Bitdefender VPN vs NordVPN differences: 2024 comparison

NordVPN is an industry leader in VPN services, known for its lightning-fast speed and robust security. People rely on NordVPN for protection against malware, tracking, and to unblock websites in restricted countries. Meanwhile, Bitdefender is another VPN released by one of the biggest players in the antivirus world, with very strong security tools that draw on years of expertise as an anti-malware software provider. So, which is better in the battle of Bitdefender VPN vs NordVPN?

While both services have scored well in industry testing and offer well-developed feature sets, they have small differences that set them apart. After signing up for both services to try them out, I’ve detailed the key differences below, noting the better service for security, servers, speeds, and everything else.

Bitdefender VPN vs. NordVPN: specifications

While both Bitdefender and NordVPN have high-speed servers, a broad server fleet, and solid security features, NordVPN excels in almost every area as the better VPN. The caveat is if you’re already a Bitdefender antivirus user – in this case, it makes sense to choose Bitdefender’s VPN. Otherwise, NordVPN offers more servers, more consistently-high speeds across its network, and advanced security options to keep you safe.

NordVPN vs Bitdefender VPN speed test

In the comparison of NordVPN vs. Bitdefender VPN, NordVPN outperformed Bitdefender VPN in terms of speed. NordVPN achieved impressive average download speeds of 426 Mbps and upload speeds of 92 Mbps on its USA server. In contrast, Bitdefender VPN delivered download speeds of 396 Mbps and maintained the same upload speed of 92 Mbps, but showed reduced performance on servers in the UK and Canada. Therefore, NordVPN is slightly faster than Bitdefender VPN.

In my NordVPN vs. Bitdefender comparison, I used speedtest.net to measure performance. This gave me my baseline internet speed – all VPNs can impact your connection speed, but the best VPNs have an unnoticeable impact.

With my baseline of 447.58 Mbps, I tested both VPNs on three different VPN servers in different, popular locations by running the speed test again after connecting to a server. For this, I used NordVPN’s proprietary NordLynx protocol, as it’s the fastest. For Bitdefender, I chose to use Catapult Hydra, which is the fastest protocol available from Bitdefender.

Both NordVPN and Bitdefender VPN offer powerful speeds that let you stream, game, and torrent while connected, but NordVPN had the edge with faster speeds across the board. NordVPN was also useful here in highlighting special servers that are optimized for these activities. That said, Bitdefender’s solid speed results surprised me too, and even improved my already-low ping while connected to a US VPN server. But the bottom line is that NordVPN is faster than Bitdefender in both download and upload speeds.

Server fleet

Unfortunately, Bitdefender VPN can’t keep up with the pros when it comes to server count and has less servers overall than NordVPN. Bitdefender has 4000+ servers in 50 countries, while NordVPN offers 7000+ servers in 118 countries. This is also reflected in the split of locations, with NordVPN having more server locations in every region than its competitor.

Having a large server network means better performance for everybody who connects to the VPN. If large numbers of users are connected to a single server, it can decrease your speed. What’s more, if a VPN server is blocked by a website, like Netflix for example, having more servers means you can simply hop to another server to bypass the block.

NordVPN’s worldwide coverage is strong, with a particularly dominant presence in the US and Europe. Its US presence means that I could easily unblock every US streaming site there is during my tests. Meanwhile, Bitdefender’s coverage is more sparse – the provider still has a strong number of servers, but it covers far fewer locations, with only a handful of servers in locations like Africa.

In summary, server count is essential for keeping speeds down and evading detection for using a VPN to bypass blocks. Having a high number alone isn’t simply enough – take CyberGhost for example, with more servers than NordVPN but slower speeds across the board. But with NordVPN’s investment in high-quality infrastructure and a broad fleet, NordVPN wins here, with a sizable network that maintains reliable speeds no matter the location you’re connected to.

