NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN 2025: Standalone VPN or Security Bundle?

Different virtual private networks (VPNs) have their strengths and weaknesses, and not every VPN is right for every person. If you’re looking to bypass geo-restrictions, want advanced features like an Onion over VPN, or want a service that has a variety of servers, then NordVPN is going to be for you. 

But if you’re more focused on bundling your VPN into a comprehensive security product for enhanced protection, Norton Secure VPN can be integrated with the Norton 360 antivirus suite.

We believe NordVPN offers more features, compatibility, and security as a standalone product, but you may feel differently when you compare specs side by side.

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN at a glance

• NordVPN: Best for advanced features
• Norton Secure VPN: Best for bundled protection

	Best Overall
Starting price	From $2.99/mo	From $2.49/mo
Max # of connected devices	10	10
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox
# of servers	8,400+ servers in 120+ countries	Unlisted in 28 countries
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2/IPsec	OpenVPN, WireGuard, Mimic
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Norton Secure VPN Read Norton Secure VPN

NordVPN pros and cons

NordVPN offers a user-friendly interface, fast speeds, and high security standards — three of the most important aspects for a VPN. Nord has a user-friendly interface with a map displaying all of its servers along with an organized list. As we ran our speed tests, Nord also increased our original internet speeds with every server we tested. 

We also like how committed NordVPN is to keeping our data secure. It's based in Panama, which isn't part of the Eyes alliances and has no data retention laws. It also has a strict no-logs policy that has been audited by third parties, such as Deloitte, multiple times. 

Norton Secure VPN pros and cons

From the makers of the popular antivirus, Norton Secure VPN is a reliable and user-friendly service. Depending on your cybersecurity needs, you can purchase Norton Secure VPN separately or as part of a Norton 360 bundle

Norton Secure VPN offers a range of pricing options, depending on the number of devices you need. If you encounter any issues, you can contact Norton support 24/7 via live chat or phone. 

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN: prices

	Best Value
Price range	$2.99–$17.99/mo	$3.33–$5.00/mo
Best value plan	Basic 2-year plan for $2.99/mo	1 Device Annual plan for $2.08/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Norton Secure VPN Read Norton Secure VPN

NordVPN costs more than Norton Secure VPN, but that’s only because there are more features. If you’re looking for security only — and are not interested in unblocking geo-restricted areas or torrenting — then Norton Secure VPN is the less expensive choice. 

NordVPN offers more variety in pricing than Norton. Additionally, NordVPN provides the same level of device coverage on its lowest-priced plans as it does on its highest-priced plans. Conversely, Norton charges you more for the number of devices you want to cover, and that pricing can be high. 

If you’re strictly looking for a single-device VPN for security, Norton would be the better choice, especially if you’re trying to save money on a VPN and only need limited ability. We prefer the features and functionality that come with NordVPN, even though we’re shelling out a little more upfront.

If you're looking to test these products before committing, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while Norton offers an extended 60-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN: payment options

If you’re looking for ultimate privacy, a VPN that allows you to pay with private options, such as cryptocurrency, is a nice touch. Even if you don’t mind your name being tied to your VPN, having options for payment makes it easier to check out. 

We prefer payment methods that are authenticated with biometrics, such as Apple Pay with Face ID, for added security. Typing our debit card numbers into a payment section always comes with risk, so having the option to bypass that is nice.

NordVPN payment options

NordVPN allows subscribers the ability to pay with credit or debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and even cryptocurrencies. 

Most of these methods employ biometric authentication, which is safer to use than entering your debit or credit card information.

Norton Secure VPN payment options

Norton Secure VPN allows subscribers the ability to pay with credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay. There are no crypto options, so all of your payment methods are tied to your personally identifiable information. 

Most of these methods employ biometric authentication.

Which VPN is faster?

You want a VPN to protect your data, stop ISP throttling, access geo-restricted content, transfer large files, or many other reasons. That only works if the VPN doesn’t slow you down. 

That’s why we test the speed of each VPN we review and make sure you can do all those things you want without noticing glitching, lagging, or buffering. The table below indicates how much each VPN impacted our speeds depending on the server location. 

