In the world of virtual private networks (VPNs), the Norton Secure VPN vs Hola debate is one that garners much attention. These two big players each offer unique features and benefits, but picking the one that’s right for you isn’t always straightforward. In this article, we delve into the specifics of each, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed choice.
Overview
Dive into the intricate world of VPNs as we pit Norton Secure VPN against Hola VPN, two popular choices in the market. We’ll delve deep into their security protocols, privacy policies, and speed capabilities, giving you a comprehensive understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which VPN best suits your online privacy needs. Let’s get started on this journey of digital privacy!
Norton Secure VPN
Price: From $29.99/year
Trustpilot Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Refund Policy: Norton Secure VPN offers a 60-day money back guarantee.
Official website: www.norton.com/vpn
Norton Secure VPN is best for internet users who prioritize online privacy and security, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.
Hola
Price: From $2.99/month
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Refund Policy: Hola VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Official website: www.hola.org
Hola VPN is best for individuals who prioritize online privacy and need unrestricted access to the internet, especially in regions where certain websites or content might be blocked.
Norton Secure VPN stands as a testimony to Norton’s commitment to online security. It offers a reliable and secure VPN service characterized by robust encryption and a no-logs policy. I’ve found it to be a guardian of my online privacy, holding a performance standard that screams 5 stars. – Lucia Alvarez
Hola VPN has revolutionized the VPN space with its community-powered (P2P) VPN service, offering a unique approach to online security and privacy. It facilitates access to a wealth of global content through a network of residential IPs, bringing a fresh perspective to what a VPN can offer and earning a 5-star rating. – Danny
Norton Secure VPN builds upon a legacy of security and privacy, presenting a reliable VPN solution. While it maintains a strong security posture, the user interface could be more intuitive. Standing tall in the VPN market, it rightfully claims a 4-star rating. – Satoshi
Hola VPN takes a community-powered approach to VPN services, offering a fresh perspective in the industry. While it facilitates access to a diverse range of global content, integrating a traditional VPN infrastructure could complement its offerings. It stands distinct in the market, deserving a 4-star rating. – Isabella Martinez
Pros & Cons
This chapter scrutinizes the strengths and weaknesses of these two VPN platforms.
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN offers robust encryption, no-logs policy, and bank-grade security, making it a reliable choice for online privacy. However, its server network is limited. Hola VPN, on the other hand, has a vast server network, but it lacks solid encryption, and its logging policy is concerning. Considering privacy and security, Norton Secure VPN is the clear winner despite its fewer server options. It's all about quality over quantity in the VPN world.
Norton Secure VPN
Pros:
- Secure: Norton Secure VPN uses strong encryption and a no-logs policy to protect your privacy.
- Fast: Norton Secure VPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market.
- Easy to use: Norton Secure VPN is easy to set up and use, even for beginners.
- Affordable: Norton Secure VPN is very affordable, especially when bundled with other Norton products.
- Wide network of servers: Norton Secure VPN has a wide network of servers around the world, so you can always find a server that is close to you.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, which helps to protect your privacy.
- Split tunneling: Norton Secure VPN allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection, which can be useful for streaming or gaming.
Cons:
- Limited features: Norton Secure VPN does not have some of the advanced features that are available in other VPNs, such as port forwarding and double VPN.
- No P2P support: Norton Secure VPN does not allow P2P file sharing on iOS and macOS.
- Logging: Norton Secure VPN has been accused of logging user data in the past, although the company claims that it no longer does this.
Hola
Pros:
- Free to use: Hola VPN offers a free plan that is available on a variety of devices and platforms.
- Easy to use: Hola VPN is very easy to set up and use, even for beginners.
- Fast speeds: Hola VPN can provide fast speeds, especially on local connections.
- Unblocks geo-restricted content: Hola VPN can unblock geo-restricted content, such as streaming services and websites.
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Hola VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
Cons:
- Insecure: Hola VPN uses a peer-to-peer network with limited encryption, which makes it less secure than other VPNs.
- Logs your data: Hola VPN logs your data, including your IP address, browsing history, and traffic data.
- Sells your bandwidth: Hola VPN sells your bandwidth to premium users, which could potentially expose your data to third parties.
