NordVPN vs. McAfee Safe Connect VPN 2024: Which Is Better?

Danica Djokic
Updated on: September 30, 2024 Writer

NordVPN and McAfee Safe Connect VPN are leading VPN providers. Both services are fast, offer great security features, and are easy to use. They incorporate industry-standard features such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. Also, both providers have full leak protection, Tor (The Onion Router) support, and a tool that blocks malicious sites.

However, NordVPN has much more advantages. It has a network of over 6,371 servers in more than 111 countries. And, it also offers more extra features like a smart DNS, double VPN connections, obfuscation, split-tunneling, and an ad and malware blocker. It also has apps for more platforms and is better for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. McAfee, on the other hand, only has 1,900+ servers in 45+ countries, doesn’t work with BBC iPlayer and Disney+, has slower speeds on distant servers, and is missing many important additional features.

I tested NordVPN and McAfee Safe Connect VPN for different metrics, such as speed, security, privacy, server network, extra features, streaming, torrenting, gaming, P2P support, bypassing censorship, ease of use, plans & pricing, and customer service. While both offer something to entice users, NordVPN wins in most categories. Continue reading to see which provider best meets your needs.

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NordVPN vs. McAfee Safe Connect VPN — Quick Overview

Security — NordVPN Is More Secure

Both VPNs are very safe for users, but NordVPN has more security features. Both NordVPN and McAfee come with industry-standard VPN security features, such as:

• 256-bit AES encryption. This military-grade encryption method scrambles your information, making it impossible for hackers to access it without a specific key.
• No-logs policy. Ensures the VPN provider won’t collect and store your internet traffic and IP address.
• Kill switch. Disables your internet if the VPN connection drops to protect you from data leaks.

I like that NordVPN offers an app-level kill switch along with the standard one. It ensures selected apps are shut down if the VPN disconnects. I experimented with this feature using 4 different P2P clients, and it successfully closed the app each time when I disconnected from the server.

Both NordVPN and McAfee Safe Connect VPN offer full leak protection. With both providers, your device is protected from DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. I ran extensive leak tests on more than 15 servers from each provider, and there were no leaks on any of them.

NordVPN has several advanced security features that McAfee Safe Connect VPN lacks, like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. With RAM-only servers, all your data is wiped clean after every reboot, while perfect forward secrecy ensures that even if one encryption key is compromised, it can’t be used to decrypt past or future VPN sessions.

NordVPN comes with OpenVPN and its proprietary NordLynx protocol. OpenVPN provides fast speeds and advanced security, while NordLynx is very fast as it’s based on WireGuard. McAfee Safe Connect VPN supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPSec.

And with NordVPN, you’ll also get to secure your account with two-factor authentication, meaning that you’ll have to use two types of identification to log in, usually a password and a time-sensitive code.

Extra Features — NordVPN Wins This One

NordVPN is the winner here since it offers more extras than McAfee Safe Connect VPN. Unlike McAfee, NordVPN provides good split-tunneling, a feature allowing users to choose which apps use the VPN and which connect via the local network. McAfee has split-tunneling on Android, but it’s only for apps and isn’t very convenient to use.

Also, only NordVPN offers obfuscation, which masks your VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. It is useful for letting you hide your VPN usage to enjoy more privacy.

Moreover, NordVPN has an excellent security tool called Threat Protection Pro. It blocks third-party trackers and pop-up ads and protects against malicious downloads, even when not connected to a VPN server. Plus, it also alerts you if it detects outdated apps that might pose a security risk. McAfee only has a feature that blocks shady websites.

Both VPNs have Tor support, meaning you can secure your Tor traffic with either VPN. That said, NordVPN also has Onion Over VPN servers, which let you surf the dark web in regular browsers, like Chrome or Firefox.

