Best NordVPN Alternatives in 2026: 5 VPNs Compared

The best NordVPN alternatives depend on why you want to switch. Choose Surfshark for unlimited simultaneous connections, Proton VPN for a free plan, or Mullvad for a simple monthly price. ExpressVPN is a straightforward choice for beginners, while Private Internet Access offers unlimited connections and more settings.

Before paying, compare the full first payment, renewal terms, device limit, and the apps available for your devices. A low monthly equivalent can require a payment covering two years or more.

How we compared these VPNs: We reviewed provider pricing, product documentation, and published privacy research available on November 11, 2026. We did not run new hands-on speed, streaming, or app tests for this guide. Prices and features may change by location, promotion, and billing platform. Confirm the final offer before paying.

NordVPN alternatives compared at a glance

For context, a NordVPN account supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. If you want a broader comparison that includes NordVPN, read our guide to the best VPN services in 2026.

How much do NordVPN alternatives cost?

These offers appeared on provider pages or signup pages checked November 11, 2026. Introductory totals are paid upfront and may exclude tax. Prices can differ by region, app store, or promotion. Mullvad uses euros, so a U.S. cardholder’s charge depends on exchange rates and any card fees. See the current Surfshark offer, Proton VPN signup page, Mullvad pricing, ExpressVPN plans, and PIA pricing.

1. Surfshark: Best for households with many devices

Choose Surfshark if you want a VPN subscription for several phones, computers, tablets, and other compatible devices. Its paid plans offer unlimited simultaneous connections, so a large household does not have to count active devices against a ten-device limit.

Start with the Starter plan if you only need the VPN. Surfshark also sells higher tiers with additional services. Compare the total and renewal details for the exact plan you select.

Ownership detail: Surfshark and NordVPN are separate brands within the same wider group of companies. If you are leaving because you want a provider outside that group, look at another option on this list. Nord Security describes the group’s formation.

Main tradeoff: The lowest advertised monthly equivalent depends on paying for a long first term. Confirm your later renewal cost before checkout.

2. Proton VPN: Best free NordVPN alternative

Choose Proton VPN if you want to start free or compare a privacy-focused paid service. Proton VPN Free has no data cap, making it useful for everyday browsing without a monthly data allowance. See Proton’s free-plan details.

There is a practical limit for travelers. Proton’s current app guides describe automatic free-server selection. Moving to another free server can involve a random country and a cooldown. Proton’s separate free-server page describes a choice of free servers, so check the behavior in your app before relying on a particular location. Paid plans provide broader location choice. Proton’s server-change guide and free-server page.

Proton does not promise streaming access on its free servers. Its paid VPN Plus offer adds features and supports ten simultaneous devices. Privacy Guides also documents Proton’s open-source apps and independent security assessments. Review an audit’s date and scope when comparing providers. Privacy Guides’ VPN comparison.

Main tradeoff: The free plan is useful for browsing, but it is less suitable if you must pick a specific location on demand.

3. Mullvad: Best for flexible monthly pricing

Choose Mullvad if you want to pay month by month without a large upfront bill. Mullvad charges €5 per month when purchased directly, regardless of how many months you buy. An account covers up to five devices and uses an account number instead of requiring an email address. Mullvad’s pricing page and account details.

For example, three months cost €15 and a year costs €60 before any currency-conversion charges. That makes Mullvad easy to compare with a longer offer when you only need coverage for a few months.

Main tradeoff: Mullvad supports fewer simultaneous devices than NordVPN, Surfshark, and PIA. If a specific streaming service is essential, check compatibility and refund terms before paying.

4. ExpressVPN: Best for a straightforward setup

Choose ExpressVPN if you prefer a simple app and are comfortable with a longer introductory offer. The Basic plan reviewed supports ten simultaneous devices. Higher tiers add services, so check what each package includes before upgrading. ExpressVPN’s plan guide.

One offer showed $84 for the first 28 months, followed by $99.95 per year. That works out to about $3 per month for the first term and $8.33 per month at the stated annual renewal, before applicable taxes. The stated renewal amount is billed once a year.

Main tradeoff: The initial discount can mask a higher ongoing price. Set a reminder before renewal and compare the offer shown at your own checkout.

5. Private Internet Access: Best for unlimited devices and more settings

Choose Private Internet Access, or PIA, if you want unlimited simultaneous connections and an app with settings to explore. Its subscriptions include unlimited connections, and the available plans can vary by purchase platform. See PIA’s subscription guide.

PIA and ExpressVPN are associated with Kape Technologies. They remain separate services, but readers who want to evaluate ownership should consider that relationship. PIA’s privacy policy and ExpressVPN’s privacy policy.

Main tradeoff: More settings can feel busy if you only want to connect quickly. Check whether the feature you need exists in the app for your operating system.

Which NordVPN alternatives fit your needs?

For streaming, NordVPN alternatives can vary by service, server, region, and device. A provider’s past compatibility does not guarantee that your preferred app will work later. Check the provider’s refund rules, then test your own device promptly.

How to switch from NordVPN

1. List your essentials. Count simultaneous devices and note the locations, router setup, dedicated IP, kill switch, or split-tunneling features you use. A feature can differ between Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

2. Check Meshnet if you use it. NordVPN’s Meshnet can connect your devices for remote access or file sharing. Plan for those uses before uninstalling the app. See NordVPN’s Meshnet guide.

3. Check Meshnet if you use it. NordVPN’s Meshnet can connect your devices for remote access or file sharing. Plan for those uses before uninstalling the app. See NordVPN’s Meshnet guide.

4. Install the replacement. Download the official app and connect to a nearby server. Run the new VPN and NordVPN separately while testing to avoid competing connections.

5. Try real tasks. Open a work service and your banking app, make a video call, and test any streaming service you already use. On a phone, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data and check that the VPN reconnects.

6. Check the renewal. Find where you purchased NordVPN and turn off automatic renewal in the relevant account or app store if you no longer want it. Save the confirmation and note when access ends.

7. Remove the old app. Once the replacement works on every important device, uninstall NordVPN where you no longer need it. Check device VPN settings for an unused connection profile.

If your router uses a VPN, verify the replacement’s router instructions before changing anything. Our guide to WireGuard vs OpenVPN explains two protocols you may encounter.

How to compare VPN renewal prices

When comparing NordVPN alternatives, write down four details before you pay: the total charged today, the months covered, the renewal price, and the renewal billing interval. Also check whether taxes and paid add-ons are included. For a mobile purchase, find out whether the app store handles cancellation and refunds.

For example, $84 upfront for 28 months is $3 per month across that first term. If the offer then renews at $99.95 annually, the renewal averages about $8.33 per month. Check the actual checkout terms because offers can change.

What a VPN can and cannot protect

A VPN encrypts traffic between your device and the VPN server. It can limit what the local network or internet provider can directly observe about that connection. The VPN provider becomes part of the path your traffic takes, so its privacy practices matter.

Websites can still recognize you through logins, cookies, and other identifiers. HTTPS, account security, updates, and a VPN address different parts of online security. Privacy Guides explains the limits of VPN privacy.

For more help choosing the right tool, compare a proxy vs a VPN, or explore our guides to VPNs for Android and VPNs for iPhone.