We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
NordVPN is far much faster than ProtonVPN.
Both NordVPN and ProtonVPN use OpenVPN and don’t give you the option of switching between protocols to maximize speeds. However, NordVPN still performs excellently and offers far much better speeds.
During our tests, ProtonVPN cut our download speeds by 42%, which is huge compared to NordVPN’s 19% speed loss. Further, NordVPN connections are more reliable and consistent.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Download speed reduction | 19% (UK) | 42% (UK) |
| Upload speed reduction | 17% (FRA) | 23% (FRA) |
| Ping time to google.com | 25ms | 333.63ms |
| Average time to connect (sec.) | 9ms | 11ms |
| Unblock successful for |
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| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
NordVPN’s server network is larger and more diverse.
NordVPN has the largest number of servers in the market, and we didn’t expect ProtonVPN to even come close. While ProtonVPN has 442 servers spread across 33 countries, NordVPN boasts 5,200+ servers in 60 countries.
You can count on NordVPN to unblock content from any region of the world and for reliable connections. Further, NordVPN servers are not blocked by Netflix and other streaming services thanks to their Smart Play feature.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 59 | 442 |
| Server Countries | 60 | 33 |
| IP Addresses | 2819 | 442 |
| Dynamic Server Switching | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow
NordVPN has superior customer support thanks to their 24/7 live chat team.
Both NordVPN and ProtonVPN provide users with comprehensive set up and troubleshooting guides as well as lots of other important information. However, ProtonVPN fails in that they do not provide live chat support. The only way you can reach the team is by sending an email or filling a form on the website. This will take quite a number of hours before you can get a reply.
NordVPN on the other hand lets you talk to an agent within a few seconds. They have a live chat support team that operates 24/7, and so you can always reach out to them whenever you need assistance.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Email Response Time | 3 | 14 |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
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