Specialized servers

Specialized servers are VPN servers that have been set up and optimized for specific activities or purposes. While Bitdefender doesn’t support specialized connections, NordVPN offers a number of choices:

• Double VPN: These servers are geared toward people who need increased privacy, like journalists, politicians, and whistleblowers. Your traffic is routed through two VPN servers, offering enhanced encryption.
• Onion over VPN: This feature leverages The Onion Router (Tor) with VPN tunneling, which creates a secure connection via the Onion network. Like double VPN, these servers give you a much more secure connection in heavily-surveilled environments.
• Dedicated IP: If you’ve chosen a dedicated IP address, NordVPN will give you your own unique IP that you don’t share with anyone. This helps you avoid being blocked for using a VPN, as well as reducing the amount of captchas you have to deal with.
• Obfuscated servers: Obfuscation uses an algorithm to overcome firewalls that are designed to block VPN traffic. That’s why obfuscation can help you bypass blocks in even the most restrictive online environments.

When I tested Bitdefender, it was clear that the service didn’t have a comparable level of choice. This is likely because Bitdefender’s specialty was originally in antivirus software, and Bitdefender VPN is an enhancement to that protection. However, this limits choice, which means that NordVPN is the better option for specialty servers.

Bitdefender VPN vs NordVPN streaming test

NordVPN is a better choice than Bitdefender VPN for streaming because it successfully unblocks a wider range of services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, YouTube TV, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max, whereas Bitdefender VPN has trouble accessing Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Moreover, NordVPN’s unmatched speeds give you the best chance of maintaining a 4K-ready connection that doesn’t lag and buffer.

NordVPN delivered the results I was expecting, unblocking every streaming service I tried. Bitdefender could unblock websites with weaker anti-VPN measures, including BBC iPlayer and HBO Max – I also checked ITVX in the UK, and that worked too. But overall, I had much more success accessing the shows I wanted while connected to NordVPN.

It’s worth mentioning that both VPNs delivered high-definition streams that didn’t lag, though Bitdefender’s speeds started to drop if I chose a faraway server. But if you’re only looking to stream sports for example, Bitdefender isn’t a bad choice – it could unblock BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK, and both platforms show the majority of the major soccer championships for free. In most scenarios though, NordVPN is the hands-down winner for avoiding blocks and streaming in HD.

NordVPN vs Bitdefender VPN: which is more secure?

Both Bitdefender VPN and NordVPN services cover the security basics, like a kill switch, IP leak protection, and a no-logs policy – but NordVPN secures the win. I’m not taking Bitdefender’s antivirus suite into consideration, but focusing purely on VPN functionality instead. NordVPN offers multiple VPN protocols, including NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, while Bitdefender has a much more complicated setup.

Bitdefender licenses its VPN software from Hotspot Shield, using Hotspot’s proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol. It offers other protocols that include OpenVPN, IPSec, and IKEv2 also, though it depends on your device. On desktop, you can only use Hydra, and while Hydra is an excellent protocol, it has limitations compared to NordLynx.

Firstly, Hydra can’t unblock content as reliably as NordLynx, which is why Bitdefender unblocks fewer streaming sites. And secondly, Hydra can’t support certain security features, such as obfuscation. That’s why NordVPN has obfuscated servers and Bitdefender does not, and it’s a contributing factor to NordVPN taking the crown.

Which VPN offers better privacy protections?

Both VPNs are located in privacy-friendly jurisdictions, with NordVPN in Panama and Bitdefender in Romania. Neither country is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, which is crucial for privacy, as this alliance allows international data sharing and comes with data retention expectations. That’s why so many VPN services are located in such countries – to minimize the risk to users.

This is a good start, but it’s also important that each VPN service keeps to its promises around data logging. NordVPN and Bitdefender both claim to have zero-logs policies, meaning they store no sensitive information. NordVPN’s policy has been audited four times, with Deloitte last certifying it at the start of 2024. Bitdefender underwent its first official audit in January 2023 with an independent auditor, which is a positive step, though I’d prefer to see an audit from a company like Deloitte, PwC, or KPMG to truly match up to NordVPN.

Data leaks are another area that I test thoroughly, as an IP, DNS, or WebRTC leak can reveal your true location, disclosing your identity or locking you out of region-locked websites. Fortunately, NordVPN passed all my leak tests, offering robust IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection. Bitdefender was able to pass the same tests, meaning neither VPN leaks your IP address.

Overall, it was a close battle between NordVPN and Bitdefender, with both services offering excellent privacy protections. While this feels like a very minor difference to use as a tiebreaker, NordVPN takes the win for its longer track record of audits and particularly for choosing a big name in the auditing world.

