Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Aura vs NordVPN
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aura |  NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $12 | €14.99 |
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3Higher | 1 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000Higher | $2,000,000 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Family plan price | $32 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Credit bureaus monitored is higher at Aura: 3 vs 1.
- Insurance amount is higher at Aura: $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 vs $2,000,000.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Phone.
- Money-back period is higher at Aura: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN: 2012 vs 2014.
- NordVPN is available in 248 more countries.
- Pricing model: only Aura offers Budget.
- Pricing model: only NordVPN offers Free.
Our verdict on each
Aura
Aura suits households that want identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under a single subscription. The trade-off is cost: the monthly plan sits at $12 and the family plan at $32, above the site median of €7.89.
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 | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherMonthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and first-year price of $120 clears €49.95. | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. |
| Offer | 9.5Bundles VPN, password manager and parental controls on one subscription, with a family plan at $32 covering adults, kids and devices. | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. |
| Privacy | 8.7 | 9.0Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 33 of 232 | 1 of 232 |
| Password managers | 21 of 69 | 1 of 69 |
| Identity theft protection | 20 of 117 | 1 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 97 of 280 | 1 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 6 of 41 | 1 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 28 of 189 | 1 of 189 |
Choosing between them
Pick Aura if credit bureaus monitored, insurance amount, and money-back period matter most.
Pick NordVPN if privacy matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
Available in 2 countries for both. Additional countries for NordVPN: 248.
If neither fits
Optery has credit bureaus monitored at 635, against 3 for Aura and 1 for NordVPN.
Optery reviewWhere these facts come from
Aura
- aura.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
NordVPN
- nordvpn.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coveron.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nordlocker.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Budget | Free |
| Legal entity | Aura Sub, LLC | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2014 | 2012Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | $12 | €3.49 |
| Devices | from 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | 100 | 150Higher |
| 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 | Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | $120 | €139.08 |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, Obfuscation |
| Streaming services | Netflix, YouTube | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Browsers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 27 monthsHigher |
Password managers
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15 | €14.99 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Family plan | 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Encryption | 256-AES | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Antivirus
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $120 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | No | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager, Parental controls | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $120 | Not confirmed |
Data removal
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | from 425 | Not confirmed |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Ad blocker |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 3 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | €77.88 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3at the median | 1below the median | 3 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000highest quarter | $2,000,000above the median | $1,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $32above the median | Not confirmed | $29.99 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 49 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aura
Pros
- A single subscription covers identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls, with parental tools for screen time and web filtering.
- Monitoring runs across 3 credit bureaus, which matches the 3 site median and the 30 brands ranked on it.
- The family plan covers 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32 per month.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so you start on a paid subscription with a trial of 14 days.
- The monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and the first-year price of $120 is higher still.
- Identity insurance of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 looks generous, but Aura ranks at 10 of 45 on that measure.
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
Aura
Who it suits
- Households that want a single subscription covering identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls
- Families covering several adults and unlimited kids who value the family plan of 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32
- Readers who want a 60 day money back window and a 14 day trial before deciding
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a free plan or free version to sample, which Aura does not offer
- Buyers who will not stretch past the $12 monthly plan or the $120 first-year price
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
Aura
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial on all Aura plans: 14 days free
Free trial offer can only be redeemed once per customer; full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day money-back guarantee on all annual plans: 60 days
Only for annual plans purchased through Aura websites (excludes Amazon) or via the Customer Support team
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 | Aura | 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
Aura
What does Aura cost per month, and what happens at renewal?+
The monthly plan is $12 and the family plan is $32, covering 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices. The first-year price is $120 and the renewal price is $120, so the figure after a year stays where it is. A long term plan price of $12 runs 12 months.
Is there a free version of Aura to try first?+
There is no free plan and no free version, so a paid subscription is the only way in. A free trial of 14 days and a money back period of 60 days soften that. Across the site most brands do ship a free version, so Aura is the exception here.
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.
Other options to compare
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