NordVPN vs Psiphon 2025

Akash Deep

Cybersecurity Researcher

NordVPN is a heavyweight in the VPN industry known for its strong security and streaming capabilities. Psiphon represents a unique alternative — a free anti-censorship VPN that has become increasingly popular in countries with internet restrictions. With such different approaches to online freedom, which one actually delivers better results?

To find out, we put both services through extensive tests based on real-world use cases. We evaluated their speeds, streaming capabilities, security features, privacy protections, and server networks, among many other factors. We also examined how each VPN performs on restrictive networks with strict rules.

NordVPN emerged as the clear winner in our tests — it outperformed Psiphon across all key categories. It offers consistently faster speeds, a larger server network, and stronger security features. Though Psiphon does well in restrictive environments, it couldn't match NordVPN's overall performance.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Streaming — NordVPN Works With Far More Platforms

When it comes to streaming capabilities, reliability makes all the difference. Our tests showed that NordVPN significantly outperforms Psiphon across all streaming platforms, allowing you to stream securely and in HD from anywhere.

During our tests, both VPNs worked well with Netflix's major libraries, such as the US, UK, Japan, and Canada. However, NordVPN could securely access content from less common regions (like Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea) thanks to its extensive server network in more obscure locations. Psiphon lacks servers in these countries, so you can’t use it to stream content from these libraries.

We didn't need to do any customizations to get it to work

NordVPN performed considerably better with other streaming platforms, too. We could easily watch content in HD on Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Max, and Hotstar without any problems. Psiphon didn’t work with any of these services in our tests.

We had no problems streaming content on Disney+ in HD

NordVPN also offers Smart DNS, which lets you stream content directly on your smart TV — a feature completely absent from Psiphon's toolkit.

Winner

NordVPN is clearly superior for streaming. While Psiphon can handle some Netflix libraries, NordVPN provides reliable connections to virtually every major streaming platform and includes Smart DNS for TV streaming.

Server Network — NordVPN Offers Significantly Better Coverage

NordVPN has a massive advantage in server coverage with 7,155 servers spread across 118 countries. Psiphon only offers servers in 20 countries and doesn't disclose its total server count. It even lacks servers in many important regions like Australia, Argentina, and South Korea.

Server selection is also limited with Psiphon. On Android and Windows, the app automatically chooses what it considers to be the best server (and it’s not clear what criteria it uses for this). Only macOS and iOS users can manually select server locations. And even then, you can't choose specific cities like you can with NordVPN.

NordVPN’s extensive network can handle user traffic more efficiently, so you'll always find fast, reliable connections. But if you’re a Psiphon user, you may face slowdowns during peak hours due to overcrowded servers.

Winner

NordVPN comes out on top with city-level selection options and a much larger server network. While Psiphon offers basic connectivity, its limited server locations and potential congestion issues make it a less dependable choice if you need stable connections.

Speed — NordVPN Delivers Faster and More Consistent Connection Speeds

To see how these services perform under real-world conditions, we ran a series of tests from the UK with baseline speeds of 250Mbps download and 27Mbps upload. We ran these tests on a Macbook Air since Psiphon doesn’t allow server selection on Android or Windows devices, and we used Psiphon Pro as the free version caps speeds. We also used NordVPN’s NordLynx and Psiphon’s standard L2TP/IPsec option.

During our tests on nearby UK servers, we saw a minimal 4% speed drop with NordVPN and clocked 249.6Mbps, which is perfect for 4K streaming, gaming, and large file downloads. Psiphon's speeds dropped by 70% to 76.12Mbps, making it one of the slowest VPNs we’ve tested.

The gap widened with US servers. We recorded a 19% drop with NordVPN to 210.5Mbps, still plenty fast for any online activity. Psiphon's speeds fell by 87% to 32.04Mbps, which is a dramatic drop. If you have a slow connection, you won’t be able to stream properly.

Our Japan tests showed the biggest difference. NordVPN's 33% reduction left us with 174.5Mbps, which was still plenty to handle all of our online activities. But Psiphon's speeds crashed to just 23.50Mbps — a 91% drop. At these speeds, you'll struggle with basic browsing, especially if your base connection isn't very fast to begin with.
Here’s a brief summary of our test results:

Winner

NordVPN wins easily here with much faster speeds across all locations. While Psiphon is good for basic browsing, its severe speed drops make it unsuitable for gaming or other data-heavy activities on distant connections.

Gaming — NordVPN Offers Low Ping for Lag-Free Gaming

A stable connection with low ping makes all the difference in competitive gaming. We jumped into several CS2, Warzone, and League of Legends matches to see how these services perform under pressure. As with our speed tests, we used NordVPN’s NordLynx and L2TP/IPsec with Psiphon.

Here’s a quick summary of our results:

On nearby UK servers, NordVPN delivered an excellent 23ms ping that made Warzone feel responsive and smooth. Psiphon's 39ms ping was also good enough for competitive play without any delays.

We had a ping of 23ms on its UK server

The US servers told a different story. NordVPN's 78ms ping kept games playable — we could still compete in Valorant matches with minimal lag. But Psiphon's connection skyrocketed to 282ms, causing severe rubber-banding and delays that made gaming impossible.