Plus, NordVPN comes with a bunch of other additional features that McAfee lacks:

• Dedicated IP addresses. For a small monthly fee, NordVPN assigns you a unique IP address. With it, you can avoid reCAPTCHAs and ensure access to sites that often block shared VPN IPs.
• SOCKS5 proxy support. These servers change your IP without encrypting your traffic for faster speeds, making it a good feature for P2P especially.
• Smart DNS. Allows you to use a VPN on devices that lack native VPN support, such as smart TVs or gaming consoles.
• SmartPlay. Mixes smart DNS and VPN technology to add extra encryption to your VPN connections.
• Double VPN connections. Add an extra layer of security by routing your data through two servers.
• Dark Web Monitor. Scans the dark web and alerts you if it finds out that your account information has been leaked or exposed there.
• Tapjacking protection. Warns you if a malicious app on your device tries to trick you into clicking something unintentionally by overlaying content on your screen.
• Meshnet. Allows connecting up to 60 devices over VPN connections for secure virtual LAN parties or file sharing.

Privacy — NordVPN Has Better Privacy Measures

When it comes to privacy, NordVPN is slightly better than McAfee Safe Connect. Both providers maintain a strict no-logs policy, and both are independently audited. NordVPN has also successfully passed audits for its mobile and desktop apps and its proprietary NordLynx protocol, assuring that these aspects of its service are secure.

Moreover, NordVPN is based in Panama, a location outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances, which means it’s not required to store user data or comply with their data requests. On the other hand, McAfee is based in the US, which is a member of the Alliances.

Plus, I like that NordVPN accepts cryptocurrency payments. This provides more privacy as it allows users to make anonymous transactions, an option McAfee Safe Connect VPN doesn’t offer. Plus, NordVPN offers extra-secure colocated servers, entirely owned and controlled by them.

Servers — NordVPN Comes Out on Top

NordVPN offers a larger server network with more advanced server options. With over 6,371 servers spread across 111 countries, NordVPN provides users with more options than McAfee, which only offers 1,900+ servers in 45+ countries. A more extensive server network ensures faster speeds, as servers don’t get overcrowded even at peak hours. Also, it’s easier to find a closeby server, which results in better speeds since the connection doesn’t travel as far.

NordVPN provides more than 4,500 dedicated P2P servers across more than 45 countries, which means better speeds and performance for file-sharing. McAfee allows P2P file sharing on its entire server network, but it’s still smaller than NordVPN’s P2P server network.

Additionally, NordVPN offers other types of servers, including obfuscated servers, double VPN servers for enhanced security, colocated servers owned and operated solely by NordVPN, and Onion Over VPN servers for secure access to the Tor network.

Unlike McAfee, NordVPN provides dedicated IP servers. For a small monthly fee, you’ll get a dedicated IP address from 10+ countries, including the US, the UK, France, and the Netherlands.

However, McAfee does offer virtual server locations, which provide access to regions where placing a physical server might not be possible. I tested 5+ of its virtual locations, and they always provided me with the correct IP address.

Speeds — NordVPN Maintains Faster Speeds

Both NordVPN and McAfee are pretty fast, but NordVPN is slightly faster and delivers better torrenting speeds.

With NordVPN, I could load almost all content immediately without any lags. Websites, HD videos, and 4K videos loaded instantly on nearby servers, and I didn’t experience any buffering. On distant servers, websites took roughly 2–3 seconds to load, while HD videos were faster (1–2 seconds). But I was a bit disappointed that 4K videos took 4–5 seconds to start on distant servers. I was impressed with its torrenting speeds, though, as I managed to download a 20 GB file in just 12–13 minutes on nearby servers (19–22 minutes for distant servers).

McAfee Safe Connect VPN’s speeds were very fast on local servers, but I was a bit disappointed with them on more distant ones. Even though nearby servers allowed instant loading, websites, HD, and 4K videos took from 2 to 6 seconds to load on faraway servers. When it comes to torrenting, I needed 15–16 minutes to download a 20 GB file on nearby servers and 22–23 minutes on distant servers.

Streaming — NordVPN Offers Much Better Streaming Support

NordVPN offers a much better streaming experience than McAfee. It works with more than 10 streaming platforms, including Netflix (10+ libraries), Hulu, Disney+, Max, and BBC iPlayer. In contrast, McAfee is more limited since it only works with Netflix and Amazon Prime, though inconsistently.

