- SOCKS5 proxy option for torrenting
- More simultaneous device connections than NordVPN
- 3000+ servers in 50 countries
- Offers Port Forwarding
- Overall faster speeds than TorGuard
- Unblocks major streaming services, including Netflix US & UK
- 5,600 servers in 60 countries
- Specialty P2P servers optimized for torrenting
TorGuard and NordVPN are strong VPN (Virtual Private Network) contenders!
For instance, NordVPN offers 5600+ servers in 60 countries.
That’s more servers compared to TorGuard’s 3000+ servers in 50 countries. Furthermore, NordVPN has more advanced security features than TorGuard.
Of course, TorGuard outshines NordVPN in some aspects, like offering more connections!
However, to better understand how TorGuard and NordVPN compare, I’ve tested and analyzed both VPNs under various criteria. Read further to find out!
TorGuard vs. NordVPN (Overview Table)
| TorGuard | NordVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Servers: | 3000+ servers in 50 countries | 5600+ servers in 60 countries |
| Speed: | 8 Mbps drop | 4 Mbps drop |
| Protocols: | OpenVPN, WireGuard, OpenConnect, and IKEv2 | NordLynx, IKEv2, and OpenVPN |
| Streaming: | Amazon Prime, NRK, France.tv, Netflix | Netflix, Hulu, NRK, France.tv, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime |
| Torrenting: | On all servers + seeding | P2P specialty servers + no seeding |
| Gaming: | 47 ms ping + 6.3% packet loss | 35 ms ping + 2.6% packet loss |
| Logs: | No-logs policy | Verified no-logs policy |
| Security: | Ad blocker, 256-bit AES encryption, two kill switches, Stealth VPN | AES-256 encryption, Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, Obfuscation, two kill switches |
| Devices: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, routers | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Linux, Smart TVs, routers |
| Simultaneous Connections: | 8 on standard service, 12 on Pro-service, and 30 on Premium service | 6 |
| Customer Support: | No live chat | 24/7 live chat |
| Best Deal: | Claim Now | Claim Now |
Server Locations
TorGuard has 3000+ servers in 50 countries, while NordVPN offers 5600+ servers in 60 countries. Thus, getting a preferred nearby server is easier with NordVPN.
These two VPNs boast servers in the UK, USA, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia for unblocking content. Even so, due to its extensive server coverage, NordVPN is the best choice for easier content unblocking.
Another similarity is that TorGuard and NordVPN utilize RAM-only based servers to prevent user activity from landing in unauthorized hands. However, NordVPN has an edge over TorGuard because all its servers are diskless. Meanwhile, only about 90% of TorGuard’s servers are RAM-based.
Do TorGuard or NordVPN Work in China?
Neither TorGuard nor NordVPN has a China server. Even so, TorGuard has a Stealth VPN feature that bypasses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to unblock content and websites in China.
After engaging TorGuard customer support, they confirmed using the VPN in China is possible.
But how does TorGuard work in China using the Stealth option and Cisco Anyconnect? Here’s what the customer support had to say:
Meanwhile, NordVPN uses Obfuscated servers to access geo-restricted content in China. Also, it boasts advanced encryption features like Double VPN, making it the better choice if you need solid protection while unblocking content in China.
NordVPN customer support also confirmed using the VPN in China is possible!
Unfortunately, Windows users like me couldn’t connect to NordVPN in China, but Android, Mac, iOS, and Linux users are lucky they can, using a manual method!
TorGuard offers 3000+ servers in 50 countries, while NordVPN has 5600+ servers in 60 countries. Even though they don’t have servers in China, TorGuard has a Stealth VPN feature to bypass DPI in China, whereas NordVPN uses Obfuscated servers and advanced encryption features like Double VPN. So, NordVPN is the winner!
Is TorGuard Faster Than NordVPN?
TorGuard isn’t faster than NordVPN. NordVPN thrashed TorGuard seven—nil in my speed tests, making it undoubtedly the fastest!
But why is it so?
