NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN 2024

Doris Muthuri

Former Senior Writer

NordVPN and F-Secure VPN (previously F-Secure FREEDOME VPN) each have very different strengths. NordVPN is widely recognized as a leading VPN, offering robust security and versatility. On the other hand, F-Secure VPN is a simpler VPN focused on privacy and ease of use, so it doesn't quite match the same level of versatility.

We tested both VPNs side-by-side in terms of speed, streaming, torrenting, gaming, customer support, pricing, and how they handle user privacy. NordVPN consistently outperformed F-Secure VPN in server variety, streaming reliability, and overall usability. While both VPNs are user-friendly, NordVPN offers a wider range of features and better support for torrenting and gaming.

I prefer NordVPN for its superior performance and flexibility. While F-Secure VPN is fairly secure, it falls short in a couple of areas. If you want a VPN that offers a more complete package, NordVPN is the better option. You can even try it out for 30 days risk-free, as it’s backed by a trustworthy money-back guarantee.

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Best alternative to NordVPN

Our Score: 9.9

While NordVPN is a solid option, ExpressVPN is my top pick if you're looking for an alternative. Its Lightway protocol ensures faster connections and quicker reconnections compared to NordLynx. It’s also effortless to use, especially for beginners. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without any risk.

Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — NordVPN Works With More Sites

We tested both VPNs and found NordVPN to be more reliable for streaming HD from anywhere. It has excellent speeds and works well with most of the streaming services we tried it with. F-Secure VPN had trouble working with some popular platforms, though.

The table below illustrates how each VPN faired with popular streaming platforms:

We tested both VPNs across various Netflix regions, and NordVPN consistently performed better. It could safely access multiple libraries and allowed us to stream without slowdowns. We enjoyed Emily in Paris episodes on Netflix US with zero buffering. It also delivers fast, seamless streaming on other popular platforms like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Max.

The app automatically chose the fastest US server for us

F-Secure VPN performed well with a few streaming platforms but not others. For example, it worked smoothly with ESPN and Max, but it encountered issues with Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. Additionally, it doesn’t work with some of the major Netflix libraries, but at least it could safely access the US one.

It always took a few seconds for videos to load and there was occasional buffering

Winner

NordVPN is faster for HD streaming from anywhere and offers more reliable compatibility with popular platforms.

Server Network — NordVPN Covers More Locations

NordVPN's large server network offers it a distinct edge over F-Secure VPN. The greater number of available servers means less congestion on each, leading to more seamless streaming, gaming, and downloading experiences. In comparison, F-Secure VPN falls short with its limited server options.

I also like that NordVPN’s servers are strategically spread worldwide, with a strong presence in regions like Africa, South America, and Asia, areas where many VPNs don't offer connections. Plus, its use of self-owned (colocated) servers enhances security, providing a higher level of protection compared to renting third-party servers. F-Secure VPN rents some of its infrastructure.

NordVPN goes a step further by providing a selection of specialized servers, such as those optimized for torrenting. It also includes Double VPN and Onion Over VPN servers for enhanced security. F-Secure VPN doesn’t offer any of these options.

Winner

NordVPN offers many more servers than F-Secure VPN. Plus, it owns most of its servers, which is a huge plus for security.

Speed — NordVPN Offers Faster Speeds Over All Distances

From the UK, we evaluated the speed of each VPN across multiple regions, including the US, UK, and Japan. We used the NordLynx (NordVPN’s proprietary protocol) for NordVPN and IKEv2 for F-Secure VPN during our tests. These are the fastest protocols for each VPN. The baseline download speed was 276.23 Mbps, with an upload speed of 23.70 Mbps.

The results show that NordVPN is faster over both short and long distances. On nearby UK servers, we experienced just a 17% reduction in speed, and even on distant US servers, the drop was only 20%.

Our test results were excellent when we tested servers nearby

F-Secure VPN consistently lagged behind in speed. We experienced up to a 20% reduction on London servers, with an even sharper 36% decline when connecting to US. The limited number of servers makes the issue even worse, as you may struggle to find a nearby connection — which is usually the best option for speeds.

Some faraway servers dropped speeds by up to 89%

Here’s an overview of our speed test results:

Winner

NordVPN is faster than F-Secure VPN on both short and long distances. This makes a significant difference in connection quality when it comes to data-heavy tasks like streaming and torrenting.

