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There are plenty of VPNs out there vying for your bucks, and we’re here to pitch two of the best against each other – NordVPN and TorGuard. The winner – by a narrow margin – is NordVPN. The provider manages to marry a bumper crop of features and a tempting 68% off on 2-year plans + 3 extra months until October 18.
NordVPN offers more servers than TorGuard – 5,363 servers in 59 countries, vs TorGuard’s 3,000 servers in 50 countries. Plus, NordVPN proved to have faster speeds than TorGuard, and better ease of use in our hands-on testing.
Read on for our full run-down on each of these VPNs, with more detail on each of their merits and drawbacks.
TorGuard vs NordVPN: Head-to-Head
Both TorGuard and NordVPN are excellent, affordable VPNs, with a wide range of features to help you stay safe and expand your access to the internet without having to worry about region restrictions. NordVPN came out on top in our testing, and is cheaper to boot, so gets our strongest recommendation.
We’ve tested over twenty VPNs, including free and paid-for ones, and taken into account all the factors that matter to you – speed, how well they protect your identity, how easy they are to use, and of course, how much they cost. When we tell you that NordVPN is one of the best, you can rest assured we’ve done our homework.
Test Score Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value. | Price From Lowest price for single month subscription to cheapest paid tier. Other plans are available. | Verdict | No. of Devices | No. of Servers | Zero Data Logging | Kill Switch | Email Support | Live Chat | Ease of Use | Features | Privacy | Speed | Help & Support | Value for Money | Free Trial | Business plan 1 price: | Business plan 1 features: | Business plan 2 price: | Business plan 2 features: | Business plan 3 price: | Business plan 3 features: | Business plan 4 price: | Business plan 4 features: | Try Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider | ||
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Fast, effective, low-cost and simple – the best VPN we’ve tested, with risk-free money-back guarantee | Good VPN privacy at good speeds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phone, email, live chat | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$7/user/mo (annual bill) | $32/mo/5 users | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$9/user/mo (annual bill) | $69/mo/10 users | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See Deals | See Deals |
TorGuard Business vs NordLayer
With hybrid work becoming the norm and security breaches becoming all too common, the value of a good VPN at your business cannot be understated. Fortunately, TorGuard and NordVPN both offer business-facing solutions (TorGuard Business and NordLayer) that will equip you and your team with the security measures needed to stay safe, no matter where you log in from. Here’s how they match up against each other:
- NordVPNLayer has more business features than TorGuard Business
- TorGuard Business has flat-rate pricing, NordVPN has per user pricing
- NordLayer has faster speeds than TorGuard Business
- TorGuard Business comes with an encrypted business email account
Our research shows that you can’t really beat NordLayer when it comes to business-facing VPN solutions. TorGuard Business is a robust option with lots of great pricing options and plenty of business features to get by. Particularly for larger teams, TorGuard Business could be a great option, as it offers flat-rate pricing, rather than per-user pricing, so you can save a lot. In fact, TorGuard Business is technically more affordable on a per-user basis for each plan, if you do the math.
However, in comparison, NordLayer offers an unmatched level of functionality, with added layers of security and advanced business features, all in an easy-to-use interface. Plus, with competitive pricing, even with the per-user model, you won’t break the bank.
TorGuard Business Pricing
If NordLayer’s pricing is a bit intimidating, TorGuard Business does provide some great pricing options that might be a bit more attractive if you can forego all those business features. It offers four different pricing plans, all based on a flat-rate monthly fee, rather than the per user model that NordVPN offers.
First, you’ve got the Starter plan, which will cost you $32 per month. This plan allows for five users, five business email accounts, and a dedicated IP address.
After that, you’ve got the Small plan, which costs $69 per month. This plan allows for ten users, ten business email accounts, and three dedicated IP addresses. Once you opt for this plan, or any higher tier plan, you’ll also get access to custom server setups and dedicated lines, so it’s definitely worth considering if you need this many users.
Next up, we’ve got the Medium plan, which costs $110 per month. With this plan, you’ll be allowed up to 15 users, as well as 15 business email accounts and five dedicated IP addresses.
And finally, the Large plan rounds out the bunch, which will cost you $169 per month. It allows for 20 users, as well as 20 business email accounts and ten dedicated IP addresses.
NordLayer Pricing
As we mentioned, NordLayer pricing might seem lower, but that’s because it operates on a per-user basis, which means it can actually cost more depending on how many users you have. NordLayer has four different pricing plans.
The most affordable plan offered by NordLayer is the Lite plan, which costs $8 per user per month and can be purchased for a minimum of five users. On this plan, users get 100mbs server performance, shared gateway locations in over 30 countries, and a variety of VPN protocols.
The next plan for NordLayer is the Core plan, which costs $11 per user per month. The plan adds fixed IP addresses and IP allowlisting, as well as raising the devices-per-account limit from two on the Lite plan to four. Device posture monitoring and a dedicated account manager to help you if you get stuck are also included.
NordLayer offers a Premium plan too, aimed at larger companies that need a robust offering – it’s available for $14 per user, per month. Server performance improves from 100mbs to 1Gbs, and you’ll also be able to access NordLayer through a browser extension.
