Key Takeaways:

• NordVPN is an excellent VPN, but alternatives do exist.
• Select a VPN that best suits your needs based on features and budget.
• ExpressVPN is the best NordVPN alternative, but you can choose one of the others we discuss in this guide.
• If you’re looking for a free NordVPN alternative, consider Windscribe.

NordVPN is one of the best VPN (virtual private network) service providers. It’s a secure VPN service that offers unlimited bandwidth, gets past the geoblocks on most streaming services, has a large server network and a strict no-logs policy. There are still a few situations where you might consider a NordVPN alternative, and that’s what we discuss in this guide.

For instance, NordVPN comes with a small price tag if you opt for the two-year plan. However, if you only need a VPN service provider for the short-term, NordVPN can be an expensive proposition.

Overall, NordVPN is an excellent VPN service and offers top-notch performance and online security (read the full NordVPN review). When you opt for other VPN services, you’ll essentially be trading one or more of NordVPN’s features for other features that better suit your needs.

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Top Alternatives to NordVPN

What Makes the Best NordVPN Alternative?

We’ve listed the best NordVPN alternatives below based on specific factors or features. These VPN providers have a slight edge over NordVPN if you’re looking for that specific feature in a VPN service.

1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for streaming
2. Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections
3. CyberGhost — VPN automation features
4. Windscribe — Free NordVPN alternative
5. Private Internet Access — Pocket-friendly alternative to NordVPN

Given NordVPN’s current capabilities, it’s hard to find NordVPN alternatives that surpass the VPN service in terms of features or performance. However, the NordVPN alternatives we’ve listed above go beyond NordVPN in at least one aspect: feature set, performance or pricing.

Of course, all of the NordVPN alternatives we’ve listed provide reliable service and good connection speeds. They can assign anonymous IP addresses to conceal your online identity, too. At minimum, anonymous browsing, fast connection speeds and good security are the essentials you should look for in a VPN. 

When trying to choose the best alternative to NordVPN, you should focus on your specific needs instead of generic features. For instance, if you need a VPN for streaming live games and want to share the account with 10 of your friends, you should select a service like Surfshark that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. If you’re only looking for something temporary, without any bells or whistles, you can try Windscribe’s free plan.

The 5 Best NordVPN Alternatives

You probably want to learn more about the best NordVPN alternatives before you pick one. We discuss the distinguishing features of all NordVPN alternatives as well as the other features they offer below to help you with your decision.

1. ExpressVPN

More details about ExpressVPN:

• Pricing: $6.66 per month
• Provider website: www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is the best alternative — not just to NordVPN, but any VPN out there. It’s the best VPN in terms of feature set as well as performance, and offers connection speeds just as good as NordVPN as per our recent speed tests.

In addition to essential features like unlimited bandwidth, a kill switch and secure encryption protocols, you also get features like app-based split tunneling. Plus, ExpressVPN beats NordVPN in almost every front such as the most secure VPN, the best VPN for public WiFi and the best VPN for streaming. Learn more about how the two services stack up against each other in our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison.

Best VPN Service Provider for Streaming

If you’re looking for a better alternative to NordVPN because you like streaming content from websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, ExpressVPN might be an excellent choice. While both VPNs can get past geoblocks on all major streaming platforms, we found NordVPN to be slightly less consistent in accessing geoblocked websites. 

Switching the VPN server a few times usually does the trick, but ExpressVPN is a clear winner here because it provides an excellent experience — almost as if it were a local session. If you’re curious, you can learn more in our comprehensive ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN comes with a premium price tag. This isn’t surprising, given its superior performance. However, if you don’t mind spending a little extra, ExpressVPN is the best VPN provider you’ll find. If you’re not feeling confident, you can always try it out yourself risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 8
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

2. Surfshark

More details about Surfshark:

• Pricing: $2.49 per month
• Provider website: www.surfshark.com

Surfshark is a relatively new VPN provider, but it’s still one of the best ones around. It offers almost all the features you’ll find on NordVPN, and a few extras that might make Surfshark more attractive for your needs.

