PickedTech
Alternatives

The Best NordVPN Alternatives

Leave Nord if you need unlimited devices, a lower Basic renewal or a free tier. Express, Surfshark and Proton are the usual next stops.

By PickedTech Editorial TeamLast updated Prices & specs checked Nov 2026

Disclosure: PickedTech is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or how we rank them. How we make money.

How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Leave Nord if you need unlimited devices, a lower Basic renewal or a free tier. Express, Surfshark and Proton are the usual next stops. ExpressVPN for people who want a refined VPN and a lower Basic renewal (from $2.99/mo). Surfshark for households with many devices (from $2.49/mo). Proton VPN for privacy-focused users who want a free plan option ($35.88).

Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (pricing checked Nov 2026)
AlternativeBest forPricing
ExpressVPNpeople who want a refined VPN and a lower Basic renewalBasic from $2.99/mo on longest intro; renews $99.95/yr (Oct 2026).
Surfsharkhouseholds with many devicesStarter $2.49/mo, $67.23 for the first 27 months (checked Nov 11, 2026). Renewal isn’t printed on the pricing page.
Proton VPNprivacy-focused users who want a free plan optionFree plan (1 device); Plus $35.88 for the first year, then $83.88/yr (checked Nov 11, 2026).
CyberGhost VPNbeginners who like specialized server lists$2.19/mo, $61.32 billed for the first 2 years + 2 months; 45-day refund on long plans (checked Nov 11, 2026).

Why look beyond NordVPN?

NordVPN is a solid premium VPN, but Basic renews at $139.08/year (Oct 2026 pricing page) with a 10-device cap. Common reasons to switch:

  • Unlimited devices. Surfshark markets unlimited simultaneous connections.
  • Cheaper Basic renewal. ExpressVPN Basic renews at $99.95/year.
  • Free tier / open-source angle. Proton VPN offers a free plan with limits.
  • You don’t use Nord’s extras. If you skip the password manager and cloud storage, you’re paying Complete prices for VPN-only needs.

Read our NordVPN review before you cancel — Complete can still win if you’ll use the bundle.

How do they compare?

NordVPN vs alternatives (official pricing pages; checked Nov 11, 2026)
ServiceLong intro (cheap tier)Renewal (cheap tier)DevicesBest for
NordVPN (baseline)Basic $3.49/mo (27 mo)$139.08/yr10VPN + security bundle
ExpressVPNBasic $2.99/mo ($83.72 for 28 mo)$99.95/yr10 / 12 / 14 (Basic / Advanced / Pro)Polished app + Lightway
SurfsharkStarter $2.49/mo ($67.23 for 27 mo)Not printed on the pricing pageUnlimitedUnlimited devices / value
Proton VPNPlus $2.99/mo ($35.88 first 12 mo); Free $0$83.88/yr10 (Free: 1)Free tier + privacy brand
CyberGhost$2.19/mo ($61.32 for 2 yr + 2 mo)Page says it autorenews at $61.32; confirm the term at checkout7Beginner-friendly specialized servers

The alternatives

Best for people who want a refined VPN and a lower Basic renewal

1. ExpressVPN

Best for: people who want a refined VPN and a lower Basic renewal

ExpressVPN Basic undercuts Nord on renewal ($99.95/yr vs $139.08/yr) and emphasizes Lightway + TrustedServer. Fewer country locations than Nord. Full write-up: ExpressVPN review and Express vs Nord.

Pricing (Nov 2026): Basic from $2.99/mo on longest intro; renews $99.95/yr (Oct 2026). Source

Pros

  • Lower Basic renewal than Nord
  • Strong protocol/infrastructure story
  • 30-day refund

Cons

  • Advanced/Pro get pricey
  • Smaller location list than Nord
Check ExpressVPN pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for households with many devices

2. Surfshark

Best for: households with many devices

Surfshark’s unlimited-device marketing is the usual reason people leave Nord’s 10-device cap. Often cheaper on long intros — always compare renewal. See Nord vs Surfshark.

Pricing (Nov 2026): Starter $2.49/mo, $67.23 for the first 27 months (checked Nov 11, 2026). Renewal isn’t printed on the pricing page. Source

Pros

  • Unlimited devices
  • Aggressive intro pricing
  • Same broader Nord Security corporate family history — still a separate product

Cons

  • Renewal still jumps vs intro
  • Feature names differ from Nord
Check Surfshark pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for privacy-focused users who want a free plan option

3. Proton VPN

Best for: privacy-focused users who want a free plan option

Proton VPN’s free tier is the differentiator if you only need occasional protection. Paid plans add speed and features — read our Proton VPN review for plan math.

