BEST VPN SERVICES
A VPN is one of the most reliable tools for securing devices and ensuring top-notch privacy on the internet.
VPNs are designed to work as tunnels for the internet connections as no one can see what they are browsing with the VPN turned on, except the VPN provider itself.
Since the VPN provider has access to the browsing data, it’s essential to use a trustworthy and reliable VPN service, which brings us to the NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison.
NordVPN vs Atlas VPN – The Comparison Chart
| NordVPN | Atlas VPN | |
| Servers | 5400 | 750 |
| Countries | 60 | 38 |
| Linux Support | yes | no |
| Streaming Platforms | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime | YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix |
| Split Tunneling | yes (available on Windows, Android TV, and Android) | yes, but only on Windows |
| Browser Extension | yes | no |
| FreeSOCKS5 Proxy | yes | no |
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services with millions of positive reviews.
It has advanced security tools, and web browsing features, and allows the users to download torrents or stream content on the internet.
They have headquarters in Panama and the VPN is designed to offer foolproof encryption, a no-logging policy, and a higher speed.
There are built-in apps that make this VPN a great choice for beginners as well as professional users.
- NordVPN is the industry leader (by a long way)
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Superfast speeds
- 5,442+ servers in 60+ countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Next-generation military-grade encryption
- DoubleVPN, double privacy
- 6 simultaneous device connections
- Great for: Safety, security, anonymity & peace of mind
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad & iOS, Linux, routers, Apple TV, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
1. Streaming
When it comes down to streaming, it works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, DAZN, and BBC iPlayer.
It’s clear that NordVPN is a great choice for streaming but you need to use the right servers for this.
The VPN has a SmartPlay technology, which allows users to stream top platforms, unlike free VPNs that can be easily detected by the streaming platforms.
The servers are available in all countries, which means you can access location-specific content pretty easily, such as the US, Canada, UK, and more.
When you use NordVPN for Netflix, the US, Japan, and UK libraries stream quite smoothly. However, the loading time is different for every location.
According to the user reviews, NordVPN can unlock around 21 libraries on Netflix, which means you get access to worldwide content.
As far as Hulu is concerned, NordVPN promises exceptional video frame rate (FPS rate) and loading time.
In addition, the resolution remains consistent at 1080p.
On the other hand, NordVPN compromises on picture quality when used with HBO Max but the loading time is optimized.
Moreover, if you want to stream BBC iPlayer and Disney+, you have to be careful about choosing the right server; finding the server that supports these platforms can be a time-consuming process.
Lastly, tuning in to watch DAZN doesn’t work well with the US servers. Overall, the streaming is great as long as you are careful about the server.
NordVPN can also work with streaming devices and streaming boxes, such as Amazon Fire Stick, Kodi, and Roku.
2. Torrenting
The next point of NordVPN vs Atlas VPN is torrenting; NordVPN is a great choice for torrenting.
Keep in mind that the P2P downloads aren’t supported by every server but there are some specialized servers that promise reliable and efficient torrenting performance.
For instance, it can be used in Italy, Japan, and Germany, even when torrenting is prohibited in these countries.
However, you will be reconnected to the P2P-supporting server automatically if P2P traffic is detected on the non-P2P server.
3. Pricing
Pricing is one of the most important factors in the NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison.
Fortunately, there are no complicated pricing plans. There are three pricing plans available, including monthly, annual, and two-year plans.
The monthly plan costs $11.99, the annual plan costs $59.88 for one year, and the two-year plan costs $78.96.
The longer plans are more cost-efficient because the monthly costs are reduced.
The users can purchase the NordVPN paid plan through prepaid cards, credit cards, ACH Transfer, PayPal, Sofort, and AmazonPay.
In addition, you can pay through Google Pay and iTunes, depending on your convenience.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to use the regular payment methods, NordVPN accepts payments in cryptocurrency.
As far as the free version is concerned, you can only use it for free with the seven-day trial.
For using this free trial period, download the VPN on your Android smartphone or PC, make an account, and you will be able to use it for free (for seven days only).
Once the seven-day period is over, you have to purchase a paid plan but paid plans also have 30 days of the money-back guarantee.
The best thing about NordVPN’s pricing plans is that all of them have the same encryption standards and security features.
4. Servers
Since it’s a worldwide VPN, there are a whopping 5400 servers available in sixty different countries.
Back in 2018, the company had only 3300 servers, which is a great improvement.
The servers of America, Europe, and Asia promise the best coverage.
In Europe, NordVPN can be used in 37 countries and has 2100 servers while Asia has 450 servers distributed among thirteen countries.
In America, there are 2400 servers and the remaining 200 servers are located in other countries.
The majority of servers work fine but there might be lagging on the Africa-based servers. NordVPN works in China.
The servers operate on RAM, which means the data will be automatically deleted when you reboot the device.
5. Performance
The baseline speed promised by NordVPN is 300Mbps download and upload speed.
However, the actual download and upload speeds are different.
