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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN Is Better?

    Author Image Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Former Senior Writer

    NordVPN and F-Secure VPN (previously F-Secure FREEDOME VPN) each have very different strengths. NordVPN is widely recognized as a leading VPN, offering robust security and versatility. On the other hand, F-Secure VPN is a simpler VPN focused on privacy and ease of use, so it doesn't quite match the same level of versatility.

    We tested both VPNs side-by-side in terms of speed, streaming, torrenting, gaming, customer support, pricing, and how they handle user privacy. NordVPN consistently outperformed F-Secure VPN in server variety, streaming reliability, and overall usability. While both VPNs are user-friendly, NordVPN offers a wider range of features and better support for torrenting and gaming.

    I prefer NordVPN for its superior performance and flexibility. While F-Secure VPN is fairly secure, it falls short in a couple of areas. If you want a VPN that offers a more complete package, NordVPN is the better option. You can even try it out for 30 days risk-free, as it’s backed by a trustworthy money-back guarantee.

    Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

    NordVPN F-Secure VPN
    Overall Rating Rated 9.37/10

    https://nordvpn.com/

    Rated 5.76/10

    https://www.f-secure.com/vpn

    💲 Lowest Monthly Price $2.99/month on the first 2-year Standard plan, plus 3 months free $3.90/month billed every 2 years
    🗓️ Price on Renewal $139.08 per year
    (subject to change)
    $49.99-$69.99 per year, depending on the number of devices (subject to change)
    🤑 Coupons NordVPN offers 74% Off (24-month plan) F-Secure VPN offers 52% Off (24-month plan)
    💸 Money-Back Guarantee 30 days 30 days
    📺 Streaming Works with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Max, BBC iPlayer, and more Works with Netflix, ESPN, Max, and a few more
    🌍 VPN Servers 113 countries with 6,800 servers 22 countries with 28 servers
    Speed 8% speed drop on nearby servers — excellent for UHD streaming & gaming More than 21% drop even on nearby servers
    🎮 Gaming Performance Optimal speed and low ping for the best gaming experience Decent ping on most servers, but it’s barely consistent for lag-free gaming
    🧑‍🤝‍🧑 P2P Support Yes, but on P2P servers Doesn’t support torrenting
    🔐 Security Protocols NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec OpenVPN, IKEv1, and IKEv2
    🔌 Kill Switch Yes Yes
    IP/DNS Leak Protection Yes Yes
    🏢 Based in Country Panama Finland
    ⚠️ Does VPN Keep Logs No Maybe
    Works in China Not reliably No
    #️⃣ Number of Device Connections 10 Different plans offering 1,3, or 5 devices
    💻 Device Compatibility Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Fire devices, Roku, Chromecast, Kodi, routers, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and more Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
    🔧 Customer Support 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, FAQs, and email 24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base, and FAQs
    Best alternative to NordVPN

    Our Score: 9.9

    While NordVPN is a solid option, ExpressVPN is my top pick if you're looking for an alternative. Its Lightway protocol ensures faster connections and quicker reconnections compared to NordLynx. It’s also effortless to use, especially for beginners. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without any risk.

    Streaming — NordVPN Works With More Sites

    We tested both VPNs and found NordVPN to be more reliable for streaming HD from anywhere. It has excellent speeds and works well with most of the streaming services we tried it with. F-Secure VPN had trouble working with some popular platforms, though.

    The table below illustrates how each VPN faired with popular streaming platforms:

    Streaming Platform NordVPN F-Secure VPN
    Netflix ✅ Yes, including popular Netflix
    libraries like the US, UK, Canada,
    Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland
    ✅ Yes, including a few popular
    Netflix libraries like the US and
    Japan
    Disney+ ✅ Yes ⛔ No
    ESPN ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    (HBO) Max ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    Hulu ✅ Yes ⛔ No
    Sky ✅ Yes ⛔ No
    Amazon Prime Video ✅ Yes ☑️ Yes, but it doesn’t work reliably with all libraries
    BBC iPlayer ✅ Yes ⛔ No
    ABC ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    CBS ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
    NBC ✅ Yes ✅ Yes

    We tested both VPNs across various Netflix regions, and NordVPN consistently performed better. It could safely access multiple libraries and allowed us to stream without slowdowns. We enjoyed Emily in Paris episodes on Netflix US with zero buffering. It also delivers fast, seamless streaming on other popular platforms like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Max.