Pricing (Nov 2026): Free plan (1 device); Plus $35.88 for the first year, then $83.88/yr (checked Nov 11, 2026). Source

Pros

  • Real free plan
  • Privacy-oriented brand
  • Open-source clients (per Proton)

Cons

  • Free tier is 1 device and servers in 10 randomly picked countries
  • Plus renews at more than double the first-year price
Check Proton VPN pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for beginners who like specialized server lists

4. CyberGhost VPN

Best for: beginners who like specialized server lists

CyberGhost markets streaming- and torrenting-oriented server categories with a beginner-friendly app. Fine as a Nord alternative if those lists matter; still verify renewal and refund terms on the official site.

Pricing (Nov 2026): $2.19/mo, $61.32 billed for the first 2 years + 2 months; 45-day refund on long plans (checked Nov 11, 2026). Source

Pros

  • Approachable UI
  • Specialized server categories
  • Frequent intro deals

Cons

  • Trust/audit story differs by vendor — read their docs
  • Deal pages change often
Check CyberGhost VPN pricing (opens in a new tab)

Prices, renewals and devices (checked Nov 11, 2026)

We rechecked every price page on Nov 11, 2026. Intro prices need a two-year commitment. To compare, look at what you pay in year three.

  • NordVPN (baseline): Basic is $3.49/mo, billed $94.23 for the first 27 months, then $139.08/yr. Complete is $3.99/mo, then $219.48/yr. All plans cover 10 devices and include a 30-day refund.
  • ExpressVPN: Basic is $83.72 for the first 28 months, then $99.95/yr, for 10 devices. Advanced is $125.72, then $119.95/yr, for 12 devices. Pro is $209.72, then $199.95/yr, for 14 devices with a dedicated IP included. Servers cover 113 countries.
  • Surfshark: Starter is $67.23 for the first 27 months. Unlimited devices; the free trial is limited to 3. 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, which Surfshark says are upgraded to 10Gbps. The pricing page doesn't show a renewal price, so check the checkout summary before you pay.
  • Proton VPN: The free plan covers 1 device on servers in 10 randomly selected countries. Plus is $35.88 for the first 12 months, then $83.88/yr, for 10 devices on 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries.
  • CyberGhost: $2.19/mo, billed $61.32 for 2 years + 2 months. 7 devices and 9,600+ servers in 100+ countries. The refund window is 45 days on long plans and 14 days on monthly.

The tradeoff: ExpressVPN and Proton renew cheaper than Nord Basic, but ExpressVPN's Advanced and Pro tiers erase the gap. Surfshark is the only unlimited-device option here. CyberGhost covers the fewest devices (7).

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest NordVPN alternative?
ExpressVPN for a similar premium feel; Surfshark if devices and price matter more than Nord’s bundle.
Can I switch mid-year?
Use each provider’s refund window on a new sub before canceling Nord if you’re testing. Check Nord’s own refund/cancel terms for your region.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. NordVPN pricing (nordvpn.com)
  2. ExpressVPN pricing (expressvpn.com)
  3. Surfshark pricing (surfshark.com)
  4. Proton VPN (protonvpn.com)
  5. CyberGhost: Plans and pricing (cyberghostvpn.com)
best of

Best VPN

NordVPN is the best all-rounder. Surfshark is the value pick with unlimited devices, and Proton VPN is the privacy pick with a real free plan.

review

NordVPN Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?

What each NordVPN plan includes, what you’ll pay after the intro period, and when a cheaper VPN is the better choice.

review

ExpressVPN Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?

What each ExpressVPN plan includes, what you’ll pay after the intro period, and when a cheaper VPN is the better buy.

comparison

ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

Two premium VPNs. Express often wins on simplicity and Lightway; Nord wins on extras bundles and sometimes price.

comparison

NordVPN vs Surfshark: Which VPN Should You Pick?

Sister companies since 2022, but still separate products. Surfshark is cheaper and allows unlimited devices; NordVPN has the bigger security bundle.

review

Surfshark Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?

Unlimited devices and a low intro price — with the usual VPN caveat that renewal costs more than the headline rate.

review

Proton VPN Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?

Swiss privacy branding, a real free tier and transparent intro pricing — with the usual VPN caveat to check renewal math.

best of

The Best VPN for Torrenting and Privacy

Look for audited no-logs, a kill switch, explicit P2P permission — and know that port forwarding is rarer than marketing implies.

comparison

NordVPN vs Proton VPN

Nord wins on polished extras and labeled P2P servers. Proton wins on free tier, Swiss privacy brand and torrent port forwarding.