- Doesn't work with Netflix or torrenting: Hola VPN does not work with Netflix or torrenting.
Key Features
This section compares the overall features of Norton Secure VPN vs Hola VPN.
Norton Secure VPN HQ and country of jurisdiction is United States, and Norton Secure VPN supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Hola VPN HQ and country of jurisdiction is Israel, and Hola VPN supports the following platforms and devices: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and some routers.
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN offers bank-level encryption, anonymous browsing, and worldwide access, while Hola VPN uses peer-to-peer technology, impacting security. Norton's no-log policy ensures privacy, unlike Hola's data logging. Plus, Norton supports streaming and torrenting, Hola doesn't. So, Norton Secure VPN wins for its superior security, privacy, and features.
Norton Secure VPN
- Strong encryption: Norton Secure VPN uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same level of encryption used by governments and banks to secure confidential data.
- No-logs policy: Norton Secure VPN does not log your online activity. This means that your browsing history, traffic data, and connection timestamps are not stored by the company.
- Wide network of servers: Norton Secure VPN has a wide network of servers around the world, so you can always find a server that is close to you. This can help to improve your connection speed and performance.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your privacy in the event of a connection failure.
- Split tunneling: Norton Secure VPN allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection. This can be useful for streaming or gaming, as it allows you to bypass the VPN for local traffic.
- Ad blocker: Norton Secure VPN includes an ad blocker that can help to block ads and trackers. This can improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy.
- Easy to use: Norton Secure VPN is easy to set up and use, even for beginners. The software is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
- Affordable: Norton Secure VPN is very affordable, especially when bundled with other Norton products.
Hola
- Free to use: Hola VPN offers a free plan that is available on a variety of devices and platforms.
- Easy to use: Hola VPN is very easy to set up and use, even for beginners.
- Fast speeds: Hola VPN can provide fast speeds, especially on local connections.
- Unblocks geo-restricted content: Hola VPN can unblock geo-restricted content, such as streaming services and websites.
- Works on all devices: Hola VPN can be used on a variety of devices, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and routers.
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Hola VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
Security Features
This section looks at important security features of Norton Secure VPN and Hola VPN such as encryption methods, protocols, split tunneling, kill switch, and more.
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN and Hola VPN both offer VPN services, but their security features differ significantly. Norton Secure VPN utilizes high-grade encryption and offers IP/DNS leak protection, private DNS, no-logging, and a kill switch. However, it doesn't support ad-blocking, split-tunneling, Onion over VPN, obfuscated servers, or Double VPN. On the other hand, Hola VPN lacks in many areas, offering only basic VPN protocols and IP address protection. It doesn't provide ad-blocking, data tracking, DNS leak protection, private DNS, no-logging, split tunneling, kill switch, Onion over VPN, obfuscated servers, or Double VPN. Therefore, Norton Secure VPN wins the comparison with superior security features.
Norton Secure VPN
- 256-bit AES encryption: Norton Secure VPN uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same level of encryption used by governments and banks to secure confidential data.
- No-logs policy: Norton Secure VPN does not log your online activity. This means that your browsing history, traffic data, and connection timestamps are not stored by the company.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your privacy in the event of a connection failure.
- Split tunneling: Norton Secure VPN allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection. This can be useful for streaming or gaming, as it allows you to bypass the VPN for local traffic.
- Ad blocker: Norton Secure VPN includes an ad blocker that can help to block ads and trackers. This can improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy.
- Secure DNS: Norton Secure VPN uses its own secure DNS servers to protect your privacy. This prevents your ISP seeing the websites you visit.
- Secure WiFi: Norton Secure VPN can help to protect your privacy when using public WiFi. This is because the VPN encrypts your traffic, making it difficult for hackers to steal your data.
- 256-bit AES encryption: Norton Secure VPN uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same level of encryption used by governments and banks to secure confidential data.
- OpenVPN protocol: Norton Secure VPN uses the OpenVPN protocol, which is one of the most secure and reliable VPN protocols available.
- IPSec/IKEv2 protocol: Norton Secure VPN also supports the IPSec/IKEv2 protocol, which is another secure and reliable VPN protocol.
