- ✓NordVPN is our overall #1, so most people leave over price, device limits, or wanting a more independent provider.
- ✓For a genuinely independent alternative, Proton VPN is the standout.
- ✓If you mainly stream, CyberGhost is the easier, cheaper pick — with dedicated streaming servers.
- ✓If you just want a low price and unlimited devices, Private Internet Access delivers — cheap on long plans, with no connection limit.
The short answer
There’s no single “best NordVPN alternative” — it depends on why you’re leaving. Want a genuinely independent provider? Proton VPN. Mainly streaming and want it cheaper? CyberGhost. Just want a low price and unlimited devices? Private Internet Access. Below we match each to the reason people actually switch.
Leaving for independence → Proton. Leaving to stream for less → CyberGhost. Leaving for price → Private Internet Access.
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: ownership. NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, one of the industry’s big groups. Plenty of other well-known brands sit inside a group too — CyberGhost and PIA are both owned by Kape Technologies, for instance. So if part of why you’re leaving NordVPN is wanting away from a large corporate owner, it’s worth checking where an alternative actually sits. The genuinely independent names are Proton VPN (Switzerland) and Mullvad (Sweden) — 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
If your main use is streaming and you want an easier, cheaper app than Nord, CyberGhost is worth a look — it’s beginner-friendly and runs dedicated streaming servers, including one tuned for RTÉ. You trade some of Nord’s speed and all-round consistency for a lower long-plan price. Note it’s owned by Kape (which also owns PIA).
Read our CyberGhost review →
Owner: Kape Technologies
If your reason for leaving is simply price — or you want to cover every device in the house — Private Internet Access is the value option: very cheap on a long plan, with no limit on simultaneous connections. You trade some of Nord’s polish, raw speed and streaming consistency for the lower price. Like CyberGhost, it’s owned by Kape.
Read our Private Internet Access 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 Proton VPN head-to-head. Or read the full NordVPN review.