Along with these three plans with public pricing, there’s a Custom plan without a fixed per-user price that includes premium 24/7 support and access to a technical solution architect for more advanced troubleshooting issues – as well as a virtual private gateway that extends to over 60 locations worldwide. If you want more pricing information, you’ll have to contact Nord Security to get a quote for your business.
TorGuard or NordVPN – Which VPN is Best?
If you’re trying to decide between TorGuard or NordVPN, then you’re in a good place – both are among the best paid-for VPN services out there, and well worth a few bucks a month. However, each VPN has its own positives:
- TorGuard and NordVPN can unlock Netflix
- NordVPN has faster speeds
- Both offer watertight security features
- NordVPN offers ad blocking
In our testing, NordVPN proved itself to be the better option of the two, thanks to its faster speeds and exceptional value – the provider is even offering up to 68% off + 3 extra months on its 2-year plans. Let’s not forget the number of servers either – the more of them the more choice your VPN can offer. NordVPN has 2000 more servers worldwide than TorGuard.
However, if you’re after a VPN that unlocks Netflix, you’re in luck, as both of these popular VPN providers allow you to access the popular streaming platform.
Differences Between TorGuard & NordVPN
NordVPN and TorGuard are both great choices when it comes to VPN services, but, there are some notable differences. For one, NordVPN offers a much larger network, with 5,363 servers in 59 countries, compared to TorGuard, which has more than 3,000 servers in 50 countries. Plus, with NordVPN’s faster speeds and ease of use, the popular VPN inches out TorGuard for our higher rating.
It is worth noting, however, that TorGuard and NordVPN allow users to unblock Netflix, which given that more than half of VPN usage is to access entertainment content, it’s safe to say this is could be a seriously attractive feature.
If you’re wondering why you might need a VPN, there are plenty of excellent reasons to use one. A good VPN helps you protect yourself on the internet, access region-blocked services such as Netflix, and give you peace of mind when you’re using public or work internet.
Take a look below at our deep dive into the specific differences between TorGuard and NordPN, specifically who has the best features, privacy settings, range of servers, and speed.
Best Features: NordVPN
There’s a reason why both NordVPN and TorGuard are riding high in our ratings – they both offer an excellent and comprehensive suite of features. In fact, there’s so much to play with in both apps that chances are you won’t even get to half of it, unless you really like to have control over every aspect of what your VPN does. However, NordVPN is a market leader when it comes to features – especially security-wise.
Security features
Both VPNs offer a Killswitch, a handy little feature that will kick in should your VPN connection fail. Should this happen, some VPNs will simply put you back on your ISP connection, which is a risk to your privacy as you are no longer protected with the anonymity of a VPN. With a Killswitch, your traffic is stopped dead, and your session won’t transfer to your standard supplier (unless you choose to).
Both services also give you a refreshing amount of control over which servers you connect to, with the ability to choose the one that suits your traffic best. It’s also worth noting that neither VPN will leave you high and dry if you’re struggling, with both offering live chat and email support.
However, it’s also worth noting that NordVPN offers some unique features you won’t find many other providers offering. For example, NordVPN recently announced Threat Protection – seemingly an upgrade on the old CyberSec ad and malware blocking feature.
Threat Protection will scan websites before you visit them and files before you download them, giving you the best chance of avoiding malicious ones. It’ll also stop pesky adverts – some of which can be malicious – before they have a chance to load, and block trackers from compiling information about your browsing habits.
Best for Privacy Settings: NordVPN
Both TorGuard and NordVPN offer watertight security and privacy features, and with good reason. Any VPN provider worth its salt knows that the reason that many people pick a VPN is to protect their anonymity online, and that’s why both offer an excellent range of services to help with this. NordVPN makes big claims about its ‘military grade security,’ and we can’t fault TorGuard either – during our testing, we found that neither were susceptible to data leaks or leaving a trail of our activities online, which isn’t something that every VPN can boast.
Additional Privacy Settings on NordVPN
NordVPN goes the extra mile by allowing users to block adverts, meaning it can also safeguard against malware and phishing sites. TorGuard doesn’t offer such a feature, which is why we’ve given NordVPN the slight edge here, although they are far from perfect.
Another important factor when it comes to privacy is data logging. Some VPNs keep a record of your online activity, even if you believe that your online activity is totally anonymous. Thankfully, both NordVPN and TorGuard don’t do this.
NordVPN also recently launched a Bug Bounty program, which is decidedly effective in keeping the software up-to-date as far as security is concerned. Plus, with a password manager, NordPass, and a file encryption tool, NordLocker, this brand is stocked to the rafters, making it a true all-in-one solution for your security needs.
Recently, some handy features that were reserved for NordVPn users on Macs and mobile OS have been rolled out for Windows users to benefit from too. A Security Score, for instance – expressed as a percentage – shows just how many features you’re using and what you need to do to reach 100% protection. Another new feature is a scanner that will crawl the dark web for mentions of the email address you used to sign up to NordVPN – so you’ll always know whether you’ve been affected by that data breach you saw in the news.
