Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs NordVPN
AdGuard
Higher score in this comparison
NordVPN
Where AdGuard and NordVPN differ
| Compare | AdGuardReviewVisitVisit | NordVPNReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Private dnsCovers more | Ad blocker |
| Price from | Not confirmed | €14.99 |
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | CY | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Free plan: only AdGuard.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers TvOS.
- Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
- Protocols: only NordVPN offers OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Support channels: only AdGuard offers Community.
- Support channels: only NordVPN offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at AdGuard: 2009 vs 2012.
- Privacy tool type: only AdGuard offers Private dns.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard
AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.
NordVPN
NordVPN suits people who want broad server reach and a no-logs policy under independent audit, and who can commit to a long plan. The catch is entry price: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan, with €139.08 due at renewal.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Higher | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.6Covers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
Licences and countries
| Country | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Lithuania |
How they place
| Ranking | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 1 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 17 of 281 | 1 of 281 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 9 of 63 | 1 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 1 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €14.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €3.49 |
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 150 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page |
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 27 monthsHigher |
Password managers
| Fact | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 3 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | €77.88 |
Identity protection
| Fact | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | Not confirmed | 1 |
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $2,000,000 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AdGuard | NordVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €14.99highest quarter | €7.50 |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
AdGuard
Pros
- Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
- The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
- Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
- The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.
NordVPN
Pros
- Covers 150 server countries, the highest count in the ranking, with 10 devices per account
- Features include kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop alongside the stated no logs, streaming and travel use cases
- Protocol choice covers OpenVPN, NordLynx and NordWhisper
Cons
- Entry price is high: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan puts it near the bottom of the monthly price ranking
- There is no free plan, so the free version comparison starts with nothing to test
- Renewal is charged at €139.08, a jump from the €3.49 monthly rate on the introductory long plan
Who each suits
AdGuard
Who it suits
- Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
- People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
- Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
- EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.
NordVPN
Who it suits
- People who need coverage across 150 server countries rather than a handful of nearby ones
- Households or small teams that need 10 connected devices on one subscription
- Subscribers comfortable committing to a long plan, since €3.49 is only reached on the longest term
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting a free tier, since there is no free plan to start on
- Anyone who needs to pay month to month on a small budget, as €14.99 a month is the priciest end of the monthly ranking
- Readers who need phone support, since the listed channels are email, chat and help centre
Current offers
AdGuard
Current offer
Free trial
AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days
Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days
In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription
Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key
For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license
Source, checked September 26, 2026
NordVPN
Current offer
Discount code
75% off + 3 months extra: 75% off
Intro offer on the 2-year plan (first 27 months), VAT may apply, savings versus renewal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
+ 3 EXTRA months on 2-year plans: 3 extra months
Offer terms apply, additional terms apply to Ultra plan, VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial for new users on Android: 3 days free
New users, Android app via Google Play; not available in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AdGuard | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | No | Yes |
| Aland Islands | No | Yes |
| Albania | No | Yes |
| Algeria | No | Yes |
| American Samoa | No | Yes |
| Andorra | No | Yes |
| Angola | No | Yes |
| Anguilla | No | Yes |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
AdGuard
Is there a free AdGuard plan?+
Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.
What does the paid VPN plan include?+
The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.
NordVPN
How much does NordVPN cost to start with?+
The monthly plan is priced at €14.99. Committing to the longest term, 27 months, brings the monthly figure down to €3.49. That lower rate is introductory, and the 30 money back window still applies if the subscription is not a fit.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
Renewal is charged at €139.08 for the long term, against the €3.49 monthly rate that applies at the start. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the headline monthly number, since the per month rate is the part that is promotional. The two prices together tell the full cost of staying.
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