Norton VPN Review: A Middling Option in a Crowded Market
Norton VPN, formerly Norton Secure VPN, is a standalone VPN service separate from the VPN feature bundled with Norton 360. While it offers decent functionality, it struggles to compete with leading VPNs like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, and NordVPN, which outperform it in speed, features, security, or pricing.
Installation and User Experience
Norton VPN provides apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and browsers, with a clean and intuitive interface. The Windows app is the most polished, offering split tunneling, multiple VPN protocols, and in-app troubleshooting. Mac and iOS users get fewer features, missing split tunneling and having limited protocol options. The browser extension includes an ad blocker, but it lacks customization compared to dedicated ad-blocking tools.
Speed Performance
Norton VPN’s speeds are underwhelming, with an average 21.1 percent drop in download speeds—one of the worst among tested VPNs. Upload speeds fared better, dropping only 9.5 percent on average. Latency was middling, with an average worldwide ping of 322 ms, making it acceptable for gaming but not ideal for high-speed streaming. The automatic server selection also frequently recommended distant servers, worsening performance.
Security and Privacy
Norton VPN offers different protocols depending on the platform. Windows and Android users get WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Mimic (an obfuscation protocol), while Mac and iOS users are limited to IKEv2 and Mimic. Mimic, while encrypted, lacks transparency, so sticking with open-source protocols like WireGuard is advisable.
A major security flaw is the brief exposure of your real IP when switching servers unless the kill switch is enabled. Worse, iOS users can only use the kill switch with Mimic, forcing a trade-off between security and protocol choice.
Privacy-wise, Norton VPN’s standalone service has a strict no-logs policy, confirmed by a 2024 audit. However, the VPN bundled with Norton 360 collects extensive user data, making it a poor choice for privacy-conscious users.
Pricing and Bundles
Norton VPN only offers annual subscriptions, with steep renewal price hikes. The Standard plan starts at $39.99 for the first year, then jumps to $79.99. Plus and Ultimate tiers add antivirus features, parental controls, and data removal tools, but these are better accessed through Norton 360 bundles.
Server Network and Streaming
Norton VPN has 106 server locations in 66 countries, all physical (no virtual servers). While this ensures reliability, the network is smaller than competitors. Most servers successfully unblocked Netflix, except Iceland, which was consistently blocked—a sign Norton isn’t actively maintaining all locations.
Extra Features
Recent updates added useful features like double VPN, IP rotation, and pause functionality. However, these are playing catch-up rather than innovating. The ad blocker is browser-only, and split tunneling is missing on Mac and iOS. Wi-Fi security scans on mobile and P2P-optimized servers are nice touches but not unique.
Customer Support
Support is inconsistent. Windows users get robust in-app help, while other platforms are directed to a clunky website with sparse FAQs. Live chat is slow, and support teams prefer calling over email—often flagged as spam.
Final Verdict
Norton VPN is a functional but unremarkable service. Its speed, security gaps, and high renewal costs make it hard to recommend over competitors. If you’re already using Norton 360, the bundled VPN is a fine add-on, but as a standalone product, better options exist.
