Norton Secure VPN Review 2024: A VPN Worthy of Your Buck?

Norton Secure VPN combines reliable service with a clean and easy-to-use interface. It was designed by the well-established cybersecurity company Norton, the creator of Norton antivirus and Norton LifeLock. This VPN service boasts features like strong data encryption and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

For those concerned about online security, Norton Secure VPN might just be the ideal solution. But it struggles with unblocking Netflix in countries other than the U.S. and we're not fans of its data logging practices. 

We’ll break down all you need to know about its features, pricing, and compatibility, among other aspects, in our comprehensive Norton VPN review.

Norton Secure VPN overview

Price	$3.33–$5.00/mo for the first yr
Free version	No
Max # of connected devices	10
# of servers	Unlisted in 28 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, Mimic
No-logs policy	Some data logged
Headquarters	United States
Netflix access	Limited
Learn more	Get Norton Secure VPN

We last tested Norton Secure VPN on October 18, 2024.

Our experience

Norton is a trusted name in the cybersecurity world, so we had high hopes going into the hands-on testing of the VPN. Overall, it was easy to use and performed basic tasks well. All you had to do was click the yellow Turn On button and it automatically connected you to the fastest server near you.

Because Norton was aiming for simplicity, it was a bit less intuitive than usual to be able to find servers in different regions. You have to turn on the VPN, click on the small arrow next to the button, then click VPN Region to open the list.

Once the region list was opened, you can only choose based on country. There was no option that we could find to choose a specific city to connect to within a country, which limits the usefulness a little bit. 

The region pop-up was also very small and had no search feature, so you had to scroll all the way down to the bottom manually to find UK and US servers.

Once connected, there was no noticeable drop in speed or usability. We were even able to attend our normal Zoom meetings without interruption. 

That said, when we connected to a server for the first time, our Spotify music had a weird audio glitch that only went away after we disconnected. This didn't happen every time, but is something worth noting.

Who is Norton Secure VPN best for?

• Norton Secure VPN is highly recommended for those who prioritize online security and data privacy, particularly those who are already customers of Norton's other security products.

As a product of Norton, a renowned cybersecurity company, Norton Secure VPN integrates with the company's suite of security tools. This VPN offers a no-logs policy intended to safeguard your data from potential online threats. (Though Norton’s headquarters in the U.S. could be problematic.)

With a price range of $3.33–$5.00/mo for the first yr, it offers a competitive pricing model, particularly for those who opt for long-term subscriptions. And if you're unsure, there's a 60-day money-back guarantee you can take advantage of to save money on a VPN.

Norton VPN prices and subscriptions

Norton Secure VPN's cost ranges from $3.33–$5.00/mo for the first yr. The pricing depends on the number of devices you wish to protect and if you need extra features. Compared to other VPNs, Norton Secure VPN offers competitive pricing, especially with its annual plans.

Plan	VPN	VPN with security	VPN, security, family safety
Price	$3.33/mo (billed annually)	$3.33/mo (billed annually)	$3.33/mo (billed annually)
# of devices covered	5	5	10
VPN
Antivirus protection
Password manager
Dark web monitoring
Cloud storage		Yes — 10 GB	Yes — 50 GB
Parental controls
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan

As far as payment methods, Norton accepts the following:

• Credit card
• PayPal
• Google Pay

Norton VPN with antivirus prices

For those seeking comprehensive online security solutions, Norton offers great value by bundling its Secure VPN with its highly-rated Norton 360 antivirus software. This combination provides even more protection against online threats like malware while ensuring your privacy and data security.

Small businesses managing confidential client data, individuals conducting online banking, or parents wishing to ensure safe browsing for their kids could find these packages highly beneficial. Check out our Norton Antivirus review for more information.

Plan	Norton 360 Standard	Norton 360 Deluxe	Norton 360 with LifeLock Select
Annual price	$39.99/first yr	$49.99/first yr	$99.99/first yr
Number of devices	3	5	10
Norton Secure VPN
Antivirus protection
Password manager
Dark web monitoring
Cloud backup	2 GB	50 GB	250 GB
Parental controls
Identity theft protection
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan

Norton VPN features

Norton Secure VPN impresses with its secure and user-friendly interface, bank-grade encryption, and even a tracker blocker. However, advanced users might find some features lacking, such as dedicated torrenting servers and certain advanced privacy features like an ad and malware blocker.

