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Key Takeaways: TorGuard vs NordVPN
The main difference between NordVPN and TorGuard is that NordVPN is faster, has a larger VPN server network and is better for streaming.
NordVPN is also better for security and privacy because of its malware/tracker blocker and double VPN.
TorGuard is a useful choice if you need a VPN for casual browsing or if you want a broader range of country options for dedicated IP addresses.
Facts & Expert Analysis About NordVPN vs TorGuard:
NordVPN, a rapidly expanding VPN: Both TorGuard and NordVPN were founded in 2012, but NordVPN has expanded much faster and has more features. For instance, NordVPN now has servers in 111 countries, while TorGuard has servers in just 50.
NordVPN is tried and tested: Our VPN experts have been reviewing VPNs for years, and NordVPN is a well-rounded VPN that has appeared in one of the top spots for many use cases.
Don’t mistake TorGuard VPN for Tor Browser: TorGuard VPN is an app that connects you to VPN servers. Tor Browser is a private web browser that relays your internet connection through volunteer-run nodes. Both mask IP addresses, but in different ways.
Thanks to their popularity, both TorGuard and NordVPN are likely to pop up if you’re searching for a VPN. For this TorGuard vs NordVPN comparison, our VPN experts put both VPNs through the wringer to help you decide which one best suits your needs.
We tested both VPNs across all the categories we used to build our list of the best VPNs. These areas include security, privacy, speed, servers, pricing and streaming. In a nutshell, NordVPN is the better VPN for streaming, privacy, security and speed. TorGuard is an option if you want a dedicated IP address, since it offers them in more countries than NordVPN.
Updated the article to reflect latest information on NordVPN’s allowed number of simultaneous connections.
09/02/2024 Facts checked
We rewrote our TorGuard vs NordVPN article with new information and switched to an easier-to-read format focused on their similarities and differences.
Wisdom is a Cloudwards expert in VPNs and online safety.
In my experience, NordVPN is better than TorGuard across the board. It has a larger server network, providing IP addresses in a wider pool of countries. Its fast speeds are also better for lag-free browsing and streaming.
TorGuard does have port forwarding, which NordVPN lacks. This may make torrenting slightly faster on TorGuard, but with the trade-off that it doesn’t allow you to torrent on any of its servers in the U.S.
Winner for streaming, privacy, security & speeds
Which Is Better: TorGuard vs NordVPN?
NordVPN is a better VPN than TorGuard. However, though NordVPN is the overall winner, there are instances in which TorGuard might be a better fit. Below, we’ll highlight the best use case for each VPN provider.
Online Security
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Internet users in countries with restrictions: TorGuard offers a stealth mode that helps you evade detection in countries with heavy censorship..
Users who need dedicated IP address country locations: TorGuard offers dedicated IPs in 43 countries, more than NordVPN.
Who Is NordVPN For?
People who want a VPN for streaming: NordVPN can unblock all the major streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus.
Security-focused users: NordVPN is a secure VPN service with both basic and advanced security features, including the NordLynx protocol, obfuscated servers, a kill switch, a malware blocker and double VPN connections.
Users looking for an affordable VPN: NordVPN’s prices are generally more affordable than TorGuard’s.
Our Detailed Comparison Methodology
We started by highlighting the similarities NordVPN and TorGuard have. Afterward, we examined the differences between the VPNs, with emphasis on which one is a better fit for specific needs of users. We tested both VPNs to provide a first-hand account of what each VPN is good at.
PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, AmazonPay, ACH Transfer, Cash
Accepts cryptocurrency
Simultaneous connections
8
10
Supports split tunneling
Unlimited bandwidth
Free trial available
7 days on mobile
Refund period
30 days
Worldwide server amount
3000+ Servers in 50+ Countries
5,800 servers in 60 countries
Desktop OSes
Windows, MacOS, Linux
Windows, MacOS, Linux
Mobile OSes
Android, iOS
Android, iOS
Browser extensions
Chrome, Firefox
Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Can be installed on routers
Streaming
Can access Netflix US
Can access BBC iPlayer
Can access Hulu
Can access Amazon Prime Video
Security
Encryption types
256-AES
256-AES, ChaCha20
VPN protocols available
OpenVPN, OpenConnect, Stunnel, WireGuard
OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx
Enabled at device startup
Allows torrenting
No-logging policy
Passed DNS leak test
Killswitch available
Malware/ad blocker included
Support
Live Chat
office hours
24/7
Email support
24/7
24/7
Phone support
User forum
Knowledgebase
TorGuard vs NordVPN: Similarities
NordVPN and TorGuard have several elements in common, including apps for major operating systems, protocols, kill switches, dedicated IPs and obfuscation.
