Top Alternatives to NordVPN for Enhanced Online Privacy & Security

NordVPN is undoubtedly one of the best VPNs on the market that encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address. But there are better NordVPN alternatives ⇣ to consider.

Whether you want to keep your Google searches secret from government agencies or access websites that are blocked in your country, you need a VPN like NordVPN. But there are other VPNs with better/more features and cheaper prices that you should consider.

Quick summary:

• Best overall: ExpressVPN ⇣ has everything you want from a VPN including fast speeds, a user-friendly app, a huge number of locations and servers, and of course military-grade encryption.
• Best cheap alternative: SurfShark ⇣ offers cheap VPN pricing with strong encryption and privacy features.
• Runner-up: CyberGhost ⇣ is trusted by over 30 million users and is one of the most popular VPN providers in the world.

If you believe NordVPN doesn’t come with the best features or you are looking for NordVPN alternatives, then here is a list of the best NordVPN competitors right now:

Top NordVPN alternatives in 2024

Here are the eight best VPN sites like NordVPN that offer better features and or cheaper prices right now:

1. ExpressVPN

• Official website: www.expressvpn.com
• Choose from over 140 different locations around the world.
• Network of over 3000 VPN servers around the world.
• Prices from $6.67 per month (annual subscription)

ExpressVPN is a secure and private VPN service that is known for its fast speeds and reliable connections.

Standout features include:

Technical Features:

• Supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers
• Offers multiple protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP
• Allows customization of port forwarding and firewall rules
• Provides a built-in ad blocker
• Has a feature called “Smart Playback” that automatically selects the best server for streaming

Speed Features:

• Uses UDP-based VPN protocols for faster speeds
• Offers a built-in speed test tool to measure internet connection quality
• Provides a feature called “Auto Connect” that automatically connects to the fastest server
• Has a feature called “Express Boost” that temporarily increases bandwidth for high-demand tasks like video streaming

Privacy Features:

• Does not log user browsing history or online activities
• Has a strict no-logs policy and is audited regularly to ensure compliance
• Offers a feature called “Secure DNS” that encrypts and secures all DNS queries
• Provides a feature called “Traffic Shaping” that controls the amount of traffic allowed to leave your device when using public WiFi networks
• Offers a feature called “Multiple Connection Limits” that prevents malicious actors from connecting to your account from multiple devices simultaneously.

Why Use ExpressVPN Instead of NordVPN

ExpressVPN is a top-tier VPN provider offering best-in-class 256-bit AES encryption, access to worldwide content (US Netflix, Disney+, etc.), VPN split tunneling, plus loads more. ExpressVPN offers server locations in more than 140+ countries. That is a lot more than NordVPN.

They also have apps for all your devices irrespective of the operating system they run on including Android, Linux, iOS, Smart TVs, and even Routers.

• Ultra-fast servers in 140+ VPN locations worldwide.
• Watch Netflix, Hulu, BBC, HBO, and more.
• AES-256 encryption, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and native OpenVPN support.
• BVI-based VPN that keeps ZERO bandwidth logs.
• Perfect for torrenting – P2P allowed on all servers.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of ExpressVPN

NordVPN costs a lot less than ExpressVPN when you go with the yearly or the 2-year plan. ExpressVPN’s yearly plan costs $6.67/month, and the two-year plan is $8.32/month/

NordVPN’s 2-year plan costs less than that. And for only a little extra cost, you can get the 2-year plan on NordVPN.

Summary: ExpressVPN is a top-tier VPN provider known for its high-speed servers, extensive network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, and strong security features. It utilizes AES 256-bit encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and TrustedServer technology for added security. ExpressVPN is also well-suited for streaming and torrenting, with its MediaStreamer feature and split tunneling functionality. It’s the #1 NordVPN alternative right now.

2. SurfShark

• Official website: www.surfshark.com
• Rated an average of 9.3 by its users on Trustpilot.
• Over 800 servers in 50+ countries around the world.

SurfShark offers cheap VPN pricing, and this is the rising star in the VPN market. SurfShark delivers premium features including Kill-Switch and excellent streaming speeds.