For instance, both virtual private networks offer app-based split tunneling, but only Surfshark offers URL-based split tunneling (called Bypasser on Surfshark). Essentially, Surfshark lets you use the VPN connection for a selected list of URLs, while other URLs are routed through your unprotected internet connection.

This is an excellent option when you want to use the VPN connection only for accessing, say, a website like Omegle.

Need a closer look at how the two VPN services compare? Check out our Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison.

Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Most VPN providers offer a limited number of simultaneous connections. NordVPN allows six simultaneous connections, and while you can remove this limit by installing the VPN on a router, you can’t use it if you’re constantly on the move or using a public WiFi network.

Surfshark, on the other hand, allows you to share your account with as many people as you want. The unlimited simultaneous connections paired with unlimited bandwidth translate to an excellent user experience at a very low cost. To learn more about Surfshark, head over to our Surfshark review.

Aside from the monthly plan, Surfshark costs less than NordVPN. The best value, its two-year plan, costs $2.49 per month. If you want to try Surfshark before you commit to the long-term plan, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee.

30-days money-back guarantee

Surfshark Starter

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $185.40 for one year, $370.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.45/month

1-year plan

$3.49/month

$41.88 billed every year

Save 77%

2-year plan

$2.49/month

$59.76 billed every 2 years

Save 83%

Surfshark One

• Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $191.40 for one year, $380.80 for two years.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.95/month

1-year plan

$4.09/month

$49.08 billed every year

Save 74%

2-year plan

$3.19/month

$76.56 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

Surfshark One+

• Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $215.40 for one year, $430.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$17.95/month

1-year plan

$6.49/month

$77.88 billed every year

Save 63%

2-year plan

$4.97/month

$119.28 billed every 2 years

Save 72%

3. CyberGhost

More details about CyberGhost:

• Pricing: $2.37 per month
• Provider website: www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost offers several features that make it an appealing alternative to NordVPN, such as seven simultaneous connections (one more than NordVPN). CyberGhost is one of the most secure VPN services that offers an automatic kill switch and security protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard.

The protocols are available on the CyberGhost app for Windows (CyberGhost 8 only), macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Fire TV. 

It also offers URL-based split tunneling through the “smart rules” feature. The feature allows you to create a list of websites for which you don’t want to use a VPN connection. If you’re streaming a movie on Netflix, but also want to start a torrent download, the “smart rules” will help you stream at maximum speed while keeping your online identity safe as you download using a torrent.

We go into more detail about how the two VPN services differ in our CyberGhost vs NordVPN comparison.

VPN Automation Features

The “smart rules” feature allows you to automate other aspects of the VPN app in addition to split tunneling. For instance, you can set up a rule to automatically connect to a specific server when you launch the CyberGhost app. On the other hand, you can trigger CyberGhost to connect automatically when you launch a specific app, for instance, a torrent client.

CyberGhost costs $2.23 per month on its best value, the three-year plan. It’s one of the cheapest VPN providers and also offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like the service, you can claim a full refund.

CyberGhost Plans

• *The $56.94 price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
• Unlimited GB
• 7
• Yes

45-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

6-months plan

$6.99/month

$41.94 billed every 6 month

Save 46%

2-year plan

$2.37/month

$56.94 billed every 2 years

Save 81%

4. Windscribe

More details about Windscribe:

• Pricing: Free; $2 per month with the build-a-plan option
• Provider website: www.windscribe.com

Looking for a free NordVPN and CyberGhost alternative? Windscribe is the best free VPN out there. We generally recommend staying away from free VPNs because they offer poor online protection, lack any impressive security features, are slow and often have a questionable logging policy.

Windscribe is different, though. Windscribe is a free VPN that offers excellent security. When using Windscribe, your internet traffic is protected by security protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard combined with AES-256 bit encryption. On the browser extension, Windscribe uses TLS 1.2, ECDHE_RSA with P-256 key exchange and AES_128_GCM cipher.

