NordVPN vs OpenVPN: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways

1. NordVPN provides their own VPN service while OpenVPN is open-source VPN software.
2. NordVPN has over 5,000 servers worldwide while OpenVPN allows you to create your own VPN server.
3. NordVPN focuses on ease of use while OpenVPN requires more technical knowledge to set up and maintain.

What is NordVPN?

NordVPN is among the popular VPN (Virtual Private Network) service providers that provide numerous features and provide additional benefits to their users. The key feature of the service is that it has a quite user-friendly interface along with a dedicated focus on security and privacy, which helped it gain vast popularity in the industry.

Also, it has a massive network of servers that is with 5400 and more servers spread across 59 countries in the world. The encryption of NordVPN, which is AES-256, allows it to secure user data with a high level of security. It is also compatible with six other devices and works on various operating systems like – Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and macOS. 

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is among the open-source VPN (Virtual Private Network) service providers. It is a protocol that offers private and secure connections over the Internet. OpenVPN is best known for its high level of security, flexibility, versatility, and making it a promising choice for users and various organizations.

It supports numerous protocols such as – PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and SSTP. This feature helps them select the most appropriate protocol according to their requirements and the device’s compatibility. Also, it is a cross-platform network available for macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. 

Difference Between NordVPN and OpenVPN

1. NordVPN is a type of VPN provider, whereas, on the other hand, OpenVPN is a type of open-source provider.
2. The protocols used in NordVPN are – WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec, and OpenVPN, while on the other hand, the protocols used in OpenVPN are – PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and SSTP.
3. The encryption of NordVPN is AES-256 with OpenVPN protocol comparatively; on the other hand, there are multiple options available for the encryption of OpenVPN.
4. For NordVPN, there are more than 5400 servers across 59 countries. On the other hand, there are no such networks for OpenVPN.
5. NordVPN can be simultaneously connected to six devices. At the same time, OpenVPN mainly depends upon the client and server configuration.
6. The performance of NordVPN is fast and reliable, whereas, comparatively, on the other hand, the performance of OpenVPN depends upon the server configuration.
7. NordVPN has a more user-friendly interface, while OpenVPN requires configuration and technical setup.
8. NordVPN is supported by the following platforms – Android, macOS, Linux, Windows, and iOS. At the same time, OpenVPN is supported by cross-platforms.
9. NordVPN has a strict no-log policy. In contrast, OpenVPN’s privacy policy depends on various VPN server configurations.
10. The additional features of NordVPN are – Double VPN, CyberSec, and Onion Over VPN. While the additional feature of OpenVPN is that it can be interspersed with other third-party applications.
11. The cost for NordVPN is based on subscription-based plans, but OpenVPN is free to use and has open source. 

Comparison Between NordVPN and OpenVPN

Parameter of Comparison	NordVPN	OpenVPN
Type	VPN provider	Open-source provider
Protocols	WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN	PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP
Encryption	AES-256 with OpenVPN protocol	There are multiple options available (like – Blowfish, AES)
Server Locations	More than 5400 servers across 59 countries	There are no such networks
Simultaneous Connections	Approximate up to 6 devices	It mainly depends upon the client and server configuration
Performance	Reliable and fast	It depends on the server configuration
User-Friendly Interface	Yes	It requires configuration and technical setup
Platforms Supported	Android, macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS	Cross-platforms
Privacy Policy	Strict no-logs policy	It is based on various configurations of VPN servers
Additional Features	Double VPN, CyberSec, Onion Over VPN	Integrated with numerous third-party apps
Cost	Subscription-based plans	Free to use and is open source

References

1. https://filelist.tudelft.nl/TBM/Over%20faculteit/Afdelingen/Engineering%20Systems%20and%20Services/People/Professors%20emeriti/Jan%20van%20den%20Berg/MasterPhdThesis/Internet-proxy-detection_v1.1-final_Hans%20Hoogstraaten.pdf
2. https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3278532.3278570

Last Updated : 27 August, 2023