NordVPN alternatives
VPN · nordvpn.com
NordVPN is a consumer VPN service that encrypts internet connections across thousands of servers in 224+ locations, with higher tiers bundling antivirus, ad/tracker blocking, dark web monitoring, a password manager, and encrypted cloud storage.
Switching to Windscribe, which covers 78% of the compared capabilities.
Find my alternative
Way less money.
Top NordVPN alternatives
We compared 10 products and found 8 cheaper options (5 of them cover at least half the compared features) · vs NordVPN Basic (1-month) at $14.99/mo · scenario: single user, unlimited data, monthly billing, USD.
NordVPN costs $14.99/mo on the Basic (1-month) plan at single user, unlimited data, monthly billing. We found 8 assessed alternatives that are cheaper in this scenario; 3 of them cover at least 75% of the 9 compared capabilities.
| Product | Match | Price | Annual savings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mullvad VPN Flat monthly rate plan · missing: Server network size, Dedicated IP, Static IP, Ad & tracker blocking, Split tunneling | 44% | $5.58/mo how? ⓘ | $112.92 / year 63% cheaper | |
IVPN Standard plan · missing: Server network size, Simultaneous devices, Dedicated IP, Static IP, Port forwarding | 44% | $6/mo how? ⓘ | $107.88 / year 60% cheaper | |
TOP PICK Windscribe Pro plan · missing: Simultaneous devices, Dedicated IP | 78% | $9/mo how? ⓘ | $71.88 / year 40% cheaper | |
Proton VPN VPN Plus plan · missing: Dedicated IP, Static IP | 78% | $9.99/mo how? ⓘ | $60 / year 33% cheaper | |
ExpressVPN Advanced plan · missing: Dedicated IP, Static IP, Port forwarding, Multi-hop | 56% | $10.00/mo how? ⓘ | $59.93 / year 33% cheaper | |
PrivadoVPN Monthly plan · missing: Server network size, Dedicated IP, Static IP, Port forwarding, Multi-hop | 44% | $10.99/mo how? ⓘ | $48 / year 27% cheaper | |
Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) PIA VPN plan · missing: Static IP | 89% | $11.95/mo how? ⓘ | $36.48 / year 20% cheaper | |
CyberGhost VPN Monthly plan · missing: Port forwarding, Ad & tracker blocking, Multi-hop | 67% | $12.99/mo how? ⓘ | $24 / year 13% cheaper |
Which NordVPN alternative for which situation
Picked by the numbers in this scenario — same subtype unless stated, assessed products only.
- Best open source or self-hosted
- Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) — $11.95/mo (PIA VPN plan) · covers 89%
- Best paid drop-in
- Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) — $11.95/mo (PIA VPN plan) · covers 89%
- Need server network size or static IP?
- Windscribe — from $9/mo (Pro plan)
- Need simultaneous devices, no-logs policy, port forwarding or multi-hop?
- Mullvad VPN — from $5.58/mo (Flat monthly rate plan)
- Need dedicated IP?
- Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) — from $11.95/mo (PIA VPN plan)
- Need ad & tracker blocking or split tunneling?
- IVPN — from $6/mo (Standard plan)
What you give up
Capabilities NordVPN has that the top alternatives lack.
- Server network size — Choose from a large network of server locations.Missing from Mullvad VPN, IVPN.
- Simultaneous devices — Connect a set number of devices to the VPN at the same time.Missing from IVPN, Windscribe.
- Dedicated IP — Use a static IP address reserved for your account.Missing from Mullvad VPN, IVPN, Windscribe, Proton VPN.
- Static IP — Keep the same IP address across sessions.Missing from Mullvad VPN, IVPN, Proton VPN.
- Port forwarding — Forward a network port through the VPN connection.Missing from IVPN.
- Ad & tracker blocking — Block ads and trackers while connected.Missing from Mullvad VPN.
- Split tunneling — Route only chosen apps or sites through the VPN.Missing from Mullvad VPN.
Feature comparison
NordVPN vs the top alternatives, on the 9 compared capabilities.
| Capability | NordVPN | Mullvad VPN | IVPN | Windscribe | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server network size | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Simultaneous devices | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dedicated IP | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No-logs policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Static IP | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Port forwarding | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad & tracker blocking | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split tunneling | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-hop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scenario price cheapest qualifying plan | $14.99/mo Basic (1-month) | $5.58/mo Flat monthly rate | $6/mo Standard | $9/mo Pro | $9.99/mo VPN Plus |
✓ means the product offers the capability — possibly only on a higher tier than the plan priced below it. The price row shows the cheapest plan that qualifies for our comparison scenario, with its plan name; a $0 free plan may not include every checked capability.
What NordVPN covers
The capability set used for comparison. Grey entries are not available on self-serve plans.
- ✓ Server network size
- ✓ Simultaneous devices
- ✓ Dedicated IP
- ✓ No-logs policy
- ✓ Static IP
- ✓ Port forwarding
- ✓ Ad & tracker blocking
- ✓ Split tunneling
- ✓ Multi-hop
- ✗ Unlimited devices
Price ladder
Observed prices from the official pricing page.
Who switched
Anonymous: no account, no email, no IP stored. Reports are shown once a switch has 3 or more and never change ranking or order — alternatives are computed from prices and capabilities only.
Sources
Every claim traces to an official source and a check date.
- https://nordvpn.com/pricing/ (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-29)
- https://nordvpn.com/pricing/#main-content (official_pricing, checked 2026-08-26)
- https://nordvpn.com/features/ (feature_page, checked 2026-10-03)
Frequently asked
How much does NordVPN cost?
NordVPN's Basic (1-month) plan costs $14.99/mo in our scenario (single user, unlimited data, monthly billing).
Is there a free NordVPN alternative?
We have not verified a free plan that fits this scenario among the assessed alternatives.
What is the cheapest NordVPN alternative?
In our scenario (single user, unlimited data, monthly billing), Mullvad VPN is the cheapest assessed alternative at $5.58/mo (Flat monthly rate plan).
What is the cheapest NordVPN alternative with Dedicated IP?
Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) covers Dedicated IP and costs $11.95/mo (PIA VPN plan) in our scenario.
Does NordVPN have a free plan?
No. NordVPN has no free plan on its official pricing page.
When were these prices checked?
Between 2026-10-26 and 2026-10-29, on the vendors' official pricing pages.