Even as a free service, Windscribe offers connection speeds that match a premium VPN, making it one of the best NordVPN alternatives. Learn more about how the two VPNs compare in our Windscribe vs NordVPN comparison.

Generous Free Plan

Windscribe offers a generous free plan with 10GB of data each month and access to a select group of server locations in 10 different countries. Even though there are limitations, it’s one of the best free plans you’ll find on the internet.

You also have the option of removing these limitations for as little as $2 using the build-a-plan option. You can remove the data cap and get access to R.O.B.E.R.T. (find out about R.O.B.E.R.T. in our Windscribe review) for $1 per month and add server locations for $1 each, with a minimum checkout value of $2.

3-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
• 15GB
• Unlimited

FREE

Pro Plan

• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan

1-month plan

$9/month

1-year plan

$5.75/month

$69 billed every year

Save 36%

5. Private Internet Access

More details about Private Internet Access:

• Pricing: $2.19 per month
• Provider website: www.privateinternetaccess.com

Private Internet Access (PIA) — a pocket-friendly Tunnelbear alternative — has one of the most well-thought-out interfaces of any VPN app. You can view the connection time, bandwidth usage, security protocol and more right on the app’s docked interface. PIA also offers 10 simultaneous connections. Considering it’s already a low-cost service, the per-user cost is reduced significantly when you compare it to NordVPN.

NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs, but PIA doesn’t fall too far behind. In addition to all the essentials, PIA also adds another layer of security to the VPN connection by letting you use a proxy. We go into more detail about the differences between the two services in our NordVPN vs PIA comparison.

PIA’s Extra Features

PIA offers a range of additional features. For instance, there are two kill switches on the VPN. One is a regular kill switch, while the other one is an automatic kill switch that blocks all internet traffic unless you’re connected to a VPN server.

You also get MACE on PIA, which is basically a powerful ad blocker. Learn about MACE and other PIA features on our complete Private Internet Access review.

PIA’s three-year plan costs $2.03 per month, making it the cheapest NordVPN alternative. Given that the difference in features and performance isn’t massive, the cost might make PIA look like an attractive choice. Of course, you can also give PIA a try first using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Standard Plans

• 10
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 3-year plan

1-month plan

$11.95/month

3-year plan

$2.19/month

$79 billed every 3 years

Save 81%

1-year plan

$4.17/month

$49.99 billed every year

Save 65%

NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which Is Better?

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are both premium VPN services. They compete neck and neck on several fronts, and it’s rather difficult to say that one is better than the other. Overall, though, we’ve experienced that ExpressVPN marginally beats NordVPN. Learn more in our best VPNs guide.

You should select one of the two services based on your needs. If you don’t mind the extra cost for getting the best-in-class VPN service, ExpressVPN is a clear winner. If you want something almost as good, but with a smaller price tag, NordVPN is your best bet.

Final Thoughts

NordVPN is an excellent VPN, but if you’re looking for something more specific — like more simultaneous connections or a lower price — there are a few alternatives available. The options we’ve listed in this guide are all reliable services.

There’s little chance that you’ll go wrong with any of them as long as you determine that it fits your needs. For similar guides, check out our ExpressVPN alternatives, ZenMate alternatives and IPVanish alternatives guides.

Have you tried switching from NordVPN to another service before? If you have, which one and how was your experience? Let us know in the comments below. As always, thanks for reading.

FAQ

• Is There a Better VPN Than Nord?

  Yes, there are VPNs that are better than NordVPN, but it depends on your specific needs. Overall, ExpressVPN is the best choice, but you may select one of the other alternatives provided in this guide based on what you’re looking for in a VPN.

• Is Surfshark or NordVPN Better?

  It depends on your needs. If you need unlimited simultaneous connections because you’re sharing your account with a group of users, Surfshark may make more sense than NordVPN. Surfshark also makes more sense when you’re looking for a service that costs less than NordVPN.