NordVPN vs Turbo VPN 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

Both NordVPN and Turbo VPN are well-known VPNs, but they have very different reputations. NordVPN’s built a large following on the back of its robust feature suite, while Turbo VPN’s ‘freemium’ payment model and controversial history have garnered it a different kind of attention.

We vigorously tested both VPNs, ignoring reputations and focusing on the facts. Which service offers more in terms of speeds, features, and real-world use cases?

The results suggest that you can believe the hype. NordVPN is better in pretty much every regard. It’s faster, more reliable, and easier to use. And, not only does it offer far more security features, but it also has some quirky extras for you to get stuck into. It even has Turbo VPN’s premium plan beaten on price.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Best alternative to NordVPN

Our Score: 9.9

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Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — NordVPN Is Way More Consistent

NordVPN is renowned for its streaming capabilities, and it didn’t disappoint. It effortlessly worked with all the streaming giants we tested it with, and there were minimal loading times and zero buffering. It also worked with regional platforms like Vudu and Disney+ Hotstar (India). It’s a great choice for streaming securely in HD from anywhere.

NordVPN is also way ahead with its smart DNS feature, which Turbo VPN can’t match. It allows you to watch streaming platforms on devices that don’t normally support VPNs, such as game consoles and older smart TVs. Some UK platforms like Channel 4 won’t work unless you set your smart TV to UK time, so keep that in mind if you need to do some extra troubleshooting.

NordVPN's regular servers are ideal for streaming

While Turbo VPN looks impressive, many of its servers wouldn’t connect — even the specialty streaming ones. That included US servers for Peacock Sports, Telemundo, Fubo TV, Fox Sports, and Sling TV, as well as Disney+ servers for Canada, the Netherlands, and South Korea. One server that would connect was United States - Netflix, but even then, it would only work with Netflix Originals, so no local content was available.

A server in San Francisco also worked with Netflix Originals

When the BBC iPlayer server wouldn’t work, we contacted customer support. They suggested various fixes, including changing protocols, but when those failed, they simply suggested trying again later. Regular UK servers didn’t work with iPlayer, either.

Winner

NordVPN is significantly better for secure HD streaming from anywhere, thanks to its fast and reliable servers. It also has a nifty smart DNS feature for use on game consoles and older TVs. Meanwhile, Turbo VPN is only really good for streaming your tears of frustration.

Server Network — NordVPN Offers Reliable Servers in More Locations

Turbo VPN claims to offer 111, but I think that’s highly dubious.

I could only count 91 locations on the Mac app, and that was with the (recommended) Automatic protocol option. When I chose a specific protocol, no matter which one, there were even fewer countries available, which is unusual. Plus, not all of Turbo VPN’s servers would actually connect. Around half the time, I would come across an error message that just told me to try again later.

Meanwhile, all NordVPN’s servers connect reliably. Furthermore, NordVPN offers specialty Double VPN, P2P, and Onion Over VPN servers. The latter help you access the dark web on a regular surface web browser without the notorious slowdowns of the Tor browser. Read more about how to safely access the dark web.

Winner

NordVPN has more locations and reliable connections while also offering specialty servers that actually work.

Speed — NordVPN’s Download Speeds Give It the Edge

Our UK-based speed tester ran tests on NordVPN and Turbo VPN, using both services’ fastest protocols (NordLynx and Automatic, respectively).

NordVPN is way ahead in the all-important download speed metric, which is essential for streaming, downloading, gaming, and casual browsing. On nearby servers in France, we had a small 14% speed drop, which wasn’t even noticeable. When connecting further afield in New York, we only lost 20%. That is pretty impressive, given most VPNs drop your speeds by 30% or more at this distance.

NordVPN's ping rate (latency) was also very quick

Turbo VPN sneaked ahead on upload speeds, but this is generally less useful unless you upload a lot of videos to socials, for example. Its download speeds were far less impressive, losing us a huge 34% in Paris and 70% in Los Angeles.

Overall, NordVPN was 18% faster on nearby servers and 64% when connected to the US. So, it’s an easy win for the larger of the two VPNs.

Turbo VPN's upload speeds were more impressive

Here’s a closer look at the speeds we recorded in this NordVPN vs Turbo VPN matchup.

Winner

NordVPN has a well-earned reputation for being fast, and that certainly proved to be the case in our speed tests.

