Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Aura vs NordVPN
Where Aura and NordVPN differ
| Compare |  Aura |  NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $15 | €14.99 |
| Long-term plan price | $12 | €3.49 |
| Server countries | 100 | 150Higher |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOSCovers more |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | 27 monthsHigher |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08 |
| Jurisdiction | US | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper |
| Streaming services | Netflix, YouTube | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
Same on both: Devices (10).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- NordVPN scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Server countries is higher at NordVPN: 150 vs 100.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Multi hop, Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers Linux, Chrome, Firefox.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at NordVPN: 27 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Phone.
- Support channels: only NordVPN offers Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Aura: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at NordVPN: 2012 vs 2017.
- NordVPN is available in 248 more countries.
Our verdict on each
Aura
Aura suits households and small businesses who want identity protection and a VPN in one subscription rather than a single-purpose VPN. It scores 4.9 overall, with 8.2 for the offer, while the monthly price of $15 sits well above the €7.89 typical on this site.
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 | 8.3Monthly price of $15 and long-term price of $12 both sit far above the site medians of €7.89 and €3.97. | 8.7HigherMonthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. |
| Offer | 9.1One subscription spans VPN, 3 credit bureaus, from 425 brokers, an ad blocker, 10 devices and 100 server countries. | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. |
| Privacy | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
Available in 2 countries for both. Additional countries for NordVPN: 248.
What each covers
| Features | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | Yes | Yes |
| Multi hop | No | Yes |
| Obfuscation | No | Yes |
Choosing between them
Pick Aura if money-back period matter most.
Pick NordVPN if cost, offer, server countries, features, and platforms matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 51 of 232 | 1 of 232 |
| Password managers | 27 of 69 | 1 of 69 |
| Identity theft protection | 34 of 117 | 1 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 47 of 280 | 1 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 21 of 63 | 1 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 12 of 41 | 1 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 43 of 189 | 1 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Budget | Free |
| Legal entity | Aura Sub, LLC | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2017 | 2012Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15 | €14.99 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free plan limits | 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier | Not confirmed |
| Logging policy | No VPN activity logging; personal data not sold to third parties | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits |
| Open source | No | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Identity protection
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3Higher | 1 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000Higher | $2,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $32 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $120 to $384 | Not confirmed |
Data removal
| Fact | Aura | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | from 425 | Not confirmed |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10at the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 100highest quarter | 150highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08highest quarter | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 monthsat the median | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aura
Pros
- One subscription covers the VPN, credit monitoring, data broker removal and an ad blocker, priced from $15.
- Annual plan drops to $12, against a site long-term median of €3.97.
- Server reach of 100 countries ranks 7 of 62, above the 48.5 site median.
Cons
- The monthly price of $15 is well above the €7.89 site median and ranks 121 of 133.
- The long-term plan price of $12 ranks 102 of 112, so the saving is smaller than at most rivals.
- Free plan is no, and 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier means the only way to test it costs nothing for a limited window.
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 identity monitoring and a VPN from one provider, priced from $15.
- Small businesses, since business is the stated audience.
- People who value no VPN activity logging and a ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited over the cheapest monthly fee.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, whose iCloud Private Relay runs at $0.99 with no identity monitoring attached.
- Anyone set on a free tier, since free plan is no.
- Sinew Software Systems users, who want a password manager at $1.99 instead of a VPN.
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
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
How much does Aura cost at the start and at renewal?+
The single VPN plan lists $15 a month, while the long-term plan price is $12 for 12 months. Yearly billing for the wider bundle runs $120 to $384. Buyers who commit to the long-term plan pay a lower rate per month than the entry monthly price suggests.
Is there a free plan or free trial?+
Free plan is no, so there is no permanent free tier. 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier means a 14 day trial is offered once per customer. Anyone unwilling to pay after the trial window has nothing to fall back on.
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
Other matchups
- NordVPN vs WEBROOT master
- NordVPN vs NordPass
- NordVPN vs Intego
- NordVPN vs Kaspersky
- NordVPN vs Kaspersky Latam
- NordVPN vs Kaspersky
- NordVPN vs ESET Brasil
- NordVPN vs ESET
- NordVPN vs FastestVPN
- Aura vs Surfshark
- NordVPN vs Surfshark Alert
- NordVPN vs Surfshark One (Antivirus)
- NordVPN vs Proton
- NordVPN vs Proton Pass
- NordVPN vs Proton Mail
- NordVPN vs AdGuard