Apps & Compatible Devices
Whether you’re using a mobile or desktop device, you’ll find a NordVPN or TorGuard app that works. Both VPNs have native clients for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. They also offer command-line interfaces for Linux, but these can be hard to set up. For a graphical user interface (GUI) for Linux, opt for PIA, the best VPN for Linux; you can read more about it in our PIA review
If you want to use a VPN on a browser, both NordVPN and TorGuard have dedicated Chrome and Firefox extensions. NordVPN goes further than TorGuard by supporting Android TV and Apple tvOS, which is why it’s one of the best VPNs for smart TVs.
If you’re using a device that doesn’t natively support VPN installation, you can still enjoy VPN protection through a router. Simply connect your router to a VPN and all devices using the router will automatically be protected. NordVPN and TorGuard support many types of router firmware, including OpenWRT, DD-WRT and Tomato.
Protocols & Encryption
You can browse safely with secure combinations of encryption and protocols on either NordVPN or TorGuard. Both VPN services encrypt user traffic with AES encryption by default, which would take millions of years for a hacker to crack. This encryption works when you route your traffic through the OpenVPN and IKEv2 VPN protocols, which both VPNs have.
TorGuard also offers the OpenConnect protocol, an obfuscated protocol that hides your VPN use from prying eyes. It works with the AES encryption cipher as well.
OpenVPN is the standard among VPN protocols and offers a fine mix of speed and security. IKEv2 is better suited for mobile devices because of its reconnection capabilities. TorGuard offers the lightweight and fast WireGuard, while NordVPN offers NordLynx, which is built on WireGuard. WireGuard uses ChaCha20 encryption, which is just as secure as AES.
Kill Switch
TorGuard and NordVPN offer a kill switch, which ensures your internet activity doesn’t leak if your VPN connection drops. Both come with two types of kill switches: app-level and system-wide.
An app-level kill switch prevents specific apps from accessing the internet if the VPN accidentally disconnects. A system-wide kill switch prevents your entire device from connecting to the internet altogether unless your VPN connection is active. We tested NordVPN and TorGuard’s kill switches and can confirm that they work as expected.
Dedicated IP Addresses
Another feature NordVPN and TorGuard have in common is the availability of dedicated IP addresses. When you connect to a VPN server, it gives you an IP that is shared with other users. The problem with these shared IPs is that if someone uses them for shady activity, the whole IP address is blamed and often blocked.
A dedicated IP is an IP assigned to only you, which is great for accessing sensitive sites like online banks and reducing the occurrence of CAPTCHAs. TorGuard offers three kinds of dedicated IPs, starting at $7.99 per month: dedicated regular IPs, dedicated streaming IPs and dedicated residential IPs. NordVPN’s dedicated IP servers start at $5.89 per month.
TorGuard and NordVPN have dedicated IP addresses in multiple countries, but TorGuard covers a lot more locations, with 43 dedicated IP options compared to NordVPN’s 18 country options. If you want a private IP address in a country NordVPN doesn’t cover, it’s worth checking TorGuard to see if it reaches that location.
Obfuscation
TorGuard and NordVPN offer obfuscation, which hides the fact that you’re using a VPN. It works by making VPN packets seem like regular traffic so third parties can’t differentiate between them. Obfuscation is vital in countries with heavy internet censorship that frown on VPN use, especially China.
NordVPN and TorGuard offer obfuscation in different ways. NordVPN has obfuscated servers as part of its collection of specialty servers. TorGuard, on the other hand, provides obfuscation through its OpenConnect stealth VPN protocol. You can also obfuscate by activating the “stunnel” feature under “protocols,” which can be used on its own or with OpenConnect.
Customer Support
Just like with any software, you might hit a snag or have questions while using a VPN. In such instances, a VPN with good customer support is crucial. NordVPN and TorGuard have useful self-service knowledgebases where you can find articles, FAQs, setup guides and troubleshooting guides.
