A comparison between Norton VPN and NordVPN seems fair for most VPN enthusiasts. The former’s owner, Norton Security, is a well-known cybersecurity company. While not specifically recognized for its VPN, it is a familiar name in the world of antivirus and anti-malware software.
In contrast, NordVPN is a specialized VPN company. It focuses on cybersecurity and VPN-related features, with a business model centered on user privacy, while Norton Security emphasizes device security. Despite their differences, both overlap in offering VPN services.
So, which one does it better – NordVPN or Norton VPN? In this comparison, we’ll evaluate both through 8 tests, including device compatibility, price, speed, security, privacy, and more. At the end, we’ll tally the scores and declare the winner to help you choose the better option.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at both providers.
Norton Secure VPN vs NordVPN: All You Need To Know
All you need to know is that NordVPN is the clear winner in today’s comparison with Norton VPN.
It won all 8 rounds, cementing its place at the top. NordVPN’s domination over Norton Secure VPN makes it our team’s preferred choice. However, here’s a quick comparison of their features, to highlight their crucial differences:
| NordVPN | Norton Secure VPN | |
| Our Current Ranking | #1 | TBD |
| Prices | Starting at $3.09/mo | Starting at $39.99/year |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 60 days |
| Free Version/Free Trial | No/7-day trial on Android | No |
| Logging/Jurisdiction | No/Panama | Slight logging/US |
| Protocols | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Servers | 6,500+ in 111+ countries | 5,000+ in 30+ countries |
| Specialty Servers | Double VPN, Obfuscated, Onion Over VPN, Dedicated IP, P2P | P2P |
| RAM-Only Servers | Yes | No |
| Working With Netflix | Yes (20+ libraries) | Yes (US only) |
| P2P Allowance | Yes | Yes (only on P2P servers) |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 | 10 |
Applications & Ease of Use
Norton VPN and NordVPN are pretty far from each other in this category. The former offers apps for all popular platforms, such as Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS. Its compatibility is limited to these, while NordVPN’s limits are far beyond the blue sky above us.
NordVPN’s apps, extend to Linux, Firestick, Apple TV, Android TV, gaming consoles, and routers. Simultaneous connections are equal here, and both providers offer 10. For unlimited simultaneous connections, perhaps Private Internet Access VPN is a tad better.
But what about ease of use?
Well, we can’t say Norton VPN looks stunning but it’s easy enough to use. Its app looks like it has seen better days, with the connection toggle on the left, and the drop-down server list on the right. Clicking on the server list unwraps it, and you can pick the location you want.
After this, Norton VPN will connect in a few seconds, though occasionally, it may take up to 10 seconds. The Settings section is intuitive, and its features are easy to navigate. This is partly because there aren’t many, but we’ll address that later in this comparison.
NordVPN offers a completely different experience. You get a modern-looking app with an artistic world map that can also be used to connect—it’s not there just for show. NordVPN’s servers are listed on the left, and connection times are exceptionally fast, at only 1-3 seconds.
The Settings menu here is equally intuitive while packing way more features. On top of that, its mobile apps are snappier, making for an overall better experience on the fly. After testing NordVPN and Norton VPN for months, the former’s user experience was way better.
Winner: NordVPN
NordVPN vs Norton VPN Price Comparison
In our next Norton Secure VPN vs NordVPN comparison, we’ll focus on the financial aspect.
You want to know how much these VPNs are and if they’re affordable. We’ll spoil the surprise a bit and say that they are inexpensive. Starting with NordVPN, the provider costs a bit over $3/mo with 3 free months if you choose the 2-year Basic plan.
This one is still impressive and feature-heavy.
However, we think the best way to experience NordVPN is the Plus plan. With anti-malware protection and ad-blocking from Threat Protection Pro, the provider becomes much more serious.
Not to mention the recently tested NordPass, which aids password management and storage, and is included in that plan. The Ultimate plan can be pricey for some people but this one offers NordProtect and NordLocker – the latter is encrypted cloud storage (1 TB).
As for other plans, NordVPN can be paid for annually (min. $4.59/mo) and monthly. These two are never that discounted, making 2-year deals more attractive. In total, NordVPN offers 9 plans to pick from, while Norton VPN relies on only three, all annual (no monthly options!).
Norton Secure VPN is $39.99/year if you get only the VPN.
It’s worth noting that it protects FIVE instead of TEN devices. Moving on, the Norton Ultra VPN plan at $49.99/year is a bit better proposition because it includes virus protection, 10 GB of cloud backup, a password manager, and a few other tidbits.
The Norton Ultra VPN Plus plan at $59.99/year backs up everything with added family protection, 10 concurrent connections, and a few parental control features. Norton VPN beats NordVPN in the money-back guarantee, by offering 60, instead of 30 days in NordVPN’s case.
Which VPN Is Cheaper?
On paper, Norton Secure VPN seems cheaper but NordVPN is a better value. This especially rings true for renewal prices, where the former is a poor value because you’ll pay at least $79.99/year after the initial period. That said, we think NordVPN’s 2-year plans are better.