Server count and countries

• Unlisted in 28 countries

Norton Secure VPN doesn't list the number of VPN servers on its site, but customer support let us know that it has servers in 28 countries. This could be of concern if you're seeking a large server network since you can't really confirm it with Norton. 

A higher server count and a wide variety of server locations mean you're less likely to encounter congested servers that can slow down your internet speed. Plus, more server locations mean more options for bypassing geolocation restrictions. 

No-logs policy and headquarters

• Norton Secure VPN logs policy: Some logs
• Norton headquarters: Tempe, Arizona, United States

Norton Secure VPN claims to be a no-logs VPN, but it does gather some data in accordance with the Norton LifeLock Global Privacy Statement. This includes your device name and type, IP address, as well as usage data to prevent service abuse. 

Norton notes this data is encrypted and stored while you use the VPN or for a max of 36 months. (Your IP address is not stored according to Norton.)

Additionally, Norton is headquartered in the United States. The location of a VPN's headquarters can affect the level of privacy it offers due to differing national laws and regulations regarding the collection of user data.

In the case of Norton VPN, being based in the United States could raise concerns since the U.S. is part of the Five Eyes alliance. However, the VPN’s no-logs policy somewhat mitigates this risk, as there’s limited user activity data to surrender, even if Norton is obliged to provide it by law.

Security features

Norton Secure VPN offers the standard VPN features, including a kill switch and split tunneling. We were also surprised to see some additional features:

• Kill switch: If your VPN connection drops, a kill switch disconnects your device from the internet. This prevents your IP address and online activity from being exposed. Norton's kill switch is available with its Windows, macOS, and Android apps only. You can find a toggle for it under the VPN settings menu.
• Split tunneling: This feature allows you to choose apps that can bypass the VPN connection, which can be useful if you want to protect your browsing activity while simultaneously accessing local network devices or services — or if some of your apps don't function correctly over a VPN connection. Split tunneling is only available with its Windows and Android apps. You can add which apps you wish to exclude in the VPN settings menu.
• VPN protocols: Norton Secure VPN uses WireGuard, OpenVPN and its proprietary Mimic protocol. 
  
• Ad tracker blocking: This feature blocks advertisers from tracking your online activity and targeting you with ads. You can also toggle it on from the VPN settings menu.

Norton 360 features

If you opt for the full Norton 360 security suite, you'll be treated to a lot more than just a VPN. You'll also get:

• A top-rated antivirus
• A private browser
• Privacy monitor
• Cloud Backup
• Password manager

Norton Secure VPN test results

When assessing the value and performance of any VPN, rigorous testing is essential. We evaluate the impact of the VPN on internet speed, the reliability of its security features, and its ability to access geo-restricted content across various streaming platforms. Our objective is to give you a practical sense of what to expect from the VPN in everyday use.

Speed tests

• Speed test results: Download speeds dropped by an average of 13% and there wasn't any noticeable lag. 

Our speed tests with Norton Secure VPN returned satisfactory results, indicating minor reductions in speed when compared to our internet connection without VPN. These tests were conducted on a Windows PC with a stable broadband connection.

Overall, there was a 13% decrease in speed on average, with a same-country connection only dropping 13% and Australia dropping 15%. Latency was where we saw the biggest difference, with all the servers outside of the U.S. increasing considerably.

We expect to see some decrease in performance while using a VPN since VPNs tend to slow down your internet. And higher latency while connected to servers located further away is also reasonable since distance greatly influences how much latency you experience.

Our baseline internet speed (without the VPN turned on) recorded a download speed of 320.56 Mbps, an upload speed of 358.38 Mbps, and a latency of 12 ms.

Test type	No VPN	US to US	US to CA	US to EU	US to AU
Download speed	320.56 Mbps	276.68 Mbps	278.70 Mbps	290.46 Mbps	271.02 Mbps
Upload speed	358.38 Mbps	358.83 Mbps	353.33 Mbps	334.26 Mbps	341.18 Mbps
Latency (ping)	12 ms	16 ms	50 ms	116 ms	185 ms
Download speed % difference	N/A	-13.69%	-13.06%	-9.38%	-15.45%
Upload speed % difference	N/A	+0.13%	-1.41%	-6.73%	-4.80%
Latency % difference	N/A	+33%	+317%	+867%	+1,442%

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: Norton Secure VPN was able to access Netflix US and Australia, but struggled with Netflix Canada and UK.

One of the major reasons for using a VPN while streaming Netflix is to gain access to the libraries of different regions. Shows and movies on Netflix are geo-restricted due to licensing agreements, meaning what's available to stream can differ from one country to another.