We found both help centers to be well written and insightful. We were particularly impressed by the annotated setup guides and video tutorials, which are easy to follow and perfect for first-time VPN users. If you need to talk to a person, you can reach out to NordVPN and TorGuard agents through email tickets or live chat.
In our experience, TorGuard’s live chat support is more complicated to reach. You’ll have to log in to your TorGuard account, and it might take several minutes before a live agent gets to you. In contrast, NordVPN doesn’t require you to make an account or log in before you can access its live chat.
NordVPN vs TorGuard: Differences
In this section, we’ll explore the differences between NordVPN and TorGuard. To give you a sneak peek, NordVPN and TorGuard differ in terms of speed, price, money-back guarantee, simultaneous connections, servers, streaming, torrenting and advanced security features.
Speed
If you want fast internet and VPN connection speeds, choose NordVPN over TorGuard. In our speed tests, NordVPN outperformed TorGuard in the three main speed indicators: download speeds, upload speeds and latency. In fact, NordVPN is currently the best fast VPN on the market — generally faster than ExpressVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost.
As you can see from the tables above, NordVPN kept at least 68% of our initial download speeds regardless of the location. TorGuard, on the other hand, reduced our starting speeds by half. We recommend NordVPN for download-related activities like streaming, browsing social media and downloading large files.
Similarly, NordVPN kept at least 90% of our initial upload speeds, while TorGuard dropped them to an average of 57%. This makes NordVPN the better pick for uploading files, posting content on social media and video conferencing. NordVPN also offers more consistent latency, making it the better choice for online gaming.
Plans & Pricing
NordVPN is cheaper than TorGuard and offers a simpler pricing structure. NordVPN has three subscriptions: a monthly plan, a one-year plan and a two-year plan. TorGuard offers six subscription options: monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, biennial and triennial plans. You would think TorGuard’s collection of plans would translate into affordable pricing, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Basic
*The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
Unlimited GB
10
Yes
Plus
*The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
Unlimited GB
10
Yes
Ultimate
*The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
Unlimited GB
10
Yes
NordVPN’s cheapest plan is the two-year plan, priced at $3.09 per month. TorGuard’s two-year plan costs $99.99 per year, which works out to around $4.17 per month. NordVPN’s one-year plan costs $59.88 ($4.99 per month), which is about the same as TorGuard. At $9.99 per month, TorGuard’s monthly plan is cheaper than NordVPN’s $12.99 monthly plan.
TorGuard and NordVPN also have bundled pricing packages. TorGuard offers an Anonymous VPN + PrivateMail Bundle, which includes email aliases and encrypted storage, and an Anonymous + Streaming Bundle, which includes IPs optimized for streaming.
Aside from the Basic plan, NordVPN has two additional plans. The Plus plan adds extra malware protection, a password manager and a data breach scanner. Its Ultimate plan includes 1TB of encrypted cloud storage and cyber extortion coverage.
Money-Back Guarantee
You can try any NordVPN plan (even the monthly plan) and get a refund within 30 days of your subscription. You can also try TorGuard with its money-back guarantee, but it offers a much shorter refund window of seven days.
Money-back guarantees are important to help you test the VPN firsthand before parting with your money. The longer refund period makes NordVPN better to test out.
Simultaneous Connections
NordVPN allows you to use one subscription on up to 10 devices, while TorGuard allows eight device connections. This puts NordVPN on our list of the best VPNs for multiple devices. You can upgrade to TorGuard’s Pro VPN plan ($12.99 per month) to get 12 simultaneous connections.
A smart way to overcome device restrictions is to set up a VPN on a router so all connected devices are protected. If you want a VPN with unlimited device connections, consider Surfshark, which we discuss more in the alternatives section.
VPN Servers
If you need a large server network, opt for NordVPN over TorGuard. NordVPN has about 6,000 servers in around 110 countries, more than double TorGuard’s server network of 3,000 servers in 50 countries. Unfortunately, TorGuard doesn’t have many server options in underserved regions — it has one server location in Africa and two in South America.
Regardless of the continent you’re considering, from North America or Europe to Asia Pacific, NordVPN has more locations to choose from.
