NordVPN vs. PrivateVPN – At a Glance
NordVPN
NordVPN provides top-notch VPN services at a reasonable price. The provider boasts a large global server network, while also providing support for most popular connected devices.
The provider should be an attractive option for those looking for fast, well-protected access to content around the world.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN, while providing quality online protection, doesn’t score well in a couple of important service categories.
While the provider delivers fast connections while providing reliable privacy and online security, it could stand improvement in the global server coverage and app support arenas.
How to Choose a VPN
When you’re considering which Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider is the right one for your needs, there are several features you should carefully consider.
In this article, I’ll take a close look at two quality VPN providers (NordVPN and PrivateVPN). I’ll compare them in each feature category. I’ll provide information on how well both providers performed in each service category, declaring a winner in each category. The scores will then be tallied and I’ll declare an overall winner.
By the end of this article, you should have plenty of information to make an informed VPN decision.
NordVPN vs. PrivateVPN – Features
Connection Speeds
Streaming, sharing files, and online gaming. All of those online activities require a fast connection.
Pixel Privacy performs VPN connection speed tests on a regular basis. The speed tests are carried out as follows:
- All tests are performed on a North American Windows server with a gigabit Ethernet connection.
- Tests are performed using the Windows version of the VPN providers’ app. The apps are configured to use the OpenVPN UDP connection protocol when available.
- Connections are made to VPN servers located in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong. I connect at three different times of day, over the course of three days.
- Once a connection is made to a server location, the Speedtest.net app is used to test the connection speeds. The Speedtest app is shutdown between each test.
It should be noted that if you perform your own speed tests, you’ll likely see different download speeds than I did. Multiple factors can affect your results, including your ISP-provided connection speeds, your location, and which VPN server you connect to.
While NordVPN and PrivateVPN deliver sufficient bandwidth, one provider definitely outperformed the other.
NordVPN’s download speeds were quite impressive, averaging in at 371 Mbps. Those connection speeds make the provider an excellent choice for users that enjoy streaming, online gaming, and file sharing.
PrivateVPN’s download speeds were MUCH slower, coming in at 70.9 Mbps. While these download speeds are more than 5x slower than NordVPN, they are still up to handling your favorite online pastimes.
Average Connection Speed Winner: NordVPN
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| NordVPN | 371.0 Mbps | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 70.9 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
Pricing is an important consideration for many VPN users. However, you should never opt for any VPN simply because it charges a bargain rate.
Neither NordVPN nor PrivateVPN can be mistaken for a bargain rate VPN. PrivateVPN takes the crown in this category due to charging about $2.00 less per month than NordVPN.
I don’t include actual prices in my articles, because most providers change their pricing on a regular basis. Visit the providers’ websites for their current pricing.
Pricing Winner: NordVPN
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| NordVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
There are plenty of nosy types in the world and it seems like all of them are interested in what you’ve been doing online. Whether it’s advertisers, hackers, or the government, they all want to stick their nose in your online business. That’s why any VPN provider worth your consideration should offer comprehensive privacy protection.
A VPN service’s privacy protections can be weighed by considering the following:
- Is the provider located in a privacy-respecting country?
- Does the provider save user activity logs?
- Does the provider accept privacy-protecting types of payment, like cryptocurrency?
NordVPN is located in Panama, which respects internet users’ privacy rights. The provider saves no user activity logs of any kind on its servers. By paying with cryptocurrency and using a disposable email address, you can keep your subscription information incognito.
NordVPN also offers an additional privacy layer by running all of its servers only from RAM, writing no data of any kind to a physical hard drive. This ensures that all data is securely wiped when any of the provider’s servers are rebooted or shut down. The provider is also moving its server farms to an owned-and-operated model, keeping third-party contractors away from your personal information.
PrivateVPN also doesn’t collect or log user traffic data or browsing activity, and also accepts cryptocurrency as subscription payment.
Privacy Winner: NordVPN
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| NordVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 4.5 | Visit Site |
Online Security
Let’s face it, if you’re online, it’s likely that someone is monitoring you. Whether it’s law enforcement, hackers, or even your own internet service provider – someone is watching your online activities.