NordVPN’s in-house protocol – NordLynx – is an advanced WireGuard version designed for super-fast speeds. So, even though TorGuard’s OpenConnect and WireGuard protocols were pretty fast, they couldn’t outperform NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol.
OpenVPN (UDP & TCP) and IKEv2 are additional protocols I tested for both VPNs. However, I tested OpenVPN UDP in both VPNs because speeds via OpenVPN TCP are slow due to the robust encryption methods it involves.
Overall, I tested the speeds with the following:
- NordLynx (for NordVPN) against WireGuard (for TorGuard)
- OpenVPN UDP (on both VPNs)
- IKEV2 (on both VPNs)
- OpenConnect (TorGuard)
For uniformity, I used three different servers, which were:
- US–New York server (the farthest)
- Germany (Frankfurt)
- South Africa (the closest to my location)
As aforementioned, NordVPN emerged the winner in most of my tests, but TorGuard also performed well on its WireGuard and OpenConnect protocol over the South African server. However, check out my findings in the next section!
Speed & Performance
In a nutshell, all my speed test results are as tabled below:
| US Server | Germany Server | South African Server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TorGuard (WireGuard) | 10 Mbps drop | 8 Mbps drop | 4 Mbps drop |
| NordVPN (NordLynx) | 5 Mbps drop | 4 Mbps drop | 3 Mbps drop |
| TorGuard (IKEv2) | 14 Mbps drop | 10 Mbps drop | 6 Mbps drop |
| NordVPN (IKEv2) | 7 Mbps drop | 6 Mbps drop | 5 Mbps drop |
| NordVPN (OpenVPN UDP) | 6 Mbps drop | 5 Mbps drop | 3 Mbps drop |
| TorGuard (OpenVPN UDP) | 9 Mbps drop | 8 Mbps drop | 5 Mbps drop |
| OpenConnect (TorGuard) | 11 Mbps drop | 9 Mbps drop | 5 Mbps drop |
NordVPN’s average download speed was 26Mbps over a 30 Mbps connection, while Torguard averaged 22Mbps over the same connection.
Unsurprisingly, the fastest NordVPN speeds were on the NordLynx protocol over its South African server.
NordVPN had an average speed of 26Mbps over a 30Mbps connection. Meanwhile, TorGuard averaged 22Mbps over the same connection. Besides being faster, NordVPN won all my speed tests, making it faster than TorGuard!
Streaming
I tested both VPNs on different streaming services to determine whether they’re fit to access geo-restricted content. Here’s how things played out:
| Streaming Service | TorGuard Access? | NordVPN Access? |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu | No | Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | No | Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | Yes | Yes |
| NRK | Yes | Yes |
| France.TV | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, NordVPN is better suited for unblocking most streaming services than TorGuard.
But why?
First, all NordVPN servers are suitable for streaming, as none of those I tested disappointed me. That’s unlike in TorGuard, where I couldn’t unblock streaming services like Hulu and BBC iPlayer. In fact, to unlock the above streaming services with TorGuard, I had to use a dedicated streaming IP address that cost me additional money.
Next, NordVPN offers a SmartDNS feature, unlike TorGuard, with which I watched “Black Panther” directly from my LG smartTV on Disney Plus.
Furthermore, the NordVPN streaming experience was smoother, with excellent connection speeds for 4K and HD streaming.
Netflix Tests
TorGuard and NordVPN performed well in unblocking several Netflix libraries I tested. Here’s an overview of the test results:
| Unblocks: | Netflix US? | Netflix UK? | Other Netflix Libraries? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TorGuard | Yes | Yes | Netflix AR, JP, ES |
| NordVPN | Yes | Yes | Netflix AR, JP, ES |
Even though both VPNs managed to unblock all Netflix libraries I tested, finding a reliable server on NordVPN was much easier. Meanwhile, you can’t unblock Netflix on TorGuard’s regular servers unless you buy its streaming bundle.
Besides that, everything else, including streaming video quality and speed, was stellar across both VPNs. I didn’t even experience noticeable lag while watching the “Murder Mystery 2” movie.