    Screenshot of The app automatically chose the fastest US server for us

    F-Secure VPN performed well with a few streaming platforms but not others. For example, it worked smoothly with ESPN and Max, but it encountered issues with Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. Additionally, it doesn’t work with some of the major Netflix libraries, but at least it could safely access the US one.

    Screenshot of Max streaming It always took a few seconds for videos to load and there was occasional buffering

    Be advised: The VPNs we recommend offer strict no-log policies, meaning they don't monitor what you do online. It's your responsibility to follow any applicable rules and regulations and the T&Cs of the sites you're using. The team and I don't condone copyright infringement. 
    Winner
    NordVPN is faster for HD streaming from anywhere and offers more reliable compatibility with popular platforms.

    Server Network — NordVPN Covers More Locations

    NordVPN F-Secure VPN
    Total Countries With Servers 113 22
    Number of Servers 6,800 28

    NordVPN's large server network offers it a distinct edge over F-Secure VPN. The greater number of available servers means less congestion on each, leading to more seamless streaming, gaming, and downloading experiences. In comparison, F-Secure VPN falls short with its limited server options.

    I also like that NordVPN’s servers are strategically spread worldwide, with a strong presence in regions like Africa, South America, and Asia, areas where many VPNs don't offer connections. Plus, its use of self-owned (colocated) servers enhances security, providing a higher level of protection compared to renting third-party servers. F-Secure VPN rents some of its infrastructure.

    NordVPN goes a step further by providing a selection of specialized servers, such as those optimized for torrenting. It also includes Double VPN and Onion Over VPN servers for enhanced security. F-Secure VPN doesn’t offer any of these options.

    Winner
    NordVPN offers many more servers than F-Secure VPN. Plus, it owns most of its servers, which is a huge plus for security.

    Speed — NordVPN Offers Faster Speeds Over All Distances

    From the UK, we evaluated the speed of each VPN across multiple regions, including the US, UK, and Japan. We used the NordLynx (NordVPN’s proprietary protocol) for NordVPN and IKEv2 for F-Secure VPN during our tests. These are the fastest protocols for each VPN. The baseline download speed was 276.23 Mbps, with an upload speed of 23.70 Mbps.

    The results show that NordVPN is faster over both short and long distances. On nearby UK servers, we experienced just a 17% reduction in speed, and even on distant US servers, the drop was only 20%.

    Screenshot of a speed test showing rates not connected to the VPN vs connected to a server in GermanyOur test results were excellent when we tested servers nearby

    F-Secure VPN consistently lagged behind in speed. We experienced up to a 20% reduction on London servers, with an even sharper 36% decline when connecting to US. The limited number of servers makes the issue even worse, as you may struggle to find a nearby connection — which is usually the best option for speeds.

    Screenshot of a speed test showing rates not connected to the VPN vs connected to a server in LondonSome faraway servers dropped speeds by up to 89%

    Here’s an overview of our speed test results:

    Speed Tests NordVPN Average Download Speed F-Secure VPN Average Download Speed NordVPN Average Upload Speed F-Secure VPN Average Upload Speed
    Connected to a US server 219.26 Mbps 178.4 Mbps 24.63 Mbps 24.27 Mbps
    Connected to a UK server 226.81 Mbps 210.05 Mbps 23.90 Mbps 24.66 Mbps
    Connected to a Japan server 172.30 Mbps 171.62 Mbps 21.63 Mbps 21.08 Mbps
    Winner
    NordVPN is faster than F-Secure VPN on both short and long distances. This makes a significant difference in connection quality when it comes to data-heavy tasks like streaming and torrenting.

    Gaming — NordVPN Provides Interruption-Free Gaming

    Both VPNs delivered smooth, lag-free gaming experiences, but F-Secure VPN showed a slightly lower ping on some servers during testing. Ping measures the time between your input and the action appearing onscreen. For a responsive gaming experience, it’s best to aim for a ping below 100 ms, with even lower rates preferred for fast-paced games.

    Like with the speed tests, we checked both VPNs and noted the average results, starting from a baseline ping of 22 ms.

    The table below illustrates the results:

    NordVPN (NordLynx) F-Secure VPN (IKEv2)
    Quick Connect 24 ms 22 ms
    Connected to a US server 98 ms 94 ms
    Connected to a UK server 24 ms 28 ms
    Connected to a Hong Kong server 288 ms 254 ms

    Although F-Secure VPN had a lower ping, we experienced some lag while playing Roblox. This might be because the server closest to my location was in Europe.