Both VPNs struggled on Japanese servers. NordVPN gave us a ping of 189ms, which isn’t good for competitive gaming. However, Psiphon hit 389ms — making even basic movement feel delayed and unresponsive.

NordVPN also includes Meshnet, which lets you create a secure virtual LAN for gaming with friends. This means you can set up private game lobbies and enjoy protected multiplayer sessions.

Winner

NordVPN is the only real choice for gaming here. Its consistently lower ping times and gaming-friendly features make it possible to play online games, while Psiphon's high latency makes most games unplayable beyond local servers.

Torrenting — NordVPN Provides Fast and Secure P2P Downloads

When it comes to torrenting, security and speed both matter. Our tests revealed a significant gap between these services in P2P performance.

NordVPN offers specialized P2P servers optimized for torrenting. We tested these by downloading a 5GB copyright-free Linux distribution via qBittorrent and completed the download in under 4 minutes. The service backs this up with robust security features, like a kill switch and private DNS servers, to keep your downloading private.

Psiphon, on the other hand, isn't built for torrenting at all. The drastically reduced speeds we saw in our tests make large file downloads impractical. More importantly, it lacks essential security and privacy protections needed for safe P2P file sharing.

Winner

NordVPN is the winner in this category, thanks to its specialized P2P servers and fast download speeds. While Psiphon technically allows torrenting, its slow speeds and lack of security features make it unsuitable for P2P file sharing.

Security — NordVPN Offers Superior Protection Across the Board

To compare security features thoroughly, we examined each VPN’s encryption standards, protocols, and much more.

NordVPN offers two well-known and robust protocols, both using AES-256-GCM encryption. NordLynx is built on top of WireGuard, and fixes a few security flaws without compromising on speed. Meanwhile, OpenVPN is the industry standard for security. Whichever protocol you choose, it’ll keep your data safe with IP and DNS protection, plus a kill switch to prevent data leaks if your connection drops.

This VPN also offers multiple layers of advanced security features. Double VPN routes your traffic through two servers for extra encryption, while Tor over VPN connects you directly to the Tor network for additional privacy. Split tunneling is available across all major platforms, letting you choose which apps use the VPN connection.

Psiphon mainly focuses on censorship circumvention rather than comprehensive security. It relies on the OpenSSH and L2TP/IPSec protocols with AES 256-bit encryption, which is secure but not as advanced as modern alternatives. Its SSH+ proxy service adds obfuscation to prevent protocol fingerprinting, which helps bypass restrictive network rules. However, the lack of a kill switch is a major security concern.

You don't need to enable the VPN to use Threat Protection Pro

NordVPN's optional Threat Protection Pro blocks ads, trackers, and malware. You also get dark web monitoring to alert you of data breaches. You’ll have to pay extra for this, but basic ad and tracker blocking is included for free.Psiphon doesn’t offer any of these features.

Winner

NordVPN is clearly a better option with its modern protocols and advanced security features. Psiphon can work well in restrictive environments, but without basic security features like a kill switch, it can't adequately protect your online data.

Privacy — NordVPN Protects Your Online Privacy While Psiphon Doesn’t

NordVPN operates from Panama, which has strong privacy laws and no mandatory data retention requirements. This lets NordVPN maintain its strict no-logs policy — your browsing activities aren't recorded or stored.

The company has proven its commitment to privacy through independent audits of its no-logs claims. While it suffered a data breach in 2019, NordVPN responded quickly and cut ties with the responsible server provider, then commissioned additional audits to enhance its security.

On the other hand, Psiphon operates from Canada and collects extensive activity and connection logs, including domain names you visit and your IP address. This data is stored for up to 90 days—far longer than necessary. Psiphon even shares some user information with advertisers and sponsors, though it claims this data is aggregated.

Most concerning is Psiphon's own admission that it "is not specifically designed for anti-surveillance purposes." It inspects domain names you visit (though not full URLs) and keeps your IP address for an unspecified time period. While it doesn’t require email or payment details to use the free app, this hardly matters, given how much other data it collects.

I also appreciated that NordVPN runs all servers in RAM-only mode, which means all your data is wiped clean on each server reboot. Psiphon doesn’t offer RAM-only servers. For privacy-focused users, NordVPN is an excellent option, but I can’t recommend Psiphon at any cost. If you’re looking for other options, feel free to check out our roundup of the best no-log VPNs.

Winner

NordVPN takes privacy seriously with its verified no-logs policy and Panama jurisdiction. Psiphon openly admits it's not meant for privacy and collects extensive user data, making it a poor choice if you care about keeping your online activities private.

Works in China — Psiphon Is a Better Option

Internet access in China is heavily restricted, and not a lot of VPNs work in the country. Even those that do work struggle to do so consistently.

NordVPN offers obfuscated servers that work well on restrictive networks like school or office connections. However, its obfuscation technology isn’t powerful enough to work with China's Great Firewall, and it can’t guarantee that it works in the country.