NordVPN unblocked all streaming services I tested, including BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NRK, and France.tv. Meanwhile, TorGuard failed to unblock BBC iPlayer and Hulu, even though it unblocked various Netflix libraries like NordVPN. So, NordVPN wins this round because it’s also easy to find a streaming server at no additional cost.
Torrenting
All NordVPN and TorGuard servers are P2P-friendly, meaning you can use them for torrenting. Nevertheless, each VPN has its way of making torrenting better!
First, TorGuard offers Port Forwarding, something NordVPN lacks.
Thus, TorGuard can be used for torrent seeding, unlike NordVPN.
On the other hand, NordVPN exclusively offers P2P-dedicated servers that offer better torrent download speeds than regular P2P-supported servers.
Furthermore, both VPNs have SOCKS5 proxies to boost download speeds.
In fact, TorGuard offers more proxies (20+ torrent proxies) than NordVPN, with about ten proxies.
Another similarity with these VPNs is that they’re compatible with various popular torrent clients, including Deluge, Utorrent, Vuze, and BitTorrent.
Lastly, note that both VPNs don’t encourage downloading copyrighted material. TorGuard clearly states this in its Terms of Use:
NordVPN’s Terms of Service also discourage violation and infringement of copyright rules.
Now let’s dive in and see how each VPN fared in my P2P tests!
P2P Tests
I tested both VPNs by downloading a 751.7 MB copyright-free film using the qBittorrent torrenting client. For conformity, I connected to a South African server on both VPNs. I also chose the fastest protocols for each provider – NordLynx for NordVPN and WireGuard for TorGuard.
Here are the results I got.
| Average Download Speed | Max Download Speed | Download Completion Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TorGuard | 527.3KB/s | 691.2KB/s | 33 minutes |
| NordVPN | 737.0KB/s | 973.1KB/s | 18 minutes |
Overall, NordVPN was faster than TorGuard, as indicated by the higher average and maximum download speeds.
TorGuard’s average and maximum download speeds trailed behind.
Both VPNs offer P2P-friendly servers, making them suitable for torrenting. Thankfully, they’re also compatible with popular torrenting clients, and you get SOCKS5 proxies to enjoy improved speeds. But NordVPN has the upper hand with faster download speeds and P2P specialty servers.
Gaming
I tested TorGuard and NordVPN’s gaming abilities by performing quick ping and packet loss tests. Here are my findings.
| Server | Protocol | Ping | Packet Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TorGuard | US (Los Angeles server) | WireGuard | 47 ms | 6.3% |
| NordVPN | US (Los Angeles server) | NordLynx | 35 ms | 2.6% |
As you can see, NordVPN is winning here!
But again, I tested both VPNs by playing one lower-end game (Valorant) and another high-end game (Microsoft Flight Simulator).
With NordVPN, I had a smooth gaming experience with no noticeable lag.
My gaming experience with TorGuard was a bit laggy.
Here’s a snippet of me gaming with TorGuard:
And here’s NordVPN in action:
There were no noticeable lags when gaming with NordVPN, unlike in TorGuard, which featured minor lag. Likewise, NordVPN recorded the most negligible packet loss and ping compared to TorGuard on their best-performing protocols. So, NordVPN is better suited for gaming!
Privacy
User privacy is a serious consideration for both VPNs. For instance, to sign up for these VPNs, you must provide a valid email address, username, and password.
The email is used for account verification, password recovery, and general communication.
On top of that, both VPNs accept cryptocurrency payment methods to enhance users’ financial privacy. TorGuard accepts multiple cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Dash, while NordVPN accepts XRP, Ethereum, and Bitcoin.
Speaking of jurisdiction, NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly location. Meanwhile, TorGuard is located in the United States, a staunch member of surveillance alliances; thus, it can be compelled to hand over user data to the government.
Finally, NordVPN offers an ad-blocking and malware protection feature called Threat Protection. It also provides Dark Web Monitoring, unlike TorGuard, which only offers ad-blocking DNS as its privacy add-on!
