The listings featured on this site are from companies from which this site receives compensation. Read the Advertising Disclosure for more information
Disclosure:
Professional Reviews

vpnMentor contains reviews that are written by our community reviewers, and are based on the reviewers' independent and professional examination of the products/services.

• Ownership

vpnMentor is owned by Kape Technologies PLC, which owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, ZenMate, Private Internet Access, and Intego, which may be reviewed on this website.

• Affiliate Commissions Advertising

vpnMentor contains reviews that were written by our experts and follow the strict reviewing standards, including ethical standards, that we have adopted. Such standards require that each review will be based on an independent, honest and professional examination of the reviewer. That being said, we may earn a commission when a user completes an action using our links, which will however not affect the review but might affect the rankings. The latter are determined on the basis of customer satisfaction of previous sales and compensation received.

• Reviews Guidelines

The reviews published on vpnMentor are written by experts that examine the products according to our strict reviewing standards. Such standards ensure that each review is based on the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, and takes into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings we publish may take into consideration the affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website.

NordVPN vs Psiphon 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.4/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Rated: 7.3/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Managing Editor

    NordVPN and Psiphon are two VPNs that focus on providing users with numerous servers worldwide. While NordVPN has over 3000 servers across 60 countries, Psiphon has over 1000 in only 9 countries.

    When it comes to providing support and responding to user queries, these VPNs are miles apart. While NordVPN provides a 24/7 support channel, Psiphon can be contacted via email and from within their apps, although responses are typically delayed. NordVPN also provides dedicated apps for all major platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Routers. Psiphon has no app for MacOS or Routers.

    In terms of privacy, NordVPN maintains a strict no logs policy and has a reputation for not recording any user activities whatsoever. Psiphon on the other hand records some activities for analytics purposes and although they claim to not log any personally identifiable data, this should raise red flags for potential users. Continue reading to find out what makes each VPN truly stand out.

    Rating

    Features 9.4/10
    Pricing 9.6/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 7.3/10
    Pricing 8.1/10
    Ease of Use 8.0/10
    Reliability & Support 8.2/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    10.0/10

    On the surface, NordVPN looks like a really impressive service. It claims to have a huge global server network, the ability to unblock tons of streaming platforms, and iron-clad security and privacy features. Plus, you can get it all for just $3.49/month. That all sounds great, but is there a catch? To find out, I did an in-depth analysis of NordVPN. I tested its speeds and how well it performs...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    J
    John Hoy
    10.0/10
    Best documentation was easy to understand

    I came from Surfshark which never worked correctly. I had to run from the browser extension with supp... ort telling me it was my network that was causing the problem. That was rubbish. I set Nord up and had it running in a short time from the documentation. I only had to ask support about accessing more servers than just the one I saw. Great product.More

    Latest negative user review
    D
    Dax
    6.0/10
    Average service, some nice features, rubbish support

    Basic features work really well. Basically. I liked the feature that when Nord crashes (as it seems to...  do monthly) it will shut other apps so they aren't exposed. My subscription is based in Australia. Found downloads peak at about 1-1.5Mb/s, which is ok as long as you aren't playing online games. Don't go for the frills (though hard not to when they gamify them). I canceled my subscription because I added the Kill switch and then MFA. Nek Minnit I can't even log in. No way to remove the Kill switch without logging in. Uninstalled, reinstalled no joy. Went to the help page, and it redirected me to up my subscription as the only solution. No chatbot where I am. and I don't have an email app so couldn't email help. After a couple of hours of mucking around. Gave up and went to a competitor. Note: if I hadn't played with the security settings, I would still be with Nord. But if I can't log in, it's a dead service to me.More

    Read the full review
    More Info
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Maryanne Gaitho
    Maryanne Gaitho

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    5.0/10

    Psiphon is a free, open-source, Canadian-born VPN that started as a project to bypass censorship in 2008 at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. Today, Psiphon has grown to become an independent corporation offering VPN and proxy services among digital civil rights groups such as Access Now. It is “a circumvention tool that utilizes VPN, SSH, and HTTP Proxy technology, to provide you w...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    O
    Offler
    8.0/10
    Working in Cuba

    My girlfriend is using Psiphon in Cuba and it works even after the internet was cut because of riots. ...  The downside is she cannot send me videos, and we couldn't have video calls, Of course, it is great, as we were worried we could not have any communication these days, and it is good enough for WhatsApp and pictures. You cannot ask more for a free serviceMore

    Latest negative user review
    M
    M.Pool
    6.0/10
    First experience

    First experience, the firm is bothering me with attempts to make me pay some amount while installing t... he free version on iPhone 5c. So I uninstalled Psiphon. I did read the manual and the reviews. So I will give it another try. I am missing a version for Linux. So I ask the developers to make that version.More

    Read the full review
    More Info

    Pricing

    Starting price $3.49/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 6 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $2.99/week
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 2 Days
    Number of devices per license 1 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by category

    Best VPN Overall

    NordVPN has a more dependable VPN service through its consistently reliable servers, world class 24/7 support and ability to connect more devices simultaneously. Psiphon also has numerous VPN servers with decent speeds.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    If you need a VPN with dedicated servers for torrenting and P2P file sharing, choose NordVPN. Psiphon does not support torrenting but has fast servers suitable for streaming.

    Best VPN for Windows

    NordVPN allows users switch seamlessly between its over 3000 servers from its dedicated Windows app. Psiphon also has a Windows app from where it provides access to all its VPN servers.

    Best VPN for Android

    NordVPN has an Android app that’s pretty easy to install and setup and also includes a kill switch. Psiphon also has a dedicated Android app but lacks the kill switch functionality.

    Best VPN for Mac

    The NordVPN MacOS application is very easy to integrate and uses a military grade encryption in securing users’ traffic and activities. Psiphon unfortunately has no dedicated application for MacOS but has for other major platforms.

    Best VPN for iOS

    If you need to connect multiple iOS devices to your VPN, NordVPN allows up to 6 simultaneous connections per account. Psiphon also has an iOS app but only permits a single device connection per account.

    Best VPN for USA

    NordVPN is far more reliable for accessing US based content as it offers more than 1000 US based servers for bypassing restricted content such as Netflix and Hulu.

    The Bottom Line

    Over 3000 servers, a 24/7 support channel, strong encryption and reliability in accessing US content are some of the main reasons why NordVPN is the clear winner. If you constantly need to bypass US content restrictions or use BitTorrent, NordVPN is the ideal choice for you. A strict no logs policy is also the icing on the cake that makes NordVPN far better than Psiphon.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with NordVPN
    Go with Psiphon
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is NordVPN better than Psiphon?

    Yes, NordVPN is better overall than Psiphon. It has 5384 servers in 60 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $3.49 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between NordVPN and Psiphon?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then NordVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is NordVPN faster than Psiphon?

    Yes, NordVPN is faster than Psiphon. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do NordVPN or Psiphon offer any deals?

    Both NordVPN and Psiphon offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.