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NordVPN is surely a top VPN for certain users.
Last Updated October 28, 2024
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NordVPN is constantly hyped online, but does it live up to the glowing reviews? With a monthly price comparable to top-rated VPN services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN must offer some impressive features to stay competitive.
I evaluated NordVPN’s security features, ease of use, and unblocking abilities and performed extensive speed tests to determine whether this VPN provider is worth your attention. I also researched the privacy policy and company history to ensure NordVPN is trustworthy.
My verdict: NordVPN is an excellent VPN provider with advanced security tools, a sound privacy policy, and several unique features. Its unblocking capabilities and decent speeds make it ideal for streaming and torrenting. Keep reading my full NordVPN review to learn how NordVPN compares to other VPN service providers.
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Also Read: NordVPN Pricing
NordVPN uses military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, like most top-rated VPN service providers, including ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. The world’s most powerful computers need billions of years to break it, so it’s virtually unhackable.
You can choose from IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, and NordVPN’s proprietary NordLynx protocols. NordLynx is built on the WireGuard backbone but is optimized for speed. The protocols’ availability varies by OS.
Most VPNs offer OpenVPN, a robust, stable, and versatile VPN protocol. However, as my tests showed, it isn’t the best-performing option for NordVPN.
IKEv2 is an equally secure protocol, although its code can’t be peer-reviewed like OpenVPN’s. It is typically faster, but I couldn’t test it on my laptop or smartphone because it wasn’t on the protocol list. I later discovered that you have to download the NordVPN IKEv2 connection certificate and set it up manually.
NordVPN recommends using NordLynx by default because it offers state-of-the-art cryptography and faster speeds. NordLynx only uses 4,000 lines of code, compared to OpenVPN’s 40,000, which explains the excellent performance. It’s the best protocol for gaming and streaming, but you might want to use OpenVPN instead if you’re concerned about your privacy.
NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, but I’ve learned not to take such claims at face value. So, is NordVPN trustworthy? I dug into NordVPN’s privacy policy to find out what data it collects, stores, and how it is used.
The VPN service provider collects your account data, including your email address, billing information, and country, for identification, support, and refund purposes. Most VPN providers don’t care about your country, but NordVPN needs the information to apply custom VAT during purchase—more on that later.
The NordVPN website collects cookies if you agree, and the app collects anonymized VPN usage logs. Your data can be shared with third-party service providers, including Zendesk, Google Analytics, Mollymind, Nord partners (distributors, resellers, app store partners), and other Nord Group companies.
Because NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, it operates under Panama data retention laws. If authorities request user data collection, NordVPN can only share limited data that would be insufficient to identify individuals. If the request is made outside the European Economic Area, the provider must first get a decision from the European Commission.
Panama doesn’t participate in the Fourteen Eyes Alliance and isn’t obliged to share intelligence data with member countries. Depending on your country’s jurisdiction, you may request to delete, access, rectify, or object to the processing of your data.
I appreciate that NordVPN is transparent about its physical, technical, and organizational data security measures. Only employees with access cards can enter NordVPN facilities, and devices storing user data are stored in locked rooms with alarm systems.
Since 2020, NordVPN has used RAM-only servers. The information is wiped out every time a server is turned off. It’s worth noting that your billing information is stored for 10 years from the last transaction and your email for one year after the end of your subscription.
An independent firm, Deloitte Audit Lithuania, audited NordVPN’s privacy policy to ensure the claims are valid and comply with Panama’s jurisdiction. Audits are performed every other year.
NordVPN’s DNS leak protection appears to be watertight. I tested multiple NordVPN servers with browserleaks.com and didn’t detect any DNS leaks. I didn’t find reports of mass user data leaks, although occasional leaks might occur due to incorrect VPN configuration.
Even the best VPN providers occasionally experience connection disruptions due to software interference or server issues. In these moments, your connection becomes vulnerable to attacks. Fortunately, NordVPN has a kill switch to prevent data leaks. This feature disconnects your device from the internet when the VPN connection drops. In a nutshell, a kill switch is like an emergency stop that safeguards your data.
NordVPN’s kill switch even lets you block connections on specific apps instead of the entire device. For example, if you apply the kill switch only to uTorrent, it will shut down the application when your VPN connection drops, but you can keep using other apps like Firefox. However, this type of kill switch is only available on Windows and macOS NordVPN apps. Android and iOS users have to use the system-wide kill switch.
Split tunneling is available on Windows, Android, and Android TV. With split tunneling, you can route some traffic through the VPN tunnel and some outside. For instance, you can use the VPN for a torrent client but not for your browser. It’s a pity the iOS app doesn’t support split tunneling yet, but let’s hope NordVPN adds the feature in the future.
NordVPN supports Tor integration for extra security. No extra setup is necessary—all you need to do is connect to one of NordVPN’s Onion servers. Note that Tor over VPN inevitably decreases your connection speed, so it’s considered unnecessary for casual browsing. NordVPN supports both Tor over VPN and VPN over Tor connections. The latter helps access sites that block Tor traffic and encrypts your data at the exit node.
NordVPN supports Double VPN, which routes traffic through two servers for extra encryption. This benefits those under government surveillance or storing sensitive data but not so much for the average user. Still, having the option to use Double VPN is excellent because many providers don’t offer it.