Best Range of Servers: NordVPN
To really get the most out of a VPN, you’ll want to pick a service that operates a large number of servers across many countries. This means that you’ll have the biggest number of options when it comes to how you access content. With many sites and online services opting to region-blocking certain features and content, the more servers you have access to, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to access it. It can also have a big impact on the speed and stability of your VPN – with more servers, the traffic is spread around, and its less likely that a VPN will be crippled by heavy traffic to one server.
Thousands of Servers Each
Both NordVPN and TorGuard really spoil their users here, operating 5,363 and 3,000 servers respectively. NordVPN wins this round thanks to those extra 200+ servers, but you won’t go too far wrong with either when it comes to choice. NordVPN currently has a presence in 62 countries, while Torguard currently covers 55.
NordVPN and TorGuard also provide plenty of options when it comes to choosing the server that you want to connect to.
Best for Speed: NordVPN
If you think it’s a close fight between NordVPN and TorGuard, then you might not be too surprised to hear that both handle speed really well. Both manage to mitigate most of the usual slow down that is caused by all VPNs, compared to traditional ISPs.
NordVPN is Faster than TorGuard
It’s NordVPN, though, that manages to claim the prize in this category, as it maintained the fastest speeds between the two services. Even when handling transatlantic traffic, NordVPN still managed to maintain 50% of our usual internet speed.
That might not sound too impressive, but it’s actually among the fastest we’ve seen in our testing, and indicative of the sort of drop you can expect when using a VPN. Neither NordVPN nor TorGuard are slouches in this area – by contrast, we’ve seen some services that drop your traffic to a crawl should you dare to venture to a server outside of your country.
NordVPN Highlights, Pros and Cons
- Excellent range of servers
- One of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested
- Brilliant security features
- Killswitch feature
NordVPN is an excellent all-rounder, and one of the best VPNs we’ve tested. We think it’s probably better suited to those who have used a VPN before – or are at least willing to take the time to learn the intricacies of it – but once you’re on board, we doubt you’ll want to look anywhere else for your VPN needs.
Why We Rate NordVPN Best
Why? Well, for one thing, NordVPN is stuffed with features, with a wide range of options for those that like to tinker to curate their experience. If that’s not really your bag, you can always just go with the default settings.
Then there’s the speed. With all VPNs, there’s an element of slowdown once the VPN is activated; this is, unfortunately, inevitable, due to the way that they reroute your traffic through different servers. Some handle this better than others, and NordVPN manages to maintain excellent speeds.
We also like the amount of flexibility that NordVPN offers you when selecting servers. You can select those that are better suited to specific uses, or those that give you a high level of anonymity.
On top of being an objectively excellent piece of software, NordVPN is also very affordable. Plans start at just $3.49 per month for a standard VPN package and $5.99 per month for a VPN, password manager, and encrypted cloud storage.
Pros:
- Risk-free money-back guarantee
- Excellent mobile app for iOS
- Lightning-quick connection speeds
- Packed with useful security features
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Couldn't unblock some streaming services
- Roughly half of the server network is located in US
TorGuard: Highlights, Pros and Cons
- Better suited to experienced VPN users
- Unlocks Netflix
- Maintains decent speeds
- Exceptional privacy settings
TorGuard doesn’t quite match NordVPN in our lab testing, but in all honesty, it’s not too far behind. In many areas, it ticks all the same boxes: excellent security features? Check. Fast speeds? Check. Large choice of servers? Check.
However, NordVPN is overall the better package, and generally easier to use. While neither are an ideal entry point for a VPN virgin, you’d have a much easier time with NordVPN than with TorGuard, which is likely to prove too obtuse for first timers.
TorGuard is Great for Technical Users
However, if you know your way around a VPN, there’s a lot to like here. One particular feather in TorGuard’s cap is its ability to unlock Netflix, giving users access to content on the service from every region. This can be a great boon for avid bingers, and is one of the main reasons why people use a VPN in the first place. It also gives it a significant boost over NordVPN, which can’t access the streaming service.
It would be remiss not to mention TorGuard’s ‘How to’ guides, which are thorough and extremely helpful. Coupled with its email and live chat support, this means that help is always at hand.
Pros:
- Strong global presence
- Great features and control for expert users
- Impressive VPN performance
- Fully-featured Linux GUI
Cons:
- Not great for less experienced users
- Awkward sign-up process
- Unblocking abilities could be better
Final Verdict – NordVPN is Better than TorGuard
Want a fast VPN that protects your identity and comes with a wide range of features? Get NordVPN or TorGuard. Want a VPN that’s one of the fastest we’ve ever tested, and also happens to be considerably cheaper than TorGuard? That’s NordVPN. While both services are amongst the best we’ve tested, we can’t see many reasons to opt for TorGuard over NordVPN.
While there are a lot of VPNs out there, these two represent the very best, and both offer a compelling argument for paying for a VPN (even it’s just a few bucks a month). The sheer range of features, privacy controls and server choice is unheard of in the world of free VPNs, and well worth your monthly subscription.
Our final advice is to seek out some savings – check for NordVPN deals before you commit – right now, there’s a deal that will save you up to 68% on NordVPN packages!
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