This means that it’s important for a VPN to encrypt your internet connection, protecting your personal and business-related activities and information safe from Nosy Nellies.
NordVPN uses banking-grade encryption, kill switch protection, and DNS/IP leak prevention. VPN protocols used by the provider include OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), and IKEv2/IPSec.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN uses military-grade encryption, with OpenVPN over UDP/TCP, L2TP/IPSec, L3TP, IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2 protocols to protect their customers’ connections. The provider also offers kill switch protection, as well as a “Stealth VPN” feature to disguise VPN traffic as normal browser traffic.
Security Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| NordVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
If you’re like me, you own multiple internet-connected devices. This means that a VPN provider’s simultaneous connection policy is an important consideration.
NordVPN allows users to connect up to six devices at once to their servers.
PrivateVPN allows its users to concurrently connect up to 10 devices to its servers.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: PrivateVPN
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| NordVPN | 6 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 10 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
According to a recent report, 85% of U.S. households have at least one video streaming subscription, and 60% have at least one paid music streaming subscription. 7% of Americans have six or more streaming subscriptions.
While this means that viewers have access to a variety of content online, there are geographic restrictions placed on most content, meaning you may not have access to your favorite content when you’re traveling or living abroad.
A VPN is an excellent tool in this situation, as it temporarily provides an IP address located in another country. This opens access to content that might normally be unavailable where you currently are.
NordVPN delivers reliable access to a large number of streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and multiple other streaming services.
PrivateVPN also delivers access to a good number of streaming services, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, Hulu, Disney+, and others.
Streaming Support Winner: NordVPN, due to its larger global server network, which provides better access to content.
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| NordVPN | 10+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 10+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
I’ll bet that many of my readers share files via BitTorrent, as it’s a popular online activity. Unfortunately, while sharing non-copyrighted files is perfectly legal in most countries, several ISPs block or throttle the activity, due to pressure from movie studios, record companies, and other copyright holders. Luckily, a VPN can hide your P2P activity, as it encrypts your internet connection.
NordVPN allows P2P activity on certain servers in its global server network. The provider will automatically connect you to a P2P-enabled server once it detects any file sharing activity.
While PrivateVPN allows BitTorrenting activity on its network, it suggests that P2P users connect to its servers that are located in Sweden.
BitTorrenting Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| NordVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
A VPN’s global server network directly controls how much geo-restricted content you’ll have access to. Look for a provider with servers in a large number of countries. Also, look for a provider that has multiple servers in the countries it serves. This helps prevent any single server from being overloaded with users.
PrivateVPN has 200+ servers located in 63+ countries around the world.
NordVPN has more than 5,400 servers spread around close to 60 countries around the globe.
Global Server Coverage Winner: NordVPN
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| NordVPN | 5,400+ | 59 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 200+ | 63 | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
The more connected devices you own, the more important a VPN provider’s native app support is.
NordVPN offers native app support for Windows, macOS (with native M1/M2 Mac support), iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV device platforms. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions are available. The provider also offers support for select routers and offers pre-configured routers through Flashrouters.com.
PrivateVPN’s device support definitely comes up short. It offers native app options only for iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows device platforms. The provider can be manually set up on Linux devices and some routers. No browser support to be found here.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: NordVPN
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| NordVPN | 7 | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) | Yes – Offers support for select routers and has Flashrouter options. | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 5 | No | Yes – Manual setup. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
While both providers offer reliable VPN services, it’s likely that you will still have an occasional question.
NordVPN offers 24/7 customer support, made up of always-available live chat, email support, and an easy-to-search support library.
PrivateVPN offers include a live messaging option, email support, and a non-searchable FAQ support section.
Customer Support Winner: NordVPN
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| NordVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 4.0 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
Both VPN providers offer comprehensive VPN protection. However, only one provider can be the victor in this head-to-head playoff.
NordVPN is the overall victor, thanks to it coming out on top in the connection speeds, pricing, privacy, streaming, global server coverage, multi-platform support, and customer support categories.
PrivateVPN scored best in just one category, simultaneous connections.
Both companies tied in the online security and BitTorrent support categories.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit NordVPN.