NordVPN’s larger server network has many benefits. First, the more servers you have to choose from, the less server congestion you’ll face. In addition, a larger server network provides more IP addresses you can use to spoof your location and access local content worldwide.
Privacy
If you’re a privacy-focused user, choose NordVPN over TorGuard. Both VPNs claim to abide by a strict no-logs policy, which simply means they don’t collect sensitive information that can be traced back to users.
However, we have a little more faith in NordVPN’s claim, because it has RAM-only servers that erase any user information upon every reboot. There’s no information on how often TorGuard erases its server memory.
In addition, several independent firms have audited NordVPN’s server network and given it a thumbs-up. In 2024, Deloitte Lithuania audited NordVPN’s servers and found no evidence of unusual logging. Unfortunately, TorGuard hasn’t undergone any independent security audits, which means we have to take its logging policy at face value.
Furthermore, NordVPN is in Panama, a more privacy-friendly jurisdiction than TorGuard’s base in the U.S. Typically, a VPN’s headquarters won’t be an issue as long as it sticks to a no-logs policy. However, because we’re unsure about TorGuard’s logging policy, its U.S. base is a concern. The U.S. is part of the Five-Eyes Alliance of countries that collect and share data.
Streaming Services
NordVPN is the better pick if you want a VPN to unblock streaming services. While connected to NordVPN servers, we were able to unblock popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus and Max. We didn’t need to sift through multiple servers before accessing the streaming platforms — the first one worked every time.
In contrast, TorGuard struggled to unblock streaming services. It was able to get into Hulu and Max, but we didn’t have any luck with BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus or Netflix. In the case of Amazon Prime Video, we had to try several servers before getting in. We recommend using one of the best VPNs for streaming over TorGuard.
Torrenting
Both TorGuard or NordVPN work with popular torrenting apps like BitTorrent, qBittorrent and uTorrent. NordVPN can provide faster torrenting speeds because of its download and upload speeds — one of the main reasons it’s on our list of the best VPNs for torrenting.
However, TorGuard offers port forwarding, which can make torrenting faster. The trade-off is that you sacrifice a bit of security. Port forwarding opens channels onto your computer that hackers can exploit. It’s not easy, and would require a combination of factors all going wrong at once, but the vulnerability is there — so use port forwarding at your own risk.
Double VPN
NordVPN offers double VPN servers, but TorGuard does not. A double VPN is an advanced security feature that routes your traffic through two servers instead of one, a practice known as server chaining. This adds an extra layer of encryption to your traffic and provides a fallback in case of a server failure.
A double VPN hides your IP address behind two servers, making your traffic harder to track. We recommend a double VPN if you’re a journalist, activist or anyone with a life-or-death need to avoid surveillance. Note that NordVPN’s double VPN doesn’t work on all protocols. Switch to OpenVPN TCP/UDP if you can’t find the double VPN on your NordVPN app.
Malware/Ad Blockers
If you want a VPN with a malware, tracker or ad blocker, opt for NordVPN. It offers “threat protection,” a built-in feature that flags malware-riddled and phishing-related websites or URLs. It also stops ads and prevents trackers from keeping tabs on you. TorGuard doesn’t have any comparable features.
File Sharing
NordVPN allows users to share files and access devices remotely through Meshnet — a feature TorGuard lacks. NordVPN Meshnet works like a local area network (LAN) that you can apply to remote devices, allowing you to connect up to 60. You can access files from any of these devices, collaborate on projects and organize multi-player game sessions.
There are very few recent direct comparisons between TorGuard and NordVPN on Reddit. However, most Redditors who commented on these VPNs touted TorGuard as a good pick for torrenting because of its port-forwarding feature. NordVPN was lauded for its streaming and gaming ability.
One comment from a Redditor about NordVPN says, “I’ve been using NordVPN for streaming and gaming, and it’s been great with fast speeds and minimal buffering. The interface is user-friendly, and the wide server selection is a plus for accessing content worldwide.”
Another Redditor said this about TorGuard, “Whilst they are ‘good’ for torrenting and I had no leaks, etc., their speeds were sub-par/eh, and I got better elsewhere so I left.”
Is TorGuard a Good VPN?
In our opinion, TorGuard is not worth the price. Of course, it can let you change your online location and hide your activity, but you can get that and more reliable privacy and security with other VPNs at cheaper prices. TorGuard’s biggest selling point is that it offers dedicated IPs in 43 countries, more than many VPN services.