NordVPN has a Smart DNS service, so you can use it on devices that don’t typically support VPN apps, a feature that McAfee Safe Connect VPN doesn’t have. Plus, NordVPN uses unique SmartPlay technology, which mixes VPN and Smart DNS technologies for extra encryption.

Torrenting — NordVPN Is a Better Pick for Torrenting

Both providers allow torrenting, but there are clear advantages to using NordVPN. Firstly, NordVPN has more than 4,500 dedicated servers across over 95 countries. McAfee allows P2P traffic on all of its servers, but the size of its P2P server network is still smaller.

And both VPNs work with popular torrent clients such as qBittorrent and Vuze. I tested over 5 different P2P apps while connected to each provider’s servers and had a smooth torrenting experience.

Unlike McAfee Safe Connect VPN, NordVPN also offers SOCKS5 proxy support, which is great for torrenting as it changes your IP address without encrypting your traffic. This way, you’ll get faster speeds.

When it comes to security during torrenting, both VPNs employ strong measures like a kill switch, an audited no-logs policy, and full leak protection. Additionally, NordVPN’s Threat Protection tool protects users from downloading malware-infected torrents.

Gaming — NordVPN Provides the Best Experience

Even though both VPNs allow smooth gaming, I prefer NordVPN. I tested them with Dota 2 and League of Legends and enjoyed low ping and speedy gameplay on nearby servers with both VPNs. However, when connected to distant servers, I experienced higher ping with McAfee and minor lag with both, though not enough to disrupt the gaming experience significantly.

The problem is, neither provider has built-in anti-DDoS protection, meaning that you can get disconnected from the VPN server in the middle of your game if someone tries to DDoS your VPN connection.

However, I like how NordVPN has Meshnet, a feature that allows secure connections of up to 60 devices. If you’re considering a virtual LAN party, this feature will provide a secure and encrypted connection to your friends’ devices. You can also set up NordVPN on your router (unlike McAfee), so that you can play games on devices that don’t work with VPN apps, like PlayStation consoles.

Also, neither VPN provides support for cloud gaming. This means that you won’t be able to access online services like GeForce Now, which allows you to remotely play a wide range of video games on different devices, like laptops and smartphones.

Bypassing Censorship — I Don’t Recommend Either Provider

	Obfuscation	Works in China	Works in Russia	Works in Iran	Works in Indonesia	Works in Saudi Arabia
NordVPN	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
McAfee Safe Connect VPN	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌

Neither VPN works in highly restrictive countries. Even though NordVPN has obfuscation on a large number of its servers, it can’t be used in countries like China, Iran, and Russia, as its customer support representatives confirmed.

I recommend you go with ExpressVPN instead — it consistently works in all restrictive countries.

Apps & Ease of Use — NordVPN Is More User-Friendly

I am very impressed with NordVPN’s cross-platform support. It’s available on numerous platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, and Android and Fire TVs, and it can also be manually set up on routers. On the other hand, McAfee Safe Connect VPN doesn’t support routers, macOS, smart TVs, and Linux but provides support for ChromeOS.

Both providers offer easy-to-use apps for Android and iOS. NordVPN’s mobile apps come with a Quick Connect tool that automatically connects you to the fastest server. On the other hand, McAfee’s mobile apps are more basic, and you’ll have to manually select the country and server.

In terms of desktop apps, NordVPN’s dashboard is feature-rich and easy to navigate, allowing users to select servers through a digital map, which is much easier than with a server list. On the other hand, McAfee’s desktop app is relatively simple, offering basic VPN functionality but lacking advanced features.

Plans & Pricing — NordVPN Is More Affordable

NordVPN is both more affordable and provides better value for money when compared to McAfee Safe Connect VPN. While McAfee allows up to 5 device connections, NordVPN extends this to 10 simultaneous connections.