- DNS leak protection: Norton Secure VPN has DNS leak protection to prevent your real IP address leaking.
- WebRTC leak protection: Norton Secure VPN also has WebRTC leak protection to prevent your real IP address leaking.
Hola
- 256-bit AES encryption: This is the same encryption used by the military and financial institutions, and it is considered to be unbreakable.
- Kill switch: This feature prevents your internet traffic leaking if the VPN connection drops.
- DNS leak protection: This feature prevents your DNS queries being intercepted by third parties.
- IPSec/IKEv2 protocol: This protocol is considered to be one of the most secure VPN protocols available.
- 256-bit AES encryption: This is the most commonly used encryption protocol for VPNs. It is considered to be unbreakable and provides a high level of security.
- IKEv2/IPSec protocol: This is a newer VPN protocol that is considered to be more secure than older protocols, such as PPTP and L2TP.
- Split tunneling: This feature allows you to choose which apps or websites will use the VPN and which will use your regular internet connection. This can be useful for gaming or streaming, where you want to get the best possible speeds.
Privacy Features
This section looks at the privacy features of Hola VPN vs Norton Secure VPN in terms of country of jurisdiction (five-eyes surveillance) no-logging policy, independent auditing, and more.
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN and Hola VPN differ significantly in privacy features. Norton Secure VPN offers a strict no-log policy, independently audited, with private browsing and its HQ in a non-Five Eyes country. It doesn't support crypto payments. Hola VPN, however, doesn't have a true no-log policy and is not independently audited. Its HQ is based in an unfavorable data jurisdiction, part of the Five Eyes alliance, and it doesn't support crypto payments. Therefore, Norton Secure VPN is the clear winner in terms of privacy features.
Norton Secure VPN
- No-logs policy: Norton Secure VPN does not log your online activity. This means that your browsing history, traffic data, and connection timestamps are not stored by the company.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your privacy in the event of a connection failure.
- Split tunneling: Norton Secure VPN allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection. This can be useful for streaming or gaming, as it allows you to bypass the VPN for local traffic.
- Ad blocker: Norton Secure VPN includes an ad blocker that can help to block ads and trackers. This can improve your browsing experience and protect your privacy.
- Secure DNS: Norton Secure VPN uses its own secure DNS servers to protect your privacy. This prevents your ISP seeing the websites you visit.
- Secure WiFi: Norton Secure VPN can help to protect your privacy when using public WiFi. This is because the VPN encrypts your traffic, making it difficult for hackers to steal your data.
- No browsing history: Norton Secure VPN does not log your browsing history. This means that the company does not keep a record of the websites you visit.
- No traffic data: Norton Secure VPN does not log your traffic data. This means that the company does not keep a record of the data you send and receive over the VPN connection.
- No connection timestamps: Norton Secure VPN does not log your connection timestamps. This means that the company does not keep a record of when you connect to and disconnect the VPN.
Hola
- No logs policy: Hola VPN claims that it does not log any user data, including your IP address, browsing history, or traffic data.
- Kill switch: This feature prevents your internet traffic leaking if the VPN connection drops.
- DNS leak protection: This feature prevents your DNS queries being intercepted by third parties.
- Doesn't log your IP address: Hola VPN claims that it does not log your IP address. This means that your real IP address will not be visible to websites or other third parties when you are using Hola VPN.
- Doesn't log your browsing activity: Hola VPN also claims that it does not log your browsing activity. This means that websites will not be able to track your browsing history or see what websites you have visited when you are using Hola VPN.
- Doesn't log your traffic data: Hola VPN also claims that it does not log your traffic data. This means that Hola VPN will not be able to see what data you are sending or receiving when you are using the VPN.
Speed Features
This section explores the speed features of Norton Secure VPN and Hola VPN when it comes to server technology for download/upload speeds for streaming and torrenting.
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN offers impressive download speeds, great for streaming and torrenting, with a robust network of servers ensuring consistent speed. Hola VPN, however, uses a peer-to-peer method which can slow down service depending on the number of users online. According to third-party speed tests, Norton Secure VPN generally outperforms Hola VPN in both upload and download speeds. Furthermore, Norton Secure VPN's streaming speeds remain stable, providing seamless content viewing. Therefore, in terms of speed features, Norton Secure VPN is the clear winner over Hola VPN.