Gaming — NordVPN Provides Interruption-Free Gaming

Both VPNs delivered smooth, lag-free gaming experiences, but F-Secure VPN showed a slightly lower ping on some servers during testing. Ping measures the time between your input and the action appearing onscreen. For a responsive gaming experience, it’s best to aim for a ping below 100 ms, with even lower rates preferred for fast-paced games.

Like with the speed tests, we checked both VPNs and noted the average results, starting from a baseline ping of 22 ms.

The table below illustrates the results:

Although F-Secure VPN had a lower ping, we experienced some lag while playing Roblox. This might be because the server closest to my location was in Europe.

On the other hand, NordVPN’s much faster speeds translated to a smoother experience during cloud gaming sessions. Even though its ping rate was slightly higher in some cases, its fast speeds more than made up for it, giving us more seamless gaming compared to F-Secure VPN.

NordVPN's large server network makes it easy to find a fast server in your desired gaming location

Like most VPNs, NordVPN and F-Secure also have higher ping on long-distance servers. I suggest using a server close to your location for smoother gaming.

Winner

While it had a higher ping rate in some cases, NordVPN’s fast speeds supported gaming more reliably compared to F-Secure VPN.

Torrenting — NordVPN Supports Speedy Torrenting

NordVPN offers P2P-optimized servers designed for both fast speeds and strong security. Its privacy features, such as an audited no-logs policy and RAM-only servers, also give peace of mind when downloading files. We downloaded a 7GB public domain file in just over 4 minutes while testing NordVPN.

Conversely, F-Secure VPN states in its FAQs that P2P file-sharing is 'technically' blocked due to requirements placed by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) legislation. So you can’t use it to torrent at all.

Keep in mind that while torrenting itself is legal in many regions, downloading copyrighted material without permission is not. My team and I urge you to use torrents responsibly and stick to content in the public domain.

Winner

NordVPN supports torrenting on all its servers and offers servers optimized for P2P sharing for greater efficiency.

Security — NordVPN Has Many More Security Options

NordVPN provides more advanced security features than F-Secure VPN. It includes extras like Onion Over VPN servers, a malware blocker, and private DNS servers.

NordVPN offers the NordLynx protocol, which is built on WireGuard but bolsters it with a double NAT system. This ensures that no personal information is stored on the server. It boosts privacy by allowing secure connections without tracking your activity. F-Secure VPN only offers IKEv2, a speedy but dated protocol, and OpenVPN, which is highly secure but tends to be slower.

NordLynx always gave us smooth connections and fast speeds during our tests

Plus, NordVPN offers strong, adjustable security options like Dark Web Monitor and Meshnet. Dark Web Monitor scans the deep web for your information to ensure there are no data leaks, while Meshnet allows you to establish secure connections between up to 60 devices.

I also like NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites, ensuring a safer browsing experience. The impressive part of this feature is that it continues to work, even if the VPN connection is turned off.

Both VPNs provide protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IP leaks. I initially had doubts about F-Secure VPN's ability to offer strong protection, but I was impressed by its performance. I tested nearly a dozen of its servers, and it consistently protected my IP address.

This is reassuring since IP leaks can expose a lot of your personal data

Winner

NordVPN offers more advanced security features compared to F-Secure VPN, including obfuscated servers, secure and fast proprietary protocol (NordLynx), and private DNS servers.

Privacy — NordVPN’s Privacy Policy Is More Trustworthy

NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been audited several times by Deloitte. So you can rest assured that it doesn’t store your IP address, browsing history, or DNS queries.

While F-Secure VPN also claims to have a no-log policy, it does keep some sensitive data. For instance, it logs information like your IP address and device details when you first connect. Even though these logs aren’t kept after your session ends, this practice could allow for monitoring while you’re connected, raising concerns about your privacy.

Both VPNs are outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, which is great for privacy — NordVPN is based in Panama, and F-Secure VPN operates from Finland. That said, NordVPN stands out with its RAM-only servers that automatically wipe data after every reboot. F-Secure VPN doesn’t offer this level of protection.

Winner

NordVPN has a more reassuring and verified privacy policy.

Works in China — NordVPN Might Work in China, but Not Guaranteed

NordVPN may work in China, but the same can’t be said for F-Secure VPN. The former offers advanced security features, like obfuscated servers, which are necessary for a VPN to work in China. China's advanced methods for blocking VPNs make it difficult for many services to function reliably there. F-Secure VPN's website explicitly states that it cannot connect from within China.

A support agent confirmed that you can use NordVPN in China with some special configurations. However, keep in mind that the website may be blocked once you're in China, making it impossible to download or install the app while there. To avoid this, it’s best to download the latest version of the VPN software before traveling.

