strong statutory privacy protections. Its majority owner is the Proton Foundation, a non-profit entity, which distinguishes it structurally from most commercial VPN operators. All of Proton VPN's apps are 100% open-source, meaning independent researchers can inspect the code directly rather than relying solely on vendor claims. The service has completed five consecutive annual independent no-logs audits — a consistency record that is unusual in the industry and signals an ongoing, not one-off, commitment to external verification.
NordVPN was founded in 2012 and operates under Panama jurisdiction via Nord Security, which is also the parent company of Surfshark. Panama sits outside the 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance frameworks, which is a meaningful structural privacy point. NordVPN has had its no-logs claims independently assured six times in total, with the most recent audit conducted by Deloitte and reported in December 2025 — a recognised global firm that carries weight with enterprise and security-conscious audiences. Nord Security's dual-brand structure (NordVPN + Surfshark sharing a parent) is worth knowing, though each product maintains separate infrastructure and audit programmes.
Who suits whom?
Proton VPN suits readers who place the highest value on structural transparency: open-source code they (or security researchers they trust) can audit at any time, a non-profit ownership model with less commercial pressure than a VC-backed or group-owned operator, and an unbroken chain of five annual third-party no-logs audits. It also offers an audited free plan that does not monetise user data — a meaningful option for privacy-conscious users who are not yet ready to pay. If Switzerland's legal framework and open-source verifiability are your primary decision criteria, Proton VPN is the cleaner match.
NordVPN suits readers who want a large-scale, commercially mature service with a recent audit by one of the world's most recognisable accounting and assurance firms. The Deloitte December 2025 no-logs report is a strong trust signal for users who are more persuaded by the credibility of the auditor's brand than by open-source code inspection. Nord Security's group structure may matter to some readers — it is worth being aware of — but NordVPN maintains its own audit programme and Panama jurisdiction independently. If breadth of assurance history (six no-logs audits across the product's life) and a prominent named-firm audit are your priorities, NordVPN is a credible choice.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Proton VPN or NordVPN?
There is no universal answer. Proton VPN's advantages are structural: 100% open-source apps, a non-profit majority owner (the Proton Foundation), and five consecutive annual no-logs audits conducted in Switzerland. NordVPN's advantages are scale and audit pedigree: six no-logs assurances in total, with the most recent by Deloitte (December 2025), operating under Panama jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eyes. Choose Proton if open-source transparency and non-profit ownership matter most to you. Choose NordVPN if a recent audit by a globally recognised firm and a long assurance history are your primary trust signals.
Is Proton VPN actually no-logs?
Proton VPN has completed five consecutive annual independent no-logs audits, making it one of the most consistently externally verified services in this category. Its apps are also 100% open-source, so the code itself is publicly inspectable — a layer of transparency that goes beyond audit reports alone. The service is majority-owned by the Proton Foundation, a non-profit based in Switzerland.
Who owns NordVPN and does it matter?
NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, a company registered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that also owns Surfshark. The VPN product itself operates under Panama jurisdiction, which sits outside the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. Nord Security's dual-brand structure is worth knowing as context, but NordVPN runs its own separate no-logs audit programme — the most recent being a Deloitte assurance reported in December 2025. Whether shared group ownership matters to you is a personal judgement call.