Standout features include:

• Technical Features: Encryption, kill switch, P2P blocking, DNS leak protection, IPv6 support, and more.
• Speed Features: Multi-hop connections, server load balancing, and TCP optimization.
• Privacy Features: No logs policy, secure protocols, and more.

Why Use SurfShark Instead of NordVPN

SurfShark has a lot more features to offer than NordVPN. Their proprietary features such as CleanWeb enhance your privacy ten-fold.

Their CleanWeb feature gets rid of all the ads and trackers on websites. Check out my detailed Surfshark review for a rundown of all features.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of SurfShark

NordVPN’s monthly, yearly, and 2-year plans cost a lot less than SurfShark’s. Offers apps that cover more platforms/devices.

Summary: SurfShark stands out for its unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing users to protect multiple devices in a single household. With a network of over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, SurfShark offers strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and advanced features such as split tunneling and the CleanWeb ad blocker.

3. CyberGhost

• Official website: www.cyberghostvpn.com
• Rated 9.4 by its users on Trustpilot.
• No logging policy to keep you anonymous.

CyberGhost is trusted by over 30 million users and is rated as one of the most popular VPN services worldwide. CyberGhost delivers fast streaming and browsing while securing your Internet connection with this top VPN.

Standout features include:

• Technical Features: Encryption, kill switch, P2P blocking, DNS leak protection, IPv6 support, and more.
• Speed Features: Multi-hop connections, server load balancing, and TCP optimization.
• Privacy Features: No logs policy, secure protocols, and more.

Why Use CyberGhost Instead of NordVPN

CyberGhost offers a no-logging policy and doesn’t keep any logs of your online activity. They also have more apps to offer for all your devices than NordVPN. Check out my CyberGhost VPN review.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of CyberGhost

NordVPN has more servers to offer in many different countries around the world.

Summary: CyberGhost offers an extensive server network with over 7,000 servers in 90 countries, making it a strong contender for streaming and torrenting. It provides military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and dedicated apps for various devices, making it user-friendly and secure.

4. IPVanish

• Official website: www.ipvanish.com
• Zero Logging Policy to enhance your anonymity online.
• Over 40,000+ Shared IP Addresses in 75+ server locations around the world.

IPVanish is a lightning-fast VPN that safeguards your privacy with end-to-end encryption for all your devices. It is an excellent choice for media streaming and secure browsing.

Standout features include:

• Technical Features: Encryption, kill switch, P2P blocking, DNS leak protection, IPv6 support, and more.
• Speed Features: Multi-hop connections, server load balancing, and TCP optimization.
• Privacy Features: No logs policy, secure protocols, and more.

Why Use IPVanish Instead of NordVPN

Unlike NordVPN, IPVanish offers a zero-logging policy, which means there will be no server logging of your activity.

They also offer anonymous torrenting. A lot of VPN platforms throttle or don’t support Torrenting.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of IPVanish

NordVPN has a lot more server locations to offer than IPVanish. They have over 5,000 servers located around the world. And their pricing is a little cheaper than IPVanish.

Summary: IPVanish operates a self-owned and managed server network, providing over 1,900 servers in 75+ locations. Known for its speed and performance, IPVanish features strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and SOCKS5 proxy support for added security.

5. VyprVPN

• Official website: www.vyprvpn.com
• Recommended by system administrators of Reddit.
• No logging of any data.

VyprVPN delivers fast speeds, access to the most popular streaming websites, and 24/7 customer support – which makes this the perfect VPN choice.

Standout features include:

• Technical Features: Encryption, kill switch, P2P blocking, DNS leak protection, IPv6 support, and more.
• Speed Features: Multi-hop connections, server load balancing, and TCP optimization.
• Privacy Features: No logs policy, secure protocols, and more.

Why Use VyprVPN Instead of NordVPN

If you want complete privacy, then VyprVPN is the way to go. They are one of the most trusted VPN platforms and are officially recommended by the System Administrators of Reddit.

