NordVPN vs VPN Unlimited in 2023

NordVPN is praised for its performance, ease of use, and customer support, among many other things. In the meantime, VPN Unlimited is known for the number of supported devices and reasonable pricing, which includes a lifetime option. But which one of them is truly better in 2023?

We compare NordVPN vs VPN Unlimited on a number of key aspects that are important to VPN users. These include security, privacy, speed, price, P2P, streaming, and more. The winner in each category is presented at the end of the article, before the final verdict.

NordVPN vs. VPN Unlimited: specifications

NordVPN has the upper hand over VPN Unlimited for several reasons. A vast server fleet, excellent speeds, great jurisdiction and commendable privacy measures are but a few of them. Furthermore, it’s a cheaper option, as VPN Unlimited tends to give the good features only to those willing to pay extra for them. Meanwhile, with NordVPN, you get everything for one affordable price.

⭐Our rating	9.6 ⭐	7.2 ⭐
💸Current offer	Get NordVPN 69% OFF!	Get VPN Unlimited 72% OFF!
💰Price starts from	$2.99/month	$5.00/month
💳Money-back guarantee	30 days	30 days
📖No-logs policy	Independently-audited	Not audited
🎮Simultaneous connections	6	5
🌐Servers	5800+ servers in 60+ countries	3000+ servers in 55+ countries
🔒VPN protocols	NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2	WireGuard, KeepSolid Wise, OpenVPN, IKEv2
🍿Streaming	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more
🖥️Platforms	All major OS, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Kodi, routers, firewall, NAS, Roku	All major OS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Kodi, routers

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

NordVPN vs VPN Unlimited: pricing

When it comes to pricing, both providers offer similar prices, the same money-back guarantee, and anonymous payments. However, only NordVPN offers more features and has cheaper pricing options. While VPN Unlimited’s lifetime plan might be tempting, unfortunately, you’re not getting a feature-packed service that runs without a hitch.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for Android users and a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans. It has three subscription options:

• $12.99/month for the monthly plan
• $4.49/month for the annual plan
• $2.99/month for the two-year plan

But these are just the Standard tier prices, where you get only the VPN service. Additionally, potential subscribers can pick from the Plus and the Complete tiers. Plus plans also include the NordPass password manager and a Data Breach Monitor, while Complete throws in 1 TB of encrypted storage alongside all these other perks.

To get a NordVPN plan, you can use credit/debit cards, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, ACH Transfer, UnionPay, and cryptocurrencies. And because NordVPN supports crypto, you can purchase your plan anonymously.

VPN Unlimited pricing

VPN Unlimited offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee across all devices and plans. It has three types of plans:

• $9.99/month for one month
• $5.00/month for one year
• $199.99 one-time payment for a Lifetime plan

Besides the VPN, users have the option to purchase a cybersecurity bundle called MonoDefense. It additionally includes Passwarden for managing passwords, DNS Firewall for blocking malicious websites, and SmartDNS for being able to use the VPN on devices that don’t support this software.

You can purchase a VPN Unlimited plan with a credit/debit card, PayPal, BitPay, and Mint. And due to its BitPay support, you can benefit from anonymous payments.

Speed comparison

We use our in-house VPN speed test to check the performance of each service. Although many factors determine how speedy a VPN is, the tunneling protocols used affect the performance the most. Because of this, it shouldn’t be surprising that NordVPN takes the win yet again.

The leading cause behind NordVPN’s fast speeds is its unique NordLynx tunneling protocol. It’s an improved version of the open-source WireGuard protocol that specifically tackles optimization issues and security gaps. As such, the end user benefits from some of the fastest speeds in the industry. And having a vast server network certainly helps with connection stability.

While VPN Unlimited utilizes the speedy WireGuard, it’s significantly slower even than other VPN services that use this protocol, such as Surfshark and Atlas VPN. Our browsing efforts were slowed down noticeably, and any bandwidth-heavy tasks like torrenting showed ever worse performance.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

NordVPN vs VPN Unlimited: which is more secure?

The two providers seem to have a lot in common at first glance, but don’t be mistaken. NordVPN is the more secure option here once you look at the two VPNs more closely. But before we get into the differences, let’s first see what NordVPN and VPN Unlimited have in common:

• AES-256 encryption
• Kill switch
• IP and DNS leak protection
• No-logs policies

And this is where the similarities end. Although VPN Unlimited likes to position itself as the safest VPN out there, it’s hard to take seriously when the service is based in the US. And especially when the no-logs policy hasn’t been verified to prove their claims. The lack of RAM-only hardware doesn’t help matters, either.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Privacy

NordVPN is based in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly country that is not a member of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance. And because of this, NordVPN does not have to log, store, or share your data or online activity with the government.

