There is no evidence-based single best NordVPN replacement. Proton VPN is the most natural starting point for readers who want a free tier and privacy-focused tools; Surfshark is the standout candidate for many devices; ExpressVPN is worth considering for its Lightway protocol and tier choices; and Mullvad appeals to readers who prioritize its stated privacy approach and payment options. Your best choice depends on audit transparency, device limits, protocol needs, streaming services, and the full subscription cost—not a headline ranking.
What changes when you replace NordVPN?
A VPN moves trust away from the local Wi-Fi operator or internet provider and toward the VPN company. Before switching, examine the provider’s privacy policy, independent audit scope and date, and whether the complete report is publicly accessible. A Swiss headquarters, a “no-logs” label, or a security feature name is not, by itself, a privacy score.
Also separate independently observed results from marketing claims. Proton and Surfshark’s comparison pages are provider-authored. NordVPN’s account of Artifact Security’s test is a vendor description of a third-party study in which NordVPN participated. TechRadar’s figures come from its own test conditions. None can guarantee the same result on your connection.
Best alternatives by priority
| Service | Best fit | What the available evidence says | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Free starting point and privacy-oriented features | Proton highlights a free plan, Swiss base, open-source and audited apps, Secure Core, and Stealth. | Those descriptions come largely from Proton; its competitor comparisons are not independent rankings. Check which audit reports and scopes are publicly available. |
| Surfshark | Households and users with many devices | Surfshark lists unlimited simultaneous connections and, in its August 4, 2026 comparison, a lower monthly-equivalent entry price than NordVPN. | Connection limits, taxes, promotions, term length, renewal price, and checkout totals can change. Verify the plan you are actually buying. |
| ExpressVPN | Protocol choice and a polished mainstream option | TechRadar discusses ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol, plan tiers, and its own speed and streaming observations. | Performance and plan details are time- and test-dependent. ExpressVPN’s affiliate program does not make its service best for every reader. |
| Mullvad | Readers who favor Mullvad’s stated privacy approach | TechRadar includes Mullvad in its 2026 coverage, and reports cash payment as an option. | Confirm current product features, payment availability, and policy details before subscribing. A provider’s policy statement is not independent verification. |
Proton VPN: the free and privacy-tool option
Proton VPN is the clearest candidate if you want to begin without a paid commitment or value tools such as Secure Core and Stealth. Proton says its apps are open source and audited, and positions the service from Switzerland. Treat those as provider claims about its design and publication practices, then inspect the actual audit scope and report access.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
TechRadar’s testing found Proton VPN worked with some streaming services but not all, with settings affecting certain outcomes. That makes it unsuitable for a blanket promise that every catalog will work. Test the specific service and region you need during the refund window and follow the streaming provider’s terms.
Surfshark: the many-device candidate
Surfshark’s strongest differentiator in the supplied comparison is its claim of unlimited simultaneous connections, which can matter for a family, a home with numerous smart devices, or several personal devices. Confirm that the current plan still uses the same definition of “unlimited” and check supported platforms before purchase.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
Surfshark’s provider comparison, updated August 4, 2026, lists an entry monthly-equivalent price of $2.49, compared with $2.99 for ExpressVPN and $3.49 for NordVPN. These are vendor-published figures, not guaranteed checkout or renewal prices; they may reflect a particular term, promotion, taxes excluded from the display, or a changed offer.
ExpressVPN: protocol and tier flexibility
ExpressVPN gives readers a separate protocol choice through Lightway and offers multiple plan tiers, according to TechRadar’s 2026 coverage. That can be useful if you want to compare protocol behavior rather than accept one default. The practical choice still depends on your device, route, and whether your network blocks or interferes with VPN traffic.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
ExpressVPN Chief Research Officer Pete Membrey said, “Encryption is always evolving, and so are we […] with ML-KEM – the newly minted NIST standard – we’re taking that protection even further.” This is an attributed statement about ExpressVPN’s encryption work, not independent evidence of overall security or performance.