Norton Secure VPN
- Number of servers: Norton Secure VPN has over 3,000 servers in over 70 countries. This gives you a wide range of servers to choose from, which can help you to find the fastest server available.
- Locations of servers: Norton Secure VPN has servers in most major countries around the world. This means that you should be able to find a server that is close to you, which can help to improve your connection speed.
- Types of servers: Norton Secure VPN offers a variety of server types, including:
- Standard servers: These are the most common type of server. They are designed for general use and offer a good balance of security and speed.
- High-speed servers: These servers are optimized for speed and are a good choice if you are streaming videos or downloading files.
- P2P servers: These servers are optimized for file sharing and are a good choice if you are using BitTorrent or other P2P file sharing applications.
- Dedicated IP servers: These servers are assigned to a single user and can be useful if you need to maintain a consistent IP address.
- Features of servers: Norton Secure VPN's servers offer a variety of features, including:
- 256-bit AES encryption: This is the same level of encryption used by governments and banks to secure confidential data.
- No-logs policy: Norton Secure VPN does not log your online activity. This means that your browsing history, traffic data, and connection timestamps are not stored by the company.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your privacy in the event of a connection failure.
- Split tunneling: Norton Secure VPN allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection. This can be useful for streaming or gaming, as it allows you to bypass the VPN for local traffic.
- Fast speeds: Norton Secure VPN is generally considered to be a fast VPN. In speed tests, it has been shown to be able to maintain speeds of around 80% of your regular internet speed. This means that you should still be able to stream videos, download files, and browse the web without any major slowdowns.
- Wide network of servers: Norton Secure VPN has a wide network of servers around the world. This means that you should be able to find a server that is close to you, which can help to improve your connection speed.
- Multiple protocols: Norton Secure VPN supports multiple VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec. This gives you the flexibility to choose the protocol that works best for you.
- Automatic server selection: Norton Secure VPN has an automatic server selection feature that can help you to connect to the fastest server available.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your privacy in the event of a connection failure.
Hola
- Number of servers: Hola VPN has over 1,000 servers in over 200 countries. This is a relatively small number of servers compared to other VPNs, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
- Server locations: Hola VPN has servers in most major countries, but it does not have servers in some smaller countries.
- Server types: Hola VPN offers a variety of server types, including standard servers, P2P servers, and streaming servers.
- Server speeds: Hola VPN claims to offer fast speeds, but this has been disputed by some users who have reported slower speeds, especially on long-distance connections.
- Server uptime: Hola VPN claims to have a high uptime, but there have been reports of outages in the past.
- Fast speeds: Hola VPN claims to offer fast speeds, especially on local connections. However, this has been disputed by some users who have reported slower speeds, especially on long-distance connections.
- P2P network: Hola VPN uses a peer-to-peer network, which means that your traffic is routed through the devices of other Hola VPN users. This can result in slower speeds, especially if the other users have slow internet connections.
- Limited encryption: Hola VPN uses a limited encryption protocol, which means that your data is not as secure as it would be with a VPN that uses stronger encryption.
- Free plan: Hola VPN offers a free plan, but this plan is limited in terms of features and speeds. Free users may experience slower speeds and may be throttled by Hola VPN.
Streaming & Torrenting Features
This section compares the streaming and torrenting features and capabilities provided by Norton Secure VPN versus Hola VPN.
Popular Streaming Services
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Paramount+
- Hulu
- Apple TV
- Starz
- ESPN+
- Peacock
- Canal Plus
- Discovery Plus
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN excels at unblocking streaming services like Netflix and offers torrenting on secure servers. However, it lacks P2P servers. Hola VPN, on the other hand, uses a peer-to-peer system for traffic routing which could compromise your privacy but is more efficient for torrenting. It can unblock streaming services, but performance varies. While both have strengths, Norton Secure VPN wins for maintaining a better balance of streaming access and security, despite its limitations on torrenting.
