- ✓NordVPN is our overall #1, so most people leave over price, device limits, or wanting a more independent provider.
- ✓The catch worth knowing: Surfshark — the obvious “cheaper Nord” — is owned by the same company, Nord Security.
- ✓For a genuinely independent alternative, Proton VPN is the standout.
- ✓For another premium all-rounder, ExpressVPN is the closest like-for-like.
- ✓If you just want unlimited devices for less, Surfshark still delivers — as long as the shared ownership doesn’t bother you.
The short answer
There’s no single “best NordVPN alternative” — it depends on why you’re leaving. Want a genuinely independent provider? Proton VPN. Want another premium all-rounder? ExpressVPN. Want Nord-level quality for less, with unlimited devices? Surfshark — with the honest caveat that it shares NordVPN’s owner. Below we match each to the reason people actually switch.
Leaving for independence → Proton. Leaving for polish → ExpressVPN. Leaving for price → Surfshark (same owner, though).
Why people leave NordVPN
NordVPN tops our best VPN for Ireland ranking, so the reasons to move are specific rather than because it’s bad:
- The renewal price. Like most VPNs, the cheap headline rate is an intro offer; the renewal is noticeably higher.
- Device limits. NordVPN caps simultaneous connections (around ten) — a problem for big households who want unlimited.
- You want independence. Some people would simply rather not be with one of the industry’s giants.
- Feature overload. The app does a lot; if you want something leaner, that can feel like clutter.
Who owns NordVPN — and why it matters
Here’s the part most “alternatives” articles skip. NordVPN is owned by Nord Security — which, since a 2022 merger, also owns Surfshark. The two run separate apps and networks, but share corporate ownership, investors and leadership. So if you’re leaving NordVPN specifically to get away from a big group, jumping to Surfshark doesn’t really achieve that. The genuinely independent names are Proton VPN (Switzerland) and Mullvad (Sweden). It’s not a reason to avoid Surfshark — just something you should know before you “switch”.
The best NordVPN alternatives
Three that each win for a different reason:
Owner: Independent (Proton AG, Switzerland)
If part of leaving NordVPN is wanting out of a big corporate group, Proton is the answer — independently owned in Switzerland, open-source and repeatedly audited, with a genuinely usable free tier. You trade a little of Nord’s raw speed and server count for the most trustworthy privacy story on the market.
Read our Proton VPN review →
Owner: Kape Technologies
The closest like-for-like if you want a big, polished, do-everything VPN and Nord’s renewal price pushed you out. ExpressVPN is a touch pricier and has fewer bells and whistles, but its apps are the easiest around and its audit record is the longest. Note it’s owned by Kape (which also owns CyberGhost and PIA).
Read our ExpressVPN review →
Owner: Nord Security — the same owner as NordVPN
Surfshark gives you Nord-tier speed and streaming for less, plus unlimited devices. The honest caveat: it’s owned by Nord Security, NordVPN’s own parent company. So it’s a great value move, but not a move away from the same corporate group — worth knowing if independence is why you’re leaving.
Read our Surfshark review →At a glance
Should you actually switch?
Honestly — often not. NordVPN is our top overall pick because it’s excellent at nearly everything: fastest in our tests, reliable streaming, an audited no-logs policy and a huge network. If you value that all-round performance and the price doesn’t sting, staying is a perfectly good decision. Switch if one specific thing outweighs it: a lower long-term price, unlimited devices, or independent ownership. Match the alternative to that reason and you’ll be happy; switch just for the sake of it and you may miss what Nord did well.
Compare them directly in our NordVPN vs Surfshark and NordVPN vs Proton VPN head-to-heads. Or read the full NordVPN review.