- US – the download speed is 268 Mbps and upload speed is 64Mbps
- UK – the download speed is 169Mbps and upload speed is 120Mbps
- Germany – the download speed is 275Mbps and upload speed is 129Mbps
- Japan – the download speed is 246Mbps and upload speed is 104Mbps
- Australia – the download speed is 233Mbps and upload speed is 50Mbps
Overall, the speed is pretty amazing, particularly when you use the NordLynx protocol. The UK servers tend to drop at times but the overall speed is great.
The performance is pretty reliable, but if you are far from the server location, there might be some speed drops.
6. Interface
There are various manual setup options and clients available with NordVPN and can be set up on the router if your router has OpenVPN and IKEv2 support available.
Since the interface is an important point for NordVPN vs Atlas VPN, one needs to determine how it works on different devices.
Windows
If you use NordVPN on Windows, you will have access to two types of kill switch and split tunneling for internet browsing and apps.
The tunneling protocols include OpenVPN and NordLynx, so if you want to use IKEv2, you will have to set it up manually.
With Windows, you can get the map interface, which allows the users to choose the server country.
The country list is also available on the side menu, so you can scroll down to find the desired country.
macOS
There are two different NordVPN apps available for macOS users. One app is available on the official Apple App Store and the second one can be downloaded from the official NordVPN website.
The app that’s downloaded from the website is a sideload version and gets quicker updates but it provides only OpenVPN tunneling protocol.
On the other hand, if you download the app from the Apple App Store, you get NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 tunneling protocol.
The kill switch is turned on by default but it can be disabled from the VPN app’s settings.
Linux
NordVPN can work with Linux systems and you can download the RPM and Debian packages directly from the VPN’s official website.
As a result, you will be able to use it with Fedora, Linux Mint, and Ubuntu.
There is an Arch Linux port available from where you can get information about manual configuration.
However, there is no graphical application available for Linux users and you need to set up the VPN through the command line terminal. So, using NordVPN on Linux isn’t very efficient.
As far as browser extensions are concerned, there are Google Chrome and Firefox extensions available for people who don’t want to download the app.
The extension provides a bypass filter, so you can exclude some websites from the connection, particularly when you are using split tunneling.
7. Features
It’s important to consider the features during NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison and the first one is SmartPlay.
The SmartPlay feature helps bypass the media blocks on streaming platforms, so can access the media content easily.
This feature is automatically enabled when you connect to a server. In addition, you can change the DNS settings.
Secondly, there are specialty servers available for users and some of them are only usable if you set up the tunneling protocols.
There are dedicated IP servers available for people who don’t want to change the IP address again and again.
Moreover, there are double VPN servers (they are also known as multihop servers), which means the data passes through two servers for better privacy.
Also, there are obfuscated, P2P and onion-over-VPN servers available.
Another important feature is split tunneling which allows the users to select the apps for which they need a VPN service.
It can be enabled or disabled on Windows, so you can control which app gets the VPN connection.
However, split tunneling is not available on iOS, macOS, and Linux.
As far as threat protection is concerned, it blocks the online ads, trackers, malicious websites, and files that can compromise security.
Atlas VPN
The second part of the NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison is to determine what Atlas VPN has to offer.
This is a mobile-based VPN service, which makes it perfect for beginners and there are user-friendly apps designed in the VPN.
It is available in a free version and does a great job at unblocking the streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
It’s a great choice for people who want an ad-free streaming experience. The VPN has around 750 servers available in 38 different countries.
- Atlas VPN is the best free VPN
- Privacy Pro servers
- 750 servers in 40+ locations
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: people seeking a freemium VPN
- Compatible with: Windows, MacOS, Android, iPhone & iOS, Android TV, Fire TV Stick
1. Streaming
The first point of the NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison is the support available for different streaming platforms.
Unfortunately, the streaming support is limited because it only works with YouTube, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer.
However, it promises a buffering-free streaming experience on these platforms.
For instance, it allows the users to watch US-specific YouTube content in other countries and the same goes for Netflix.
2. Torrenting
There are no P2P servers available with Atlas VPN but the torrenting works pretty well.
The download speed for torrenting ranges from 32Mbps to 48Mbps, which means your 2.7GB files will be downloaded in seven to eight minutes.
However, the torrenting speed is subjected to other factors, such as seeders.
Surprisingly, the company doesn’t advertise the torrenting feature but it works exceptionally, even if you use the free version.
3. Pricing
Pricing is one of the most important factors for NordVPN vs Atlas VPN because it’s a deal-breaker or maker for many people.
Just like NordVPN, there are three types of plans available, including a monthly plan, a one-year plan, and a two-year plan.
The monthly plan costs $10.99 while the one-year plan costs $39.42 (for a year) and the two-year plan costs $49.19.
The two-year plan is the most cost-effective option because the monthly costs will be reduced to only $2.05.
All the paid plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can check the features for a month without losing the money.
As far as the payment method is concerned, you can pay through Google Pay, credit cards, and PayPal.
In addition, you can purchase the paid plans by paying in cryptocurrencies, such as QIWI, BTC, ETH, and LTC.
The free version comes with a 10GB of data limit available, which means streaming and downloading larger files will be a bit challenging.
