NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN

We’re noticing more antivirus brands dipping their toes into the VPN market, like Avast and McAfee. One brand that should stand out though is Norton. It has one of the best antivirus software, with which you can readily bundle the Norton Secure VPN. It might seem like a good deal to get an all-in-one digital security solution, but can Norton Secure VPN hang with the best VPNs on the market?

We decided to find out. So we bought a subscription to NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN and put them head-to-head. After three months of testing, we learned NordVPN is the better option. You can install NordVPN’s apps on more devices, and security features like its kill switch work on systems other than Android. Let’s go through our findings to see the other reasons why NordVPN came out on top.

Why You Should Choose NordVPN

NordVPN delivers better performance and features for most users. Don’t get us wrong; Norton Secure VPN is a solid VPN that is smack dab in the middle of our top 10 list of the best VPNs, but on that same list, NordVPN is the name you’ll find at the top.

Our testing methodology evaluates each VPN across multiple criteria, and NordVPN earned an impressive 9.7 out of 10. While we had minor quibbles — like its premium monthly pricing and somewhat complex subscription tiers — the advantages far outweighed these concerns. Here’s what makes NordVPN stand out:

• Privacy-first jurisdiction: Operating from Panama gives NordVPN a significant privacy advantage. It’s outside the reach of Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes surveillance alliances. This means your data stays protected from government surveillance requests. Norton Secure VPN is based in the U.S. – a founding Five Eyes member. That means they could be forced to hand the government our personal information, which we’d prefer they not.
• True no-logs commitment: NordVPN maintains one of the industry’s strictest independently audited no-logs policies. They never stored our IP addresses or anything we did online. Norton Secure VPN, conversely, collects more data than we’re comfortable with, including anonymized IP addresses and location data. That’s a dealbreaker for privacy-conscious users.

• Massive global infrastructure: Norton Secure VPN offers respectable coverage with over 2,000 servers across 65 countries. However, NordVPN dwarfs this with its network of 8,400+ servers spanning 127 countries. That means more connection options and reduced server congestion.
• Kill switch on all devices: While Norton Secure VPN only had a kill switch on its Android app, all of NordVPN’s apps came with a kill switch. This meant that if the VPN disconnected, our web browsers and apps would have shut down with it to protect our data. We go into more detail in our NordVPN review or our Norton Secure VPN review.
• Full P2P support: For users who need a VPN for torrenting, NordVPN provides dedicated P2P-optimized servers, while Norton blocks peer-to-peer connections entirely. This makes NordVPN essential for users who need to download torrent using a VPN.
• Reliable streaming access: During our testing, NordVPN consistently bypassed Netflix’s VPN blocking across multiple regions. Norton’s streaming performance proved inconsistent, with frequent detection and blocking issues. In fact, NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Netflix in general.
• Faster speeds: We found NordVPN the faster of the two VPNs. It ranked third overall when we compared the speed of our 12 favorite VPNs. NordVPN reduced our download speed by less than six-percent, and our upload speed by a little over four-percent. Norton, on the other hand, finished last. The download speed remained fast (down by only 10-percent, but we lost nearly 90-percent of our download speed.

• Extensive Platform Support: Norton Secure is pretty limited in terms of device compatibility. It only works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. NordVPN adds compatibility for proxy servers, another way to change your IP address, routers, NAS, and Linux.

• Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox: If you only need a VPN for browsing activities, you’re better off installing a browser extension instead of downloading an app. In this case, NordVPN is a better VPN for Chrome and Firefox, as it has an extension for each browser.
• Better long-term value: While Norton offers competitive monthly rates, NordVPN’s pricing becomes unbeatable with longer commitments. The two-year plan costs just $2.99 per month — exceptional value for premium VPN service.
• Superior mobile experience: Both NordVPN and Norton offer solid apps, although we still slightly prefer NordVPN. This is particularly true for their iOS apps with NordVPN offering more features and better stability.

Why You Should Choose Norton Secure VPN

While NordVPN takes the crown overall, Norton Secure VPN excels in specific use cases that might make it the better choice for certain users. After extensive testing, we identified several scenarios where Norton’s approach offers distinct advantages:

• Budget-friendly one-year plans: Norton shines for users who prefer to avoid a two-year commitment. At just $3.33 monthly for 5 devices, Norton’s one year plan barely costs more per month on average than NordVPN’s two-year plan.
• Comprehensive support channels: Norton’s customer support infrastructure surpasses NordVPN’s with 24/7 phone support, social media assistance via Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), plus traditional live chat and email. This multi-channel approach means faster resolution times and support in your preferred communication method.
• Industry-leading refund window: Norton doubles the standard 30-day money-back guarantee, offering a generous 60-day refund period on annual plans.

Commonalities

Despite their differences, NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN share several fundamental features that ensure both deliver reliable VPN service:

• Leak-proof connections: Our comprehensive testing confirmed both VPNs maintain watertight connections. Neither service exhibited DNS, WebRTC, or IP leaks across multiple servers and protocols — critical for maintaining anonymity online.
• Multi-device coverage: Both services now support up to 10 simultaneous connections (NordVPN recently increased from 6), providing ample coverage for individuals or small families. While not unlimited like subscriptions from Surfshark, 10 devices strikes the right balance for most households.
• Military-grade encryption: Security remains uncompromised with both VPNs employing AES-256 encryption. That’s the same type of encryption that the U.S. government uses for top-secret files.1
• Apps for Windows, Android, macOS and iOS: These are the basic operating systems that we expect every VPN to be compatible with, so it wasn’t a big shock that Nord and Norton checked this box.
• Solid mobile applications: While we preferred NordVPN’s mobile apps, both providers offer generally bug-free apps that are easy to use on iOS and Android.

Recap

Norton Secure VPN fills a specific niche effectively. It’s the practical choice for Norton antivirus users seeking integrated protection or those wanting affordable month-to-month VPN service without commitments.

However, NordVPN delivers superior value for serious VPN users. Its combination of robust privacy protections, extensive server network, consistent streaming access, and comprehensive platform support makes it the clear winner for most use cases. Whether you’re securing remote work, accessing global content, or protecting your digital privacy, NordVPN provides the features and performance to handle it all.