NordVPN or Bitdefender VPN is better for torrenting?

NordVPN and Bitdefender VPN both allow torrenting and actively try to support it with features that make the process easier. NordVPN provides dedicated torrenting servers and has the best torrenting speed – I downloaded open source software at 85% of my original 477 Mbps connection speed. With the split tunneling feature, I could encrypt and protect my peer-to-peer connection while continuing to route my gaming traffic via my usual web connection to ensure local gaming lobbies.

Meanwhile, Bitdefender allows torrenting on all of its servers, so you never have to second guess whether you’re on the right VPN server. The drawback of course is that multiple users could be torrenting on the same server you’re using to stream Game of Thrones, which could cause slower speeds or lag. But Bitdefender also supports split tunneling, which is a plus.

In case you want to bolster your torrenting speeds, NordVPN also gives subscribers access to a free SOCKS5 proxy. Such proxies are a more secure way to torrent than using your usual web connection, but they’re generally faster than using a VPN. It’s the middle ground between having zero protection, and having robust protection but taking a small hit on your internet speed.

In comparison, Bitdefender VPN does not offer a SOCKS5 proxy and generally does not match NordVPN’s torrenting speeds and specialized features. Thus, for optimal torrenting performance, NordVPN is the superior option.

Bitdefender Premium VPN vs NordVPN: Installation & Ease of Use

Both NordVPN and Bitdefender have apps for Windows and Mac desktop devices, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices. But what sets them apart is NordVPN’s extended device support beyond that. NordVPN can be installed on Android TVs and Firesticks, as well as directly onto routers, which will protect any device connected to that router’s network. NordVPN also supports Linux, while Bitdefender does not.

It’s NordVPN’s extensive device support that makes it much more flexible in installation, as well as useful for managing your array of devices. For example, Bitdefender could protect your Mac, Windows PC, and smartphones, but your games console would be left open to DDoS attacks, and you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of other benefits – I use a VPN to get easier bot lobbies in COD Warzone, for example.

But with NordVPN, you can use the client with your games console. You can also install it directly onto your router, protecting any device that connects to that Wi-Fi network. Finally, with NordVPN’s SmartPlay or SmartDNS feature, you can stream on unconventional platforms without lag or connectivity issues. And it’s for these reasons that NordVPN is better when it comes to installation and ease of use.

Desktop applications

NordVPN and Bitdefender have taken a different approach to app design – while the Bitdefender client is quite small, NordVPN’s client is a much bigger affair that leaves room for a highly interactive world map view of all servers. Admittedly, the lack of this map in Bitdefender’s client was highly noticeable upon signing in – it’s become something of a hallmark in the VPN world.

However, both clients work well and don’t lag, and it’s easy to find your way through the menus to get to the settings you need. NordVPN clearly lists all its servers down the side of the interface, with the map moving by itself when you select a server; it all just works seamlessly. The only niggle I had was that specialty servers don’t show up unless you’ve enabled them in the settings menu first.

Bitdefender’s app has a lot of consistency across different devices, just like NordVPN. But rather than simply following the same design scheme when you switch from mobile to desktop, the app also remains around the same size as it would on your phone. It makes for a very minimalistic app, but it’s less impressive than NordVPN’s client overall. Also, the Mac version of Bitdefender VPN lacks most auto-connect features and split tunneling.

Consistency is important across device operating systems. VPNs offer numerous simultaneous connections so that users can use all of their devices, so any deviation in consistency from one app to the next is easily noticeable and takes away from the user experience.

Mobile applications

Bitdefender’s Android app is very similar to its Windows client, though there is an added feature that will let you block incoming local network traffic. This lets you hide your smartphone’s connection from other people connected to the same network. On iOS, there’s also bonus functionality – while unavailable on Mac, you can use split tunneling, and some of the auto-connect features are present.

While the comparison between NordVPN and Bitdefender is a little more closely tied on mobile, NordVPN has the better interface offering regardless of device. There are more features, and importantly, there is more consistency across different platforms.