    On the other hand, NordVPN’s much faster speeds translated to a smoother experience during cloud gaming sessions. Even though its ping rate was slightly higher in some cases, its fast speeds more than made up for it, giving us more seamless gaming compared to F-Secure VPN.

    Screenshot of Roblox being played while connected to NordVPN US serverNordVPN's large server network makes it easy to find a fast server in your desired gaming location

    Like most VPNs, NordVPN and F-Secure also have higher ping on long-distance servers. I suggest using a server close to your location for smoother gaming.

    Winner
    While it had a higher ping rate in some cases, NordVPN’s fast speeds supported gaming more reliably compared to F-Secure VPN.

    Torrenting — NordVPN Supports Speedy Torrenting

    NordVPN offers P2P-optimized servers designed for both fast speeds and strong security. Its privacy features, such as an audited no-logs policy and RAM-only servers, also give peace of mind when downloading files. We downloaded a 7GB public domain file in just over 4 minutes while testing NordVPN.

    Conversely, F-Secure VPN states in its FAQs that P2P file-sharing is 'technically' blocked due to requirements placed by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) legislation. So you can’t use it to torrent at all.

    Keep in mind that while torrenting itself is legal in many regions, downloading copyrighted material without permission is not. My team and I urge you to use torrents responsibly and stick to content in the public domain.

    Winner
    NordVPN supports torrenting on all its servers and offers servers optimized for P2P sharing for greater efficiency.

    Security — NordVPN Has Many More Security Options

    NordVPN provides more advanced security features than F-Secure VPN. It includes extras like Onion Over VPN servers, a malware blocker, and private DNS servers.

    Security Feature NordVPN F-Secure VPN
    Encryption level AES-256-GCM
    ChaCha20
    SHA2-384
    AES-256-GCM with 4096-bit DH key, SHA2-384 HMAC authentication
    Kill switch All operating systems Yes, but not on iOS
    DNS/IP leak protection Yes Yes
    Protocols NordLynx, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IKEv2/IPSec OpenVPN, IKEv1, and IKEv2
    Split tunneling Yes Yes
    Private DNS servers Yes No
    Tor Over VPN servers Yes No
    RAM-only servers wipes data Yes No
    Ad & malware blocker Yes No
    Double hop servers Yes No
    Dedicated IP addresses Yes, at an extra cost No
    Obfuscation technology Yes No

    NordVPN offers the NordLynx protocol, which is built on WireGuard but bolsters it with a double NAT system. This ensures that no personal information is stored on the server. It boosts privacy by allowing secure connections without tracking your activity. F-Secure VPN only offers IKEv2, a speedy but dated protocol, and OpenVPN, which is highly secure but tends to be slower.

    Screenshot of NordVPN Windows dashboard showing the protocol optionsNordLynx always gave us smooth connections and fast speeds during our tests

    Plus, NordVPN offers strong, adjustable security options like Dark Web Monitor and Meshnet. Dark Web Monitor scans the deep web for your information to ensure there are no data leaks, while Meshnet allows you to establish secure connections between up to 60 devices.

    I also like NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites, ensuring a safer browsing experience. The impressive part of this feature is that it continues to work, even if the VPN connection is turned off.

    Both VPNs provide protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IP leaks. I initially had doubts about F-Secure VPN's ability to offer strong protection, but I was impressed by its performance. I tested nearly a dozen of its servers, and it consistently protected my IP address.

    Screenshot of IPleak test results showing that F-Secure Freedome protected my IP from leakingThis is reassuring since IP leaks can expose a lot of your personal data

    Winner
    NordVPN offers more advanced security features compared to F-Secure VPN, including obfuscated servers, secure and fast proprietary protocol (NordLynx), and private DNS servers.

    Privacy — NordVPN’s Privacy Policy Is More Trustworthy

    NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been audited several times by Deloitte. So you can rest assured that it doesn’t store your IP address, browsing history, or DNS queries.

    While F-Secure VPN also claims to have a no-log policy, it does keep some sensitive data. For instance, it logs information like your IP address and device details when you first connect. Even though these logs aren’t kept after your session ends, this practice could allow for monitoring while you’re connected, raising concerns about your privacy.

    Both VPNs are outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, which is great for privacy — NordVPN is based in Panama, and F-Secure VPN operates from Finland. That said, NordVPN stands out with its RAM-only servers that automatically wipe data after every reboot. F-Secure VPN doesn’t offer this level of protection.

