NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN 2024: Standalone VPN or Security Bundle?

If you’re wondering what some of the key differences between NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN are, we’ve broken it down for you. NordVPN offers more features, compatibility, and security. Norton Secure VPN can come pre-bundled with your Norton 360 account.

We think NordVPN has more to offer as far as a standalone product, but you may feel differently when you see how everything looks side by side.

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN at a glance

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. If you’re more focused on bundling your VPN into a security product for increased protection, Norton Secure VPN can be bundled into Norton 360.

You should always use a VPN when connected to public networks like coffee shops or hotel Wi-Fi, but a VPN on your home network can help thwart throttling by your internet service provider (ISP) and provide additional security.

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

How do NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN compare?

Price	From $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	From $2.49/mo (billed annually)
Max # of connected devices	10	10
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and more	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and more
# of servers	6,800+ servers in 111 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. Its 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's been audited by third parties like 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 on its own or you can get it as part of a Norton 360 bundle. 

Norton Secure VPN has a good spectrum of pricing depending on how many devices you need server. You can choose between five or 10 devices for an annual plan. And should you have any issues, you can reach out to Norton support 24/7 through live chat or phone. 

NordVPN vs. Norton Secure VPN: prices

	Best Value
Price range	$2.99–$17.99/mo	$3.33–$5.00/mo for the first yr
Best value plan	Basic 2-year plan for $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	1 Device Annual plan for $3.33/mo (billed annually)
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 does offer more variety with pricing than Norton. Also, NordVPN offers the same amount 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 covered, and that pricing can get 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 like crypto 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, like Apple Pay with Face ID, so they’re more secure. 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

Server location	Our Pick
US	45% faster	22% slower
CA	41% faster	31% slower
UK	31% faster	24% slower
AU	12% faster	58% slower
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Norton Secure VPN Read Norton Secure VPN

We were impressed by NordVPN's results because it increased our internet speeds with every server. 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 to start with, this could be the difference between a slower VPN working for you or being unusable.

Which VPN is more secure?

	Our Pick
Number of servers	6,800+ servers in 111 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 big difference between these two VPNs is where they’re headquartered. NordVPN is in Panama, a privacy-friendly country outside of the 14 Eyes alliance, while Norton is headquartered in the United States, which is notorious for spying on its citizens. If privacy is a top concern, where a VPN is headquartered should be considered when you’re 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 6,800+ servers in 111 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, which offer protection against malware and other 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 off with a bot but gives you the option to switch to a live agent if you prefer that instead.

We do appreciate a good chat feature, which means you can usually get your issue dealt with quickly and be able to get back 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.

FAQs

Is NordVPN or Norton Secure VPN better?

NordVPN is the clear winner when comparing the two VPNs. If you’re already using Norton security products and Norton Secure VPN is an option, you should definitely activate it rather than having no protection. 

If you’re shopping for a VPN, however, NordVPN is the better choice. It 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. 

NordVPN and Norton Secure VPN alternatives

Connection limits and additional features could be keeping you from committing to NordVPN or Norton Secure VPN. If that’s the case, we have some suggestions below that may better fit your needs. If you want the best VPN service on the market, you can’t go wrong with any of these suggestions.