NordVPN vs McAfee VPN: which VPN is better?
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NordVPN and McAfee are both established names in cybersecurity, but they cater to different aspects of online protection. While both aim to protect your connection, they take a slightly different approach.
To evaluate them fairly, this NordVPN vs McAfee VPN comparison looks at several key areas, including speed performance, streaming support, security features, privacy protections, and overall usability. Each provider was assessed using the same criteria to highlight where they perform well and where there are noticeable differences.
If you are deciding between these two services, this breakdown will help you see which offers a stronger overall VPN experience and which may better fit your needs.
NordVPN vs McAfee VPN: overview
NordVPN and McAfee VPN both protect your online activity, but they serve very different user bases. NordVPN is a dedicated VPN provider known for its large server network, advanced security features, and consistently fast speeds, which is why it is often ranked among the best VPN options on the market. McAfee VPN is part of a broader security suite and focuses on offering simple, built-in protection for users already using McAfee products.
The biggest differences come down to performance and functionality. NordVPN provides far more servers, advanced privacy tools, and stronger streaming support, while McAfee VPN keeps things more basic with a smaller network and a limited feature set designed mainly for everyday browsing protection.
| NordVPN | McAfee VPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #41 | #20 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries | 2,000+ servers in 48 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | Keeps logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $3.09/month | From $2.50/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 76% OFF | Cybernews VPN Coupons |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, WireGuard (NordLynx), NordWhisper | Catapult Hydra |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, HBO Max, Disney +, BBC iPlayer |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, Android, iOS, ChromeOS |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | 10 | 5 |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat |
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Key differences between NordVPN and McAfee VPN
NordVPN and McAfee VPN both protect your online activity, but they differ in key ways. NordVPN excels in speed, privacy, and global server coverage, while McAfee VPN focuses on simplicity and basic protection. Here’s a closer look at who each VPN is best for.
Choose NordVPN if:
- You want top speeds. Its NordLynx protocol and large server network ensure fast and stable connections, ideal for streaming, gaming, or torrenting.
- Privacy is your priority. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, strong encryption, and advanced security features like Double VPN and Onion over VPN.
- You need global access. With 9,500+ servers across 149 countries, it’s easier to bypass geo-restrictions for content from around the world.
To explore all the details, visit our NordVPN review.
Choose McAfee VPN if:
- You prefer simplicity. The VPN is straightforward to set up and use, especially for beginners or those already using McAfee security products.
- You want basic protection included. It’s often bundled with McAfee antivirus subscriptions, giving you a convenient all-in-one security package.
- Your needs are casual. It’s suitable for browsing, public Wi-Fi protection, and occasional streaming without advanced features or a massive server network.
For a complete overview, check our McAfee VPN review.
Speed, performance, and streaming: NordVPN vs McAfee VPN
For this NordVPN vs McAfee VPN speed comparison, I tested the speeds with different protocols in three different locations – the UK, the US, and Lithuania.
In the table below, only average speeds are displayed.
Right off the bat, I can say that NordVPN was significantly faster than McAfee VPN in all our chosen locations, with all available protocols.
- Baseline: 113.33Mbps download speed / 80.98Mbps upload speed
| NordVPN | McAfee Safe Connect VPN | |
| Avg. download speed | 56.93Mbps | 41.66Mbps |
| Avg. upload speed | 42.73Mbps | 41.44Mbps |
As we can see, NordVPN is faster than McAfee Safe Connect VPN regarding both download and upload speed.
When it comes to performance, NordVPN clearly outshines McAfee Safe Connect VPN. NordVPN delivers faster and more reliable connections, making it a better choice for activities like streaming, browsing, or gaming. McAfee VPN’s slower speeds can result in delays and a less seamless online experience, highlighting NordVPN’s superior optimization.
When it comes to the upload speed, NordVPN is a little bit slower but still faster than McAfee VPN, which actually picks up speed a little bit. The difference is still quite significant.