NordVPN vs Bitdefender VPN: pricing

NordVPN isn’t the cheapest premium VPN around, and Bitdefender has it beat on pricing. In fact, Bitdefender’s 1-year plan costs $2.92/month, which is cheaper than NordVPN’s 2-year plan at $2.99/month. While both VPNs become more affordable with longer subscriptions, Bitdefender still offers a lower monthly rate on its 1-year plan compared to NordVPN’s 2-year option. The table illustrates how this works:

You may have seen Bitdefender’s free VPN, something that you can’t get with NordVPN. I tried it out for myself, but the 200 MB data limit per day wouldn’t let me do anything beyond simple web browsing. What’s more, I couldn’t choose a server location. Both of these drawbacks make the Bitdefender’s free version useless for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and most other activities. While NordVPN doesn’t have the free option, it does offer 3 months free on long-term subscriptions.

Both VPNs also offer free trials and money-back guarantees. Bitdefender’s trial is immediately better, simply because it’s available on any device – NordVPN only gives it to Android users. But both services have the same 30-day money-back guarantee, too. You’ll have to make a small initial payment, but it’s completely risk free because you can get a full refund within 30 days. I’ve tried it, and there’s no fuss, so you can easily get refunded.

Though NordVPN has a wealth of payment options that include cryptocurrency, it’s Bitdefender that takes the crown as the cheaper VPN. Just bear in mind that NordVPN excels in almost every other area I’ve assessed, so my personal view is that the price-to-value ratio you get from NordVPN is far better.

Features comparison

Both Bitdefender and NordVPN provide a good spread of security and quality-of-life features. Split tunneling, ad and tracker blocking, and an auto-connect feature were present in both clients when I downloaded and tested them. But NordVPN goes further, offering bonus features like Meshnet and dark web monitoring. The latter scans the dark web automatically, alerting you if your linked personal details are leaked online.

These bonus features are important, because they improve your security online – certain features like the dark web monitoring can reduce the chance of a breach having a financial or personal impact on you. Here’s a quick comparison of the more robust security features offered by both VPNs, beyond the basic security expectations like a zero-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, and a kill switch:

As you can see, NordVPN beats Bitdefender VPN in most areas as it offers more security features designed to keep you safe online and help you find the type of connection you need.

Split tunneling

Both NordVPN and Bitdefender VPN offer sSplit tunneling which is a useful feature if you want greater control over your internet traffic routing. You can configure your VPN so that only certain apps use the VPN connection, with excluded apps using your usual connection. This can help keep speeds up if you’re using a relatively slow connection, and it can stop you from being blocked by your day-to-day services, such as Netflix or your bank for seemingly logging in from another location.

NordVPN includes split tunneling on its Android, Android TV, and Windows apps. It’s quick to enable – I found it in the settings menu with a quick toggle to enable it. From there, you simply add apps to the feature’s exception list so that they won’t use the VPN. Bitdefender offers split tunneling too, so if we’re talking purely about the support for this feature, NordVPN and Bitdefender are pretty much on even ground here.

Ad and malware blocker

Bitdefender VPN has a built-in ad blocker and tracker blocker, but crucially it does not block malware. I understand this to an extent, as the VPN is designed to be used in conjunction with Bitdefender Total Security – the company’s antivirus suite. But it means that Bitdefender VPN lacks a core feature that NordVPN has.

NordVPN offers Threat Protection, a feature that blocks the same ads and trackers. However, it also covers antivirus and malware threats, detecting and automatically blocking them at the source. You can even scan a file before you open it using NordVPN, to make sure there’s no malware lurking inside.

As a user, I’d much prefer my security options and protection to be in one place, so my preference here is for NordVPN with Threat Protection. This way, you’ll not only be blocking malicious ads that can infect you with malware, but the malware itself.

Auto-connect feature

The auto-connect feature is common among VPNs, allowing you to automatically connect to your VPN as soon as you join a Wi-Fi or LAN network. I’ve found it useful for backing me up when I’m busy and forget to connect to a VPN server. Not so much a problem at home, but it can pose a huge risk on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks and other networks you might not be able to trust.

Bitdefender’s auto-connect feature offers an auto-connect feature that gives you granular control. I saw options to connect on Windows startup, when using a public or other unsecured Wi-Fi network, and when launching a torrenting app. There’s also an exception list that lets you add specific apps and websites, or even entire website categories, like news, adult websites, or games.