    Winner
    NordVPN has a more reassuring and verified privacy policy.

    Works in China — NordVPN Might Work in China, but Not Guaranteed

    Important! Using a VPN that isn’t government-approved is illegal in China. While there haven’t been any public reports of tourists facing penalties for this, it’s still important to be cautious. We recommend not using a VPN to engage in any activities that break the law.

    NordVPN may work in China, but the same can’t be said for F-Secure VPN. The former offers advanced security features, like obfuscated servers, which are necessary for a VPN to work in China. China's advanced methods for blocking VPNs make it difficult for many services to function reliably there. F-Secure VPN's website explicitly states that it cannot connect from within China.

    A support agent confirmed that you can use NordVPN in China with some special configurations. However, keep in mind that the website may be blocked once you're in China, making it impossible to download or install the app while there. To avoid this, it’s best to download the latest version of the VPN software before traveling.

    Winner
    NordVPN might work in China with a little bit of troubleshooting, while F-Secure VPN doesn’t work at all.

    Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN Is More Intuitive

    Both VPNs are easy to install and use, but NordVPN stands out for its user-friendly interface. The options and menus are clearly labeled, making them simple to navigate. I particularly like how well the specialty servers (like P2P and Obfuscated) are organized under separate tabs for easy access.

    Screenshot of NordVPN dashboard showing Double VPN and Obfuscated serverThere are plenty of connection options suited for specific use cases

    NordVPN is compatible with a lot more devices and operating systems. While both VPNs offer native apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, F-Secure VPN lacks support for devices like Linux and is only compatible with F-Secure’s SENSE routers.

    You can set NordVPN up on a wider range of routers, allowing you to use it on devices that don’t normally support VPNs, like smart TVs, game consoles, and Roku. Alternatively, it also offers a smart DNS feature, which you don’t get with F-Secure VPN.

    Winner
    NordVPN wins this with a wider platform support and a user-friendly app interface.

    Reliability & Support — NordVPN Support Is More Reliable

    Customer Support Features NordVPN F-Secure VPN
    24/7 Live chat Yes, after chatbot Yes, but very hard to get connected
    Email support Yes Yes
    Phone support No Yes
    Step-by-step setup guides Yes Yes
    Searchable knowledge base Yes Yes
    Exhaustive FAQ section Yes Yes

    NordVPN provides 24/7 support through live chat, email, and ticketing. You can reach its team without needing to log in or create an account. However, you’ll have to go through a chatbot first before speaking to a live agent, which can be slightly inconvenient. Despite that, my wait time never exceeded 3 minutes.

    F-Secure VPN also has 24/7 chat support, but I wasn’t always able to connect with an agent during my attempts. I tried reaching out several times, and there wasn’t always an agent available, despite its website claiming it provides round-the-clock support.

    Both VPNs include a detailed help center with easy-to-follow guides and FAQs that are helpful for beginners and experienced users. The resources cover the most common problems, though it would be helpful if video tutorials were also available.

    Winner
    NordVPN wins this one with easily accessible and knowledgeable customer support.

    Pricing

    NordVPN F-Secure VPN
    Starting Price $2.99/month $3.90/month
    Price (On Renewal) $139.08 per year
    (subject to change)
    $49.99-$69.99 per year,
    depending on number of
    devices (subject to change)
    Money-Back Guarantee (Days) 30 days 30 days
    Number of devices per license 10 5
    Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices) Manual setup with extensive how-to guides Only F-Secure’s SENSE routers

    F-Secure VPN is more affordable than NordVPN, but with NordVPN’s higher price comes more value. It offers a wider range of features, better performance, and more flexibility, making it worth the extra cost if you're looking for a more comprehensive VPN solution. You also have the option of getting a monthly plan with NordVPN — F-Secure VPN only offers yearly and bi-yearly plans.

    The number of simultaneous devices you get with each VPN shows a stark difference in value. While NordVPN’s plans cover 10 devices, F-Secure’s most expensive plan covers a maximum of 5 simultaneous connections. So, if you have a lot of gadgets or a large household, it’s worth considering whether a single F-Secure VPN subscription is enough.

    You get a 5-day free trial with F-Secure VPN or 7 days if you sign up via iOS, and no payment details are required. NordVPN only offers a 7-day free trial for Android.

