VPN Comparison: NordVPN vs Betternet

When it comes to choosing a virtual private network (VPN), the process can be quite daunting. Many providers boast about their advanced features, but verifying these claims requires a deep understanding of computer networking and cryptography—something most people don't have. So, how can an average user make an informed decision without simply trusting a company that has a financial interest in their subscription?

One way is to dive into some detailed research. We conducted a thorough analysis of NordVPN and Betternet, putting them through a series of tests to create comparison tables that break down each feature in a simple, easy-to-understand format. Additionally, we'll explain the jargon and discuss potential use cases, so you can better understand what each feature does. Even if neither of these VPNs seems like the right fit for you, this information will help you know what to look for when evaluating other services.

Editor’s Note: It's worth mentioning that Betternet is owned by Pango, which is also the parent company of Comparitech. However, the comparison below is based on an honest and impartial assessment of each service's merits.

Exclusive NordVPN Offer: Safeguard your online identity with premium protection starting at just $3.99 monthly when you commit to their 24-month subscription package.

Betternet Special Promotion: Save significantly on your VPN service by selecting Betternet's yearly subscription plan, which provides a substantial 38% discount compared to monthly billing options.

When comparing NordVPN and Betternet, it's important to note that while Betternet offers a free tier, it comes with limitations such as a daily bandwidth cap. For a fair comparison, we focus on the paid plans offered by both services.

Betternet’s premium plan is priced at $12.99 (GBP £9.94) per month, making it slightly more expensive for those looking for shorter-term subscriptions. In contrast, NordVPN is a bit more affordable, with a monthly cost of $11.99 (GBP £9.17).

For users who are willing to commit to a longer period, there are significant savings. Betternet’s annual plan provides a 38 percent discount, reducing the total cost to $95.88 (GBP £73.37), which translates to approximately $7.99 (GBP £6.11) per month.

NordVPN, however, offers even more substantial savings. Their annual plan costs $59.88 (GBP £45.80), which is around half the price of Betternet’s annual plan. Additionally, choosing NordVPN’s two-year plan can further reduce the cost to $95.76 (GBP £73.26), or just $3.99 (GBP £3.05) per month. This means that a two-year subscription to NordVPN is less expensive than one year of Betternet.

Both NordVPN and Betternet offer money-back guarantees, which is a valuable feature for trying out the service risk-free. NordVPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, while Betternet extends this to 45 days. Furthermore, Betternet includes a seven-day free trial, though you will need to provide payment information upfront; no charges will be applied until the trial period ends.

NordVPN steps ahead with specialized tools like monitoring the dark web for compromised credentials and enabling access to geo-restricted streaming content via SmartDNS on devices lacking native VPN compatibility

Betternet’s browser-based proxy is limited to Chrome, while NordVPN extends lightweight encryption to Firefox and Edge, though neither shields non-browser applications like torrent clients

Router configuration unlocks whole-network protection exclusively through NordVPN, bypassing Betternet’s platform restrictions that exclude Linux and connected home devices

While both permit excluding specific apps from VPN routing, NordVPN’s split-tunneling flexibility spans more operating systems compared to Betternet’s narrower implementation

Automated safeguards differentiate NordVPN further – activating on untrusted Wi-Fi, filtering intrusive ads, and scanning for data breaches beyond what Betternet provides

The six-device connection cap matches industry standards, but NordVPN’s multi-platform reach and advanced privacy utilities create a broader security umbrella for diverse user needs

When comparing VPN services for international travel, there are significant differences in performance and accessibility between premium providers and free alternatives.

Travelers often encounter geo-restrictions when abroad, finding their familiar streaming services either completely blocked or offering different content libraries. While VPN technology offers a potential solution, streaming platforms have developed increasingly sophisticated detection methods that challenge even established VPN providers.

In comprehensive testing across major streaming platforms, premium services demonstrate superior unblocking capabilities. For instance, top-tier providers can successfully access multiple regional Netflix libraries and various Amazon Prime Video catalogs, with only occasional limitations on certain platforms like CBS. By contrast, free or budget VPN alternatives typically manage only basic unblocking, struggling particularly with BBC iPlayer, ABC, and Amazon's streaming service.

The situation becomes even more complex in highly restricted internet environments like China, where the comprehensive censorship system known as the Great Firewall blocks access to many Western websites and services, including social media platforms and entertainment services.

Premium VPN providers with dedicated obfuscation technology have historically maintained reasonable functionality in China, despite occasional service disruptions. These providers typically offer specialized server options and protocols designed specifically for highly censored regions. Free alternatives, however, generally lack the technological infrastructure to overcome such sophisticated blocking systems, rendering them essentially useless in restrictive internet environments.

NordVPN offers intuitive application interfaces that strike an excellent balance between functionality and user-friendliness. The home screen features a convenient search function allowing immediate location selection, while specialized servers for particular tasks are readily accessible beneath this search function.

