Best NordVPN Alternatives in 2026
The top NordVPN alternatives are Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and Surfshark: 15 VPN services our editors would look at instead of NordVPN, in our ranking order.
NordVPN: A broad-coverage VPN with advanced routing, streaming support, and 10-device access. Where it falls short: the main VPN service requires a paid subscription.
Switching from NordVPN? For most vpn services buyers the best NordVPN alternative is Proton VPN, built for free, privacy-focused VPN use. On a budget, VeePN starts at $1.99/mo. VeePN offers the most server countries (148 countries).
Why People Look for a NordVPN Alternative
- The main VPN service requires a paid subscription
- The 3-day trial is limited to Android
- P2P support is provided on standard servers
- No free plan — 7 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallProton VPN9.3
Free, privacy-focused VPN use
Visit Proton VPN - Lowest priceVeePN7.8
Paid plans from $1.99/mo
Visit VeePN - Best free optionProton VPN9.3
Has a free plan (NordVPN has none)
Visit Proton VPN - Most server countriesVeePN7.8
148 countries
Visit VeePN
All 15 NordVPN Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forFree, privacy-focused VPN use
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.3 vs 9.2
A privacy-focused VPN with an unusually capable unlimited free plan.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Proton VPN -
Best forHouseholds and teams with many devices
A feature-rich VPN for households and teams that need many simultaneous connections.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
9.1/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forFamilies connecting many devices
A multi-platform VPN for households that want one subscription across many devices.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Surfshark -
Best forPolished VPN with broad coverage
A broad-coverage VPN with audited no-logs controls and support for 10 devices.
- Verified no-logs audit
- WireGuard support
- Streaming support
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit ExpressVPN -
Best forStreaming and torrenting across many platforms
A broad VPN service for streaming and torrenting across up to seven devices.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit CyberGhost -
Best forAffordable free VPN with large coverage
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
A low-cost VPN with a free tier, broad country coverage, and useful privacy tools.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Bitdefender -
Best forFlexible free plan and unlimited devices
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
A flexible VPN with a useful free tier, unlimited devices, and configurable paid plans.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Windscribe -
Best forPrivacy-first users who value anonymity
A privacy-first VPN with strong anonymity features, though platform and country coverage is narrower.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Mullvad -
Best forFamilies needing many simultaneous devices
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
A flexible VPN with a useful free tier and unusually broad family-device coverage.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Hotspot Shield -
Best forFirefox users wanting integrated privacy tools
A privacy-focused VPN with Firefox integration, WireGuard, and five-device coverage.
- WireGuard support
- Streaming support
- Kill switch
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Mozilla VPN -
Best forPrivacy-focused users needing obfuscation
A privacy-first VPN with strong obfuscation, but limited streaming support and 41-country coverage.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit IVPN -
Best forOrganizations needing self-hosted site-to-site VPN
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
Organization-managed VPN access with site-to-site links, SSO, and server-priced tiers.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Pritunl -
Best forFree VPN with TV and router coverage
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
A privacy-focused VPN with a capable free plan and broad device coverage.
- Verified no-logs audit
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit hide.me -
Best forAdvanced anonymity and mixnet routing
A VPN for advanced anonymity, mixnet routing, streaming, and P2P across major platforms.
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
- Streaming support
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit NymVPN -
Best forUsers wanting many plans and protocols
- Better than NordVPN:
- Free plan
A flexible VPN with free browser access, multiple protocols, and tiered device limits.
- Torrent support
- WireGuard support
- Streaming support
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit VeePN
NordVPN Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to NordVPN?
Proton VPN: #1 in our VPN Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A privacy-focused VPN with an unusually capable unlimited free plan.
Is there a free alternative to NordVPN?
Yes. Proton VPN, Bitdefender Premium VPN, Windscribe, Hotspot Shield and Pritunl have a free plan or a free tier (7 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to NordVPN?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, VeePN starts lowest, at $1.99/mo.
Why do people look for NordVPN alternatives?
The main VPN service requires a paid subscription; The 3-day trial is limited to Android; P2P support is provided on standard servers.
Which NordVPN alternative has the most server countries?
VeePN, with 148 countries.
How do I switch from NordVPN?
Export your data from NordVPN (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel NordVPN.
How to Switch from NordVPN
- Export your data from NordVPN (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel NordVPN.
NordVPN vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Verified no-logs audit | Server countries | Simultaneous devices | Streaming support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | NordVPN | No | Yes | 167 countries | 10 devices | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 1 | Proton VPN | Yes | Yes | 10 devices | Yes | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | Private Internet Access | No | $3.99/mo | Yes | 91 countries | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Surfshark | No | Yes | 100 countries | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 4 | ExpressVPN | No | $2.99/mo | Yes | 113 countries | 10 devices | Yes | 8.9 |
| 5 | CyberGhost VPN | No | Yes | 100 countries | 7 devices | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | Bitdefender Premium VPN | Yes | $2.92/mo | Yes | 110 countries | 10 devices | Yes | 8.7 |
| 7 | Windscribe | Yes | $69/yr | Yes | 69 countries | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 8 | Mullvad VPN | No | €5/mo | Yes | 50 countries | 5 devices | Yes | 8.5 |
| 9 | Hotspot Shield | Yes | $6.99/mo | Yes | 5 devices | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 10 | Mozilla VPN | No | $4.99/mo | 5 devices | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 11 | IVPN | No | $60/yr | Yes | 41 countries | 5 devices | No | 8.2 |
| 12 | Pritunl | Yes | $10/mo | 8.1 | ||||
| 13 | hide.me | Yes | Yes | 10 devices | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 14 | NymVPN | No | $4/mo | 70 countries | 10 devices | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 15 | VeePN | Yes | $1.99/mo | 148 countries | 5 devices | Yes | 7.8 |
Head-to-Head
- NordVPN vs Proton VPN
- NordVPN vs Private Internet Access
- NordVPN vs Surfshark
- NordVPN vs CyberGhost VPN
- NordVPN vs Bitdefender Premium VPN
- NordVPN vs Windscribe
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update