NordVPN vs NameCheap VPN in 2023

Both NordVPN and Namecheap VPN are well-known in the digital landscape. However, many people don’t know that the latter offers a virtual private network service called Namecheap VPN or FastVPN. But how does it fare against a critically-acclaimed VPN veteran?

Thus, in this NordVPN vs Namecheap VPN battle, I’ll look at performance, global coverage, security, privacy, ease of use, and other key aspects. Additionally, I’ll reveal how well both providers handle geo-blocks and other restrictions.

Don’t have the time to read the whole article? Below you’ll see a quick NordVPN vs Namecheap VPN comparison.

NordVPN vs Namecheap VPN 2023 comparison highlights

Our rating	9.6 ⭐	6.9⭐
Current offer	Get NordVPN 63% OFF!	Get Namecheap VPN now!
Price starts from	$3.29/month	$1.88/month
Money-back guarantee	30 days	30 days
No-logs policy	Independently-audited	Not audited
Servers	5700+ servers in 60+ countries	1000+ servers in 45+ countries
VPN protocols	NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2	IKEv2, OpenVPN
Streaming	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, BBC iPlayer

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Speed

For starters, hardly anyone can match NordVPN, as it’s the fastest VPN on the market. That’s because it utilizes the proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol. To put it plainly, it’s like an improved version of the trusty Wireguard. Plus, you can switch between different IKEv2 and OpenVPN tunneling protocols.

Sadly, Namecheap VPN can’t match its opponent. This provider only utilizes OpenVPN and IKEv2 tunneling protocols. They are older and slower than NordLynx. Additionally, Mac and iOS users can only use the IKEv2 tunneling protocol, which some users might see as a disadvantage.

Feeling curious about the performance of other providers? Check out our VPN speed comparison and see how fast other services are.

Servers

Server-wise, Namecheap VPN is not a bad choice. It offers 1000+ pieces of hardware in 45+ countries. Moreover, the provider owns all equipment, which guarantees more security. Plus, all servers are physical, meaning better performance.

Nevertheless, NordVPN outmatches Namecheap VPN. The former covers 60+ countries with 5700+ pieces of hardware. Additionally, all servers are RAM-only, which means no data is stored long-term on hard drives. Not to mention, there are servers dedicated to specific activities, such as torrenting, obfuscation, Double VPN, etc.

Pricing

The providers use identical pricing strategies. For example, both NordVPN and Namecheap VPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if something goes awry. Moreover, they provide similar payment options (Credit Card, crypto).

Additionally, you can choose from full-priced monthly plans or discounted long-term subscriptions. However, neither offers a freemium version, so you’ll have to pay to use the services.

NordVPN pricing

What’s great about NordVPN is that you can try it without paying, thanks to the 7-day free trial. You can get it through Google Play Store and use it with other compatible devices afterward. And, as mentioned before, you can take advantage of the month-long cash-back warranty.

Moreover, for an industry-leading product, NordVPN is fairly cheap. Also, you can choose a plan that fits your needs the best:

• Standard for 1 month– $11.99
• Standard for 1 year – $4.99/month
• Standard for 2 years – $3.29/month
• Plus for 1 month – $12.96
• Plus for 1 year – $5.69/month
• Plus for 2 years – $3.99/month
• Complete for 1 month – $13.99
• Complete for 1 year – $6.99/month
• Complete for 2 years – $5.29/month

The Complete subscription offers NordPass: cross-platform password manager, data breach scanner, and 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. Meanwhile, the Plus provides everything, apart from storage. And obviously, the Standard gives you the essentials. If the prices seem too steep, you can always use a NordVPN discount coupon to save some cash.

Payment-wise, NordVPN accepts credit cards, Google Pay, ACH Transfer, and cryptocurrencies. The latter method is great for privacy-cautious users. Lastly, you can find hard copies of NordVPN in some countries and pay by cash.

NordVPN

VPNpro rating: 9.6 / 10

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Namecheap VPN pricing

One of the places where Namecheap VPN truly shines is the pricing. It would probably end up on our cheapest VPNs list if it had more features. Plus, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you feel like the service is not good enough.