    When it comes to payment options, NordVPN has more flexibility than F-Secure VPN. Both accept credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency, but NordVPN also allows payments through prepaid cards, iTunes, and gift cards, offering more ways to pay.

    Winner - draw
    /
    F-Secure VPN has much less expensive plans available, so it’s a good deal if you’re looking for simple protection. However, if you want to pay monthly, have a lot of devices to cover, or want a more versatile VPN with advanced security, NordVPN is the way to go.

    Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN

    We applied a strict set of standards to compare NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN. First, we confirmed that both VPNs offer strong security and privacy features like military-grade encryption, data leak protection, and kill switches. Then, we tested their speeds at various times to ensure stable performance. Lastly, we checked how reliable their customer support is to guarantee that you can get help when you need it.

    If you want to learn more about our evaluation process, you can check out our methodology page. It offers detailed insights into how our expert team thoroughly tests and reviews each VPN to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information.

    NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN — Reddit Opinions

    NordVPN is well-regarded by many users, especially on Reddit. It’s praised for fast connection speeds, reliable streaming and torrenting, and a user-friendly interface. Features like its large server network, Double VPN, and Obfuscated servers for added security are often highlighted. While some users mention occasional issues with the kill switch or customer support, most feedback is positive, with many long-term users satisfied.

    Screenshot of Reddit thread claiming NordVPN offers fast speeds and robust securityMost F-Secure Freedome threads and more than 8 years old

    In comparison, F-Secure VPN is less commonly discussed. Some users appreciate that it's based in Finland, which offers more transparency than VPNs in less regulated countries. However, it doesn’t receive as many reviews or recommendations as more popular VPN services.

    Our Score

    Features 9.4/10
    Pricing 7.5/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 9.5/10
    Features 5.8/10
    Pricing 6.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.6/10
    Reliability & Support 8.3/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Former Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.4/10

    On the surface, NordVPN looks like a really impressive service. It claims to have a huge global server network, a speedy and reliable connection, and iron-clad security and privacy features. Plus, you can get it all for just $2.99/month. That all sounds great, but is there a catch? To find out, we did an in-depth analysis of NordVPN. The team and I tested its speeds and how well it performs whe...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    2
    210493Lu
    10.0/10
    The Best of The Best

    I simply tested all VPNs looking for cutting-edge online security, I tested the most expensive and the...  most talked about virtual anonymity, none made me as happy as NordVPN, it stands out for several reasons that the much more expensive ones it doesn't have, its double encryption, dedicated IPs, onion VPN, makes NordVPN unique, with almost 6,000 servers around the world and 12 million customers like me, you can see that NordVPN is not playing games with its customers and their online security , it always innovates to keep you more secure day after day, for a fair price in the long term and without sacrificing the speed of your connection, recently Nord is developing a new VPN protocol, Nordlynx a version still under construction derived from the Wireguard protocol, if you want to have a VPN of last security that think how it will make you more secure in the next month NordVPN is the right choice, I am completely thankful for being a customer and for finding what to me is the perfect VPN.More

    Latest negative user review
    S
    SAM
    2.0/10
    BUYER BEWARE!

    BUYER BEWARE! If you purchase NordVPN, it will throttle your interned speed/connectivity by 50%, like ... it did to mine. I pay $100/month to get speeds of nearly 600mbs. With NordVPN turned on, my speeds decrease to 250mbs. Nord’s “customer support” is useless and unprofessional, and, after nearly 3 weeks of endless “try this, try that”, they were unable to resolve the issue and blamed it on everything under the sun except their product, when it is OBVIOUS that, since I have zero speed issues with Nord turned off, and ONLY experience the issues with Nord turned on, it is NordVPN that is causing the issue. When I asked them for a refund of my one year subscription paid in advance and in good faith, they refused, and have now decided to ignore me. So, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED. Their VPN will devastate your internet speeds, their “support” is ridiculous, they are in denial, and they will not refund your money, even if their product is a failure…More

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 5.8/10

    F-Secure is a Finnish company, founded in 1988. It’s established and well-known in the security industry, so I had high hopes for the F-Secure Freedome VPN. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. F-Secure Freedome VPN is simple and easy to use and definitely suitable for beginners. However, it has some disappointing aspects. It is comparatively expensive, with prices start...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    J
    Joel
    10.0/10
    Overall very good. Recommendable.