Their premium plan offers you a dedicated VPN server that you can control yourself.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of VyprVPN

If you aren’t doing anything illegal and don’t wish to desperately hide your tracks, then a No Logging policy like VyprVPN’s is overkill.

If you go with NordVPN, you will get 2 years of privacy for the price of VyprVPN’s 1-year plan.

Summary: VyprVPN uses its proprietary Chameleon protocol to bypass VPN blocking and access restricted content. With a network of over 700 servers in 70 countries, VyprVPN offers a strict no-logs policy, strong encryption, and an easy-to-use interface for various devices.

6. Tunnelbear

• Official website: www.tunnelbear.com
• One of the fastest-growing VPNs on the Internet.
• The easiest VPN solution on the market.

TunnelBear VPN is a user-friendly and affordable VPN service that offers strong encryption and a large server network.

Standout features include:

Technical Features:

• Supports Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS
• Offers both OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols
• Includes a kill switch feature to prevent unauthorized access to your network
• Provides a split tunnel feature to allow for selective routing of traffic
• Offers a feature called “TunnelBear Secure DNS” that encrypts and secures all DNS queries

Speed Features:

• Utilizes a global network of servers located in over 20 countries
• Offers a ping test tool to help you find the optimal server location
• Provides a feature called “Turbo Mode” that reduces latency and improves performance
• Offers a feature called “Streaming Optimizer” that optimizes buffering and playback for streaming media

Privacy Features:

• Does not store any personal information or browsing history
• Has a strict no-logs policy and undergoes regular third-party security audits
• Offers a feature called “Encrypted DNS” that protects your DNS queries from eavesdropping
• Provides a feature called “Block Ads” that blocks advertisements and trackers
• Offers a feature called “Firewall” that blocks incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined rules.

Why Use Tunnelbear Instead of NordVPN

Tunnelbear offers over 22 countries to choose from when browsing the web. Their service has been featured in news sites such as The Verge, Forbes, and LifeHacker.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of Tunnelbear

NordVPN offers more locations to choose from and has apps that will cover all your devices no matter the operating system.

Summary: Tunnelbear is a user-friendly VPN with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. It offers 1,800+ servers in 23 countries, strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and features like a VigilantBear kill switch and GhostBear for bypassing VPN blocks. Tunnelbear also provides a free, limited-data plan for users to try before committing to a paid plan.

7. PerfectPrivacy

• Official website: www.perfect-privacy.com
• No logging policy.
• Proprietary features such as NeuroRouting and TrackStop keep you completely anonymous on the Internet.

PerfectPrivacy VPN is a secure and private VPN service that is known for its strong encryption and its commitment to user privacy.

Key features include:

Technical Features:

• Supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux operating systems
• Offers both OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec protocols
• Includes a kill switch feature to prevent unauthorized access to your network
• Provides a split tunnel feature to allow for selective routing of traffic
• Offers a feature called “Perfect Forward Secrecy” that adds an extra layer of encryption to your connections

Speed Features:

• Utilizes a global network of servers located in over 70 countries
• Offers a ping test tool to help you find the optimal server location
• Provides a feature called “Speed Test” that measures your current internet speed and recommends the best server location
• Offers a feature called “Low Latency Servers” that provides lower latency connections for real-time applications

Privacy Features:

• Does not store any personal information or browsing history
• Has a strict no-logs policy and undergoes regular third-party security audits
• Offers a feature called “Encrypted DNS” that protects your DNS queries from eavesdropping
• Provides a feature called “Ad Blocker” that blocks advertisements and trackers
• Offers a feature called “Firewall” that blocks incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined rules.

Why Use PerfectPrivacy Instead of NordVPN

PerfectPrivacy is a high-end VPN service for advanced users. Their service allows you to drive traffic any way you want.

You can choose one VPN location for entry and another for exit. They also allow port forwarding to allow for torrenting.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of PerfectPrivacy

NordVPN is much cheaper than PerfectPrivacy. NordVPN is much easier to understand and use.