Similarly, NordVPN’s auto-connect feature promises to automatically protect you when you join a Wi-Fi network, connect an ethernet cable, join a mobile hotspot, or join any network whatsoever. Of course, you get the same exceptions list – plus the ability to exclude your home networks, which I thought was handy. Overall, both providers hand you a robust auto-connect function that worked well throughout my tests.

Meshnet

Meshnet is a brand-new NordVPN feature that Bitdefender lacks, which lets you securely access other devices – no matter where they’re located. It connects all your devices within a secure local area network (LAN), which can be a huge help to gamers, P2P file sharers, and for day-to-day workplace collaboration

Do Bitdefender VPN and NordVPN work in China?

Yes, NordVPN works in China, but unfortunately Bitdefender does not. Bitdefender’s Hydra VPN protocol doesn’t support obfuscation, a feature that’s essential for bypassing the Great Firewall of China. Without obfuscation, your connection is quickly detected and blocked by the Chinese agencies that exercise a great deal of control over what content is available on the internet, stopping you from establishing a connection.

Customer support

NordVPN and Bitdefender VPN both offer comparable levels of customer support. This includes a 24/7 live chat feature and a Knowledge Base with past answers to frequently-asked questions. You can submit an email ticket if you like, though it’s much faster and simpler to use the live chat – in both instances, I had a reply within a few minutes during business hours so I didn’t have to wait.

One area that Bitdefender triumphs over NordVPN is in continuing to provide telephone support despite the company’s size. NordVPN doesn’t offer a contact number and instead encourages you to contact the live chat feature with your phone’s browser. Otherwise, both providers have a similar level of service. Both knowledge bases are comprehensive, with a lot of FAQs to read through, and I was able to get a response to an email ticket from both NordVPN and Bitdefender within 24 hours.

While NordVPN’s live chat feature will get you a response in around the same time it takes to dial a call center, some people prefer talking to real agents over the phone. For that reason, Bitdefender’s customer support offering is definitely more robust, but in terms of service quality, I found both to be equal.

Final verdict: Is NordVPN vs Bitdefender VPN better in 2024?

NordVPN outperforms Bitdefender VPN in 2024 due to its superior speed, a larger number of servers, and enhanced security features. Although Bitdefender VPN is more budget-friendly, NordVPN offers the best overall value with its extensive options and top-tier performance in the VPN market.

With all of that in mind, Bitdefender is still a solid VPN and you won’t put yourself at risk by choosing it. When paired with Bitdefender’s Total Security antivirus software, it works really well and you don’t have to manage security exceptions between the two apps – and of course, it’s less expensive.

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FAQ

Should I consider moving from Bitdefender VPN to NordVPN?

In my experience, Bitdefender VPN is a good choice for people already using Bitdefender’s antivirus software, as the two complement each other well – but NordVPN is a better VPN overall, with more robust security, more servers, and better speeds. If you want the best protection possible, it is worth using NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to try the service for yourself.

Do I need to enable Nord threat protection if I'm using Bitdefender Total Security?

No, you do not need to have both products active, as Bitdefender’s web security suite is a very powerful standalone security tool. However, make sure that you add NordVPN to your Bitdefender client’s list of security exceptions, otherwise you might get disconnected from NordVPN from time to time.

Can you use Bitdefender and NordVPN together?

You can use Bitdefender’s antivirus software with NordVPN, but I recommend adding the NordVPN .exe file to both AV exclusions and Advanced Threat Defense exceptions in your Bitdefender client. This will stop conflicts between the two software clients that I have seen reported by users.

Which VPN is better for gaming: NordVPN or Bitdefender VPN?

NordVPN is better for gaming, with the fastest connection speeds in the industry that remain reliable across their server fleet. That said, I also noticed that Bitdefender lowered my ping while connected to a US server. On nearby servers, you may still have success with Bitdefender too.

Which is faster – Bitdefender VPN or NordVPN?

NordVPN is faster than Bitdefender VPN based on my tests, which saw NordVPN retain up to 95% of my connection speed while Bitdefender retained up to 90%. Both VPNs have excellent speeds, but NordVPN’s speed on more distant servers is more consistent and reliable than Bitdefender.