NordVPN vs NymVPN (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, NordVPN grades higher than NymVPN: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
NordVPN grades higher on features and ease of use. NymVPN grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
NordVPN
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links
NymVPN
Swiss VPN with a decentralized WireGuard mode and a mixnet mode
Which one is for you
Pick NordVPN if
- Fits if your household has up to 10 devices to cover on one account
- Works for linking your own laptop and home PC privately with Meshnet
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you stay past the first term, as Basic renews at $139.08 a year, the dearest VPN here
- Watch out: Nord's first-term prices couldn't be read, and plan names and prices vary by country
- Skip it if you want a trial without a card or PayPal, or live outside the 15 countries that get one
- Not for you if you count on the money-back guarantee at renewal, as it covers the first purchase only
- Pricey if you want NordPass and NordLocker too, as Complete renews at $219.48 a year
Pick NymVPN if
- Fits if you want to pay with Bitcoin, Monero or cash rather than a card
- Works for people who want a mixnet option and can live with a slower connection in that mode
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free plan, because there isn't one
- Tight if you want the trial: it's card-only, needs a payment method and ends after 7 days
- Not for you if you use Android TV, as the vendor says it isn't supported
- Watch out: all plans auto-renew and refunds are pro-rata, and only the 1-year price could be read
- Watch out: the currency you see depends on your location and payment method
How we grade them
| 2.4GPANordVPNFair | 2.2GPANymVPNFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | DOnly Nord's renewal prices could be read: Basic renews at $139.08 a year, so two years on record come to $278.16, about $11.59 a month, the dearest in this category. The first-term price for new customers wasn't readable, so a first purchase may cost less. | C$4.00 a month on the 1-year plan ($48 up front), just over the cheaper quarter's $3.99. The page crosses out $96 and shows no end date for the 50% off, and the other terms weren't readable. |
| Free plan and trial | DA 7-day free trial of the 1- and 2-year top-tier plans, but only for new customers in the US and 14 other countries, and it needs a card or PayPal. The 30-day money-back guarantee isn't a trial. | DA 7-day trial, but only on select plans with a card, it needs a payment method, and it can't be started with crypto. No free plan. |
| Features | BNordLynx, NordWhisper, OpenVPN and IKEv2 with a kill switch, malware and ad blocking, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated servers, Meshnet, Dark Web Monitor and dedicated IPs. Nothing in the listing is missing from a VPN's job. | CWireGuard mode, a mixnet mode, an ad blocker on every plan, bridges for blocked networks and 10 devices. The listing names a gap: it isn't supported on Android TV. |
| Ease of use | A4.7 from about 709,000 App Store ratings, the biggest crowd in this category. Install, sign in, tap connect. | BNo store rating on record. It's an app you install and connect, though the mixnet mode is slower and you pick between two modes. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, plus Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. No API or integrations on record, and no Android TV app. |
| Best for | a big-name VPN for up to 10 devices | a VPN you can pay for in crypto or cash |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: NordVPN and NymVPN. How we grade
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. NymVPN starts at $4 a month and scores 2.7.
NordVPN scores higher, and starts $7.59 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other VPNs on the chart, none scores higher than NordVPN for less, and 3 score higher than NymVPN for less.
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
Where they differ
- NymVPN is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| NordVPN | NymVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan) | $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year top-tier plans for new users in the US and 14 other countries | 7-day free trial on select plans when paying by card; not available with cryptocurrency, and a payment method is required. |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Nord Security | Nym Technologies SA |
| Price read from | my.nordaccount.com | nym.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
NymVPN
- There is no free plan; the 7-day trial is limited to certain payment types and needs a payment method.
- The pricing page also lists 1-month (full price) and 6-month (25% off) options; only the 1-year price could be read here, so check the page for the others.
- All plans auto-renew unless cancelled, and refunds are described as pro-rata.
- The vendor says NymVPN is not supported on Android TV, and the pricing page notes that currency (EUR, USD, GBP, CHF) depends on location and payment method.
Key features
NordVPN
- Protocols
- Choose between NordLynx (built on WireGuard), Nord's own NordWhisper, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec, with an automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection.
- Real-time protection
- Scans files for malware and blocks harmful websites; the App Store listing adds tracker and ad blocking, depending on device and plan.
- Specialty servers
- Double VPN sends traffic through two servers, Onion Over VPN adds the Tor network, and obfuscated servers make VPN traffic look like ordinary traffic.
- Meshnet
- Links your own devices into a private network so they can reach each other without exposing your real IP address.
- Dark Web Monitor
- Watches for your email address and other personal details turning up in data leaks and alerts you when they do.
- Dedicated IP
- A fixed personal IP address, bought on its own or in a bundle, for services that only accept allow-listed addresses.
NymVPN
- Two connection modes
- A faster decentralized VPN mode built on WireGuard, and a mixnet mode that adds noise to traffic for stronger anonymity.
- Anonymous payments and access
- Accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bitcoin, Monero, Zcash, Taler and cash, and says its zk-nym credentials keep payment data from being linked to activity.
- Ad blocker
- Every plan includes an ad blocker the vendor says is powered by Brave.
- Censorship resistance
- The vendor lists censorship resistance in what every plan includes, and its app notes mention bridge modes for networks that block the connection.
- Open source and audits
- The site's home page says the software is open source and independently audited.
Plans
NordVPN
Basic 1-year$139.08
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
The VPN-only tier. Nord's first-term price for new customers could not be read, so only the renewal price is shown.
Standard 1-year$149.88
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
Priced between Basic and Plus at renewal. Nord's first-term price for new customers could not be read.
Plus 1-year$179.88
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
Priced between Standard and Complete at renewal. Nord's first-term price for new customers could not be read.
Complete 1-year$219.48
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
Adds NordPass and NordLocker to the VPN. First-term price not readable; this is the 1-year renewal price.
Ultra 1-year$269.88
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
One of the top tiers that the 7-day free trial covers. First-term price not readable; this is the renewal price.
Prime 1-year$296.28
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
The dearest US tier on Nord's renewal list, and one the free trial covers. First-term price not readable.
NymVPN
1 year$4.00
per month, billed yearly ($48 total)
All features on all plans, up to 10 devices and servers in 70+ locations. The page shows $96 crossed out and 50% off, with no end date given.
Ways to pay less
NordVPN
- Education
Student discount for ages 18 to 26
Nord's help center says students and apprentices aged 18 to 26 can get an additional discount. The size of the discount is not stated there.
NymVPN
- Other savings
Up to 75% off when paying with the $NYM token
The pricing page offers up to 75% off if you pay with the $NYM token.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, NordVPN or NymVPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, NymVPN is cheaper to start with: $4 a month, against $11.59 a month when paid by the year for NordVPN. NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan), and NymVPN starts at $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly.
Which has a free plan, NordVPN or NymVPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither NordVPN nor NymVPN has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do NordVPN and NymVPN run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only NordVPN lists a browser extension. Both list macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.