In the world of online security, Norton is an instantly recognizable name and generally offers some of the best cybersecurity 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 web traffic and hides your internet protocol address, protecting you from online snooping 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 developed on top of its leading antivirus software and provides an advanced cybersecurity suite, it has noticeably fewer servers and apps than other leading VPNs. So, is it worth your time and money? Let’s find out.
Key Features
Norton VPN has all the key features you’d expect with a premium VPN service. There’s an auto-connect function that will automatically connect to a VPN server when a dodgy connection is identified, like a public Wi-Fi hotspot, and deactivate itself if your internet network is secure.
With split tunneling, you can choose which apps you think require the extra security of a VPN service — like emails and online banking — and those that don’t, such as streaming platforms. This is handy because VPNs can slow down apps —the last thing you want is laggy streaming, for instance.
Another handy 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’s an ad blocker, too.
Besides these VPN services, you can pay more for more advanced online security tools like artificial intelligence-powered scam detection, real-time malware and ransomware protection, and parental controls that let you limit your children’s screen time, prevent them from accessing adult websites, and track the location of their devices.
Servers
Compared to many other leading VPN providers, Norton VPN has a much smaller server network. It totals 35 international locations, compared to the 113 provided by NordVPN, the 110 by Surfshark, and the 105 by ExpressVPN.
These include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Although Norton VPN doesn’t have an extensive range of international locations compared to its competitors, its servers are no less secure. They use banking-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’s servers support several leading protocols for added security and fast, reliable connections. You can choose from OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard, and Mimic. The latter is Norton’s proprietary VPN protocol, which helps users circumvent internet geo-restrictions and conceal their VPN usage from third parties like internet service providers.
Apps
Unlike lots of its competitors, Norton only offers its VPN service on a small 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 may disappoint the more tech-savvy among us who use this operating system. Nor does Norton VPN support routers or streaming devices, so you’re limited to using it on just mobile, Mac, and desktop.
The software itself is straightforward to set up and use. You just download the Norton VPN app, sign into your account, and connect to the fastest-available server (which will be the nearest to you) by pressing the toggle until it turns green and a tick appears.
You can also choose a server manually. Simply press the box that says “fastest location”, which is under the toggle for turning on a server. Then, a list of international server locations will appear. When you pick a server, the text in the little box that brings up the server list changes to the name of that country. It also mentions the IP address of said server.
A neat part of the Norton VPN user interface is a map that shows a picture of the server location you choose. It doesn’t have 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 sign into your account, write an app review, access settings, and get customer support. The top-right corner has a button for accessing VPN settings. Here, you can activate VPN auto-connect, ad tracker blocking, split tunneling, and the kill switch. There’s also an option to customize the VPN protocol.
Subscription Options and Pricing
Norton VPN comes in basic, medium, and high-end packages with varying 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 pick up 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 top-tier version: Norton VPN Ultimate. Priced at $59,99, it provides the same features as the standard and medium 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.
Streaming and General Performance
Because NortonVPN has a much smaller network of global servers than other leading VPN providers, you’ll only be able to unblock geo-restricted streaming and web content in a handful of countries.
That said, NortonVPN does have servers in many major international markets, and to test their unblocking capabilities, I connected to some of them and opened the Netflix app on my Android smartphone. I was able to access the American, Canadian, Australian, French, and German Netflix libraries from the UK, proving that NortonVPN is a fairly capable VPN for streaming Netflix.
While connected to Netflix Germany, I watched the first few minutes of a German romance film called Text for You. The video loaded without issues, and I didn’t experience any buffering or sound problems.
When I wasn’t using NordVPN’s foreign servers to access Netflix in other countries, I connected to the fastest VPN location — which was located in the UK, where I live — and kept it running in the background of my phone. This didn’t slow down my general web browsing, app usage, TikTik doom-scrolling, or video calls with my partner, as is sometimes the case with VPN usage.
Choosing the right protocol can also play a significant role in how apps perform while your device is connected to a VPN service. Although NortonVPN provides several leading VPN protocols, I chose the automatic protocol selection option. With this setting turned on, Norton VPN automatically chooses the optimal VPN protocol based on factors like your device’s specs and the quality of your network, ensuring the best possible speed and security. I have no doubt this was the case, as my experience of using Norton VPN was seamless.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a robust VPN service and advanced online protection from a household name, then Norton VPN is a decent choice. It’s very easy to use, competitively priced and has all the hallmarks of a top VPN in addition to extras like antivirus and cloud storage.
But it won’t be perfect for everyone. With a tiny server network and the 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 plenty of other leading VPNs with more extensive server networks and support for more types of devices. Overall, I’d recommend this as a service for improving your online security and privacy, first and foremost.
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