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Software · head to head

ProtonVPN vs Cisco Duo

ProtonVPN logo

ProtonVPN

Software

High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cisco Duo logo

Cisco Duo

Software

Trusted access for all users, all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ProtonVPN and Cisco Duo differ
AttributeProtonVPNCisco Duo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2014Unknown

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

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 ProtonVPN

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

Only in Cisco Duo

Nothing recorded that ProtonVPN does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

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

Cisco Duo

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

ProtonVPN

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ProtonVPN review.

Cisco Duo

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Cisco Duo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cisco Duo review

Questions people ask

Is ProtonVPN or Cisco Duo better?
Neither clearly leads. ProtonVPN starts at Free and Cisco Duo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ProtonVPN or Cisco Duo?
ProtonVPN starts at Free and Cisco Duo at Free.
Does ProtonVPN or Cisco Duo run on more platforms?
ProtonVPN runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Cisco Duo runs on Web.
Can I use ProtonVPN for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ProtonVPN best used for?
ProtonVPN is most often used for privacy-focused browsing without subscription cost, multi-device protection with plus plan supporting 10 devices, integrated access to proton email and cloud services via unlimited plan. Of those, privacy-focused browsing without subscription cost and multi-device protection with plus plan supporting 10 devices are not what Cisco Duo is typically brought in for.
What can ProtonVPN do that Cisco Duo cannot?
ProtonVPN covers No-logs policy, Secure Core, Kill Switch, DNS leak protection.
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