ExitLag vs NordVPN: Which One Is the Best for Gaming and Security?
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This ExitLag vs NordVPN comparison can help you if you’re torn between the two services.
The former is a specialized service designed mostly for gamers. It aims to reduce lag, lower ping, and provide a more stable connection by optimizing your data’s route to the game server.
The latter is a widely recognized VPN service focusing on privacy, security, and bypassing geo-restrictions. But it also has several features to help gamers enjoy their sessions.
So, let’s find out which one suits you better!
ExitLag vs NordVPN: Feature Comparison
Below is a table showing how ExitLag and NordVPN compare:
Feature | ExitLag | NordVPN |
Servers | Hundreds of servers (Undisclosed number) | 6,000+ |
Multi-Device Support | No, just one device per subscription | Yes, up to 10 devices per subscription |
Compatibility | Windows, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more |
Speed | Optimized for low-latency gaming | High-speed servers optimized for various uses |
Pricing | 1 month – $6.50/month 2 months – $4.33/month 1 year – $3.58/month | 1 month – $12.99/month (Basic) 1 year – $4.59/month (Basic) 2 years – $3.69/month (Basic) |
Customer Support | Live chat, Email/Ticket, Q&As, Discord community, and Social Media | Live chat, Email, and Q&As |
Free Trial | 3-day free trial | 7-day free trial for Mobile |
Now, let’s look at them in detail!
FPS Boost
High FPS can lead to smoother and more responsive gameplay.
ExitLag has different buttons in its FPS Boost that claim to help improve your FPS. However, it’s not a helpful feature. Most of the settings don’t result in what ExiLag says about them and you can modify most of them on your own without depending on the app.
Instead of relying on buttons that are vague about what they do, you can try a few modifications on your own to boost the performance. For example, you can check on your CPU/GPU temperatures, update drivers, and avoid using internet and speed boosters.
On the other hand, NordVPN doesn’t offer any tool or settings to improve your device’s graphics performance. Its primary focus is on maintaining a secure and private connection rather than optimizing game performance.
Traffic Sharper
ExitLag’s Traffic Shaper aims to help you manage and prioritize network traffic. That way, important applications receive the necessary bandwidth for optimal performance. It’s beneficial for gamers and streamers as it can reduce latency and prevent lag.
Moreover, ExitLag allows you to pick the gaming applications that shouldn’t be affected when the connection slows down.
NordVPN doesn’t have a Traffic Sharper feature but Split Tunneling works similarly. This feature allows you to select which gaming apps to use for a VPN-encrypted tunnel and which ones to use for regular traffic.
Winner: NordVPN. It supports advanced Split Tunneling similar to Traffic Sharper so you can enable or disable the VPN for selected apps.
Multi Internet
Multi Internet allows users to connect to multiple Internet connections simultaneously to improve network stability and speed. That way, you can balance the load across different networks.
ExitLag’s Multi Internet lets you connect to more than one network. In case one network drops or loses connection, others keep you active on your game.
This feature has some similarities with NordVPN’s Kill Switch. However, a Kill Switch will shut down the internet when the VPN connection drops to avoid leaking important information during online gaming.
Furthermore, it has two types: Internet and App. The Internet one can disconnect you when the connection drops or when you disconnect the VPN manually. The App Kill Switch allows you to quit your gaming apps when you aren’t connected.
Winner: Tie. ExitLag will allow you to continue with your game through the active network while NordVPN will disconnect you for security and privacy purposes.
Speed
Both ExitLag and NordVPN are known to lower ping during gaming. I got a ping of 366.41ms before connecting to either tool on the Roblox racing game.
After connecting to ExitLag, the ping was reduced to 194.40ms.
However, NordVPN was less successful — it reduced the ping to 221.14ms.
Winner: ExitLag. It had a lower ping than NordVPN.
Simultaneous Device Connections
ExitLag only supports one device per subscription. When the platform detects you’re using another device for gaming on the same account, it’ll terminate it. You also won’t receive a refund as per its terms of service. However, you can subscribe to more.
NordVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. You can play your favorite game on your mobile device, PC, or PlayStation without termination issues. If you want to connect to more devices, you can set up NordVPN on your router. Alternatively, you can subscribe for more.
Winner: NordVPN. It allows up to 10 devices on a single subscription while ExitLag only grants you one.
Servers
ExitLag has no exact number of servers but it claims to have hundreds of servers distributed globally. However, NordVPN has over 6,000 servers worldwide spread through 100+ countries.
Winner: NordVPN. It has more servers than ExitLag.
Protocols
A VPN protocol is a set of rules that governs how data is transmitted securely between your device and a VPN server.
NordVPN has NordLynx, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) protocols. UDP is commonly used in gaming because it prioritizes speed. It’s faster than TCP but doesn’t guarantee that data packets will reach their destination.
TCP is more reliable than UDP as it ensures that all data packets reach their destination in the correct order. However, this reliability comes at the cost of slightly higher latency.
Still, NordLynx combines the best features of both UDP and TCP. It aims to offer the speed of UDP with the reliability of TCP. This makes it ideal for gamers looking for optimal performance while maintaining security and privacy.
ExitLag on the other hand has UDP, TPC, and ICMP Protocols. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) helps gamers troubleshoot network problems and optimize their connection.
Winner: Tie. NordVPN has NordLynx for better speed while ExitLag has ICMP to help with troubleshooting.
Compatibility
NordVPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also works with different browser extensions like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Moreover, you can use it with Firestick, Xbox, Chromecast, Playstation, and more.
ExitLag is only compatible with Windows and Android. At the time of writing, it also doesn’t work with gaming consoles. However, the company is looking into ways to make it compatible. The team is also working to release the iOS version.
Winner: NordVPN. It’s highly compatible compared to ExitLag which only works with Windows and Android.
Pricing
This ExitLag vs NordVPN analysis wouldn’t be complete without their pricing. Here’s how they compare.
ExitLag has three main subscription plans. It costs $6.50/month for the monthly subscription, $4.33/month for the 2-month plans with one free month, and $3.58/month for the annual package. All these plans are discounted but the discount depends on the location.
ExitLag also offers a 3-day free trial instead of the 30-day money-back guarantee policy.
Meanwhile, NordVPN has monthly, 1-year, and 2-year subscription packages divided into three parts (Basic, Plus, and Complete).
Monthly:
- Basic – $12.99/month
- Plus – $13.99/month
- Complete – $14.99/month
Yearly:
- Basic – $4.59/month
- Plus – $5.49/month
- Complete – $6.49/month
2-Years:
- Basic – $3.69/month
- Plus – $4.69/month
- Complete – $5.69/month
All packages in the 1-year and 2-year have an additional 3 extra months. Also, all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee policy to help you ask for a refund if the service doesn’t meet your needs. Additionally, you can enjoy a free 7-day trial but only for mobile devices.
Winner: NordVPN. Despite NordVPN being costly compared to ExiLag, It has a longer free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee policy. This will help you use the service risk-free.
Customer Support
Both ExitLag and NordVPN have customer support channels to answer questions and guide users. ExitLag has Live chat, Email/Tickets, Discord community, Q&As, and social media to help you with any gaming concerns. However, the live chat support only works during business hours.
The Discord community allows you to chat with other gamers and also start a private conversation with ExitLag experts. Its live chat provided the fastest response of around two minutes and it took five hours for an email response.
NordVPN on the other hand has Q&As, Live chat, and Email channels. The Q&As provide different articles that can help answer user’s concerns. Moreover, the live chat button operates 24/7. You can also reach NordVPN via email but it’s a slower method.
The response time for live chat was less than a minute and around three hours for email. Overall, the support team was knowledgeable and I could get help.
Winner: Tie. ExitLag has more support channels than NordVPN. However, you can only consult them during business hours and most replies took longer than NordVPN.
Verdict – ExitLag vs NordVPN
If gaming performance and latency reduction are your top priorities, ExitLag is the better choice. It performed better than Nord in my ping test. However, if you’re looking for a VPN solution with strong security, privacy, and multi-device support, NordVPN is superior.
Hopefully, this ExitLag vs NordVPN comparison will help you reach a decision.