Gaming — NordVPN Is Quicker and Slicker

Ping is essential for the best gaming experience since it measures the responsiveness of your commands to the on-screen action. Under 100 ms is considered optimum for smooth gameplay. We had a starting ping of 24 ms when testing these VPNs.

Turbo VPN was too slow for smooth gaming on all but the nearest servers. Whereas, NordVPN was reliable even when gaming on US servers over 3,200 miles away.

NordVPN's superior speeds are also great for downloading games

In addition, NordVPN can easily be configured to your router to protect an entire household of gaming devices, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. While Turbo VPN advertises having apps for these devices, you actually need to set up a VPN hotspot from your PC to protect them.

Winner

NordVPN is the choice for gaming with its lower ping and quicker speeds. Plus, it can be installed on routers to protect your consoles too.

Torrenting — NordVPN Offers Faster Downloads and Better Protection

Things already weren’t looking good for Turbo VPN since it offers one P2P-optimized server. But yet again, it wouldn’t connect during my tests. Once again, I had to rely on its sluggish regular servers for file sharing.

Conversely, NordVPN offers a wealth of P2P-optimized servers, all of which connected reliably for downloading. Meanwhile, its highly advanced and customizable Threat Protection offers defense against the malware and viruses that can be hazards on file-sharing sites. One of the ways it works is to block malicious domains, which can help if you accidentally click on a dodgy ad.

As an alternative, NordVPN offers SOCKS5 proxies which you can easily configure to most P2P download clients. It’s less safe than a VPN since it doesn’t encrypt your data, but as such, it’s faster. I recommend them for when privacy and security aren’t your main priority.

Note that while torrenting is legal, downloading copyrighted materials isn't. Always make sure to follow the laws and regulations of the country you're in and avoid torrenting files that aren't copyright-free.

Winner

NordVPN is another easy pick thanks to its faster servers, malicious content blocking, and SOCKS5 proxies. Turbo VPN’s P2P server didn’t even connect.

Security — NordVPN Has Way More Features

Despite having fewer protocol options, NordVPN’s implementation of these protocols offers way more. Its proprietary NordLynx fixes a security issue with WireGuard with double NAT technology, so it’s just as fast but even safer. Turbo VPN’s equivalent, TurboLepus, isn’t even available for Mac yet, but the PC version yet again restricted access to server locations.

NordVPN also takes the lead with RAM-only servers that automatically wipe all user data on reboot. Turbo VPN’s live chat agent was unclear on what RAM-only servers actually are, but since the website also makes no mention of them, I strongly believe it doesn’t have them.

NordVPN also passed my leak tests, and Turbo VPN did not. While connected to the Dublin, Ireland server, my real location in the UK leaked.

The one-click Threat Protection Lite is also available for mobile devices

Most impressive, however, is NordVPN’s Threat Protection ad and malicious content blocker. It's the most customizable blocker I’ve seen on any VPN and is more advanced than many standalone security packages. Turbo VPN blocked only a fraction of threats with its encryption alone. I expected as much, but it’s still disappointing in comparison.

You might want to consider using another ad block tool alongside Turbo VPN

Furthermore, NordVPN has taken strides to protect its users from future attacks from quantum computers. This update is currently only available for Linux but will be rolled out across other OSs in the near future. This just goes to show that NordVPN is constantly investing in providing a better service, which is something I’m not confident about with Turbo VPN.

Winner

NordVPN offers a robust security suite with its NordLynx proprietary protocol, RAM-only servers, and Threat Protection. Meanwhile, the Turbo VPN chat agent I spoke to seemed not to understand what RAM-only servers were.

Privacy — NordVPN Is Backed by Audits

NordVPN's no-logs policy is verified by independent third-party audits. Turbo VPN’s privacy policy says the right things, but is lacking the same transparency and independent verification. I feel more reassured knowing that NordVPN has undergone multiple audits to back up its claims.

Regarding jurisdiction, NordVPN’s base in Panama is outside of international data-sharing alliances. That’s also true of Turbo VPN’s base in Singapore, but it has some questionable history linking it with a Chinese parent company.

In addition, in 2022, Turbo VPN users reported receiving a push notification in Chinese that, when translated, read “Hahaha.” The company never released a statement about this, leading users to speculate that the service had been hacked, seeing it as greater proof of its speculated links to China or simply that a developer was testing updates on the live version of the app. Either way, it’s a cause for concern.