Here are the plans Namecheap offers:

• Monthly – $5.88/month
• 1-year plan – $2.88/month

But as you can see in the image, Namecheap VPN gives massive discounts to first-time subscribers. You can get a month-long subscription for $0.99/month. Or, take a one-year plan for $0.82/month, which is insanely cheap! Not to mention, you can use various payment methods, like credit card, crypto, PayPal, and many more.

Security

Safety features play a major role when deciding whether NordVPN or Namecheap is better. Luckily, both providers offer the essential security benefits:

• AES-256 encryption
• A VPN kill switch
• DNS, WebRTC, and IP leak protection

Nevertheless, let’s dig a little deeper, see what each provider offers, and see who will win in the NordVPN vs Namecheap duel.

NordVPN security features

NordVPN crushes the competition with loads of exquisite security features. Whether your main priority is streaming, torrenting, gaming, or browsing, there’s a feature that will boost your online experience.

You can find out more about all the features in our NordVPN review. In the meantime, I will cover the most important benefits here:

• Threat Protection. This tool adds an extra layer of security. It fends off malicious ads, trackers, malware, and viruses. Thus, you can browse without having to worry about your safety constantly.
• Double VPN (multi-hop). If you turn this feature on, all your traffic will travel through two different encryption points, leaving no way for snoopers to access your data.
• Obfuscated servers. This tool is perfect for you if you want to access the free internet in countries under heavy censorship. Plus, you’ll avoid Deep Packet Inspections (DPI).
• Dedicated IP. Want to avoid endless CAPCHAs and access streaming services easier? Then for a small additional fee, you can grab an IP address that will only belong to you.
• Split tunneling. This feature allows you to route some of your traffic through a VPN, while the other part can have direct access to the internet.

Namecheap VPN security features

If you get confused about all the benefits of a VPN, take Namecheap VPN. It offers quite a bare-bones range of security features. The only stand-out benefit is the Scramble option that works on the OpenVPN tunneling protocol. This feature allows you to bypass various firewalls in countries like China, the UAE, or Thailand.

However, Mac and iOS users will be quite disappointed with Namecheap VPN. Firstly, it lacks a kill switch, which is essential for your online safety. Plus, you won’t find the OpenVPN tunneling protocol, so using the Scramble feature is impossible. Plus, Namecheap VPN doesn’t have split tunneling, which is a massive letdown.

Privacy

If you’re looking for the most private VPN, look no further than NordVPN. It’s based in privacy-respecting Panama, as there are no mandatory data retention laws. Additionally, it was independently audited twice by third parties, further proving its spotless reputation. Not to mention, it has a strict zero-logs policy.

The story is a bit different when it comes to Namecheap VPN. The provider claims to have a zero-logs policy. Yet, I couldn’t find a dedicated privacy policy for the VPN. Additionally, the provider is based in the US, a Five Eyes Alliance nation and a not-so-privacy-friendly country.

There are some things both providers have in common. The first one is that you can pay for them in cryptocurrencies, which is great if you want to boost your anonymity. However, both NordVPN and Namecheap VPN require an email for registration.

Device compatibility

There’s not much I can say about Namecheap VPN regarding device compatibility. It has apps for all major OS, such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Plus, you can set up the VPN on your router to protect devices that don’t support VPNs natively. Plus, what makes Namecheap a great provider is infinite connections.

However, this provider doesn’t have apps for streaming devices, such as Fire TV, Android TV, or Kodi. Additionally, some features are missing on Apple devices, which makes it inferior to NordVPN.

While NordVPN offers 6 simultaneous connections only, you can easily set it up on your router. Or, you can use the SmartPlay DNS feature for consoles and smart TVs. You’ll find dedicated apps for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Fire TV & Fire Stick, Android TV, and Kodi. Plus, you can download browser extensions for Brave, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Streaming

One of the most common use cases for a VPN is to bypass annoying geo-curbs on streaming platforms. Most content is blocked due to copyright laws and licensing restrictions. Thankfully, a top-notch VPN can change your location and give you access to the most extensive media libraries.