With McAfee Safe Connect VPN, there is no option to choose the tunneling protocol. It appears, though, that it uses the Catapult Hydra protocol.
The testing on NordVPN was done with NordLynx, as it is the fastest available protocol on all NordVPN apps.
Streaming performance
| Platform | NordVPN | McAfee Safe Connect VPN |
| Netflix | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| HBO Max | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Disney + | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
As evident from the table above, NordVPN excels at unblocking virtually every streaming service you can think of. There were no problems with accessing Netflix libraries in the US and elsewhere. Watching HBO Max was also a piece of cake – no errors, lag, or bad quality.
McAfee Safe Connect VPN performed decently when accessing streaming platforms, successfully unblocking Netflix libraries in regions like the US, Australia, Switzerland, and Indonesia. However, accessing Netflix Japan required multiple attempts.
On the downside, McAfee struggled with other popular platforms, failing to unblock Disney+ or BBC iPlayer. While video quality was satisfactory with no buffering issues on Netflix, its inconsistent access limits its appeal for diverse streaming needs.
Torrenting
Torrenting with NordVPN couldn’t be more different from torrenting with McAfee VPNs.
One of the first and most visible differences is that NordVPN has dedicated P2P servers, and McAfee VPNs don’t. The second difference is that NordVPN takes actions in place to protect your torrenting traffic from getting detected. For example, if you torrent on a regular server and get compromised, NordVPN automatically changes your connection to one of their P2P servers. McAfee VPN has nothing at least remotely similar.
As for the torrenting experience itself, NordVPN worked perfectly during all of my tests. The speeds were good, and the connection didn’t get blocked once.
The McAfee Safe Connect VPN allowed torrenting on three out of five server locations I tested. The other two, namely Czechia and the UK, didn’t work.
Plans & pricing
In the table below, I compared the prices of NordVPN’s 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year subscriptions to the Standard plan and the McAfee Safe Connect VPN 1-year subscription:
| NordVPN | McAfee Safe Connect VPN | |
| 1-month plan | $12.99 | - |
| 1-year plan | $4.99/month | $4.00/month |
| 2-year plan | $3.09/month | $3.33/month |
| Check pricing | Check pricing |
NordVPN has three different pricing tiers, each of which you can subscribe to for a month, 1 year, and 2 years. The 1-year subscription to the NordVPN Basic plan for $4.99/month includes a VPN with 10 simultaneous connections and an ad blocker. The same tier costs $3.09/month for a 2-year plan, and you can also get it for 1 month for $12.99. The longer the subscription duration is, the lower the price.
Other NordVPN pricing tiers are the Plus and the Ultimate. They are a little more expensive than the Basic but also include more – such as a password manager and a data breach scanner. The Plus tier costs $15.29 for 1 month, $5.49/month for 1 year, and $3.59/month for 2 years. The Complete tier is priced at $18.69 for 1 month, $8.08/month for 1 year, and $6.39/month for 2 years.
The McAfee VPN offers flexible subscription options, including 3 plan tiers. The Basic subscription is priced at $2.50/month, while the Essential plan costs $2.50/month. Plans secure 1, 5, or unlimited devices and essential features such as Safe Reconnect (kill switch), TCP override, and Trusted Networks, providing robust online protection. These pricing options make it easier to choose a plan that suits your budget and security needs.
Unlike NordVPN, McAfee Safe Connect VPN doesn’t offer monthly or bi-annual subscriptions. However, one important distinction is that these are pricing plans for the Total Protection antivirus suite, which includes a VPN together with other AV features.
Servers and locations
| NordVPN | McAfee Safe Connect VPN | |
| Servers | 9,500 | N/A |
| Countries in total | 149 | 48 |
| Americas | 28 | 8 |
| Europe | 47 | 26 |
| Asia Pacific | 27 | 9 |
| Middle East & Africa | 28 | 5 |
NordVPN offers over 9,500 servers, spread out across the whole world – you can connect to any server in as many as 149 locations. The highest number of server locations is in Europe, but other corners of the world are also pretty well covered.
