NordVPN vs Norton VPN: a much bigger network, or a cheaper first year and longer refund
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · NordVPN Reviews · Updated October 1, 2026
NordVPN is the stronger VPN: 7,300+ servers in 150 countries against Norton's roughly 140 locations, 10 devices on every plan, a monthly option, free Meshnet, and a no-logs policy checked six times by PwC and Deloitte. It holds a PCMag Editors' Choice; Norton VPN doesn't.
Norton VPN makes sense if you want the lowest first-year price for a few devices ($39.99), a 60-day refund window that also covers renewals, or a VPN from the same company as your Norton antivirus.
NordVPN vs Norton VPN at a glance
| NordVPN | Norton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan, first year | Basic: $65.88 (10 devices) | Standard: $39.99 (5 devices) |
| Entry plan renewal | $139.08/yr | $79.99/yr |
| Two years, entry plan | $94.23 for 27 months | $119.98 for 24 months ($39.99 + $79.99) |
| Month to month | $14.99 | Not offered on Norton's US site |
| Top VPN tier, first year | Prime 1-year: $113.88 | Ultimate: $59.99 (10 devices), renews at $129.99 |
| Free trial | 7 days on Prime in some countries; card or PayPal | Trials with a payment method (7 days in the App Store) |
| Refund | 30 days, first payment | 60 days on annual plans, renewals included |
| Devices | 10 on every plan | 5 (Standard, Plus) or 10 (Ultimate) |
| Network | 7,300+ servers in 150 countries | About 140 locations in 100+ countries; no server count published |
| No-logs reviews | Six (PwC 2018, 2020; Deloitte 2022 to 2025) | Three VerSprite assessments (2024, 2025) |
| Extras | Malware scanner and ad blocker (Complete), Meshnet, Double VPN, dedicated IP | Ad blocker (desktop browsers), Double VPN, IP rotation; antivirus and backup on Plus and Ultimate |
| Company | Nord Security (Lithuania); sold from Panama | Gen Digital Inc. (Tempe, Arizona) |
| PCMag | Editors' Choice, 4.5 (Apr 2026) | 3.5, no Editors' Choice (Jun 2026) |
| Tom's Guide best VPNs (Sep 2026) | #1, best for most people | Best for streaming |
| App Store (US) | 4.7 from 705,387 ratings | 4.4 from 120,812 ratings |
| Google Play (US) | 4.6 from 1,356,673 ratings | 4.4 from 310,410 ratings |
| Trustpilot | 4.2 from 50,763 reviews | 4.7 from 88,448 reviews, for all Norton products |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-10-01. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
Price: Norton's first year is cheaper, NordVPN is over two
Norton VPN sells annual plans only: Standard costs $39.99 the first year for 5 devices and renews at $79.99. NordVPN Basic costs $65.88 for a year, or $94.23 for 27 months, for 10 devices, and renews at $139.08. Over two years NordVPN comes out ahead ($94.23 against $119.98 for Norton Standard); for a single year on a few devices, Norton is cheaper. NordVPN also sells month to month; Norton's US site doesn't.
Network and features
This is where the gap is widest. NordVPN lists 7,300+ servers in 150 countries, plus specialty servers, Meshnet, and a dedicated IP option. Norton VPN lists about 140 locations in over 100 countries, some of them virtual, and doesn't publish a server count. Norton's ad blocker works only in desktop browsers, and its standalone VPN plans don't include antivirus; Plus and Ultimate add malware protection, a password manager, and cloud backup.
Audits and refunds
NordVPN's no-logs policy has been reviewed six times by PwC and Deloitte; Norton's by VerSprite three times since 2024. Norton is more generous on refunds: 60 days on annual plans, and a renewed year can be refunded too. NordVPN refunds the first payment within 30 days.
What NordVPN and Norton VPN reviewers say
On the app stores, where both have a dedicated VPN app, NordVPN rates higher (App Store 4.7 vs 4.4, Google Play 4.6 vs 4.4). Norton's Trustpilot score covers all its products, mostly antivirus, so it doesn't tell you much about the VPN. Its reviewers like the protection and dislike paying for every extra.
“Solid product, largely unobtrusive but thoroughly protects my PC and phone.”Stephen Higgins, Trustpilot, September 2026 (Norton)
“I don't like being nickeled and dimed.”Sandman, Trustpilot, September 2026 (Norton)
“Fast connectivity, almost all countries are covered, and it is quite reliable.”Sam, Trustpilot, September 2026 (NordVPN)
More: every NordVPN review we track and the best Norton VPN alternatives.
Where Norton VPN wins
- A cheaper first year: $39.99 for Norton VPN Standard
- A 60-day refund window that also covers renewals
- Ultimate bundles antivirus, a password manager, 50 GB of backup, and parental controls for $59.99 the first year
- Automatic IP rotation every 30 seconds
- Named best for streaming in Tom's Guide's September 2026 list
NordVPN vs Norton VPN FAQ
Is NordVPN or Norton VPN cheaper?+
For one year, Norton: VPN Standard is $39.99 for 5 devices, renewing at $79.99. Over two years NordVPN Basic is cheaper ($94.23 for 27 months and 10 devices, against $119.98 for 24 months of Norton Standard).
Does Norton VPN include antivirus?+
Norton's standalone VPN plans don't include antivirus; Norton says so on its VPN page. Norton VPN Plus and Ultimate add malware and scam protection, and Norton 360 bundles its antivirus with a VPN. NordVPN Complete and Prime include a malware scanner in the VPN app.
How many devices do NordVPN and Norton VPN cover?+
NordVPN covers 10 devices on every plan. Norton VPN Standard and Plus cover 5; Ultimate covers 10.
Which refund policy is better?+
Norton's: 60 days on annual plans, including renewals. NordVPN gives 30 days on the first payment only.