NordVPN launches Arm-native app for Snapdragon PCs

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The long Arm of the Nord

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip logo on a laptop
(Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The move from Intel to Arm processors has been relatively smooth for most software, but applications that require access to low-level processes have had a tougher time. This is why, even now, a pretty small number of the best VPN services offer Arm-native apps – but NordVPN has now become one of the few that does.

NordVPN's new Windows VPN app runs on x64 Arm architecture, making it fully native and non-reliant on emulation. This is due to the improved security of native applications, and futureproofing for further performance gains Arm may offer in the years to come.

Why is an Arm-native app necessary?

Applications designed for Intel chips essentially speak a different language to Arm processors. Emulation can effectively translate simpler Intel applications and allow them to run on Snapdragon PCs, but more complex software – like VPNs – can suffer significant performance losses.

“An app used in its native implementation follows the logic and instruction set of that particular processor’s architecture," says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. "The app speaks the ‘language’ of the processor, and they can operate smoothly together.

"Our decision to develop an Arm-native NordVPN application has been based on a number of advantages against Arm emulation. This includes quicker response to prompts, seamless execution of all commands, and stronger application security,” he explains.

How many VPNs support Arm so far?

The majority of VPNs do not yet support Arm-based Windows devices – although there's still a decent selection to choose from. Some of the first VPNs to support Snapdragon chips were Surfshark and Windscribe, closely followed by Private Internet Access, and then ExpressVPN.

Other big names such as Proton VPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish are yet to launch their Windows Arm applications, although a small but vocal number of users on forums and Reddit are actively requesting this.

Of course, true privacy obsessives will likely hold off until just about every essential application fully supports the new hardware – but early uptake by privacy providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN is vital for maintaining privacy for all users.

NordVPN – the best VPN service overall

NordVPN – the best VPN service overall
Now compatible with Arm processors, NordVPN has very few areas that need improvement. It's very fast, the apps are simple to use, and it offers some of the best privacy features around. Prices start from $3.09 per month, and there's a 30-day refund period so you can test it out before you commit.

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Mo Harber-Lamond
Mo Harber-Lamond
VPN Editor

Mo has been rigorously testing, reviewing, and analyzing VPN services at Tom’s Guide for more than five years. He heads up the three-person Tom's Guide VPN team, and is passionate about accessibility: he believes that online privacy should be an option that’s available to everyone. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the products he uses most on a daily basis, but he experiments weekly with all the top services, evaluating their privacy features, connection speeds across various protocols, and server reliability – among other things – so that he can make confident VPN recommendations that are backed by data. To see his latest advice, head over to Tom’s Guide’s best VPN and best free VPN guides.