By contrast, McAfee VPN doesn’t even announce the number of servers available, and the number of countries is just a little lower than NordVPN’s. However, it also has a pretty good server location distribution.
Features overview
The features of McAfee VPN and NordVPN are pretty standard to the VPN world. They both have such staple features as a kill switch or auto-connect.
However, that’s where the features end on the McAfee VPN part. NordVPN, on the other hand, has a lot more to offer, ranging from specialized servers to security measures against malware and online threats. And if you want a VPN and threat protection from McAfee, you can get that only with a full antivirus suite.
But let’s take a closer look at the NordVPN and McAfee VPN feature comparison:
Specialized servers
NordVPN has a number of specialized servers, for a number of special cases:
- P2P servers for torrenting.
- Double VPN servers, also known as multi-hop servers. When connected, your data will be transferred not through one but two of NordVPN’s servers, which grants more security.
- Obfuscated servers, which will make your VPN traffic appear as regular HTTPS traffic, and thus make it possible to bypass even the strictest of VPN blocks.
- Onion over VPN servers will route your traffic through a VPN server, and then through at least three Tor network nodes. This makes it very difficult to trace any online activity back to you.
- Dedicated IP servers can be purchased for an additional price. You will get an IP that will always remain the same, and belong only to you.
McAfee VPN, on the other hand, has nothing of the sort. It doesn’t offer any type of obfuscation method, nor double VPN servers for maximized security, and no servers for dedicated IPs to speak of.
Kill switch
Both NordVPN and McAfee VPN (both versions) have a kill switch. It helps in case the VPN connection drops – to not expose your IP address and location, a kill switch will shut off all device access to the internet, and keep your details safe.
NordVPN’s kill switch works fine, just as you would expect from a quality kill switch. You can also customize it to work with specific apps or specific networks.
By contrast, the Safe Connect VPN kill switch called Safe Reconnect didn’t really do what it was supposed to. With the kill switch turned on, I couldn’t connect to any servers. An error message would pop up every time, saying that something went wrong and that I should try again later. This means that I couldn’t really test if the kill switch was working at all.
Other features
Besides specialized servers and a kills switch, both VPNs have more features to show. I must note, though, that NordVPN has significantly more than McAfee VPN.
Other NordVPN features include:
Threat Protection Pro, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites, scans all the files you download onto your device, and otherwise protects you from malware and bad actors.
There is also a dark web monitor, which warns you about vulnerabilities of your personal data. It scours the dark web for information associated with your email address and notifies you right away if there is anything found.
Presets of NordVPN allows for greater VPN customization, and the Meshnet feature allows using a VPN to securely connect your device to your friends’ and colleagues’ devices.
Other McAfee features include:
McAfee Safe Connect VPN includes features like Trusted Networks for managing safe connections, antivirus protection for unlimited devices, $1M ID theft coverage, and new tools like Personal Data Cleanup and Online Account Cleanup. These features provide a security suite, making it a good choice for protecting your online privacy and personal information. Unfortunately, McAfee includes these features only in its advanced plan.
NordVPN vs McAfee VPN: which is more secure?
Security is the prime purpose of any VPN service, and it’s good to know that both NordVPN and McAfee VPN also take it seriously.
To encrypt your traffic, McAfee VPN uses the industry-standard AES-256 encryption, while NordVPN employs the ChaCha20 cipher. Here, both VPNs are neck to neck.
When it comes to infrastructure and logging policies, however, some differences start to show. First of all, McAfee VPN logs a lot of information about their users – more about that below. Secondly, it is also based in the US, which is not the most privacy-friendly jurisdiction. McAfee VPN has not been independently audited either.
NordVPN, on the other hand, has a very strict, independently audited no-logs policy. They don’t log any data about you at all – except for diagnostics, and you can opt-out even of that. This VPN is also based in a privacy-friendly Panama.