Norton Secure VPN
- P2P servers: Norton Secure VPN has dedicated P2P servers that are optimized for file sharing. This means that you should be able to get faster speeds and better performance when using BitTorrent or other P2P file sharing applications.
- No bandwidth limits: Norton Secure VPN does not have any bandwidth limits, so you can download as much as you want without worrying about throttling or overage charges.
- No IP leaks: Norton Secure VPN has a strict no-logs policy and does not keep any records of your online activity, including your torrenting traffic. This means that your privacy is protected, even if you are using P2P file sharing.
- Kill switch: Norton Secure VPN has a kill switch that will disconnect your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps to protect your privacy in the event of a connection failure.
- Unblocks geo-restricted content: Norton Secure VPN can help you to unblock geo-restricted content, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. This is because the VPN masks your IP address, making it appear as if you are connecting a different location.
- Fast speeds: Norton Secure VPN offers good speeds for streaming, so you should be able to watch videos without any buffering or lag.
- No bandwidth limits: Norton Secure VPN does not have any bandwidth limits, so you can stream as much as you want without worrying about throttling or overage charges.
- No IP leaks: Norton Secure VPN has a strict no-logs policy and does not keep any records of your online activity, including your streaming traffic. This means that your privacy is protected, even if you are streaming content.
- Split tunneling: Norton Secure VPN allows you to choose which apps and websites use the VPN connection. This can be useful for streaming, as it allows you to bypass the VPN for local traffic.
Hola
- Streaming: Hola VPN claims to be able to unblock streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. However, there have been reports that Hola VPN is not always successful in unblocking these services.
- P2P streaming: Hola VPN supports P2P streaming, which means that you can use it to download torrents. However, it is important to note that P2P streaming can be slow and may not be suitable for all users.
- Streaming quality: The streaming quality of Hola VPN is not as good as some other VPNs. This is because Hola VPN uses a peer-to-peer network, which can result in slower speeds and buffering.
- Does not support torrenting: Hola VPN does not allow torrenting traffic on its network. This means you cannot use torrent clients like uTorrent or Popcorn Time with Hola VPN.
- Blocks BitTorrent protocol: Hola VPN blocks the BitTorrent protocol, which is the most common protocol used for torrenting. This means that you cannot connect to torrent swarms or download files using BitTorrent.
- No kill switch: A kill switch is a feature that automatically disconnects your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This is important for torrenting, as it prevents your real IP address being exposed if the VPN connection fails. Hola VPN does not have a kill switch.
- Low security: Hola VPN uses outdated encryption protocols and has a history of security vulnerabilities. This makes it a risky choice for torrenting, as your data could be exposed to third parties.
Support Features
This section looks at what kind of customer support you can expect from Hola VPN versus Norton Secure VPN.
Winner is:
Norton Secure VPN offers 24/7 live chat and phone support, a vast online knowledge base, and email support, providing quick and efficient assistance to its users. Hola VPN, on the other hand, only offers email support and an FAQ section, lacking immediacy. Customer support is crucial in troubleshooting and resolving issues promptly. Thus, Norton Secure VPN, with its comprehensive and round-the-clock support, is the clear winner in this aspect.
Norton Secure VPN
- 24/7 live chat: Norton Secure VPN offers 24/7 live chat support. This means that you can get help a customer support representative at any time of day or night.
- Email support: Norton Secure VPN also offers email support. This is a good option if you have a question that is not urgent.
- Knowledge base: Norton Secure VPN also has a knowledge base. This is a good place to find answers to common questions.
- Social media: Norton Secure VPN is also active on social media. You can contact them on Twitter or Facebook if you have a question.
Hola
- Contact methods: Hola VPN offers customer support through email, live chat, and a knowledge base.
- Response time: Hola VPN claims to have a 24/7 customer support team, but there have been reports of long wait times for responses.
- Knowledge base: Hola VPN has a comprehensive knowledge base that covers a variety of topics, such as how to install and use the VPN, troubleshooting tips, and frequently asked questions.
- Satisfaction: There have been mixed reviews about the customer support of Hola VPN. Some users have said that they were happy with the help they received, while others have said that they were not satisfied with the response time or the quality of the help they received.
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