Logging Policies
Even though it’s based in a 14-Eyes country, TorGuard doesn’t keep or log user data. That’s the same case with NordVPN!
| Traffic Logs? | Connection Logs? | IP Address? | Server Location? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TorGuard | No | No | No | No |
| NordVPN | No | No | No | No |
However, TorGuards’ no logs policy hasn’t undergone any audit/verification.
This makes NordVPN shine, as it has been audited several times. PricewaterhouseCoopers AG did its first and second audits in 2018 and 2020, while the latest audits were done in 2022 by Deloitte and Cure53.
Furthermore, neither of these two VPNs is fully open source.
But on the upside, some NordVPN components, like its Linux client, are open source.
TorGuard and NordVPN have strict no-logs policies, accept cryptocurrency to enhance user financial privacy, and have privacy features like ad blockers. However, NordVPN provides extra privacy add-ons like the Dark Web Monitor and has undergone a series of audits. Also, NordVPN is based outside the 14-Eyes, giving it the boost to win the privacy section.
Security
Security-wise, TorGuard and NordVPN employ common basic security techniques. For example, both VPN services use virtually unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption to secure user data from potential cyberattacks.
After testing the encryption in both VPNs using Wireshark, I got gibberish on NordVPN.
Likewise, I got unintelligible texts and symbols on TorGuard:
Therefore, anyone who attempts to pry on you sees the same indecipherable texts, making it hard for them to read or steal your sensitive information.
Another similarity is that both VPNs offer a kill switch to prevent IP/DNS leaks in case the VPN randomly disconnects. Even while the VPN is active, your IP/DNS details are changed to that of the server you’re connected to, so you’re always secure.
Here’s the result of an IP/DNS leak test I conducted while connected to NordVPN:
TorGuard didn’t leak my real IP address, as well:
Now let’s find out how TorGuard and NordVPN compare on advanced security features!
DDoS Protection
DDoS protection in these VPNs varies regarding infrastructure and protection mechanisms. For example, while TorGuard VPN provides DDoS-protected VPN IP addresses, NordVPN offers DDoS protection on all its servers.
Also, TorGuard’s DDoS protection comes at an additional cost, while NordVPN includes it in your subscription plan.
Obfuscation
Both VPNs employ unique obfuscation techniques, essential in evading VPN blocks, especially in security-sensitive countries like China, Iraq, and North Korea.
NordVPN’s obfuscation is enabled by connecting to its obfuscated servers under the OpenVPN (either UDP or TCP) connection protocol.
Meanwhile, TorGuard’s obfuscation is activated by enabling its Stealth VPN feature, also called Stealth Proxy, over OpenVPN (UDP or TCP).
Extra Security Features
NordVPN’s in-house NordLynx protocol is another security feature, offering robust protection and fast speeds. TorGuard, on the other hand, has an exclusive OpenConnect protocol that works with its Stealth VPN feature.
Lastly, NordVPN has a Multihop feature (called DoubleVPN) that allows you to connect to two servers simultaneously for extra protection, something you won’t get on TorGuard.
NordVPN and TorGuard take user security seriously by offering solid security mechanisms such as AES 256-bit encryption, kill switches, and IP/DNS leak protection. Both VPNs also provide DDoS protection. However, NordVPN’s extra security features like Multihop give it the winning edge!
Devices & Connections
TorGuard and NordVPN offer native Windows, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Android apps.
Regarding Linux compatibility, both VPNs support multiple distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, and Linux Mint. The NordVPN app is updated regularly to maintain its compatibility with newer Linux versions.
Both VPNs are also router compatible, which involves manual set-up.
On top of that, the VPNs can be configured in custom firmware routers such as AsusWRT, Tomato, OpenWRT, DD-WRT, etc.
Furthermore, TorGuard offers Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extensions, also available in NordVPN.