Summary: PerfectPrivacy is a privacy-focused VPN with a smaller network of servers in 26 countries, but it offers advanced security features such as Multi-Hop VPN and NeuroRouting. It also provides a strict no-logs policy, strong encryption, and customizable settings for experienced users.

8. BulletVPN

• Official website: www.bulletvpn.com
• Servers hosted in Tier-1 data centers around the world offer a boost in speed.
• Zero Logging Policy.

BulletVPN is a secure and private VPN service that offers a high-speed connection and a strict no-logs policy.

Key features include:

• Technical Features: Encryption, kill switch, P2P blocking, DNS leak protection, IPv6 support, and more.
• Speed Features: Multi-hop connections, server load balancing, and TCP optimization.
• Privacy Features: No logs policy, secure protocols, and more.

Why Use BulletVPN Instead of NordVPN

BulletVPN offers a Zero Logging policy which means they don’t log any of your data anywhere on their servers. That means, there is no data that links online activity back to your computer.

This increases your privacy tenfold.

Why Use NordVPN Instead of BulletVPN

Although NordVPN doesn’t offer a No Logging Policy, in my opinion, most people don’t need it.

Unless you are ordering weapons or drugs from the dark web, there is no reason for you to worry about logging on to VPN servers. Also, NordVPN costs a lot less if you go for the 2-year plan.

Summary: BulletVPN prioritizes speed and performance, with a smaller server network of 150+ servers in 55 countries. This VPN offers strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and support for various VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2, ensuring a secure and versatile experience.

Worst VPNs (That You Should Avoid)

There are a lot of VPN providers out there, and it can be hard to know which ones to trust. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bad VPN providers who offer subpar services and even engage in shady practices like logging user data or selling it to third parties.

If you’re looking for a reputable VPN provider, it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re choosing a reliable service. To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of the worst VPN providers in 2024. These are the companies that you should avoid at all costs:

1. Hola VPN

Hola VPN isn’t among the most popular VPN that keeps no logs on this list. And there are some reasons for that. First off, the free version of the VPN isn’t actually a VPN. It’s a peer-to-peer service that routes traffic between its users and not servers. Do you hear alarm bells going off in your head right now? You should! It’s an unsafe service. Because any of those peers could be compromised and might be able to access your data.

In a world where most people don’t even want their data to be on a web server, who would want their data streaming across multiple peer-to-peer users.

Now, although I would never recommend using Hola VPN’s free service for any reason, it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t talk about their premium VPN service. Their premium service is actually a VPN. It’s not a peer-to-peer service like the free version.

Although their premium service is actually a VPN service, I wouldn’t recommend going for it for many reasons. If you are buying a VPN subscription for privacy reasons, then you shouldn’t even consider Hola. If you take a look at their privacy policy, you’ll see that they collect a lot of user data.

This throws VPN-based privacy out the window. If you want a VPN for privacy reasons, there are a lot of other providers who have a zero-log policy. Some don’t even ask you to sign up. If it’s privacy you want, stay away from Hola VPN.

One thing to remember about the premium version of the service is that it resembles a real VPN service because it has better encryption than the free version, BUT it still relies on its community-driven peer-to-peer network. So, it’s still not the same as a VPN.

Other VPN services such as Nord have their own servers. Hola lets you use its community network of peers without contributing anything. Not the same as a “real” VPN service. Just something to keep in mind.

And if you think that Hola’s premium service might be good for watching region-blocked tv shows and movies, think again… Although their service can reliably unblock region-blocked websites and content, most of their servers are much slower than their competitors.

So, even though you might be able to unblock a website, it wouldn’t be fun watching because of the buffering. There are other VPN services that have almost zero lag, meaning their servers are so fast you won’t even notice the difference in speed when you connect to them.

If I were looking for a VPN service, I wouldn’t touch Hola VPN’s free service with a ten-foot pole. It’s riddled with privacy issues and isn’t even a real VPN service. On the other hand, if you’re thinking of buying the premium service, which is a little bit of an upgrade, I would recommend checking out some of Hola’s better competitors first. You’ll not only find better prices but also better and more secure overall service.

