In the world of online security, Norton is an instant household name and generally offers some of the best cyber security products available on the market today. One of these is its virtual private network product, simply called Norton VPN.
A VPN is an internet tool that encrypts your internet traffic and hides your internet protocol address, protecting you from online tracking and helping you access online content that is not available in your location.
Norton positions its VPN as a way to “stream freely” and “stay more private.” However, while Norton VPN is built on top of its flagship antivirus software and offers an advanced cybersecurity suite, it has significantly fewer servers and apps than other top VPNs. So is it worth your time and money? Let’s find out.
Main features
Norton VPN has all the key features you would expect with a premium VPN service. There is an auto-connect feature that will automatically connect to a VPN server when a suspicious connection is identified, such as a public Wi-Fi hotspot, and will be disabled if your internet network is secure.
With split tunneling, you can choose which applications you think require the extra security of a VPN service – such as email and online banking – and which do not, such as streaming platforms. This is useful because VPNs can slow down apps – the last thing you want is laggy streaming, for example.
Another useful feature is a built-in kill switch, which will disable your device’s internet access if your VPN connection suddenly drops. Plus, you can switch between several VPN protocols – but more on that shortly. There is also an ad blocker.
In addition to these VPN services, you can pay more for more advanced online security tools like AI fraud detection, real-time malware and ransomware protection, and parental controls that let you limit your kids’ screen time. prevent them from accessing websites to increase and track the location of their devices.
SERVERS
Compared to many other top VPN providers, Norton VPN has a much smaller server network. It has a total of 35 international locations, compared to 113 offered by NordVPN, 110 by Surfshark and 105 by ExpressVPN.
These include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines , Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Although Norton VPN does not have a wide range of international locations compared to its competitors, its servers are no less secure. They use bank-grade encryption to secure your data, making it unreadable to online snoopers. And thanks to a strict no-logging policy, Norton VPN will never collect or store your web browsing data.
Additionally, Norton VPN servers support several major protocols for added security and fast, reliable connections. You can choose from OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard and Mimik. The latter is Norton’s proprietary VPN protocol, which helps users bypass internet geo-restrictions and hide their VPN usage from third parties like internet service providers.
Applications
Unlike many of its competitors, Norton only offers its VPN service on a handful of major operating systems. You can download the Norton VPN app on Android, iOS, Mac and Windows.
There isn’t an app for Linux, which might disappoint the more tech-savvy of us who use this operating system. Norton VPN doesn’t support routers or streaming devices either, so you’re limited to using it on mobile, Mac, and desktop only.
The software itself is simple to set up and use. Just download the Norton VPN app, log into your account and connect to the fastest server available (which will be the one closest to you) by pressing the change button until it turns green and a checkmark appears.
You can also choose a server manually. Just hit the box that says “fastest location” which is below the switch to start a server. Then, a list of international server locations will appear. When you select a server, the text in the small box that displays the list of servers changes to the name of that country. It also mentions the IP address of the server in question.
A neat part of Norton VPN’s user interface is a map that shows a snapshot of the server location you choose. It’s not of much practical use, though – you can’t interact with it and browse server locations like the world map in the NordVPN apps.
In the top left corner, you’ll see a three-line button where you can log in to your account, write an app review, access settings, and get customer support. The top right corner has a button to access the VPN settings. Here, you can enable automatic VPN connection, ad tracker blocking, split tunnel and kill switch. There is also an option to customize the VPN protocol.
Subscription options and pricing
Norton VPN comes in basic, mid and premium packages with different prices and features.
The cheapest option is Norton VPN Standard, which costs $39.99 for the first year. This basic VPN service supports up to five devices per account and offers standard VPN features like IP masking, split tunneling, and a kill switch.
If you’re willing to part with more cash, you can get Norton VPN Plus for $49.99 in the first year. Also supporting up to five devices, it has all the stuff you get with the standard package, along with more advanced features like antivirus, a password manager and 10GB of cloud storage.
Finally, you have the high-end version: Norton VPN Ultimate. Priced at $59.99, it offers the same features as the standard and mid-range packages, but can be used on up to ten devices simultaneously, making it ideal for gadget hoarders and families. Other features include parental controls and 50GB of cloud backup.
Transmission and General Performance
Because NortonVPN has a much smaller network of global servers than other major VPN providers, you’ll only be able to unblock streaming and geo-restricted web content in a handful of countries.
That said, NortonVPN has servers in many major international markets, and to test their unblocking capabilities, I connected to a few of them and opened the Netflix app on my Android smartphone. I was able to access the US, Canadian, Australian, French and German Netflix libraries from the UK, proving that NortonVPN is quite a capable VPN for streaming Netflix.
While connected to Netflix Germany, I watched the first few minutes of a romantic German movie called Text for You. The video loaded smoothly and I had no issues with buffering or sound.
When I wasn’t using NordVPN’s foreign servers to access Netflix in other countries, I connected to the VPN’s fastest location — which was in the UK, where I live — and kept it running in the background on my phone. It didn’t slow down my general web browsing, using apps, scrolling to the bottom of TikTik, or video calling with my partner like it sometimes does when using a VPN.
Choosing the right protocol can also play an important role in how apps work while your device is connected to a VPN service. Although NortonVPN offers several major VPN protocols, I chose the auto protocol selection option. With this setting enabled, Norton VPN automatically selects the optimal VPN protocol based on factors such as your device specifications and the quality of your network, ensuring the best possible speed and security. I have no doubt that this was the case, as my experience using Norton VPN was smooth.
Final decision
If you’re looking for a powerful VPN service and advanced online protection from a household name, then Norton VPN is a good choice. It’s very easy to use, competitively priced, and has all the hallmarks of a top VPN, except for extras like antivirus and cloud storage.
But it won’t be perfect for everyone. With a small server network and lack of router and smart TV support, it’s probably not the best option for unblocking geo-restricted streaming and web content. That said, I was able to unblock Netflix in many major countries, although there are many other top VPNs with wider server networks and support for more device types. Overall, I would recommend this as a service for improving your online security and privacy, first and foremost.
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