With Norton Secure VPN, we were easily able to watch Netflix US and Netflix Australia, surprisingly. 

However, we struggled with the other Netflix libraries we tested. We had actually started a stream with the Canadian server when Netflix flagged the VPN and we weren't able to get it back. There weren't any other Canadian server options, so it was ultimately a fail. 

We had a similar experience with Netflix UK, but it started working once we switched the show we were watching. So although Norton Secure VPN had some success, it's not the most reliable VPN for streaming. 

	US to US	US to CA	US to UK	US to AU
Did it work with Netflix?

DNS leak test

• DNS leak test results: Norton Secure VPN passed its DNS leak test.

DNS (Domain Name System) is often described as the phonebook of the internet. It translates user-friendly website names into their corresponding IP addresses. A DNS leak occurs when queries to this system aren’t entirely routed through the VPN, potentially exposing your original IP address to the ISP or any eavesdropper monitoring the network.

Norton Secure VPN passed its DNS leak test, reinforcing its reliability in preserving your online privacy and security.

WebRTC leak test

• WebRTC leak test results: Norton Secure VPN passed its WebRTC leak test.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a collection of technologies that enable web applications and sites to directly share audio, video, and data without needing an intermediate server. While useful, WebRTC can potentially leak your original IP address, even when a VPN is active. A WebRTC leak test checks for this vulnerability.

Luckily, Norton Secure VPN also passed the WebRTC leak test. 

Kill switch test

• Kill switch test results: Norton Secure VPN passed its kill switch test.

When enabled, a kill switch is meant to disconnect your internet when you're not connected to a VPN server. This ensures that your real IP doesn't get leaked while switching servers or if the VPN connection were to fail for any reason.

After we enabled the kill switch feature in Norton's settings, we went to an IPleak.net and switched from a server in Singapore to a server in Japan. The only IP addresses the site recorded were from those two countries, so there were no leaks. 

Norton VPN compatibility

One crucial aspect of a reliable VPN service is its compatibility with different devices and platforms. Whether you're using a PC, a smartphone, or a tablet, you want a VPN that can protect all your devices.

Norton Secure VPN offers solid compatibility, providing support for the most common operating systems and mobile devices:

• Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, 10, and 11
• macOS running the current and previous two versions
• Android 8.0 or later
• iOS and iPadOS running the current and previous two versions

Unfortunately, if you’re seeking a VPN for Linux or for your router, you’ll have to find another service provider.

Norton Secure VPN customer support

Norton provides 24/7 live chat and phone support, along with a support center full of guides and tutorials that are easy to follow.

Live chat and phone support

The representatives behind the live chat are highly responsive and knowledgeable. They provide clear and concise answers while seeking to ensure customer satisfaction.

Despite being told we'd have to wait five minutes to be connected to an agent, we were connected almost immediately:

The main downside is finding the chat was kind of a maze to get to. You had to:

1. Go to the Contact Us page
2. Click on your topic
3. Click the Get help button at the bottom of a bunch of guides they recommend to you
4. Sign in

We weren't able to find it the first time we tried, but were very impressed once we were able to get through.

Support guides

The online support center features guides covering all common issues, setup instructions, and tips. They’re well-written and easily understandable for all levels of VPN users.

We were able to stumble across one guide about cancelling auto renewal that was actually out of date, which was a bit frustrating, but most of them were good quality.

Top alternatives

While Norton Secure VPN is a reliable choice for many users, it's important to note that several other credible alternatives are available on the market. Depending on your specific needs, you might find one of our best VPN services a better fit.

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Norton Secure VPN good?

Norton Secure VPN provides a solid mixture of simplicity, security, and performance. With good value for money and an easy-to-use interface, it’s a worthy choice for casual VPN users and VPN beginners.

Norton’s VPN doesn’t provide as many advanced features as other VPN providers like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. That said, it does come with a full suite of security features, including one of the best antivirus software around (Norton 360), cloud storage, a password manager, a safe browser, and more.

If you’re seeking a simple, user-friendly VPN that’s capable of unblocking streaming services, then Norton Secure VPN is a great choice. Bundling the VPN is a great option if you already use or plan to use other Norton products. On the other hand, if you want a VPN with more advanced features and numerous protocols, there are better options that we cover in our best VPNs review.

Still on the fence about Norton VPN? See how it compares to some of the best VPNs on the market: 

• Norton Secure VPN vs. NordVPN
• Norton Secure VPN vs. Surfshark