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN download speeds

	Our Pick
Average speed change	13% slower	4% slower
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Norton Secure VPN Read Norton Secure VPN

We were impressed by NordVPN's impressive results, as it consistently increased our internet speeds across every server during repeat in-house testing. The U.S. and Canada servers nearly doubled our speeds. 

Norton Secure VPN had an expected result, which was decreasing our internet speeds with every server. The further you are from the server you’re trying to access, the slower the speed. Depending on the speed of your internet connection, this could be the difference between a slower VPN working for you or being unusable to start with.

We also found NordVPN to be more reliable when it comes to unblocking popular streaming platforms, such as Netflix. 

Overall, NordVPN is better for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. 

Which VPN is more secure?

	Our Pick
Number of servers	8,400+ servers in 120+ countries	Unlisted in 28 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	Some logs
VPN headquarters	Panama City, Panama	Tempe, Arizona, United States
Encryption	AES-256-GCM	AES-256
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2/IPsec	WireGuard, OpenVPN, Mimic
Kill switch
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Norton Secure VPN Read Norton Secure VPN

A significant difference between these two VPNs is their respective headquarters. NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly country outside the 14 Eyes alliance, while Norton is headquartered in the United States, which is notorious for its surveillance of its citizens. If privacy is a top concern, the location of a VPNis headquarters should be considered when choosing between services. 

Both products claim no logging, but NordVPN provides regular audits of its policies; we were unable to find any independent audits of Norton’s policy. Plus, you get advanced security features with NordVPN’s encrypted double VPN technology. With double VPN servers, your traffic is routed through two VPN servers instead of just one.

Both services offer a variety of servers, but it’s unclear as to how many servers Norton actually has. NordVPN publishes its server availability, offering over 8,400+ servers in 120+ countries. 

NordVPN offers multiple P2P servers for torrenting, while Norton doesn’t have the same offerings. 

Neither service officially supports Netflix. Norton actually discourages the use of a VPN with streaming and suggests split tunneling your connection to stream without a VPN, while NordVPN offers support for major streaming services outside of Netflix.

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN: compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Routers
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, phone, online guides, forums
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Norton Secure VPN Read Norton Secure VPN

Both NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN offer user-friendly dashboards that make using the services easy. We found both to be modern, with features easily accessible from the main screen. 

NordVPN does offer more compatibility options than Norton, though, which means you can use it on more devices. NordVPN also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, providing protection against malware and other online threats. This is included in the service you purchase, while Norton requires you to purchase a Norton 360 subscription to get internet security.

As far as customer support is concerned, neither service has a fully-rounded support system. Both have live chat features, which is great if you’re stuck. 

Norton’s is a bot only, which will redirect you to call the support line if it can’t answer your questions. NordVPN also starts with a bot, but gives you the option to switch to a live agent if you prefer that instead.

We appreciate a good chat feature, which allows you to typically resolve your issue quickly and return to your day. If you’re more of a phone support kind of person, then NordVPN doesn't have options for you. 

Either way, you should make sure you’re only going through verified support from the company’s website. There are too many support scams out there willing to steal your money or credentials and leave you in more trouble than when you started.

NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN alternatives

If you want the best VPN service on the market, you can’t go wrong with NordVPN. But if you're looking for a more budget-friendly service or an even more premium VPN provider for enhanced privacy, we recommend Surfshark or Proton VPN. Here's how NordVPN compares:

FAQs

Is NordVPN or Norton Secure VPN better?

NordVPN is superior to Norton VPN in terms of features, performance, speed, support, and security. While Norton is a leader in the antivirus security space, it doesn’t offer nearly as much as competitor NordVPN in terms of its virtual private network. NordVPN offers more features, like torrenting and streaming support, as well as faster speeds and third-party audits of its security policies. NordVPN can be more expensive than Norton, but that’s the only real drawback. In every other respect, NordVPN is the clear winner.

If you’re looking for a VPN with a variety of features, your money is better spent on NordVPN. But if you want to bundle your antivirus protection with a secure VPN, then we recommend checking out Norton Secure VPN.