Navigation through the application is streamlined with a well-organized settings section, where features are logically categorized into tabs with clear explanations of their functions. This thoughtful organization ensures both beginners and advanced users can easily locate and understand available options.

Recent updates have introduced enhanced security features, including a dedicated threat protection section. This new addition provides step-by-step guidance on implementing automatic defenses against various online threats including trackers, advertisements, and malicious software, further strengthening the overall protective capabilities of the service.

Adopting a minimalist philosophy, Betternet presents streamlined interfaces across platforms. The mobile application mirrors its desktop counterpart almost perfectly, with the sole distinction being a reduced selection of features on handheld devices.

Central to both interfaces is a prominent connect button that activates service with a single interaction. Server selection functionality remains easily accessible, requiring just one tap to reveal available options.

However, the extensive array of connection locations presents a navigation challenge. The absence of filtering tools or organizational categories creates inefficiency when browsing through the comprehensive server roster.

A search functionality or geographic grouping system would significantly enhance user experience by enabling faster location identification and selection.

When evaluating VPN performance metrics, speed disparities often reveal critical differences

NordVPN clocked blistering speeds of 370 Mbps in controlled tests

leaving Betternet’s respectable 52 Mbps looking pedestrian for data-heavy activities

Server quality proves more crucial than quantity in this comparison

While Betternet advertises broader geographic coverage

its reliance on virtual infrastructure raises jurisdiction concerns

Users might unknowingly fall under surveillance laws of unintended nations

Transparency separates these services fundamentally

NordVPN documents exact physical server locations across 60 countries

versus Betternet’s vague regional claims masking virtual configurations

For torrenting or 4K streaming demands

NordVPN’s optimized servers deliver minimal latency

Betternet suffices for basic browsing but struggles with bandwidth-intensive tasks

Privacy-focused users should note

physical server networks provide clearer legal accountability

whereas virtual locations create murky data-routing realities

NordVPN vs Betternet Comparison

When it comes to the variety of countries available, Betternet takes the lead. It offers a unique selection of IP addresses from locations such as Pakistan, Russia, and the UAE, which are not commonly found with other VPN providers. Additionally, Betternet places a significant emphasis on South American countries, an area often overlooked by competitors, including NordVPN.

On the other hand, NordVPN does have a slight edge in Europe, covering a few more countries than Betternet. However, NordVPN's strategy seems to be focused more on maintaining large server clusters in high-demand regions like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, rather than on expanding the number of supported countries.

NordVPN and Betternet both pride themselves on robust security, employing 256-bit AES encryption, a standard currently deemed impenetrable. However, NordVPN takes it a step further with longer RSA keys, making it even more challenging for potential attackers to breach.

Both services run their own DNS servers, ensuring that no external party can access your browsing activities or requests. This adds an extra layer of security and privacy.

In terms of features, both providers offer a kill switch, which immediately halts data transmission if your connection drops, and automatic Wi-Fi protection, safeguarding you on unsecured networks. Betternet also introduces an additional security measure by requiring users to verify their login attempts, enhancing privacy.

NordVPN stands out with its ability to block ads, trackers, and malware automatically, as well as preventing other devices on the same network from communicating with yours. This feature is particularly useful in public Wi-Fi settings.

When it comes to protocols, each service has its unique offerings. NordVPN supports OpenVPN and NordLynx, a proprietary version of WireGuard. By developing NordLynx, NordVPN aims to quickly adapt to new threats and improve the protocol's performance. On the other hand, Betternet supports IKEv2 and Pango’s Catapult Hydra protocol, which obfuscates your traffic, making it difficult for others to detect that you are using a VPN.

NordVPN vs Betternet: Privacy Policy Comparison

When selecting a VPN service, understanding data logging practices is crucial for protecting your online privacy. This comparison examines how NordVPN and Betternet handle user data.

Geographic Considerations and Intelligence Alliances

Both providers operate from jurisdictions without mandatory data retention laws. However, it's worth noting that Betternet operates under US jurisdiction, which participates in the Fourteen Eyes intelligence alliance. This alliance facilitates information sharing among member countries, potentially affecting user privacy.

Data Collection Practices

NordVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy, avoiding collection of connection timestamps, browsing activities, bandwidth usage, or IP addresses. They do collect minimal analytical information, including monthly connection status and mobile identifiers, which users can reset following their documented procedures.

Betternet's approach differs significantly. While they claim not to collect personally identifiable information, they track considerably more data points than NordVPN, including:

• Session bandwidth consumption
  
• Connection duration metrics
  
• Aggregated website access data
  

Privacy Implications

The extensive data collection by Betternet potentially creates vulnerability. Connection duration and bandwidth usage patterns could theoretically be used to infer user activities if records were subpoenaed in legal proceedings. NordVPN's minimal data collection significantly reduces this risk.

For users prioritizing maximum privacy protection, the difference in logging practices represents a critical factor when choosing between these services.