    First of all, it's cheap. The application starts without any problems, does not disconnect the conne... ction, does not burden the computer or phone like some others. Overall it works without any problems. Worth recommending. I've been using it for over a year and haven't had any major problems.More

    Latest negative user review
    M
    Markku Lahti
    4.0/10
    Beware of logs!

    Freedome stores logs of your internet activity for 90 days. Many have feared that this may lead to abu... se by the authorities. And guess what: that happened! In January 2019, the National Bureau of Investigation in Finland raided Freedome and confiscated VPN logs on a single user. The information had been requested by the police in Germany as part of a criminal investigation. This week, Freedome was able to beat the confiscation in court, and the NBI was ordered to destroy any data it had acquired from Freedome. But this doesn't negate the fact that the NBI had the data in its possession for over a year! Who knows what they did with it during that time? For your VPN needs, do not choose a provider that is situated in Finland. Despite all outward appearances, Finland is not a country where due process is respected, and it does not have a very strong system in place against government abuse. Sources: yle.fi/uutiset/3-11605233 (the news story in Finnish); afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2020/10/21/vpn-provider-wins-a-court-fight-police-can-t-get-or-use-its-database (paraphrase in English)More

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    NordVPN offers the best balance of speed, security, and server coverage. It consistently performs well across multiple categories, making it a top choice for most users. F-Secure VPN can’t compare in several areas.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    NordVPN supports torrenting on dedicated P2P servers, ensuring fast speeds and secure file sharing. It also protects your data with strong encryption and a no-logs policy. F-Secure VPN doesn’t support torrenting.

    Best VPN for Windows

    NordVPN’s Windows app is user-friendly, fast, and offers excellent security features, such as malware protection and a kill switch. It’s ideal for securing mobile devices.

    Best VPN for Android

    NordVPN's Android app has a user-friendly interface and features. In contrast, F-Secure's Android app provides basic VPN functionalities but lacks advanced features. For instance, NordVPN supports multiple protocols (including NordLynx) offering more customization options on Android.

    Best VPN for Mac

    NordVPN's macOS app offers many more features than F-Secure VPN’s Mac app. This includes Meshnet, which allows secure connections between devices, and Threat Protection, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Additionally, the NordLynx protocol offers superior speed and performance for bandwidth-intensive activities on Mac devices.

    Best VPN for iOS

    The NordVPN iOS app is straightforward and effective. It features a one-tap connect option that ensures your iPhone or iPad is always secure, and Threat Protection. F-Secure VPN is also user-friendly but lacks features like an ad/malware/tracker blocker and only offers 1 protocol.

    Best VPN for USA

    NordVPN has a wide selection of servers throughout the US, providing low latency and fast speeds for streaming and browsing. It also works with the most popular US platforms, so you can stream American content safely from anywhere. In contrast, F-Secure VPN has fewer US servers and typically delivers slower speeds and doesn’t work well with popular platforms.

    The Bottom Line

    NordVPN is ahead of F-Secure VPN in many areas. It offers a larger server network and includes advanced features like Double VPN and RAM-only servers, which F-Secure VPN lacks. Plus, it's built to handle a variety of tasks, whether you're streaming, gaming, or torrenting, making it a far more versatile VPN. It also comes with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it completely risk-free.

    F-Secure VPN is much more limited, with fewer servers and a more basic feature set. It doesn't provide the same level of flexibility, and its performance is less reliable for tasks like streaming or gaming. If you need a VPN for simple browsing, it may do the job, but it doesn't match NordVPN's power or functionality.

    FAQ

    Is NordVPN better than F-Secure VPN?

    Yes, NordVPN is overall a better choice than F-Secure VPN. It offers a network of 6,800 servers across 113 countries, excellent speeds and more robust security features. Plus, it has a solid and verified privacy policy and is based in the privacy-friendly Panama.

    Is NordVPN faster than F-Secure VPN?

    Yes, NordVPN is faster than F-Secure VPN over all distances. Its faster speeds are ideal for smooth streaming and browsing without interruptions. With NordVPN's robust server network, you typically experience less lag and lower latency, making it more reliable for high-bandwidth activities like gaming and streaming.

    Do NordVPN or F-Secure VPN offer any deals?

    NordVPN offers deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. That said, ExpressVPN offers the best promotions. Currently, you can take advantage of a 61% discount and get up to 3 free months with a new subscription.

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    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Doris was a tech writer and a cybersecurity researcher for vpnMentor. She is enthusiastic about educating people about their rights to online freedom and provides actionable ways to protect their data.