NordVPN has tier-based subscriptions with monthly and yearly plans. The Basic subscription comes with almost all VPN features, with the exception of Threat Protection Pro — instead, this subscription only includes Threat Protection, a more limited version that only blocks malicious and phishing domains, and some ads.

The Plus subscription (the one I recommend) adds Threat Protection Pro and NordPass, which is a good password manager — this subscription costs $3.89 / month. And, finally, the Ultimate subscription adds NordLayer, a cloud encryption service, and protection against cyber extortion and identity theft.

McAfee Safe Connect VPN offers monthly and yearly plans and a limited free plan. Its paid subscriptions are quite pricey and start at $39.99 / year, while the free plan comes with a monthly data cap of 250 MB, lets you protect only 1 device, and has 50+ global server locations to choose from. Additionally, McAfee Safe Connect VPN can be purchased as part of a bundle with one of McAfee’s antivirus plans.

Both providers accept multiple payment methods. While NordVPN accepts credit/debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and cryptocurrencies (adds an extra layer of privacy), McAfee Safe Connect VPN only accepts credit/debit cards and PayPal. Also, both VPNs offer a standard 30-day money-back guarantee, providing you with a risk-free opportunity to try their service.

Customer Support — Both VPNs Offer Excellent Customer Service

I was quite satisfied with both NordVPN and McAfee Safe Connect VPN customer service. They both have extensive support libraries filled with FAQs (although McAfee’s FAQs are a bit limited), tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and support articles. McAfee has a very helpful community with forums you can join and get swift and accurate answers.

Also, both VPNs provide 24/7 live chat support with friendly representatives. If you haven’t subscribed to McAfee’s free or paid plans, you can only contact a chatbot, though. McAfee also provides phone support to its paid users, which is a big advantage.

NordVPN and McAfee Safe Connect VPN offer excellent email service, too. Responses typically arrive in less than a day, and the information provided is always detailed and helpful.

Overall Winner: NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It has excellent streaming and torrenting capabilities. Furthermore, it comes with tons of extras, including split-tunneling, Threat Protection Pro, a smart DNS, and double VPN connections. It supports a wide range of platforms, provides really good speeds, and is really affordable.

McAfee also provides good value. It delivers good speeds, offers good security and privacy features, and excellent customer service with phone support for paid users. It also has good P2P support and works with a few popular streaming services.

According to my tests, the overall winner is NordVPN. It has a larger server network, more advanced security features, and a bunch of extras. It also has much better streaming capabilities and is overall better for torrenting. With it, you’ll also get better cross-platform support and more affordable plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NordVPN better than McAfee Safe Connect VPN?

Yes, NordVPN performs much better than McAfee Safe Connect VPN. NordVPN offers a broader range of services including better support for streaming and torrenting, and gaming. It also comes with more extra features, better security and privacy, more affordable prices, and apps for more platforms. The only area where both VPNs are matched is customer support.

Which is better for streaming — NordVPN or McAfee Safe Connect VPN?

NordVPN has much better streaming support. NordVPN consistently works with 10+ popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and BBC iPlayer. NordVPN also has a smart DNS and comes with unique SmartPlay technology that combines VPN and Smart DNS technologies for additional encryption.

Are NordVPN and McAfee Safe Connect VPN both safe to use?

Yes, both providers are safe to use, but NordVPN stands out with its extra security features. Both VPNs use industry-standard features such as 256-bit AES encryption, an audited no-logs policy, and a kill switch (though NordVPN offers an app-level kill switch, too). Both VPNs also provide full leak protection, but NordVPN goes the extra mile with RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and two-factor authentication.

Which offers better extra features — NordVPN or McAfee Safe Connect VPN?

In terms of additional features, NordVPN is a clear winner. It comes with split-tunneling, obfuscation, an ad and malware blocker, dedicated IP addresses, SOCKS5 proxy support, a smart DNS tool, double VPN connections, Onion Over VPN servers, Dark Web Monitor, Tapjacking Protection, and Meshnet. McAfee is more bare-bones, as it only has Tor support and a feature that blocks shady sites.

Read more about the best VPNs in 2024