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Security & Cybersecurity · head to head

Cisco Duo vs ProtonVPN

Cisco Duo logo

Cisco Duo

Security & Cybersecurity

Trusted access for all users, all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProtonVPN logo

ProtonVPN

Security & Cybersecurity

High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cisco Duo free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users; ProtonVPN free plan limited to one device at a time

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cisco Duo and ProtonVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Cisco Duo and ProtonVPN differ
AttributeCisco DuoProtonVPN
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & Cybersecurity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cisco Duo

Nothing recorded that ProtonVPN does not also cover.

Only in ProtonVPN

  • No-logs policy
  • Secure Core
  • Kill Switch
  • DNS leak protection
  • Tor over VPN
  • Split tunneling
  • NetShield ad-blocker
  • VPN Accelerator

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cisco Duo

No use cases recorded yet. See the Cisco Duo review.

ProtonVPN

  • Privacy-focused browsing without subscription costnot Cisco Duo
  • Multi-device protection with Plus plan supporting 10 devicesnot Cisco Duo
  • Integrated access to Proton email and cloud services via Unlimited plannot Cisco Duo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cisco Duo

  • Free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users
  • Licenses cannot be bought individually above the free tier: under 100 users they are sold in increments of 10, and over 100 users in increments of 25
  • Duo Premier, the top tier with the most adaptive access controls, costs $9 per user per month on top of the per-increment purchase requirement

ProtonVPN

  • Free plan limited to one device at a time
  • Free plan restricted to 10 countries with random selection
  • Pricing amounts not clearly published; shown as variable

Pricing, plan by plan

Cisco Duo

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.

ProtonVPN

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ProtonVPN review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cisco Duo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cisco Duo review

Choose ProtonVPN if

  • You need no-logs policy.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want secure core.
ProtonVPN review

Questions people ask

Is Cisco Duo or ProtonVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Cisco Duo starts at Free and ProtonVPN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cisco Duo or ProtonVPN?
Cisco Duo starts at Free and ProtonVPN at Free.
Does Cisco Duo or ProtonVPN run on more platforms?
Cisco Duo runs on Web. ProtonVPN runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Cisco Duo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Cisco Duo do that ProtonVPN cannot?
ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy, Secure Core, Kill Switch, DNS leak protection.
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Related pages

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