Alternatives · VPNs
NordVPN alternatives
NordVPN compared with 10 alternatives: Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and 5 more.
NordVPN is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan). 3 of the 10 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
10 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPNThis tool | Free trial · from $139.08/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Surfshark | Free trial · from $79/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ExpressVPN | Free trial · from $99.95/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Proton VPN | Free plan · from $83.88/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Private Internet Access | From $47.88/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| CyberGhost | Free trial · from $56.94/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Hotspot Shield | Free plan · from $95.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| IPVanish | Free trial · from $99.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Mullvad VPN | From €5/mo | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| PureVPN | From $47.95/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| TunnelBear | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
NordVPN starts at $11.59 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 10 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, Hotspot Shield and 4 more start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from NordVPN
- Free trial · from $79/yr
Surfshark
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles
- Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free trial · from $99.95/yr
ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
- ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
Suits: People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- Proton VPN has a free plan. NordVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- From $47.88/yr
Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
- Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free trial · from $56.94/yr
CyberGhost
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans
- CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
Suits: Trying a VPN on a computer for a day without entering a card
- Free plan · from $95.99/yr
Hotspot Shield
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol
- Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- Hotspot Shield has a free plan. NordVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NordVPN lists a Linux app.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- NordVPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Occasional users who want a free VPN on one device
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
IPVanish
Ziff Davis-owned VPN with no device cap and antivirus on higher plans
- IPVanish starts at $99.99 per year at renewal (Essential), after a first 2 years for $52.56. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- Only NordVPN lists a browser extension.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- From €5/mo
Mullvad VPN
Flat-rate Swedish VPN with anonymous numbered accounts
- Mullvad VPN starts at €5 per month, the same rate for any length paid ahead. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- Only NordVPN lists a browser extension.
- Mullvad VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: People who want a VPN account with no email or name attached
- From $47.95/yr
PureVPN
VPN sold in three tiers that add a password manager and data removal
- PureVPN starts at $47.95 per year at renewal (Standard), after a first 27 months for $58.20. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- PureVPN also covers password manager.
Suits: Households that need a VPN on up to 10 devices
- Free plan · from $3.33/mo
TunnelBear
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans
- TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once). NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- TunnelBear has a free plan. NordVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NordVPN lists a Linux app.
Suits: Occasional users who need a VPN for a few gigabytes
Limits worth knowing in NordVPN
- Nord's pricing page turned away automated readers, so the first-term prices it advertises are missing here; only the US 1-year renewal prices could be read.
- Nord's renewal list also names an Ultimate 1-year tier at $256.68 for the US; plan names vary by country.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee covers the first purchase only; renewals are not refundable under it, and App Store purchases go through Apple.
- The free trial is limited to new customers in 15 countries and needs a credit card or PayPal.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to NordVPN?
The alternatives to NordVPN in this directory are Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, Hotspot Shield, IPVanish, Mullvad VPN, PureVPN and TunnelBear. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with NordVPN.
Is there a free alternative to NordVPN?
Yes. Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield and TunnelBear have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to NordVPN?
Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and Mullvad VPN are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.