The free version allows access to servers in Los Angeles, New York, the Netherlands, and Amsterdam.
The bandwidth is unlimited with the free version but you cannot have simultaneous connections or access the streaming-specific servers.
4. Servers
The servers are available in 38 different countries.
Atlas VPN has servers available in 23 countries in Europe, four countries in Asia, and two countries in America, along with some other locations around the globe.
Honestly, Atlas VPN doesn’t have too many locations and servers, which makes NordVPN a winner if you are focusing on NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison.
Currently, Europe has the most number of servers available.
On the other hand, when you connect to a server, it’s suggested to use a SafeSwap server because it can route traffic through various IP addresses, promising a secure connection.
Also, it works in China if you shift from the IPSec tunneling protocol to the WireGuard protocol.
In addition to China, it also works well in Ireland and Denmark.
5. Performance
The overall speed and performance of Atlas VPN can be determined by checking the download speed and upload speed available in different countries.
The baseline speed is 300Mbps for download as well as uploads but the actual speeds vary with the countries.
- US – the download speed is 243Mbps and upload speed is 270Mbps
- UK – the download speed is 247Mbps and upload speed is 282Mbps
- Germany – the download speed is 242Mbps and upload speed is 292Mbps
- Sweden – the download speed is 256Mbps and upload speed is 293Mbps
- Australia – the download speed is 210Mbps and upload speed is 269Mbps
The above-mentioned speeds are achieved if you use the WireGuard tunneling protocol but the speed is reduced by 20% if you opt for other tunneling protocols.
6. Interface
All the apps available with Atlas VPN are convenient to use and intuitive, which makes it a fine choice for people who don’t know how to use VPN apps.
There are apps available for iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows.
In addition, it works on Amazon Fire Stick as well as smart TVs with Android OS. However, it is not available on Linux systems.
Android
The Android app of Atlas VPN has been around for a long time, even before the Windows app was launched.
The mobile phone app is extremely intuitive and has a clean interface, making it easier to navigate.
As far as the features are concerned, there is a kill switch and SafeBrowse option available.
In addition, it allows the users to check the emails that came up in the data breach with the help of a data hack detection.
iOS
The iOS app is pretty identical to the Android app. The only major difference in the apps is that the iOS app has a SafeBrowse Plus feature.
In addition, the usage stats are located in a different menu but there are no compromises on user experience or intuitiveness of the app.
Windows
The Windows app has a design like the Android app, which makes it easy to use, and accessing the features is quite easy.
Sometimes, the Windows app freezes and shows connection errors.
In addition, there is two-factor authentication available, which means you have to confirm your email if you use your Atlas VPN account on another device, promising higher security.
macOS
The macOS app is pretty amazing and the text is easy to read. However, the image scaling could be better.
With the macOS version, you cannot select the server manually and you will be automatically connected to the nearest server.
In addition, you can customize the interface by choosing between the dark mode and light mode (this customization option is only available for macOS users).
At this point in NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison, it’s clear that Atlas VPN’s macOS app could be better.
7. Features
The list of features is pretty limited if you compare it with NordVPN but they are pretty reliable.
To begin with, there is a malicious website blocker, which means you will be notified if you are accessing the blacklisted websites; these websites will be automatically blocked.
In addition, there is an IP address rotation available, which means the IP address will be constantly rotated to keep your identity anonymous.
There is a SafeBrowse feature, with which you can block the websites manually.
In addition, you get the SafeSwap feature, which means the IP address will be rotated when you are connected to the VPN.
There is a variety of IP addresses assigned to the users, which means the rotation cannot be predicted.
On the other hand, if you are worried about connection drops because of IP address rotation, you won’t even notice the change unless you check the IP address manually.
The SafeSwap locations include the US, the Netherlands, and Singapore, but remember that this feature only works on Windows, iOS, and Android versions.
However, the company is working on adding SafeSwap for macOS users as well.
With the data hack detection, you will be able to check if your data has been compromised in data breaches but it’s only available in paid plans.
In case the data was compromised, you will get bullet points of the data.
If you are worried about the security, it uses the basic encryption standards like AES encryption and the tunneling protocols could be better.
However, the Atlas VPN has been acquired by Nord Security, so you will get the same safety protocols as NordVPN in the future.
Last but not least, there is an AES-256 cipher and ChaCha20 cipher that promises top-notch security.
Another point of NordVPN vs Atlas VPN comparison is the tunneling protocols – Atlas VPN has WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols available that promise low ping and faster speed.
All in all, there is a no-logs policy available, which means your data will not be stored on the servers.
In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;
| Rating | VPN Service | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Top Rated#1 | NordVPN - #1 VPN in the industry | FREE Trial |
| #2 Top Rated#2 | Surfshark - top budget VPN | Start Now |
| #3 Top Rated#3 | Atlas VPN - best free VPN | Start Now |
The Bottom Line
Both these VPN services are pretty amazing but the NordVPN vs Atlas VPN shows that NordVPN takes the lead.
This is because NordVPN has more servers available in sixty countries and every user gets the same security features, irrespective of the pricing plan they have chosen.
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Written by Jason Wise
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