Here’s a quick overview of all devices/connections these VPNs support:
| TorGuard | NordVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible OS? | Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Android |
| Smart TVs? | Android TV and Fire TV | Android TV, Fire TV, + SmartDNS |
| Router Support? | Yes (Manual Configuration) | Yes (Manual Configuration) |
| Browser Extensions? | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
Speaking of simultaneous connections, TorGuard allows up to 8 connections on its standard service, 12 on the Pro service, and 30 on the Premium service. Meanwhile, NordVPN allows only six connections.
Finally, NordVPN offers SmartDNS, which TorGuard lacks. TorGuard customer care support cited that this feature was ineffective to explain why they don’t provide it!
Either way, SmartDNS is a handy feature for accessing content on devices that aren’t VPN-compatible, like Smart TVs. In line with that, NordVPN supports various SmartDNS streaming services, which include Amazon Prime(US), Disney Plus(US), HBO Now(US), Peacock TV, Sports Go, and Netflix US.
Both VPNs support Windows, iOS, Linux, Android, macOS, and routers. Also, they both offer Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browser extensions. However, TorGuard has a slight advantage over NordVPN in providing more connections.
Dedicated IPs
Both VPNs offer dedicated IPs to access IP-restricted content and tighten your online security. However, TorGuard’s dedicated IPs differ from NordVPN’s in various aspects.
For instance, despite offering dedicated IPs in several countries, including US and UK, it also allows users to integrate their dedicated IPs within the app.
On the other hand, NordVPN doesn’t allow dedicated IP integration.
Instead, you can buy dedicated IPs in several locations, including Germany, Italy, the US, the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Canada, and Australia.
Note that both VPNs charge extra for their dedicated IP addresses, with NordVPN’s ($3.89/month) being cheaper than TorGuard’s ($7.99 – $13.99/month) offering.
Split Tunneling
TorGuard’s split tunneling feature is available only on its Android app, as confirmed by customer care support.
On the other hand, NordVPN offers split tunneling on more platforms, including its Android, Windows, and Android TV apps.
Therefore, NordVPN is the better choice for split tunneling on more everyday units.
SOCKS5 Proxy
Both VPNs offer SOCKS5 proxy as part of their basic plans, but NordVPN is better suited for SOCKS5 proxy functionalities than TorGuard.
For starters, NordVPN’s SOCKS5 proxy servers are spread over different locations, including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles, among others, giving you more options for switching proxy locations.
Meanwhile, TorGuard SOCKS5 proxy servers are limited to only 3 locations — Canada (Montreal), Amsterdam, and London.
The upside for TorGuard’s SOCKS5 proxies is that they’re more (20+ proxies) than NordVPN’s, which offers about ten SOCKS5 proxy servers.
TorGuard and NordVPN offer split tunneling, dedicated IPs, DDoS protection, SOCKS5 proxies, and multiple device connections. Even so, NordVPN provides more features TorGuard lacks, such as Multihop, Dark Web Monitor, and SmartDNS. Thus, NordVPN wins this round!
Customer Support
NordVPN offers a 24/7 live chat that TorGuard doesn’t have.
I asked the TorGuard support team via email if their live chat works, and it was clear they don’t have the feature from the response they gave.
You can only reach TorGuard customer support through emails or submit tickets on the client service page. Sadly, these channels are ineffective, as it can take days to get a response to your email.
Other TorGuard support resources include community forums, FAQs, and a knowledge base.
Meanwhile, NordVPN offers customer support via emails which is less effective than its 24/7 live chat. I got speedy answers to my questions via NordVPN’s live chat, even though its bot delayed the process a bit before linking me to a live agent.
Finally, the NordVPN help center makes its customer support better.
Here, you get access to thousands of written resources by typing the keyword of your query.
NordVPN’s customer support wins this category because it entails 24/7 live chat, emails, and a resourceful help center. TorGuard lost mainly for lacking a 24/7 live chat system.
Usability
NordVPN’s app infrastructure and layout are more user-friendly than TorGuard’s. You can quickly use the NordVPN search function to find your desired server and get started in less than a minute!
Furthermore, the NordVPN settings menu is more organized, visually pleasing, and easy to navigate. Hovering on the icons on NordVPN activates pop-up texts explaining what each option does. Also, each settings option has little explanations underneath to guide users.
