Cobalt
Cobalt is a Pentest as a Service platform that combines SaaS efficiency with a global community of security experts to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in your applications.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a high-speed Swiss VPN service that protects your privacy by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through secure, audited tunnels to prevent data tracking.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cobalt | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Website | cobalt.io | protonvpn.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Geneva, Switzerland |
Overview
Cobalt
Cobalt transforms traditional penetration testing into a dynamic, tech-enabled experience through its Pentest as a Service (PtaaS) platform. You can move away from slow, static PDF reports and instead launch comprehensive security assessments in days rather than weeks. The platform connects you directly with a vetted community of on-demand security researchers who test your web applications, APIs, and cloud infrastructure in real-time.
You can manage the entire testing lifecycle from a single dashboard, allowing your developers to communicate directly with testers for faster vulnerability remediation. It integrates with your existing development workflows to ensure security keeps pace with your release cycles. Whether you need to meet compliance requirements like SOC2 or harden your external attack surface, you get actionable data and on-demand retesting to stay secure.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN helps you reclaim your online privacy by hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic. Developed by the scientists behind Proton Mail, it focuses on security-first features like Secure Core architecture, which routes your data through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries before it leaves the network. You can bypass government censorship and access geo-blocked content from anywhere in the world while keeping your browsing history strictly confidential.
You can use the service across all your devices, including your phone, laptop, and tablet, with a single account. It operates under a strict no-logs policy verified by independent audits, ensuring that your personal data is never recorded or sold to third parties. Whether you are using public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or working remotely, you get a fast, stable connection without compromising your digital footprint.
Overview
Cobalt Features
- On-Demand Pentesting Launch a manual pentest in as little as 24 hours to meet tight production deadlines or compliance windows.
- Real-Time Reporting View vulnerabilities as testers find them so your team can start fixing critical bugs before the test even finishes.
- Direct Researcher Access Chat directly with your assigned security experts to clarify findings and get specific guidance on complex remediation steps.
- SDLC Integrations Push findings automatically to Jira, GitHub, or Slack so your developers can manage security fixes in their existing tools.
- Complimentary Retesting Request a free retest once you've applied a fix to ensure the vulnerability is fully resolved and verified.
- Compliance Reporting Generate audit-ready reports for SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS with a single click to satisfy your stakeholders and auditors.
Proton VPN Features
- Secure Core Servers. Protect yourself against network attacks by routing your traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland and Iceland.
- NetShield Ad-blocker. Speed up your browsing experience by blocking ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level before they even load.
- VPN Accelerator. Increase your connection speeds by up to 400% when connecting to distant servers through advanced technical optimizations.
- Kill Switch. Keep your data safe even if your connection drops by automatically blocking all traffic until the VPN reconnects.
- Stealth Protocol. Bypass advanced firewalls and VPN blocks with a custom protocol that makes your VPN traffic look like regular web browsing.
- Tor Over VPN. Route your traffic through the Tor network with a single click to access Onion sites with extra layers of encryption.
Pricing Comparison
Cobalt Pricing
Proton VPN Pricing
- 100+ servers in 5 countries
- No ads or data limits
- Strict no-logs policy
- VPN Accelerator
- Customer support access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 6,000+ servers in 110+ countries
- Highest speed (up to 10 Gbps)
- Protect 10 devices at once
- Ad-blocker and malware protection
- Fastest streaming and P2P support
Pros & Cons
Cobalt
Pros
- Significantly faster setup time than traditional consulting firms
- Direct communication with testers speeds up remediation
- Clean dashboard replaces messy PDF report management
- High-quality, vetted researchers provide deep manual insights
Cons
- Credit-based pricing can be complex to forecast
- Platform focus is primarily on manual testing over automation
- Premium pricing reflects the high-touch expert service
Proton VPN
Pros
- Strict Swiss privacy laws protect your personal data
- Completely free plan with no data usage limits
- Open-source apps allow for full transparency and security
- Excellent speeds for streaming 4K content globally
Cons
- Free version does not support high-speed streaming
- Monthly pricing is higher than some competitors
- Customer support response times can be slow