Winner

NordVPN might work in China with a little bit of troubleshooting, while F-Secure VPN doesn’t work at all.

Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN Is More Intuitive

Both VPNs are easy to install and use, but NordVPN stands out for its user-friendly interface. The options and menus are clearly labeled, making them simple to navigate. I particularly like how well the specialty servers (like P2P and Obfuscated) are organized under separate tabs for easy access.

There are plenty of connection options suited for specific use cases

NordVPN is compatible with a lot more devices and operating systems. While both VPNs offer native apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, F-Secure VPN lacks support for devices like Linux and is only compatible with F-Secure’s SENSE routers.

You can set NordVPN up on a wider range of routers, allowing you to use it on devices that don’t normally support VPNs, like smart TVs, game consoles, and Roku. Alternatively, it also offers a smart DNS feature, which you don’t get with F-Secure VPN.

Winner

NordVPN wins this with a wider platform support and a user-friendly app interface.

Reliability & Support — NordVPN Support Is More Reliable

NordVPN provides 24/7 support through live chat, email, and ticketing. You can reach its team without needing to log in or create an account. However, you’ll have to go through a chatbot first before speaking to a live agent, which can be slightly inconvenient. Despite that, my wait time never exceeded 3 minutes.

F-Secure VPN also has 24/7 chat support, but I wasn’t always able to connect with an agent during my attempts. I tried reaching out several times, and there wasn’t always an agent available, despite its website claiming it provides round-the-clock support.

Both VPNs include a detailed help center with easy-to-follow guides and FAQs that are helpful for beginners and experienced users. The resources cover the most common problems, though it would be helpful if video tutorials were also available.

Winner

NordVPN wins this one with easily accessible and knowledgeable customer support.

Pricing

	NordVPN	F-Secure VPN
Starting Price	$2.99/month	$3.90/month
Price (On Renewal)	$139.08 per year (subject to change)	$49.99-$69.99 per year, depending on number of devices (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	30 days
Number of devices per license	10	5
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Manual setup with extensive how-to guides	Only F-Secure’s SENSE routers

F-Secure VPN is more affordable than NordVPN, but with NordVPN’s higher price comes more value. It offers a wider range of features, better performance, and more flexibility, making it worth the extra cost if you're looking for a more comprehensive VPN solution. You also have the option of getting a monthly plan with NordVPN — F-Secure VPN only offers yearly and bi-yearly plans.

The number of simultaneous devices you get with each VPN shows a stark difference in value. While NordVPN’s plans cover 10 devices, F-Secure’s most expensive plan covers a maximum of 5 simultaneous connections. So, if you have a lot of gadgets or a large household, it’s worth considering whether a single F-Secure VPN subscription is enough.

You get a 5-day free trial with F-Secure VPN or 7 days if you sign up via iOS, and no payment details are required. NordVPN only offers a 7-day free trial for Android.

When it comes to payment options, NordVPN has more flexibility than F-Secure VPN. Both accept credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency, but NordVPN also allows payments through prepaid cards, iTunes, and gift cards, offering more ways to pay.

Winner - draw

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F-Secure VPN has much less expensive plans available, so it’s a good deal if you’re looking for simple protection. However, if you want to pay monthly, have a lot of devices to cover, or want a more versatile VPN with advanced security, NordVPN is the way to go.

Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN

We applied a strict set of standards to compare NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN. First, we confirmed that both VPNs offer strong security and privacy features like military-grade encryption, data leak protection, and kill switches. Then, we tested their speeds at various times to ensure stable performance. Lastly, we checked how reliable their customer support is to guarantee that you can get help when you need it.

If you want to learn more about our evaluation process, you can check out our methodology page. It offers detailed insights into how our expert team thoroughly tests and reviews each VPN to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information.

NordVPN vs F-Secure VPN — Reddit Opinions

NordVPN is well-regarded by many users, especially on Reddit. It’s praised for fast connection speeds, reliable streaming and torrenting, and a user-friendly interface. Features like its large server network, Double VPN, and Obfuscated servers for added security are often highlighted. While some users mention occasional issues with the kill switch or customer support, most feedback is positive, with many long-term users satisfied.

Most F-Secure Freedome threads and more than 8 years old

In comparison, F-Secure VPN is less commonly discussed. Some users appreciate that it's based in Finland, which offers more transparency than VPNs in less regulated countries. However, it doesn’t receive as many reviews or recommendations as more popular VPN services.