Conversely, TorGuard’s app infrastructure and layout are less inviting.
Everything, including the servers and settings, is overwhelming upon logging into the app. For instance, there’s no server search option, like in NordVPN, so finding and connecting to a preferred server is challenging, especially if you’re a first-time user.
Even worse, TorGuard’s VPN settings involve multiple checkboxes with strangely-worded options. Also, there are no explanations for the settings, unlike with NordVPN, making it harder to navigate through the VPN unless you’re a skilled user.
NordVPN’s app is more user-friendly than TorGuard’s. Users can easily find servers on NordVPN; its settings are clearly explained for beginner, intermediate, and expert users. Conversely, TorGuard’s server list and settings are geared toward skilled users, which can be confusing even for that group.
Price & Value
Both TorGuard and NordVPN have different subscription plans to suit your budget.
Here’s an overview of NordVPN’s pricing plans:
And here’s TorGuard’s:
But which VPN is more affordable?
NordVPN’s plans are straightforwardly structured. There are monthly, 1-year, and 2-year plans, with the latter being the cheapest. The best thing is these plans are further broken down into 3 other pricing tiers: Standard, Plus, and Complete, to offer additional Nord Security packages in an add-on deal to the VPN.
This is unlike TorGuard subscription plans which are pricey and include paid add-ons that make the VPN more costly.
Furthermore, NordVPN offers a 30-day trial period, while TorGuard only allows you to try it risk-free for 7 days. Therefore, you have more time to try NordVPN features than TorGuard before committing to the VPN!
NordVPN offers straightforward, encompassing, and affordable pricing plans. Conversely, TorGuard requires you to pay for basic features as add-ons, such as streaming IPs. So, NordVPN has the best value for money and a 30-day money-back guarantee to back it up, compared to TorGuard’s 7 days!
TorGuard vs. NordVPN (Overview Table)
| TorGuard | NordVPN | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Servers: | 3,000+ servers in 50 countries | 5600+ servers in 60 countries | NordVPN |
| Speed: | 8 Mbps drop | 4 Mbps drop | NordVPN |
| Protocols: | OpenVPN, WireGuard, OpenConnect, and IKEv2 | NordLynx, IKEv2, and OpenVPN | TorGuard |
| Streaming: | Amazon Prime Video, NRK, and France.tv | Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, NRK, France.tv, and BBC iPlayer | NordVPN |
| Torrenting: | On all servers + seeding | On all servers + P2P specialty servers + no seeding | TorGuard |
| Gaming: | 47 ms ping + 6.3% packet loss | 35 ms ping + 2.6% packet loss | NordVPN |
| Logs: | No-logs policy | Verified no-logs policy | NordVPN |
| Security: | Ad blocker, 256-bit AES encryption, two kill switches, Stealth VPN | AES-256 encryption, Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, Obfuscation, two kill switches | NordVPN |
| Devices: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, routers (manual) | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, Smart TVs, routers (manual) | NordVPN |
| Simultaneous Connections: | 8 (standard service), 12 (Pro service), 30 (Premium service) | 6 | TorGuard |
| Customer Support: | No live chat | 24/7 live chat | NordVPN |
| Best Deal: | Claim Now | Claim Now |
NordVPN vs. TorGuard: Which VPN is the Overall Winner?
NordVPN wins this battle as it’s equipped with a sizable fleet of servers, solid security techniques and offers super-fast gaming, torrenting, and streaming speeds. Moreover, NordVPN is more affordable than TorGuard.
Even so, TorGuard is a better option in some VPN service aspects.
For instance, it features Port Forwarding, which NordVPN lacks, and offers more device connections.
So, the best VPN provider for you depends on what you want to do with it.
And once you’ve made up your mind, take advantage of these NordVPN offers or TorGuard deals to save more on your subscriptions!
Protect private web traffic from snooping, interference, and censorship. All plans are covered by a no-hassle 100% money-back guarantee for your first 30 days of service.
