The NordLayer Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about NordLayer in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
NordLayer
The Insider’s Guide
Business VPN and network access control from Nord Security
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from NordLayer’s own pages.
Made by Nord Security · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from NordLayer’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on NordLayer’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 3 of the 50 other VPNs we grade
NordLayer is a business VPN and network security service sold per user to teams. It covers encrypted internet access through shared gateways, plus dedicated-IP gateways, access rules and device checks on the higher plans. Admins manage users and gateways from a central control panel.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about NordLayer, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, and an admin console with gateways, SSO and rules takes setting up.
- 1
Best for small teams that need a business VPN with access rules
NordLayer is a business VPN sold per user, with shared gateways at $8 a seat and access control on higher plans.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $8 per user / month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly).
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 4
Shared and private gateways
Lite connects through shared gateways in 40+ countries; Core and above add private gateways with a dedicated IP address that only your team uses.
- 5
Network access control
Higher plans add IP allowlisting, a cloud firewall and device posture checks to limit who and what can reach company resources.
- 6
Threat prevention
Web protection blocks malicious domains and download protection scans new files for malware; DNS filtering by category starts on Core.
- 7
A 1.8 GPA, above 3 of 50
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace NordLayer you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
NordLayer at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $8 per user / month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Nord Security
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for small teams that need a business VPN with access rules
NordLayer is a business VPN sold per user, with shared gateways at $8 a seat and access control on higher plans. Every plan has a 5-user minimum, the dearer plans need a $40 a month dedicated-IP server, and there is no free plan or trial on record.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Lite is $8 a seat but five seats is $40 a month, and Core and Premium also need a $40 a month dedicated-IP server, so a five-person team pays about $19 a seat for the useful parts. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan and no trial on record, only a demo. |
| Features | C | Gateways in 40+ countries, access rules and threat prevention, but split tunneling and custom DNS are not in Lite, and provisioning and posture checks are add-ons. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and an admin console with gateways, SSO and rules takes setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and a browser extension, with Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace and other integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who NordLayer is for
- Fits if you run a team of five or more and want admin control over a VPN
- Works for companies that use Okta, Entra ID or Google Workspace sign-in
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you are one person, as every plan has a 5-user minimum
- Pricey if you need Core or Premium, as each needs a $40 a month dedicated-IP server
- Skip it if you want to try before paying, as no free plan or trial is listed
- Watch out: each account allows only 6 simultaneous connections, and provisioning and device posture monitoring are add-ons
Good to know
Good for
- Teams of five or more that need one admin panel for VPN access
- Companies that want a dedicated IP for allowlisting
- Businesses connecting remote staff to cloud networks
Worth knowing
- Every self-serve plan has a 5-user minimum; the Enterprise offer starts at 200 users.
- Core and Premium require a dedicated-IP server, listed at $40 a month on yearly billing ($50 monthly).
- Split tunneling, custom DNS and the browser extension are not part of Lite.
- Each account allows up to 6 simultaneous connections; user provisioning and device posture monitoring are add-ons.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8
A month to start, for each person
NordLayer is a paid product, starting at $8 per user / month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly).
No free plan and no trial on record, only a demo.
Lite
$8
per user / month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly)
Shared gateways in 40+ countries, web protection and download protection. 5 users minimum.
Core
$11
per user / month, billed yearly ($14 billed monthly)
Adds private gateways and network access control. Needs a dedicated-IP server at $40 a month on yearly billing. 5 users minimum.
Premium
$14
per user / month, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly)
Adds more granular network segmentation and site-to-site connections. Dedicated-IP server at $40 a month on yearly billing. 5 users minimum.
Enterprise offer
$6
per user / month and up, billed yearly
For teams of 200 or more seats, starting from Lite capabilities; price varies with plan and features. Sold through sales.
Read from nordlayer.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save up to 22% with yearly billing
The pricing page shows yearly billing at a lower per-user rate than monthly, labelled as saving up to 22%.
Stated on nordlayer.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Business VPN and network access control from Nord Security. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and a browser extension, with Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace and other integrations.
- Shared and private gateways
- Lite connects through shared gateways in 40+ countries; Core and above add private gateways with a dedicated IP address that only your team uses.
- Network access control
- Higher plans add IP allowlisting, a cloud firewall and device posture checks to limit who and what can reach company resources.
- Threat prevention
- Web protection blocks malicious domains and download protection scans new files for malware; DNS filtering by category starts on Core.
- Protocols and always-on mode
- NordLynx, which is WireGuard-based, plus OpenVPN over UDP or TCP. Always On VPN and auto-connect are included on every plan.
- Single sign-on and provisioning
- Sign in with Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin, Google or JumpCloud. Automatic user provisioning with Entra ID and Okta is an add-on.
- Site-to-site connections
- Premium can link office networks and devices to a private gateway through encrypted tunnels.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Okta
- Entra ID
- OneLogin
- JumpCloud
- Google Workspace
- SentinelOne
- Jamf Cloud
- AWS
NordLayer is made by Nord Security.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
3/50
Other VPNs it is graded above
NordLayer's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 3 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 46 of 50) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8 a month for each person, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 32 of the 40 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 10 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. NordLayer’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 50
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 50
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 46 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. NordLayer is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace NordLayer you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 42 of the 50 other VPNs grade higher. It costs $96 a year.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, Okta, Entra ID and OneLogin among them.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: single sign-on.
What this rests on. NordLayer’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
NordVPN, OpenVPN, Firezone and WireGuard
The 4 tools NordLayer is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links.
- NordLayer also covers malware protection.
- NordVPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
OpenVPN
Free plan · from $7/mo
Open-source VPN protocol plus business VPN products built on it.
- OpenVPN has a free plan. NordLayer does not.
- Only NordLayer lists a browser extension.
- OpenVPN is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Firezone
Free plan · from $50/yr
WireGuard-based zero-trust remote access for teams.
- Firezone has a free plan. NordLayer does not.
- Only NordLayer lists a browser extension.
- Firezone is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
WireGuard
Free
Free, open-source VPN protocol and tunnel software.
- WireGuard has a free plan. NordLayer does not.
- Only NordLayer lists a browser extension.
- WireGuard is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is NordLayer free?
No. NordLayer is a paid product, starting at $8 per user / month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly).
How much does NordLayer cost?
NordLayer lists 4 plans. Lite: $8 per user / month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly).
What platforms does NordLayer work on?
NordLayer is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does NordLayer offer any discounts?
NordLayer publicly lists the following: Save up to 22% with yearly billing.
Is NordLayer open source?
NordLayer is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does NordLayer integrate with?
NordLayer's listing names Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin, JumpCloud, Google Workspace, SentinelOne, Jamf Cloud and AWS.
Who makes NordLayer?
NordLayer is made by Nord Security.
What are the alternatives to NordLayer?
The closest alternatives to NordLayer in our directory are NordVPN, OpenVPN, Firezone and WireGuard.
How does NordLayer compare with other VPNs?
NordLayer's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 3 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 5.
Is NordLayer good value for money?
ToolGPA grades NordLayer D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8 a month for each person, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 32 of the 40 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of NordLayer?
To replace NordLayer you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from NordLayer’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Nord Security's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Nord Security. Prices change, so check nordlayer.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- NordLayer, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/nordlayer
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "NordLayer: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/nordlayer
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/nordlayer/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Cloudflare WARP Insider's GuideFree Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier3.2 GPA
- Ultrasurf Insider's GuideFree censorship-circumvention VPN from UltraReach3.2 GPA
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what NordLayer’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. NordLayer is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Nord Security. Prices and plans change: check nordlayer.com before you buy.