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NordVPN vs UltraVPN compares two fast VPNs with very different privacy records. NordVPN has 6 audits in our table and operates from Panama; UltraVPN runs Hydra from the US, inside Point Wild, with no audit of its own.
Both stream well, so the decision rests on proof, jurisdiction and price. This guide compares them side by side. Our UltraVPN review covers the second service in depth.
NordVPN vs UltraVPN on Audits
Our audit table records 6 NordVPN audits by PwC and Deloitte, which gives its privacy claims a long paper trail.
UltraVPN has no audit of its own and shares a privacy policy across Point Wild brands, which reviewers call vague. For proof of privacy, NordVPN is clearly ahead, since UltraVPN relies on a policy shared across several brands.
The Hydra Protocol
UltraVPN uses Hydra, the protocol behind Hotspot Shield, and averaged 211 Mbps in Comparitech’s tests. Point Wild owns both brands.
NordVPN’s NordLynx is also fast, and our speed table records a 2.9% loss for NordVPN in CNET’s tests. Both are quick; the difference lies elsewhere.
Speed
In CNET’s tests, NordVPN kept all but 2.9% of the base connection speed, according to our speed table.
UltraVPN averaged 211 Mbps across Comparitech’s tests with Hydra. Both are fast, though the two tests used different methods, so the figures do not compare directly.
Two-Year Cost
Our tables put NordVPN Basic at $94.23 for its first 27 months, roughly $3.49 a month, with renewal at $139.08 a year and $14.99 on monthly billing.
UltraVPN costs $7.99 a month or $59.88 a year, while its two-year plan later renews at $159.80, ProPrivacy reports. NordVPN costs less per month on long plans, while UltraVPN’s monthly price is lower than NordVPN’s monthly rate.
Free Use and Devices
NordVPN allows 10 devices and has no free plan, though a card-backed 7-day trial runs in 15 countries, according to our refund table.
UltraVPN offers a free app with in-app upgrades, though sources disagree on its limits. UltraVPN offers a free app with upgrades, while NordVPN covers a clearly stated 10 devices.
Jurisdiction and Ownership
NordVPN’s base is Panama, and its parent, Nord Security, also owns Surfshark.
UltraVPN operates under US law within Point Wild. Panama sits outside the Five Eyes; the US sits inside it.
Security Features
NordVPN’s apps ship with a kill switch and Threat Protection, which blocks known malicious sites. Our NordVPN kill switch guide explains both.
UltraVPN offers Tor over VPN on every server, ProPrivacy notes, though vpnMentor found one IP leak in 2026.
Platforms and Support
Apps for NordVPN span Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and smart TVs. Apps cover the main platforms, and a free app sits in the App Store.
NordVPN’s support includes round-the-clock live chat. Premium members get round-the-clock email support, according to the developer’s replies.
Protocols and Streaming
For protocols, NordVPN offers NordLynx, built on WireGuard, and OpenVPN; our NordVPN Netflix guide covers how it handles streaming.
UltraVPN runs Hydra and offers Tor over VPN on every server, and ProPrivacy found BBC iPlayer on all its UK servers. Both handle streaming well, so choose on privacy.
Which Is Better Value?
NordVPN gives better long-term value, since its two-year price buys audits and a base outside the Five Eyes. UltraVPN is better value only on a short monthly plan.
Payment and Checkout
Compare final totals rather than headline prices, since VAT and currency conversion apply at checkout. Save the renewal terms for both.
Refunds
NordVPN offers 30 days for refunds on every plan, according to our refund table.
UltraVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, FileHorse notes. Both offer 30 days.
Who Each Is For
NordVPN fits readers who want audits, speed and streaming together. UltraVPN suits streamers who want fast speeds at a modest price.
Pick UltraVPN for cheap monthly streaming; pick NordVPN for audited privacy outside the Five Eyes.
What Else to Know About UltraVPN
Pango, then part of Aura, bought UltraVPN in 2020, and the group now trades as Point Wild. Comparitech, which tested its speed, belongs to the same group, as Comparitech itself discloses.
What Else to Know About NordVPN
Beyond Basic, NordVPN sells Complete and Prime plans with extra tools, renewing at $219.48 and $296.28 a year, our tables show. Most readers only need Basic.
Testing Both
The fairest test uses the same network, the same time of day and the same sites. Run a leak test on each, as our guide to checking if a VPN is working shows, then compare speed and streaming.
Switching Between Them
If you switch, overlap the two for a day so you never browse unprotected. Then uninstall the old app and cancel its renewal.
Related pages on UltraVPN cover UltraVPN alternatives, UltraVPN’s free plan and what UltraVPN costs.
Readers weighing similar options can also read NordVPN vs AdGuard VPN and NordVPN vs PotatoVPN.
How We Research
For this NordVPN vs UltraVPN comparison, NordVPN’s audits, prices, devices, speed and refunds come from our tables. UltraVPN’s figures come from our research for the UltraVPN review, mainly ProPrivacy’s UltraVPN review, read on 21 October 2026. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
NordVPN vs UltraVPN FAQ
NordVPN for audits and a non-US base; UltraVPN for cheap monthly streaming.
Not on its own; NordVPN has 6 audits in our table.
NordVPN on two-year plans; UltraVPN on monthly billing.
NordVPN in Panama; UltraVPN in the US.
Both stream well in tests.
The Verdict
NordVPN vs UltraVPN: both are fast and stream well, but NordVPN adds 6 audits and a Panama base at a lower long-term price. Choose UltraVPN only for short monthly use.