Mullvad: a privacy-minded alternative
Mullvad belongs on a shortlist when its stated privacy approach and payment choices matter more than a large feature bundle. TechRadar’s 2026 coverage describes cash payment as an option. Availability and procedures can vary by country and may change, so verify them directly before relying on that method.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Do not infer that Mullvad is automatically more private because it accepts cash, or that another provider is less private because it does not. Compare policies, audit evidence, report transparency, account requirements, and the jurisdictional context together.
How to compare privacy evidence
- Read the current privacy policy. Look for the categories of connection, diagnostic, payment, and account data collected, retention periods, and disclosure procedures.
- Check audit scope and date. An audit may cover an app, infrastructure, or a specific claim rather than every part of the service.
- Look for the full report. A public summary is less useful than a report that explains methodology, findings, and remediation.
- Separate policy from proof. A company’s statement establishes what it says it does; independent testing, legal disclosures, and published reports provide additional evidence.
- Consider your threat model. A VPN does not make you anonymous everywhere, stop malware, or protect an account after you give a site identifying information.
Speed: why rankings do not transfer directly to you
VPN speed varies with the test server, origin region, route, device, protocol, time of day, and local connection. TechRadar publishes laboratory observations under its own conditions. A separate Artifact Security round described by NordVPN in August 2026 covered 55 routes from five origins: Frankfurt, London, Singapore, New York, and San Francisco.
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
That report gave overall scores of 91 for NordVPN, 84 for ExpressVPN, 83 for Proton VPN, 81 for Surfshark, and 70 for Mullvad. These are weighted results from one June 2026 test round as reported by NordVPN, not a permanent industry ranking or a prediction of your line speed. If speed is decisive, test nearby and distant servers on your own connection with the protocol you plan to use.
Streaming access is service- and region-specific
A VPN may connect successfully while a streaming platform still blocks the server, requires a home-region account, or changes its detection rules. The available TechRadar observations show mixed results for Proton VPN and note that settings influenced some outcomes. Do not buy any service on a promise of permanent access to a named catalog. Check the platform’s terms, test the exact region and device, and keep a non-VPN fallback for legitimate access.
Compare the full subscription cost
Monthly-equivalent prices are useful for a first pass but can hide the amount charged today and the renewal rate. Before paying, record the billing term, introductory discount, tax, currency conversion, refund window, payment method, and renewal price.
Quick Recap
| Service | Published entry monthly equivalent | What that number represents |
|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | $2.49 | Surfshark’s comparison information updated August 4, 2026; vendor-published, term and promotion dependent. |
| ExpressVPN | $2.99 | Surfshark’s same dated comparison; vendor-published comparative figure, not a guaranteed current checkout price. |
| NordVPN | $3.49 | Surfshark’s same dated comparison; vendor-published comparative figure, not a guaranteed current checkout price. |
| Proton VPN and Mullvad | Not stated in the cited comparison | Use the providers’ current checkout pages for the plan and term you need. |
A practical selection checklist
- Choose Proton VPN if a free starting option and privacy-oriented tools are your first filters.
- Choose Surfshark if the current plan confirms unlimited simultaneous connections and your household needs them.
- Choose ExpressVPN if Lightway, protocol choice, or its tier structure fits your devices and budget.
- Choose Mullvad if its current privacy policy and payment approach match your threat model.
- Choose none of them yet if your decision depends on a specific streaming catalog, an exact country exit, or a price that you have not verified at checkout.
What to verify before switching
- Install the app on every operating system and router platform you actually use.
- Confirm simultaneous-device rules, server-country availability, and protocol settings on the current plan.
- Read the current refund terms and note the renewal date and amount.
- Test work, banking, gaming, video calls, and required streaming services before canceling NordVPN.
- Remove or cancel the old VPN only after the replacement works on your important networks.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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