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Developer Tools · head to head

Pieces for Developers vs ProtonVPN

Pieces for Developers logo

Pieces for Developers

Developer Tools

AI-powered memory layer that captures and organizes developer work

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
ProtonVPN logo

ProtonVPN

Cybersecurity

High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pieces for Developers requires installing and running a background desktop app rather than being purely cloud-based.; ProtonVPN free plan limited to one device at a time
  • They diverge on capability: Pieces for Developers covers Activity Timeline, ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pieces for Developers and ProtonVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Pieces for Developers and ProtonVPN differ
AttributePieces for DevelopersProtonVPN
Platformswindows, mac, linuxWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity
Founded20182014

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

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 Pieces for Developers

  • Activity Timeline
  • Conversational Search
  • Artifact Generation
  • Cross-tool Integration
  • MCP Server
  • On-device Storage

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.

Pieces for Developers

  • Recalling code snippets and context from earlier work sessionsnot ProtonVPN
  • Generating standup updates automatically from captured activitynot ProtonVPN
  • Feeding long-term memory into AI coding assistants via MCPnot ProtonVPN
  • Searching past research and meeting notes conversationallynot ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN

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

Where each one falls short

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

Pieces for Developers

  • Requires installing and running a background desktop app rather than being purely cloud-based.
  • Free tier trial of Pro features requires a credit card and reverts after 7 days.
  • Local-first storage means memory is not automatically synced across multiple machines without Enterprise controls.
  • Effectiveness depends on the breadth of integrations enabled, which adds setup overhead.

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

Pieces for Developers

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic capture and search
    • 7-day trial of Pro features
  • Pro$18.99/month
    • Long-term on-device memory
    • Cross-app capture
    • Single-click summaries and recaps
  • Enterprise$22.99/month
    • All Pro features
    • Organization-wide capture and feature controls
    • Approved AI providers and custom API keys

ProtonVPN

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ProtonVPN review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Pieces for Developers if

  • You need activity timeline.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want conversational search.
Pieces for Developers 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 Pieces for Developers or ProtonVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Pieces for Developers 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, Pieces for Developers or ProtonVPN?
Pieces for Developers starts at Free and ProtonVPN at Free.
Does Pieces for Developers or ProtonVPN run on more platforms?
Pieces for Developers runs on windows, mac, linux. ProtonVPN runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Pieces for Developers for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Pieces for Developers best used for?
Pieces for Developers is most often used for recalling code snippets and context from earlier work sessions, generating standup updates automatically from captured activity, feeding long-term memory into ai coding assistants via mcp, searching past research and meeting notes conversationally. Of those, recalling code snippets and context from earlier work sessions and generating standup updates automatically from captured activity are not what ProtonVPN is typically brought in for.
What can Pieces for Developers do that ProtonVPN cannot?
Pieces for Developers covers Activity Timeline, Conversational Search, Artifact Generation, Cross-tool Integration. ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy, Secure Core, Kill Switch, DNS leak protection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pieces for Developers: Does Pieces store my data in the cloud?

Pieces stores captured data on-device by default, giving users granular controls to pause, disable or delete captures rather than relying solely on cloud storage.

Source
Pieces for Developers: Is there a free plan for Pieces?

Pieces does not offer a permanently free plan; new users instead get a 7-day free trial on any plan, which requires a credit card to start.

Source
Pieces for Developers: What does the Pro plan cost?

Pro is $18.99 per month billed monthly, with roughly a 25% discount available when billed yearly.

Source
Pieces for Developers: What does the Enterprise plan add?

Enterprise costs $22.99 per month (or $69.99 per quarter) and adds organization-wide admin controls, approved AI providers, and governance over captured data.

Source
Pieces for Developers: Can I cancel my Pieces subscription?

Yes, users can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime from account settings, and all plans include a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Source
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