You’ll pay more upfront but you can enjoy the VPN for 27 months, with more features and options included. Such a commitment would cost you more if you choose Norton VPN instead, yet, you’d receive much less, which you’ll realize in a minute.
Norton Secure VPN vs NordVPN: Features Analysis
Features-wise, Norton’s formula hasn’t been updated for months now. On the other hand, NordVPN’s features have seen major overhauls recently, making them some of the best in the business. The result can be predicted at this point but still, let’s compare these VPNs.
Shared Features
A VPN works by encrypting your traffic, which protects you from snoopers and surveillance. Both can agree on that, as they offer 256-bit AES encryption, activated the moment you click “Connect” or the connection button.
In our NordVPN vs Norton VPN comparison, we found that they have a kill switch.
NordVPN’s kill switch has an advantage, because it’s “advanced” and allows you to activate it BEFORE you connect. It will prevent internet access unless you connect to a VPN, preventing your IP from leaking. Split tunneling is another useful feature on both sides.
However, we rarely use it in practice, so we focused more on their tracker protection abilities. Norton VPN and NordVPN can block trackers, ads, and malware quite well.
In NordVPN, that feature is called Threat Protection Pro and is available in the Plus plan, whereas, Norton Secure VPN offers it in the cheapest offer.
Unique Features
Which one offers more unique features, NordVPN or Norton Secure VPN? The blue team definitely wins here, first, because it has a better proprietary protocol.
WireGuard powers Norton VPN’s connections and that’s great because it’s fast and reliable. However, NordVPN’s NordLynx is WireGuard but on steroids, offering “tidier” security, stronger privacy, and more impressive overall performance.
Paying more for Norton VPN’s plans includes all-around protection against malware and viruses but that’s separate software; not the VPN itself. NordVPN’s Plus plan includes advanced protection in the app and even if you don’t get this plan, you still have freebies.
For example, there’s a Double VPN that routes your traffic through two servers, doubling your encryption. NordVPN’s obfuscated servers can bypass censorship in China; its rival lacks this feature. We’ll also mention Onion Over VPN servers used to get on the dark web.
None of these are available in Norton Secure VPN. Sadly, the provider also lacks RAM-only servers, while NordVPN’s entire network is based on Random Access Memory. This is a vital privacy feature that most modern VPNs use, including ExpressVPN, PIA, Proton VPN, etc.
| Norton Secure VPN | NordVPN | |
| Double VPN | No | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes (NordLynx) |
| Servers Based on RAM | No | Yes |
| Connection Obfuscation | No | Yes |
| Malware protection | Yes | Yes |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes (Advanced) |
Winner: NordVPN
Encrypt Your Traffic With NordVPN
Do Norton VPN and NordVPN Store Logs?
Let’s see which VPN is more privacy-focused, NordVPN or Norton Secure VPN. After analyzing both and doing some research, we found that both options store minimal to no logs. In particular, NordVPN’s clean no-logging policy is what always catches our attention.
Besides, the company’s long history of ironclad privacy speaks volumes. This provider is used by millions, yet no one has ever complained about NordVPN’s logging practices. No IPs, browsing history, DNS queries, and location data are stored on its RAM-only servers.
Moreover, NordVPN’s Panamanian jurisdiction puts it AWAY from the 5 Eyes Alliance. You have an off-shore location, a no-log policy, and one thing we haven’t mentioned – third-party audits! NordVPN has three of them from PwC and Deloitte combined.
Norton VPN isn’t such a candy here. As a VPN that prides itself on privacy, it monitors too much, such as your IP address and visited websites. This data is allegedly not stored on the servers but rather used for performance improvements and telemetry. That’s far-fetched.
Norton Security is based in the USA, within the 5 Eyes. It’s also a large, multi-million company, which thrives on collecting and selling people’s data like Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. It’s not strange that Norton VPN’s privacy policy hasn’t been audited. That says a lot.
But we get why this is the case. Such a shady company with a shady “no-logging” policy can’t be audited with great results. Or perhaps it can – by bribing the auditor. NordVPN takes this one, folks. Let’s not make this comparison again.
Winner: NordVPN
Avoid Logging By Using NordVPN
Which VPN Is Faster: NordVPN or Norton VPN?
We know you want those famous speed tests, so we delivered them to you on a golden platter. The image below shows our native internet speed recorded in Belgrade, where we resided at the time of testing. This is our starting point, we must have a reference.
With the reference in place, let us briefly explain our testing methods:
- We tested both VPNs for 3 days in a row,
- All tests are performed 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, and midnight),
- We used 3 server locations (the UK, the USA, and Japan),
- To even the playing field, WireGuard/NordLynx protocols were used in testing.