TorGuard vs Other VPNs: Comparisons
Below, we’ll show you how TorGuard compares to other VPNs on our list of the best VPNs.
TorGuard vs Surfshark
We recommend Surfshark over TorGuard because it’s more affordable and offers faster speeds, better unblocking ability, superior security features and a larger server network. Unlike TorGuard, Surfshark allows you to connect unlimited devices. It also has CleanWeb, which wards off ads, malware and trackers.
TorGuard vs ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is far better than TorGuard. It has a larger server network, faster speeds, more reliable streaming capabilities and superior gaming performance.
One standout aspect of ExpressVPN is that most of its features are baked into all its servers. For example, it has built-in obfuscation on all servers, unlike TorGuard, which requires users to switch protocols, and NordVPN, which has special servers for different functions.
Private Internet Access vs TorGuard
Private Internet Access (PIA) has better features and performance than TorGuard. As we highlighted in our PIA vs TorGuard review, PIA is faster, boasts a larger server network and has better security and privacy features. Moreover, PIA’s plans are cheaper across the board than TorGuard’s.
The Verdict: Why We Think NordVPN Wins Overall
After putting NordVPN and TorGuard through the wringer, we’ve concluded that NordVPN is the superior VPN. NordVPN has more advanced security and privacy features, and a larger server network. In addition, NordVPN is faster and can unblock more streaming services than TorGuard, which had hit-or-miss results.
TorGuard does have some benefits, though. It provides obfuscation, offers many dedicated IP address country options and can be a popular choice for fast torrenting. However, NordVPN’s pricing plans are generally cheaper than TorGuard’s. If you can afford TorGuard, you might as well opt for NordVPN for a slightly cheaper rate and enjoy better features and performance.
Have you used NordVPN or TorGuard? What was your experience with these two VPNs? Has this article answered your questions? Do you have any other questions about NordVPN or TorGuard? Share your thoughts, experiences and opinions with us in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading.
If You Want to Consider Other Services, Check Out…
If NordVPN and TorGuard don’t meet your expectations, here are a few alternatives worth considering:
ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is an all-around beginner-friendly VPN service with security features built into every server. Learn more in our ExpressVPN review.
Surfshark: Surfshark is an excellent choice if you want a budget-friendly VPN that doesn’t skimp on features. You can find more details in our Surfshark review.
PrivadoVPN: PrivadoVPN is a free VPN that offers access to servers in 10 countries and 10GB of monthly data. Our PrivadoVPN review has more details.
FAQ: TorGuard VPN vs NordVPN
No, NordVPN is better than TorGuard. It has a larger server network, faster speeds and more dependable unblocking ability.
ExpressVPN is better than NordVPN. All its servers offer similar excellent features and performance, whereas NordVPN has specialized servers for specific purposes.
It seems that TorGuard can be trusted, because it hasn’t suffered any known data breaches or shared information with third parties, as far as we know. However, we are concerned that it hasn’t undergone any independent audits and doesn’t appear to use diskless servers.
NordVPN is a good VPN, but there are a couple other VPNs that rival it. We also think ExpressVPN is one the best VPNs, and Surfshark also ranks near the top of our best VPN lists.
Wisdom Sablah combines a background in mathematics and data science with his knack for storytelling. He brings with him several years of experience writing in the software and tech space, especially in the B2B SaaS vertical. Nothing excites Wisdom like an opportunity to deliver content that makes someone’s life easier or better. When he’s not behind the keyboard, you’ll find him helping others and pretending to be the greatest chef in the world.
Last published on Cloudwards:
Sam Chapman is passionate about strong security and clear communication. He’s on a mission to spread the word about tools that can help regular people fight back against a world that wants to invade their privacy.
Last published on Cloudwards:
Igor is one of the fact-checking editors for Cloudwards. As a man of many talents, he has worked in customer service and SEO, is proficient in video and audio editing, and is also a trained opera singer, gracing European stages with his hometown church choir. Outside of work, Igor’s passions encompass music performance, fitness and capturing moments through travel photography. With a life enriched by diverse pursuits, Igor’s story unfolds rapidly, with many of the chapters yet to reveal themselves.