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NordVPN vs CactusVPN – Which VPN is better?

In the 2026 VPN market, NordVPN and CactusVPN are popular options. Our comparison highlights the differences in speed, encryption and price.

Our winner

NordVPN

In this head-to-head comparison NordVPN delivers the better overall performance.

See NordVPN deal

Comparison table

Feature
NordVPN
CactusVPN
Speed
92 Mbit/s
66 Mbit/s
Servers
6.000+
36+
Countries
60+
22
Streaming
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer
Security
No-logs policy
No-logs policy
No-Logs
Yes (audited)
Yes
Price
3,49 €/month
2,77 €/month
Apps
Win, Mac, iOS, Android
Win, Mac, iOS, Android (6 devices)
Support
24/7 Live Chat
24/7 Live Chat

Speed – NordVPN vs CactusVPN

NordVPN leads our speed test (92 vs 66 Mbit/s). The gap is most noticeable during 4K streaming and large downloads.

NordVPN
Download 92 Mbit/s
Upload 78 Mbit/s
Ping 18 ms
CactusVPN
Download 66 Mbit/s
Upload 52 Mbit/s
Ping 30 ms

Security – NordVPN vs CactusVPN

Security comes first at NordVPN and CactusVPN. Both providers use AES-256, a kill switch and a strict no-logs policy – the differences are in the details.

NordVPN
  • No-logs policy
  • AES-256 Encryption
  • Kill Switch
  • DNS Leak Protection
CactusVPN
  • No-logs policy
  • AES-256 Encryption
  • Kill Switch
  • Smart DNS Proxy

Streaming – which VPN works better?

NordVPN supports Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+. CactusVPN supports Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer. Both VPNs work for streaming, with NordVPN being slightly more reliable.

NordVPN

Netflix
Amazon Prime
Disney+

CactusVPN

Netflix
Amazon Prime
Disney+
Hulu
BBC iPlayer

Pricing

NordVPN

from 3,49 €/month

2-year subscription - 30-day money-back guarantee

See NordVPN deal

CactusVPN

from 2,77 €/month

2-year subscription - 30-day money-back guarantee

See CactusVPN deal

Which VPN is better for…

Streaming

NordVPN

NordVPN unblocks streaming services slightly more reliably.

Security

NordVPN

More security functions and features.

Value for money

CactusVPN

Lower price with comparable performance.

Our verdict – NordVPN or CactusVPN?

After our test the verdict is clear: NordVPN is the stronger provider in this duel. CactusVPN still has solid arguments and suits users with more specific requirements.

FAQ – NordVPN vs CactusVPN

Is NordVPN or CactusVPN faster? +

NordVPN is a bit faster on average (92 Mbit/s vs 66 Mbit/s). Both deliver good speeds for streaming and downloads.

Which VPN is cheaper – NordVPN or CactusVPN? +

CactusVPN is cheaper (from 2,77 €/month). NordVPN starts at 3,49 €/month.

Which VPN is more secure? +

Both offer AES-256 encryption and no-logs policies. NordVPN packs a few more security features.

Which VPN is better for streaming? +

NordVPN unblocks streaming services slightly more reliably in our test. Both VPNs work with Netflix and other platforms.

Should you still go with CactusVPN? +

Yes, in some scenarios. CactusVPN convinces with its own strengths and can be the more fitting choice depending on your needs.

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