VPN Unlimited is based in the United States – a member of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance. As a result, it has to follow certain data-retention laws and share some of your data with the government if asked. Having servers that run solely on RAM modules would clench our data logging fears, but VPN Unlimited has made no move to implement such technology as of yet.

Logging

Something that you must look for in a VPN provider is a no-logs policy. Also, to ensure that the no-logs policy is legitimate, it has to be audited. Preferably by unbiased third parties. NordVPN has an independently audited no-logs policy that was audited thrice and no suspicious activity has been found with this provider. As such, you can rest assured that NordVPN doesn’t collect any personal information.

On the other hand, VPN Unlimited is not the best when it comes to logging. It boasts a strict no-logs policy but it has not been audited by an independent third party whatsoever.

Servers location

NordVPN’s server numbers are much more impressive – 5800 servers in more than 60 countries. However, having quality infrastructure can sometimes beat quantity. Not this time, though, as VPN Unlimited loses in the quality area as well.

NordVPN has all physical hardware that runs entirely on RAM modules to prevent long-term data storage. Plus, the company owns some of the server data centers. These factors are important not only for performance but security as well.

Meanwhile, VPN Unlimited only has 3000+ servers in 55 countries. The size is not terrible and would be enough for most users. But there are security concerns like there’s no RAM technology and the company doesn’t run any of its data centers.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Features comparison

It might truly seem like the providers are equal in terms of features. But as we’re about to cover below, VPN Unlimited actually doesn’t have much to offer as most of its coveted features cost extra. It’s hard not to see NordVPN as the winner since it’s jam-packed with so many perks that you won’t have to shell out for.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Smart DNS

Smart DNS is a vital feature because it allows you to use a VPN on devices that do not support it. In most cases, it’s streaming peripherals. With the help of this tool, you’re able to change your location on all kinds of devices. Fortunately, both providers offer Smart DNS.

NordVPN provides the SmartPlay feature, which not only allows you to use its services across all devices but also adds an extra encryption layer and enhances your security.

VPN Unlimited also provides SmartDNS via the KeepSolid SmartDNS, which allows you to bypass geo-restrictions on different devices. However, you have to buy it separately from the VPN and configure it yourself.

Ad & malware blocker

This is another category where the providers differ. Namely, NordVPN offers a feature called Threat Protection, which prevents you from visiting malicious websites, blocks ads, and disables user trackers. It even scans your downloads for malware, and you don’t have to be connected to the VPN for it to work.

On the other hand, VPN Unlimited provides the DNS Firewall feature, which comes at an additional cost. It primarily prevents you from connecting to known malicious websites and pages known for having annoying pop-ups.

Split tunneling

Again, both providers offer split tunneling, which allows you to choose which VPN apps will use the VPN and which won’t.

NordVPN has a slight advantage here because it provides split tunneling on Windows, Android, and Android TV, while VPN Unlimited only allows it on Android. In VPN Unlimited’s case, it isn’t exactly ideal if you want to customize VPN traffic on your PC, for example

Specialized servers

NordVPN offers a plethora of specialty servers. You can utilize:

• Obfuscated servers. Obfuscated servers make your VPN connection undetectable, allowing you to bypass even the Great Firewall of China.
• Double VPN servers. It lets you connect to two VPN servers instead of one, encrypting your traffic twice for double the protection.
• Dedicated IP servers. For users who bought a dedicated IP address. You’re the only person with access to a particular IP, which is great if you want to benefit from security provided by VPNs, but be able to access your usual services without, for example, CAPTCHA requests.
• Onion over VPN servers. When you want to combine a VPN with the Tor Network. These take your encrypted traffic and send them through several nodes in the Tor Network, thus encrypting them several times over.
• P2P-optimized servers. Optimized for torrenting, no bandwidth limits, and no ISP throttling.

VPN Unlimited also comes with servers for streaming, which provide better performance whenever you’re watching videos. Then there’s torrenting servers – these are the only ones you can use to share files via P2P.

Other features

As for other perks, NordVPN throws in a bunch of them:

• SOCKS5 proxy. You can configure it with your torrent client or a specific app to change the IP address only for them. But since it’s a proxy, it lacks encryption.
• Invisibility on LAN. Useful when you don’t want your device to be visible on your local area network.
• Dark Web Monitoring. Checks whether your accounts associated with a particular email were compromised.
• Meshnet. Ensures secure remote access to your device, which can be used to share files, play online games on the same network, and more. It can even be used to bypass Netflix’s password-sharing restrictions.

VPN Unlimited only offers a SOCKS5 proxy at no additional cost.