When comparing VPN services in the market, both NordVPN and Betternet utilize a common approach: shared IP address allocation. This feature enhances user privacy by making multiple users appear under a single IP address, effectively obscuring individual browsing activities. Though neither service maintains activity logs, this shared IP system provides users with an additional privacy safeguard.

NordVPN offers an optional dedicated IP address service for an additional annual fee of $79 (approximately £62.75). With this premium feature, subscribers receive an exclusive IP address that remains constant. This option proves valuable for users who frequently access services with strict security protocols that flag logins from changing locations. It's also beneficial for those wanting to minimize the risk of being blocked by streaming platforms.

However, it's important to note that opting for a dedicated IP address eliminates the anonymity benefits provided by the shared IP system, potentially making your online activities more traceable. As of this writing, Betternet does not provide a dedicated IP address option in its service offerings.

When comparing support options between these two VPN services, there are several similarities worth noting. Both providers offer self-service knowledge bases where users can search for solutions to common problems, and each maintains an email support channel for customer inquiries. Neither company provides telephone support, which is fairly standard in the VPN industry.

However, the support experience differs significantly in one crucial aspect.

The first service offers round-the-clock live chat support with dedicated in-house specialists. This means users can receive immediate assistance, with most issues typically resolved within minutes of being reported. This real-time support option provides a substantial advantage for users experiencing urgent connection problems or configuration issues.

In contrast, the second provider's support structure is more limited. Users submitting support tickets may wait up to 24 hours for a response. While this timeframe is acceptable for non-urgent matters, it can be frustrating when immediate assistance is needed. This delay is particularly notable considering that live chat support has become increasingly standard among premium VPN services today, making its absence somewhat unexpected for a paid VPN offering.

NordVPN emerges as the clear victor in this matchup

boasting lightning-fast connection speeds and robust unblocking capabilities

Its expanding suite of privacy features includes military-grade encryption

and a transparent no-logs policy verified through independent audits

The service reliably bypasses geographical restrictions

even functioning within China's restrictive internet environment

24/7 customer support ensures assistance whenever needed

While Betternet provides wider server location options

many streaming platforms quickly identify and block its IP addresses

The service lacks advanced configuration settings

and maintains questionable data retention practices

Though functional for basic browsing needs

it falls short in critical privacy protections

and offers limited troubleshooting resources

NordVPN's comprehensive security toolkit

and consistent performance across use cases

solidify its position as the superior choice

What is a Netflix VPN and How to Get One

A Netflix VPN is a tool designed to bypass geographical restrictions, enabling users to unlock diverse libraries of movies and shows unavailable in their region. By masking their IP address and routing traffic through servers in other countries, viewers can access global Netflix content seamlessly. This service is popular among subscribers seeking expanded entertainment options beyond their local catalog.

Why Choose SafeShell as Your Netflix VPN?

If people want to access region-restricted content by Netflix VPN, they may want to consider the SafeShell VPN . One of the key benefits of using SafeShell VPN is its high-speed servers, which are specifically optimized for seamless Netflix streaming. These servers provide lightning-fast connection speeds, ensuring buffer-free playback and high-definition streaming. Additionally, SafeShell VPN allows you to connect up to five devices simultaneously, supporting a wide array of operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, and Apple Vision Pro. This flexibility ensures that you can enjoy your favorite content on any device you choose.

Another significant advantage of SafeShell VPN is its unique App Mode feature, which lets you unlock and enjoy content from multiple regions at the same time. This means you can access a diverse range of streaming services and libraries, giving you the freedom to explore a world of entertainment without restrictions. Furthermore, with no bandwidth limitations and lightning-fast connection speeds, you can say goodbye to buffering and throttling. Your online privacy is also a top priority, as SafeShell VPN uses advanced encryption and robust security features to protect your data. Lastly, the flexible free trial plan allows you to experience all these features without any commitment, making it an excellent choice for Netflix unblocked .

A Step-by-Step Guide to Watch Netflix with SafeShell VPN

Unlocking global Netflix content is now easier than ever with SafeShell Netflix VPN , a powerful tool designed to bypass regional restrictions. Begin by visiting the SafeShell VPN website where you can select a subscription plan that aligns with your streaming needs. After completing your purchase, download the appropriate application for your device from the official website, whether you're using Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android.

Once installation is complete, launch the SafeShell Netflix VPN application and log into your account using your credentials. For the optimal streaming experience, select the APP mode which is specifically optimized for video streaming services. Navigate through the server selection menu and choose a location that corresponds to the Netflix library you wish to access – popular choices include servers in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada for their extensive content catalogs.

With your VPN connection established through SafeShell, you're now ready to enjoy unrestricted Netflix content. Simply open the Netflix application or website, sign in with your existing Netflix account, and start exploring the expanded library of shows and movies previously unavailable in your region. The seamless connection provided by SafeShell Netflix VPN ensures buffer-free streaming while maintaining your privacy and security online.