NordVPN also has enhanced security on the server levels – all of their servers are RAM-only, which means that any data stored on them gets wiped after each server reboot, and nothing is kept permanently.
Infrastructure
NordVPN’s servers are obviously encrypted, which is a standard security measure in the VPN world. But there is more.
The large majority of NordVPN’s servers are RAM-only, which means that they don’t use hard drives to store data such as usage logs. Memory-only data storage also inevitably results in a complete wipe-out of information if the servers reboot. For the user, this ensures complete anonymity and personal data security, as in case of a breach, a remote reboot can be initiated.
As for McAfee VPN, there is very little information about what kind of servers it uses and what security measures are employed.
Privacy
NordVPN is based in Panama, which is a country with a pretty laid-back approach to data collection and retention. NordVPN is not required to collect any information about its users. Moreover, Panama is not a member of any surveillance alliances, such as the 14-eyes or others. So even if they did log some non-sensitive data such as your registration email, they wouldn’t have any legal obligations to share it with anyone.
On the other hand, McAfee VPN is based in the United States. This is a country known for its high-key unfriendly views on privacy protection, extensive laws about data retention and turnovers, as well as vigorous participation in the 14-eyes surveillance alliance. The US is not a good place for any VPN to be based in. If it is, you can be sure that some type of data about you will be logged.
Logging
NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy. It doesn’t track what you do with the app, what servers you connect to, and what websites you visit. The policy has been audited four times by independent auditors, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and Deloitte. The audit reports concluded that NordVPN complies with security and privacy standards of the highest grade.
McAfee VPN does not operate under a strict no-logs policy, and its practices reflect a level of user data collection. While McAfee openly acknowledges retaining certain logs, it’s essential to note that their VPN leverages TunnelBear's infrastructure.
McAfee highlights that their VPN technology is "independently reviewed and audited," linking to a 2020 security audit of TunnelBear. However, this audit focuses on security practices, not on verifying no-logs claims. This distinction is important for users prioritizing anonymity over general security features.
Platforms, interface, and ease of use
Both NordVPN and McAfee VPN have apps for Windows, Android, and iOS. McAfee VPN doesn’t have apps for macOS and Linux. NordVPN, by contrast, does.
However, the McAfee VPN also have something that NordVPN doesn’t – native Chromebook support with their app for ChromeOS. In NordVPN’s defense, though, for a VPN to be compatible with Chromebooks, you only really need an app for Android.
| NordVPN | Safe Connect VPN | |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, Android, iOS, ChromeOS |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | – |
| Other devices | Kodi, Android TVs, Fire devices | – |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 | 5 |
NordVPN also has extensions for three browsers – Chrome, Firefox, and MS Edge, while McAfee VPN doesn’t have any. The same goes for other supported devices. You can use NordVPN on Kodi, various Android TVs, and Fire devices. McAfee VPN is limited to your good old computer and/or mobile device.
NordVPN supports 10 simultaneous connections, while McAfee VPN supports only 5.
Desktop apps
The desktop apps on Windows and macOS of NordVPN are very similar. They have a nice blue and grey interface, adorned with an interactive world map. The map indicates server locations that you can connect to by simply clicking on the little blue dot.
There is also a country list to the left of the map, including specialty servers, as well as a vertical toolbar for accessing additional settings and features. It is quite easy to navigate and find everything you might need and want from your VPN.
McAfee VPN is integrated into the antivirus app, making it accessible and convenient for users already utilizing McAfee's security suite. While its interface is more simplistic than NordVPN’s, it remains functional and easy to navigate.
The main page of the McAfee Safe Connect VPN features a big button that prompts you to "start protection". Once you click on the button you get connected to a VPN server. You can also select your preferred location, or just let the VPN pick the fastest one. On the left side, there is a toolbar through which you can access other VPN settings, such as the kill switch.
