NordLayer
7.4/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $8/user/mo
- Reviews
- 4.3/5 (G2)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs wanting an easy business VPN evolving toward zero-trust network access
Best ZTNA / Business VPN · 2026
NordLayer vs 
Twingate NordLayer vs Twingate: on our data-weighted scoring, Twingate edges ahead (8.7 vs 7.4/10). NordLayer starts at $8/user/mo and is best for SMBs wanting an easy business VPN evolving toward zero-trust network access; Twingate starts at $5/user/mo and is best for teams retiring legacy VPN that want fast, connector-based ZTNA with a free tier. Choose Twingate for the stronger overall track record; consider NordLayer if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links may be affiliate or partner links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes our scores or rankings. Learn more.
Twingate
8.7/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $5/user/mo
- Reviews
- 4.7/5 (~69 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free tier + 14 days
- Deployment
- Cloud + self-host
- Best for
- Teams retiring legacy VPN that want fast, connector-based ZTNA with a free tier
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | NordLayer | Twingate |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.4 | 8.7 |
| User reviews | 8.6 | 9.4 |
| Adoption | 0.0 | 4.9 |
| Affordability | 4.4 | 9.5 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| Ease of trial | 3.0 | 10.0 |
NordLayer vs Twingate: head-to-head
| NordLayer | Twingate | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | $5/user/mo |
| Pricing model | per user | per user |
| Free trial / tier | — | Free tier + 14 days |
| Best for | SMBs wanting an easy business VPN evolving toward zero-trust network access | Teams retiring legacy VPN that want fast, connector-based ZTNA with a free tier |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud + self-host |
| G2 rating | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 (69) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.4 | 8.7 |
Choose NordLayer if…
You need smbs wanting an easy business vpn evolving toward zero-trust network access.
✓ Pros
- Easy to deploy + manage
- Nord Security brand backing
- 14-day money-back guarantee
✕ Cons
- No free tier (5-user minimum)
- Dedicated IP/gateway costs extra
- Less ZTNA depth than Zscaler/Cato
Choose Twingate if…
You need teams retiring legacy vpn that want fast, connector-based ztna with a free tier.
✓ Pros
- Very easy setup vs legacy VPN
- Real free Starter tier
- Strong resource invisibility
✕ Cons
- Entra ID integration needs Business tier
- Smaller scale than Zscaler/Cato
- Per-user cost grows with team
In depth
Pricing: Twingate vs NordLayer
Twingate bills on a per user model from $5/user/mo (free tier available), while NordLayer uses a per user model from $8/user/mo. Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
Twingate ships 8 headline capabilities (Connector-based ZTNA (resource masking), Free tier up to 5 users, Split tunneling + least-privilege access, IdP integrations (Google) and deploys Cloud + self-host. NordLayer ships 6 (Cloud business VPN + ZTNA, Network segmentation, Dedicated servers + static IP, Device posture security), deploying Cloud.
Ratings & verdict
Twingate holds 4.7/5 (~69 G2 reviews); NordLayer holds 4.3/5 (G2). On our data-weighted score, Twingate edges ahead (8.7 vs 7.4/10). Pick NordLayer instead when smbs wanting an easy business vpn evolving toward zero-trust network access. See Twingate alternatives or NordLayer alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- NordLayer vs Twingate: which is better?
- NordLayer vs Twingate: on our data-weighted scoring, Twingate edges ahead (8.7 vs 7.4/10). NordLayer starts at $8/user/mo and is best for SMBs wanting an easy business VPN evolving toward zero-trust network access; Twingate starts at $5/user/mo and is best for teams retiring legacy VPN that want fast, connector-based ZTNA with a free tier.
- Is NordLayer cheaper than Twingate?
- NordLayer starts at $8/user/mo and Twingate starts at $5/user/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: nordlayer.com, twingate.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.