AdGuard VPN and ProtonVPN represent two notably different tiers of VPN service, with overall scores of 63% and 89% respectively. Understanding where each provider excels and falls short can help users make a more informed decision based on their specific needs.
On the privacy and security front, both providers share a perfect ethics score of 100%, signaling that neither has engaged in practices considered problematic by independent reviewers. However, ProtonVPN pulls ahead with a perfect privacy audit score of 100%, compared to AdGuard VPN's already respectable 85%. ProtonVPN is headquartered in Switzerland, a country widely regarded for strong privacy laws, while AdGuard VPN operates under Cyprus jurisdiction, which sits within the European Union's legal framework. ProtonVPN also includes a Bug Bounty Program among its verified features, a transparency measure that AdGuard VPN does not currently offer. Both services support WireGuard or similarly modern protocols, though ProtonVPN explicitly lists WireGuard as a confirmed feature.
In terms of performance, ProtonVPN scores 80% for speeds compared to AdGuard VPN's 60%, suggesting a more consistent experience for users who prioritize connection quality. The application scores follow a similar pattern, with ProtonVPN earning 80% against AdGuard VPN's 47%, and ProtonVPN achieves a perfect 100% in the GUI category versus AdGuard VPN's 60%. This indicates that ProtonVPN offers a more polished and user-friendly interface overall.
Both providers support streaming, though ProtonVPN's 86% streaming score edges out AdGuard VPN's perfect 100% in that category, which is one area where AdGuard VPN holds a clear advantage. Both services also offer Kill Switch and Split Tunneling functionality, as well as support for P2P and torrenting activity.
One significant gap between the two providers is customer support. ProtonVPN earns a perfect 100% in this category, while AdGuard VPN scores 0%, which may be a meaningful consideration for users who anticipate needing assistance. Pricing scores are relatively close, with ProtonVPN at 73% and AdGuard VPN at 55%, though specific monthly and annual pricing figures were not available for direct comparison at the time of this review.
Overall, ProtonVPN presents a more complete and higher-performing package across most measured categories. AdGuard VPN may appeal to users focused specifically on streaming reliability, but prospective subscribers should weigh the customer support gap carefully.