Psiphon offers better performance in China, but only through its proxy mode. While its VPN mode (using L2TP) doesn’t work, the proxy mode uses SSH obfuscation to avoid Deep Packet Inspection. This helps you securely access your desired sites, though you will experience frequent connection drops.

If you’re looking for a reliable option, feel free to check out our list of the best VPNs for China that still work.

Winner

Psiphon performs better than NordVPN in China. Its proxy mode can handle the Great Firewall, even if connections aren't always stable. Even though NordVPN offers specialized obfuscated servers, it doesn’t work in China at all.

Installation and Ease of Use — NordVPN’s Apps Work Better

The installation process is simple with both VPNs. You can download NordVPN from its website or official app stores and get started in minutes. Its interface includes an interactive world map where you can click countries to connect. Plus, you also get Double VPN, Tor Over VPN, obfuscated, and specialized P2P servers.

You can also use the search bar to find a server

Psiphon offers apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The interface is straightforward but dated. There aren’t many customizations available, and its apps don’t have a similar user interface across platforms. But I appreciate that it doesn’t require your email address to sign up, which saves a lot of time.

Its Mac app has a minimalistic design

Despite advertising itself on the ease with which it works with restrictive networks, Psiphon was disappointing. It took several minutes to get it to work on a university library network, although it did work eventually. In the same amount of time, I was able to connect to one of NordVPN’s obfuscated servers and start playing Fortnite despite the network blocks.

In terms of device compatibility, NordVPN also takes the lead. You get browser extensions, apps for Fire devices, smart TVs, and router support. Psiphon sticks to basic desktop and mobile apps without any extra platform support.

Winner

NordVPN's modern apps and wider device support make it much easier to use. Psiphon works fine for basic connections but lacks the polished interface and extra features that NordVPN offers.

Reliability and Support — NordVPN Provides Better Assistance

When you run into issues with a VPN, quick and helpful support makes all the difference. Let's see how these services compare in terms of customer assistance.

NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, and in our tests, we connected to an agent within 40 seconds. The representative answered our questions about device compatibility and connectivity issues quickly and clearly.

Psiphon only offers email support and an FAQ section. While customer support’s email responses were helpful, you might wait several hours for an answer. The FAQ covers basic issues but lacks detailed troubleshooting guides.

NordVPN's help center includes extensive setup tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and detailed FAQs. Psiphon's documentation is limited to basic setup instructions and a few common issues, although you can inspect its code base and some more technical documentation if you need to.

Winner

NordVPN's 24/7 live chat and comprehensive help resources make it much easier to get quick assistance. Psiphon's email-only support and basic documentation mean you might struggle to resolve issues quickly.

Pricing

	NordVPN	Psiphon
Lowest Starting Price	$3.39/month for the 2-year plan	$2.99/week for the 1-year plan
Price (On Renewal)	$139.08 per year (subject to change)	~$70.00 per year (subject to change)
Payment Accepted	Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, and more	Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies
Money Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	2 days
Number of Devices Per License	10	Unlimited
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Yes	No

NordVPN offers monthly, yearly, and 2-year plans, with the 2-year subscription giving you the best value at $3.39/month. The price increases to $139.08 per year on renewal. You can choose between Basic, Plus, and Complete plans, each adding extra security features at a higher cost.

Psiphon's free version works on all platforms, but limits speeds to 2Mbps and includes ads. On iOS and macOS, you can get premium features through weekly, monthly, or annual subscriptions. Android and Windows users can pick between Basic (high speeds up to 5Mbps) or Unlimited plans (unlimited speed). There are also time passes available for 7 days, 30 days, or 360 days, with the 360-day pass at $2.99/week offering the best value.

Both VPNs support major credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies.

Overall, NordVPN offers far more for your money, even on the Basic plan. While Psiphon may be free, the poor data security and privacy will cost you more in the long run.

Winner

While both services cost about the same for long-term plans, NordVPN offers much better value. You get advanced security features, faster speeds, and better streaming capabilities, plus a longer money-back guarantee.

Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs Psiphon

To provide an accurate comparison between NordVPN and Psiphon, we conducted thorough testing focused on key aspects like connection speeds, server networks, encryption standards, privacy policies, and device compatibility. We also assessed how well each service works with streaming platforms and performs in restricted regions.

To ensure reliable results, we ran multiple speed tests across different locations throughout the day. We analyzed each provider's security features, examined their privacy policies, and tested for potential data leaks. We also evaluated their compatibility with various devices and streaming platforms to understand their effectiveness for everyday use. For a complete look at how we evaluate VPNs, check out our VPN testing methodology page.

NordVPN vs Psiphon — Reddit Opinions

NordVPN generally receives positive feedback for streaming and gaming, while Psiphon is viewed more as a tool for bypassing restrictive rules rather than a full-fledged VPN. Redditors praise NordVPN for its fast speeds, streaming capabilities, and user-friendly interface. However, some Redditors report occasional connection issues, which we didn’t experience in our tests.

Psiphon receives mixed reviews and is not generally considered a top-tier VPN service. Some users do appreciate Psiphon for its ability to work in restrictive regions, but many caution against relying on it as a comprehensive security or privacy tool.