2. Hide My Ass

HideMyAss used to be one of the most popular VPN services. They used to sponsor some really big content creators and were loved by the internet. But now, not so much. You don’t hear as much praise about them as you used to.

Their fall from grace might be because they have had some bad history when it comes to privacy. They have a history of sharing user data with the government, This is not a problem with some other VPN providers because they don’t log any data about you at all.

If you care about your privacy and that’s why you’re in the market for a VPN, Hide My Ass probably isn’t for you. They are also located in the UK. Trust me, you don’t want your VPN service provider to be in the UK if you value privacy. The UK is one of the many countries that collect mass surveillance data and will share it with other countries if inquired about…

If you don’t care much about privacy and just want to stream region-blocked content, there’s some good news. Hide My Ass seems to be able to bypass region-locking for some sites some of the time. It works sometimes but doesn’t other times for no apparent reason. If you are looking for a VPN for streaming, this one might not be the best.

Another reason why Hide My Ass might not be the best option for streaming is that their server speed isn’t the fastest. Their servers are fast, but if you just look around a little, you’ll find VPN services that are much faster.

There are a couple of good things about Hide My Ass. One of them is that they have apps for almost all devices including Linux, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, etc. And you can install and use Hide My Ass on up to 5 devices simultaneously. Another good thing about this service is that they have more than 1,100 servers spread around the world.

Although there are some things I like about Hide My Ass, there are a lot of things I don’t. If you are looking for a VPN for privacy concerns, look somewhere else. They have a bad history when it comes to privacy.

Their service is also not the fastest in the industry. You’ll not only face lag when streaming, you might not even be able to unblock regional content that’s not available in your country.

What is NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most popular and used VPN service providers out there that helps you hide your identity online. It also allows you to visit a website that might be blocked by your government or ISP in your country.

The main features include:

• Military-grade encryption.
• Unlimited bandwidth.
• Hides your IP address.
• No logs policy (i.e. it doesn’t keep a record of what have you browsed).
• Automatic kill switch.
• DNS leak protection.
• Access to their DoubleVPN servers which encrypts data twice.
• You can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously.
• 5,200+ fast and secure servers in 61 countries ensuring great latency.
• Chrome and Firefox extensions are available.
• Netflix access and torrenting/P2P is allowed.
• For more features see my NordVPN review.

Is NordVPN trustworthy? You can rest assured that NordVPN takes security very seriously. Their military-grade encryption keeps your entire connection safe from prying eyes and they have been officially verified as a “no-log service”, meaning they do not store connection logs, IP addresses, traffic logs, or any internet activity information.

Benefits of NordVPN

NordVPN’s VPN service allows its users to browse the web anonymously and securely. Their service is also good for streaming, accessing geo-blocked content, and for torrenting/P2P.

When using any VPN service like NordVPN, you can rest assured that no one including the government will be able to find out what websites you visit or what apps you use.

Because all the data sent and received from your browser is encrypted when you use a VPN service.

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN service providers and has been featured in magazines and news sites such as Wired, Forbes, The Huffington Post, and Buzzfeed.

Questions & Answers

Our Verdict ⭐

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and protects your online identity. All your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel, so your data is secure and your IP address and entire internet connection are hidden from prying eyes. There are many other NordVPN alternatives you may consider.

ExpressVPN is undoubtedly the best alternative to NordVPN.

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are both secure and private VPN services. However, ExpressVPN offers faster speeds, more reliable connections, and a wider range of server locations.

There aren’t that many VPN services that can beat NordVPN in terms of pricing, except CyberGhost.

If you are looking for a VPN service that costs less than NordVPN and offers a No Logging policy, then go with CyberGhost.

If you are really paranoid about your privacy, then go with VyprVPN. They are officially recommended by system administrators at Reddit and their service offers a No Logging policy.

If you want something even better than VyprVPN that can make you a ghost on the Internet, then go with PerfectPrivacy.

Their service is built for advanced users with advanced needs. Although their service costs a little more, the features you get are worth the cost.