Winner

NordVPN has a proven no-logs policy with regular audits that provide transparency. Turbo VPN’s privacy practices lack the same verification and accountability, and it has a controversial history.

Works in China — Draw

It takes a lot of resources for a VPN to work even semi-reliably in China, and that’s even if there’s a customer demand for the service in the country. Unfortunately, neither NordVPN nor Turbo VPN is guaranteed to work here.

NordVPN’s website suggests that some intermittent connectivity may be possible in the country and recommends using the NordLynx protocol. Meanwhile, Turbo VPN’s customer service confirmed to me that its service is blocked in China.

If this is a deal-breaker for you, then take a look at our guide to our top recommended VPNs that still work in China.

Note that using non-government-approved VPNs is illegal in China. There haven't been any public records of tourists getting fined for using one there, but you should still proceed with caution. We don't condone using a VPN illegally.

Winner - draw

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Neither service makes any guarantees about working in China, and we recommend neither VPN for use in the country.

Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN Is Easier For Everyone

NordVPN can be installed on any device in under 2 minutes. The process is intuitive and easy. By contrast, I had to subscribe to Turbo VPN on the website. Then, it took me to a download link on the App Store, where I had to log in separately with my Apple details. Once installed, I had to log into the app using my subscription login.

Dark Web Monitor notifies you if your details are leaked in a dark web data breach

Once installed, the Turbo VPN app is a little dated and clunky. Plus, I can’t ignore the fact that so many servers won’t connect.

The settings menu is very stripped back in comparison to NordVPN

A big point of comparison for me was how easy it was to use NordVPN, even if you’ve never used a VPN before. Each setting is clearly explained in the menu in clear language. In comparison, Turbo VPN’s settings aren’t explained at all, so if you don’t understand what the feature does, then you’ll have to figure it out yourself.

Winner

Despite having more advanced features, NordVPN is easier to navigate and use thanks to an intuitive interface and reliable tech.

Reliability & Support — You Can Rely on NordVPN’s Chat Agents

When contacting Turbo VPN, I had to type in my initial question and then wait a few minutes to be connected to an agent. I then had to ask my initial question again, which was a little frustrating. Plus, Turbo VPN’s agents couldn’t answer some fairly basic technical questions.

Meanwhile, NordVPN’s live chat was quicker and easier. You initially speak to a chatbot, but I found I could bypass that by typing “speak to an agent.” I was then connected in under a minute, and the agents were knowledgeable and friendly.

Winner

NordVPN’s live chat easily surpasses Turbo VPN, with quicker response times and more satisfactory answers. Beyond that, both services have a good knowledge base on their respective websites.

Pricing

	NordVPN	Turbo VPN
Starting Price	$2.99/month	$4.17/month
Price (On Renewal)	$139.08 per year (subject to change)	$59.99 per year (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	30 days
Number of devices per license	10	5
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Extensive router support	No support

Both services offer 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year subscriptions, with the only difference being that Turbo VPN also offers 6-month plans. Despite its superior features, NordVPN works out cheaper than Turbo VPN on its cheapest plan. In both cases, you can save significantly with the longer subscriptions.

You should be aware of NordVPN’s significant price hike after the initial term. Despite this, I think it still represents far better value than Turbo VPN.

Also, note that NordVPN’s money-back guarantee is easier to redeem than Turbo VPN’s. I had to be persistent to get our refund from the latter, while the former didn’t make me jump through any hoops.

Winner

NordVPN offers a better service and way more features for a more competitive price. Just be aware of the significant price hike on auto-renewal.

Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs Turbo VPN

We don’t cut corners when comparing VPNs. We subject each service to a rigorous program of real-world speed, ping, and IP/DNS leak tests and a variety of use cases. We also examine each VPN’s privacy policies and security history. We then add all that up in regards to the service’s pricing policies to see if you really get value for money.

For a deep dive into our testing process, visit our methodology page. There, you’ll find an in-depth breakdown of our methods. Feel free to use it as the basis for your own research.

NordVPN vs Turbo VPN — Reddit Opinions

NordVPN gets many plaudits on Reddit for its streaming and torrenting capabilities and fast speeds. While I couldn’t find any comments about Turbo VPN’s premium service, there were plenty of horror stories about its free version. Not least, the concerning “Hahaha” message that many mobile users received in 2022 (translated from Chinese).

NordVPN has lots of long-term admirers on Reddit