Best NordVPN Alternatives in 2026: 9 VPNs Compared

Surfshark is the value leader for households. One subscription covers every phone, laptop, tablet and TV in the house, with no device limit to manage. The app is polished, speeds are strong on major protocols, and the server network covers many countries for travel and streaming. Extra bundles add ad blocking, antivirus and identity alerts for buyers who want one security app.

The $2.49 per month figure is a long term deal price, not the standard renewal rate, so the second term will cost more unless you renegotiate or switch. That renewal jump is common across VPN deals, and it should be in your calendar before you buy. If you have many devices and want one simple subscription, Surfshark is still the easiest alternative to justify.

ExpressVPN is the premium simplicity pick. Apps are clean, connecting takes one tap, and support is available around the clock if a server or app issue appears. That simplicity matters for travellers, families and less technical users who do not want to tweak protocols, ports or split tunnelling. Streaming and travel performance are consistently strong in public reviews.

You pay for that polish. The $2.99 per month deal price renews at a higher standard rate, and power users may miss the deep settings found in Private Internet Access. If you want a VPN that just works, with help on hand, ExpressVPN is worth the premium over the cheapest deals, provided you note the renewal date.

Proton VPN is the best free VPN on this list by a clear margin. The free plan offers unlimited data, which is rare, with servers in a small set of countries and one device at a time. That makes it genuinely useful for everyday privacy on public Wi-Fi, not only a short trial. Paid Plus adds faster servers, more countries, streaming support and ten devices.

Proton is based in Switzerland, publishes open source apps, and has undergone audits of its no logs claims in public reports. Those factors matter for buyers who care about jurisdiction and transparency, not only price. Start free, and upgrade to Plus only if you need speed, more locations or more devices.

Mullvad is the honesty pick. The price is €5 per month, every month, with no deal, no renewal jump and no long term lock in. Signup needs no email, just an account number, and you can pay by cash, card or cryptocurrency. That approach, plus a long audit history and open source apps, appeals to privacy focused buyers who distrust deal pricing.

The trade off is polish and streaming. The network is smaller than the largest rivals, and the app is functional rather than feature rich. If streaming catalogues are your main goal, Surfshark or ExpressVPN may suit you better. If you want predictable pricing and minimal personal data at signup, Mullvad is hard to beat.

Private Internet Access, often called PIA, is built for users who like control. You can adjust protocols, encryption, kill switch behaviour, split tunnelling and port forwarding in detail, and the apps are open source. Unlimited devices make it a good household deal, and the long term price is among the lowest on this list. Court tested no logs claims and audits are cited in public reviews as reasons to trust its privacy stance.

US jurisdiction is a concern for some buyers, even with audits and open source apps, because US law differs from Swiss or Swedish privacy law. Beginners may also find the settings overwhelming at first. PIA fits power users, torrent users who need port forwarding, and households that want unlimited devices at a low long term price.

CyberGhost makes choosing a server easy. Servers are labelled for streaming services, torrenting and gaming, so beginners do not need to guess which location works for a given task. Apps are simple, the network is large, and the long term deal price is low. That combination suits families and casual users who mainly want privacy plus streaming access.

Advanced users may miss PIA level customisation, and the renewal price jump applies here too. CyberGhost also sits in Romania, which some buyers view as a privacy benefit compared with US based rivals. If you want a low cost, beginner friendly VPN with clear server labels, CyberGhost is a strong NordVPN alternative.

Windscribe is the flexible option. The free plan gives a monthly data allowance that suits light use, while paid Pro adds unlimited data, more locations and unlimited devices. A build a plan option lets you pay for only the locations you need, which can be cheaper than a full subscription for travellers who only use one or two countries.

Proton free beats Windscribe free on data, because Proton free has no data cap, while Windscribe free is capped. Paid speeds and features are solid for everyday use, but Windscribe is less of a streaming specialist than ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. Choose Windscribe if you want a free tier with a good app, plus flexible paid options that match your actual locations.

IPVanish suits households with many TVs and streaming devices. Native apps for Android TV and Firestick, plus unlimited devices, make it easy to protect a living room setup without counting connections. The apps are straightforward, speeds are solid for streaming, and public audits support its no logs claims.

US jurisdiction is a drawback for privacy purists, and the deal price renews higher, as with most rivals. IPVanish does not offer a free tier, so trial it through the money back period if you want to test speeds at home. For TV heavy households that want unlimited devices, IPVanish is a practical alternative to NordVPN.

TunnelBear is the friendliest VPN on this list. The app uses clear visuals, simple toggles and plain language, which helps first time VPN users who feel lost in technical settings. The free plan covers light use, such as occasional public Wi-Fi protection, and paid Unlimited adds more data and devices. Audits and clear privacy policies add trust for beginners.

The free data limit is small, so heavy users will need a paid plan quickly, and the server network and feature set are smaller than Surfshark or PIA. TunnelBear fits buyers who want the simplest possible VPN and are willing to pay a bit more for that simplicity, or who only need occasional protection on a free plan.