After all the tests, we compiled the results to get the averages for download and upload speeds. First, we’ll present the average speed losses in percentages in the table below:
| Download Speed Loss | Upload Speed Loss | |
| NordVPN | 18% | 7% |
| Norton Secure VPN | 42% | 19% |
We can conclude that NordVPN is faster than Norton Secure VPN (24% in download and 12% in upload speeds). If you’re interested in detailed speed test results, refer to the table below, where we outlined the exact speed test outcomes for each server location:
| UK (Download/Upload) | US (Download/Upload) | Japan (Download/Upload) | |
| NordVPN | 324.25/18.68 Mbps | 292.75/18.31 Mbps | 223.54/17.85 Mbps |
| Norton Secure VPN | 270.64/21.41 Mbps | 191.85/14.14 Mbps | 130.18/12.18 Mbps |
Winner: NordVPN
Enjoy Speedy Connections With NordVPN
Streaming & Torrenting Comparison
VPNs are much more than security and privacy. Those VPN benefits are accompanied by a bit of entertainment in the form of streaming and/or torrenting.
So, which provider is better here, Norton VPN or NordVPN? We’ll bear the bad news first – the former is atrocious.
Our Norton Secure VPN test revealed its weaknesses in this department. Namely, it will work with Netflix but only with the US catalog. The rest won’t be accessible even with various tweaks and protocol switches. The good news is that you can unblock some foreign TV channels.
This, for example, allows you to stream MotoGP live for free or enjoy other content. When testing the VPN with BBC iPlayer, we struggled to unblock it, to the point of just giving up. Not to mention other “complex” platforms like MAX or, let’s say Amazon Prime Video.
Norton Secure VPN simply isn’t equipped to handle them.
NordVPN’s streaming abilities are impressive. You can use it to catch up with the Super Bowl live abroad, watch over 20 Netflix catalogs, or enjoy the Premier League on BBC iPlayer. The difference between Norton Secure VPN and NordVPN is massive in streaming.
Torrenting is, more or less, a less exciting story. Both perform well and offer P2P-optimized servers. The difference is that Norton limits you to them while forbidding P2P on other servers. NordVPN’s 6,500+ servers work for torrenting without a hitch.
Oh, and they’re also faster, with superior download and upload speeds in most cases.
Winner: NordVPN
Use NordVPN for P2P and Streaming
Server Locations: NordVPN vs Norton VPN
You don’t need a ton of servers to get a great experience from a VPN. We value more the server quality. But when the quality AND size are fused together, you get a recipe for success. Which provider is larger, Norton VPN or NordVPN? Examine the table below:
| NordVPN | Norton VPN | |
| Servers | 6,500+ | 5,000+ |
| Countries | 111+ | 30+ |
| 10 Gbps Ports | Yes | Yes |
We can see that both providers offer 10 Gbps server ports and their server counts are all but unimpressive. Norton’s network has been scaled to 5,000, while the Panamanian giant offers over 6,500 worldwide. There’s a big country gap for some reason.
Norton VPN’s 30 countries feel half-baked, while NordVPN’s 111+ countries are spot-on. This spawns better server distribution and more IP addresses you can use. In this scenario, NordVPN’s superior distribution allows for inclusion of dedicated servers, such as:
- Double VPN
- Onion Over VPN
- Dedicated IP
- Obfuscated
- P2P (Torrenting)
With 5 distinct categories, the provider’s server diversity is unbeatable.
Norton VPN lacks dedicated servers, except for P2P, but you only have a few locations. Given the bigger country spread in the blue team, along with the combo of virtual and physical servers, we have no choice but to declare it more impressive.
Winner: NordVPN
Bypassing Censorship: Which VPN Does It Better?
Censorship kills free speech and with it, the enjoyment people find on the internet. Unfortunately, very few VPNs can help with censorship and based on our tests, Norton Secure VPN is one of them. It has no obfuscation, which is a major letdown.
This makes it useless in China or even Turkey during periods of civil unrest. After testing the VPN in the UAE, we discovered that it works well but the UAE isn’t a big deal for most VPNs. Other countries, like Russia, Turkey, Iran, and China require a “beefier” VPN – be aware.
A VPN that offers more “beef” in this department is surely NordVPN.
Bypass Censorship anywhere with NordVPN
Our testers and acquaintances across multiple countries are satisfied with it. A few of our team members from China have reported respectable results when using obfuscated servers. Obfuscation “fools” the Great Firewall by making your connection look like a “normal” one.
This prevents the firewall from blocking the VPN because it doesn’t “see” it. By extension, NordVPN works in other regions we mentioned. Factoring in its stronger security and a privacy-favorable business model with no logs, we can see why it’s a superior option.
Winner: NordVPN
Conclusion: NordVPN Beats Norton Secure VPN
The conclusion of our Norton Secure VPN vs NordVPN comparison is rather depressing for Norton fans. While the company’s device security tools are some of the best, its VPN falls short of many aspects that make NordVPN so beloved and used by millions of people.
We’d venture to say it’s a bad VPN for the money, as well!
Everything Norton VPN can do, NordVPN can do more, better, and with ease. Look at each round separately and you’ll see the latter winning. It’s safer, more privacy-oriented, faster, more capable of streaming and P2P, and so on. We can go on like this forever.
Most importantly, NordVPN’s value for money is unequivocal.
Despite costing less at the start, NordVPN is a better long-term proposition, with more features even in the Basic plan. This, along with everything said and done so far, brings us to the conclusion that NordVPN is a recommended option of the two.
Pick any of its plans and you’ll be satisfied. You can’t go wrong with this timeless provider.