Namecheap VPN can handle geo-blocks on streaming services, such as Netflix US or BBC iPlayer. Moreover, when testing it out, I got 4K video quality, which is super important. However, circumventing blocks on Hulu, YouTube TV, or Disney+ is pretty much impossible.

Luckily, bypassing geo-restrictions with NordVPN is a walkover. I managed to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, and many other platforms. Plus, NordVPN offers the SmartPlay feature, which lets you stream content on devices that don’t support VPNs. Not to mention, I could watch everything in 4K without any loading screens.

Therefore, NordVPN snatches another win in the battles. No wonder – it’s the best VPN for streaming in 2023.

Torrenting and P2P

Virtual private networks are frequently used for torrenting. That’s because P2P file sharing is prohibited in many countries. Additionally, it may result in fines and even prison time in some areas. Not to mention, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) restricts traffic while torrenting.

Namecheap is a decent VPN for P2P file sharing. It allows torrenting on all servers. Additionally, the speeds won’t be disappointing, so you should get your content fairly quickly.

Nevertheless, it can’t compare to NordVPN. The latter has specialized servers for the task that provide better performance. Additionally, you’ll get features like split tunneling. Moreover, a free SOCKS5 proxy will secure your torrent client without a VPN connection. Therefore, it’s the best VPN for P2P file sharing.

China

VPNs are great for bypassing curbs, ensuring security, boosting privacy, and so on. However, VPNs are illegal in some countries, mainly due to political reasons. One of them is China, where most content is under heavy censorship, and people are always under surveillance.

Nevertheless, both NordVPN and Namecheap VPN can bypass the Great Firewall of China. Both providers offer Stealth VPN technology that masks VPN traffic and helps you avoid DPI.

However, the Namecheap VPN Scramble Option is nowhere to be found on iOS and Mac devices. Meaning that only Android, and Windows users in China can reap the benefits of privacy. Therefore, if you want the best VPN for China, pick NordVPN.

Customer support

If you’re ever having problems with either NordVPN or Namecheap VPN, both providers offer excellent customer support. In most cases, you can find most answers in the FAQ section. Additionally, both services provide email addresses for more serious matters.

However, suppose you’re having an issue that needs fixing instantly. In that case, you can get in touch with tech wizards anytime, thanks to the 24/7 live chat option.

Best VPN by category

NordVPN vs Namecheap VPN – which is better?

If you were on the fence before, by now, you probably figured out that NordVPN is better in almost all fields. It offers more versatility, better speeds, and heaps of useful features. Additionally, you’ll have no problems circumventing geo-restrictions with NordVPN.

While Namecheap VPN costs less and works equally as well in China, it still lacks in a lot of departments. Plus, some features are unavailable for Mac and iOS users, which is a huge bummer. Therefore, you are better off with industry-leading service.

Have you tried Namecheap VPN before? Which VPN do you use personally? Let us know in the comments!

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FAQ

How good is NamecheapVPN?

Namecheap VPN, also known as FastVPN, is a decent virtual private network for beginners. It offers all security essentials, above-average speeds, and great server and country selection. However, it lacks much-needed bonus features like split tunneling, malware blocker, or port forwarding.

How much does NordVPN cost?

NordVPN is one of the cheapest high-end VPNs on the market. You can get a subscription for as little as $3.29/month. Nevertheless, there are other plans with added bonuses, such as extra cloud storage, data breach protection, and password management software.

Does Namecheap VPN offer a free trial?

Unfortunately, Namecheap VPN doesn’t have a free trial version. Nevertheless, you can get a subscription for $1.88/month and take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Which VPN is the best?

NordVPN is the finest VPN in 2023. It offers phenomenal speeds, great country selection, and excellent security & privacy features. Plus, it can bypass almost any firewall on various websites and streaming platforms. Not to mention it’s super cheap compared to other virtual private networks.