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Software · head to head

Microsoft Defender vs NordVPN

M

Microsoft Defender

Software

Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NordVPN logo

NordVPN

Software

The best online VPN service for speed and security

From
$3.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender the overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead; NordVPN the App Store listing states the app is free to download but is non-functional without purchasing a subscription first; no price figure appears anywhere in the listing itself, only the requirement to buy a plan before VPN access works.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and NordVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Defender and NordVPN differ
AttributeMicrosoft DefenderNordVPN
Starting priceOn request$3.99/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Desktop, Mobile, Api
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Microsoft Defender

Nothing recorded that NordVPN does not also cover.

Only in NordVPN

  • Military-grade encryption
  • No-logs policy
  • Kill Switch
  • Split tunneling
  • Double VPN
  • Onion over VPN
  • Threat Protection
  • Meshnet

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Defender

No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft Defender review.

NordVPN

  • Vpnnot Microsoft Defender
  • Privacynot Microsoft Defender
  • Online Securitynot Microsoft Defender

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Defender

  • The overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead
  • Full family and business protection requires a Microsoft 365 Family, Personal or Premium subscription rather than being included with the free built-in Windows version

NordVPN

  • The App Store listing states the app is free to download but is non-functional without purchasing a subscription first; no price figure appears anywhere in the listing itself, only the requirement to buy a plan before VPN access works.

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Defender

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender review.

NordVPN

$3.99/month
  • Standard$3.99/month
    • 6 devices
    • 5,500+ servers
    • Threat Protection Lite
  • Plus$4.99/month
    • All Standard features
    • Threat Protection Pro
    • NordPass password manager
  • Complete$5.99/month
    • All Plus features
    • NordLocker 1TB encrypted cloud
    • Identity theft protection

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Defender if

Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from NordVPN on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Microsoft Defender review

Choose NordVPN if

  • You need military-grade encryption.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want no-logs policy.
NordVPN review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Defender or NordVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at On request and NordVPN at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or NordVPN?
Microsoft Defender starts at On request and NordVPN at $3.99/month.
Does Microsoft Defender or NordVPN run on more platforms?
Microsoft Defender runs on Web. NordVPN runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
What can Microsoft Defender do that NordVPN cannot?
NordVPN covers Military-grade encryption, No-logs policy, Kill Switch, Split tunneling.
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Related pages

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