Mobile apps
NordVPN mobile apps are almost a direct replica of the desktop ones. Both Android and iOS apps have an interactive map, a big button for making quick connections, and a country and specialty server list. The toolbar at the bottom of the page will take you to Meshnet, notifications, and profile. Through the profile, you can also access app settings and features.
The McAfee mobile apps on iOS and Android also mimic their desktop counterparts. The big protection button is there, as well as some options for choosing your preferred location. You can access the additional settings and features by tapping on the burger menu in the upper right corner.
Customer support
Responsive and helpful customer support is a staple of any paid VPN service, and both NordVPN and McAfee VPN excel at it.
| 24/7 live chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | ✅ | |
| Phone line | ❌ | ❌ |
| Guides or articles | ✅ | ✅ |
| FAQs | ✅ | ✅ |
NordVPN has a 24/7 live chat for urgent issues, and you can submit a support ticket by email as well. If you’re more inclined to figure things out by yourself, there are a lot of articles and guides focused on set-ups, configurations, features, and more. There is also an FAQ page with extensive answers to the most common questions.
McAfee VPN support is tied to their antivirus solutions, so it is a little different regarding the kind of content you can find. However, there is also a 24/7 live chat option, as well as helpful guides, explanatory articles, and an FAQ page.
NordVPN vs McAfee VPN – which one wins?
Based on my NordVPN vs McAfee VPN comparison, there’s a clear winner. McAfee VPN is simple and easy to use, ideal for casual browsing, but its speeds, privacy, and features are limited. NordVPN, on the other hand, excels in speed, streaming, torrenting, and security, with specialized servers, a strict no-logs policy, and extra tools like Threat Protection and Meshnet.
That said, NordVPN outperforms McAfee VPN in most areas, making it the better choice for performance, privacy, and features.
| Feature | NordVPN | McAfee | Verdict |
| Pricing | Both NordVPN and McAfee VPN offer affordable plans, with McAfee being slightly cheaper on certain subscriptions, but NordVPN provides more features for the price. | ||
| Speed | NordVPN delivers consistently faster and more stable connections than McAfee VPN, making it better for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. | ||
| Privacy | NordVPN enforces a strict no-logs policy and is independently audited, while McAfee VPN collects and shares some user data and is based in the US. | ||
| Features | NordVPN offers advanced features like specialized servers, Threat Protection, and Meshnet, whereas McAfee VPN has a basic feature set that is limited in functionality. | ||
| Streaming | NordVPN reliably unblocks a wide range of streaming services worldwide, while McAfee VPN works with fewer platforms and can be inconsistent. | ||
| Torrenting | NordVPN supports torrenting on dedicated P2P servers with extra security measures, whereas McAfee VPN only allows torrenting on select servers. | ||
| Support | Both providers offer 24/7 live chat, email support, guides, and FAQs, making their customer support equally responsive and helpful. |
FAQ
Is NordVPN better than McAfee VPN?
Yes, NordVPN is a better choice than McAfee VPN. It is faster, more secure, doesn’t log any user data (unlike McAfee VPN), and has tons of useful features. They range from specialized servers for P2P connections and streaming to obfuscation, meshnet, and Threat Protection, a feature that acts as a simplified version of an antivirus. NordVPN will block malicious ads, websites, and scams, and also scan all of the files you download for potential malware.
Is McAfee VPN effective?
Yes, McAfee is effective as a simple VPN for some light browsing. It has average speeds, is capable of unblocking some geo-blocked websites, and has security features such as a kill switch and whitelister. However, if you want to use McAfee VPN for streaming, torrenting, or bypassing strict content restrictions and VPN blocks, other VPNs, such as NordVPN, would be a better choice.
Does McAfee VPN hide my IP address?
Yes, McAfee VPN uses AES-256 encryption to encrypt your connection and hide (and change) your IP address. However, it also logs your real IP address. This means that if anyone from the government or any other institution asked, McAfee will comply with the request and share the IP address and any other information they have about you.