Netflix and streaming comparison

NordVPN marks another win, and not only because it unblocks more regional Netflix libraries than VPN Unlimited. In fact, VPN Unlimited has shown that it’s capable of accessing a lot of popular streaming platforms many users are trying to get a hold of. However, it’s not an ideal streaming VPN.

NordVPN is perfect for streaming because, via its SmartPlay feature, you can access all Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more on almost any device you want. And with NordLynx-fuelled speeds, uninterrupted streaming of 4K quality videos is a true and tested reality.

On the other hand, while VPN Unlimited also has SmartDNS, it costs extra. And while it does maintain specialized streaming servers, the speeds aren’t that great on them, either. The result? Access to a lot of streaming services, but low quality videos and constant buffering.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Device compatibility

NordVPN and VPN Unlimited offer great device support, and they cover almost all the same platforms. The applications are also pretty easy to use, so even first time VPN users won’t run into problems. As such, we declare a tie.

Desktop applications

These providers are compatible with Windows and macOS, and the clients for these operating systems are simplistic in each case. What we liked about NordVPN the most is the interactive server map and the abundance of settings and features you can tinker with. The lack of split tunneling on the macOS app is noticeable, but other than that, the security of both clients is top-notch.

In comparison, VPN Unlimited is lackluster and very underwhelming. The applications look okay, but there’s nothing to write home about in terms of features. You can mostly just pick a server, connect to it, and that’s that.

Both VPNs also have applications for Linux OS. While NordVPN runs on a command line, VPN Unlimited offers a GUI for easier use.

Mobile applications

Again, when it comes to mobile apps, both providers offer dedicated apps for Android and iOS. And again, NordVPN packs them with features, while VPN Unlimited seemingly doesn’t try at all.

NordVPN’s apps have some differences, though. The iOS client lacks split tunneling, while the Android app has it and comes with a few extras, like Tapjacking Protection.

VPN Unlimited only managed to put the split tunneling feature on the Android app out of all the clients it has. Using either the Android or iOS application was easy, sure, but lowkey disappointing.

Torrenting

To engage in torrenting safely and without much hassle, you need a VPN that supports P2P file-sharing.

NordVPN is better for P2P because of its speed, privacy, and P2P-optimized servers. VPN Unlimited’s speeds are already inferior, but the torrenting servers somehow managed to make them worse. The fact that only a handful of servers allow torrenting isn’t the best, either. Most importantly, its jurisdiction and logging make it less than ideal, especially in countries where torrenting is illegal.

While both NordVPN and VPN Unlimited have P2P-oriented features, the former still manages to appear better. It gives you a free SOCKS5 proxy and split tunneling that works on Windows, Android, and Android TV. VPN Unlimited also gives a SOCKS5 proxy, but split tunneling is only available on Android.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

China

Both providers work in China and provide Stealth VPN services.

Namely, NordVPN provides obfuscated servers that hide that you are using a VPN, allowing it to bypass China’s online censorship expertly. Plus, it offers Onion over VPN, which provides an additional layer of security by combining VPN traffic with the Tor network.

On the other hand, VPN Unlimited uses the KeepSolid Wise protocol to bypass China’s DPI (Deep Packet Inspection). And as many users report, it works quite well in censorship-heavy countries. As such, you won’t run into any roadblocks whether you utilize NordVPN or VPN Unlimited for this purpose.

Customer support

For the last category in our NordVPN vs. VPN Unlimited comparison, we also have a tie!

Namely, both providers offer 24/7 expert support via live chat, so you’ll always get an answer for your most pressing issues round-the-clock and email. And email support is pretty great with both services, and you can expect an email getting back to you the same day. Additionally, NordVPN and VPN Unlimited come with extensive knowledge bases with numerous helpful guides.

NordVPN vs. VPN Unlimited – which is better?

NordVPN easily wins this comparison, while VPN Unlimited fails to gain the upper-hand in any category. On the other hand, even tying with the #1 VPN not once but twice is a story on its own.

This VPN provider has outstanding benefits, including a vast server fleet, excellent security, and perfect speeds for streaming in 4K quality with no interruptions. The fact that you don’t have to pay extra for useful features is just the cherry on top. VPN Unlimited still has much to learn from this industry giant.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

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FAQ

Is NordVPN better than VPN Unlimited?

NordVPN is better than VPN Unlimited in several ways. It offers better features, faster speeds, specialized servers for different needs, and an independently-audited no-logs policy.

Which is faster – NordVPN or VPN Unlimited?

NordVPN is faster than VPN Unlimited because it has a more extensive server network with over 5800 servers in 60+ countries. It also uses its unique NordLynx protocol that further enhances its speed.