Obfuscated servers hide the fact that you’re using a VPN by tricking your ISP into thinking it’s regular traffic. Obfuscated servers are handy in regions with strict censorship or if your ISP throttles your bandwidth. Journalists and political activists benefit from this feature when working with delicate information in a heavily restricted country. NordVPN has servers on all continents except Australia.
NordVPN’s Threat Protection is a malware, tracker, and ad blocker that scans files and websites before you access them. In the traditional sense, it isn’t an antivirus but ensures you aren’t affected by malicious websites or files. Threat Protection is available in all NordVPN pricing plans, and you can enable it from the app’s dashboard.
The Dark Web is a dark place (who would’ve guessed?). People can leak your exploited data to dark websites for monetary gain or personal reasons. Data breaches happen frequently—any information you share on social media, healthcare clinics, government institutions, and shopping sites can be stolen. The dark web monitoring feature scans the dark web for your credentials and alerts you if it discovers any. The tool runs in the background, so you don’t need to enable it every time.
I mentioned that NordVPN has some unique features, and Meshnet is one of them. A mesh network consists of all devices connected to your system, enabling secure file sharing and stable communication via a VPN connection. Meshnet only works with NordLynx protocol and runs on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux NordVPN apps.
You can host virtual LAN parties to game online with friends, access files on remote devices, or access your local server wherever you are. For instance, you can open files from your home computer while at work without compromising your privacy. Meshnet is also handy if you want remote devices to share the same IP address. You can route your traffic through your IP address or another device’s IP.
To add a device to your Meshnet, you must send an invite via the NordVPN app. Each device has its unique Nord name. You can link up to 60 devices—they don’t have to share one NordVPN account. For example, you can connect with a friend from another part of the globe. However, the friend must also have a NordVPN app to accept your request. Each external connection is isolated so that you can link different friend groups, coworkers, or family.
The up to ten devices that can use the same Nord account are linked automatically, so you can’t unlink them to free up slots for external devices.
I was excited to test NordVPN’s unblocking capabilities with obfuscated servers. Many streaming sites, like Netflix, regularly block VPN IPs to prevent users from accessing geo-restricted content. Obfuscation helps unblock streaming services with the strictest restrictions.
I had no problem accessing Netflix US and UK libraries with NordVPN. Note that if you’re in Europe and want to access a different European library, you might still see local content despite using the VPN—this is a common issue among NordVPN users. If that happens, you can try clearing your browser cookies or accessing Netflix via an incognito window. If those don’t work, you may need to access Netflix via a VPN server for about a week before the library switches.
Unfortunately, NordVPN has no obfuscated locations in Australia, and I got a streaming error when I tried watching Gods and Generals on Australian Netflix.
However, I easily accessed other streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ with regular servers.
Some regions have stricter censorship, namely Russia, China, and North Korea. Governments of these countries block popular Western platforms like Facebook, Google, and Twitter. Few VPNs can bypass the Great Firewall, but NordVPN claims to work in China.
I’m not currently in China, so I had no way of checking, but online user reviews confirm that NordVPN bypasses the firewall. That’s no wonder because obfuscation prevents Chinese ISPs from discovering you’re using a VPN. NordVPN recommends using the NordLynx protocol when in China. If one of the servers isn’t working, connecting to a different one usually resolves the issue.
Because obfuscation is only available in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and select European countries, you might have problems accessing content from other regions. NordVPN has no servers in Mainland China, but you can unblock some Chinese platforms and websites via the Hong Kong server.
Speed is one of my top priorities when choosing a VPN. I’m guilty of gaming online for hours and binge-watching Netflix, so I need my VPN provider to offer the best possible download speeds and the lowest ping. I used the following criteria when testing NordVPN server speeds:
First, I performed a base speed test without the VPN and got 189 Mbps download speed, 140 Mbps upload speed, and 36 ms ping. That’s a decent result, and I’d prefer NordVPN not to foul it up, so let’s see how it performs with local, distant, and specialty servers. I also used different VPN protocols available in the NordVPN app to determine whether NordLynx excels speed-wise as the provider claims.
If you’re eager for the results, here’s my verdict: NordVPN is among the fastest VPN services I tested. Even the privacy-optimized servers with more robust encryption provide decent speeds for streaming and torrenting. I especially appreciate the Onion servers because they give quick access to the dark web even without a Tor browser.
Here’s the catch—NordVPN is only fast with the proprietary NordLynx protocol. OpenVPN was relatively slow, even when I connected to local servers. I advise you to use NordLynx whenever possible.
I started by testing the auto-connect feature meant to pick the server closest to your actual location server. I used the auto VPN protocol setting like most beginners would.
Usually, a VPN drops connection speeds, but I got even better results than my base speed, with 316 Mbps download speed, 203 Mbps upload speed, and a 19 ms ping. This could be explained by my ISP throttling my original connection or my ISP’s overcrowded servers.
Next, I tested a server in a neighboring country using the OpenVPN protocol (TCP). Again, the ping was lower than expected—31 ms compared to my base ping of 36 ms. The download speed dropped to 96 Mbps, and the upload speed to 83 Mbps or nearly 50%.
NordLynx showed me a similar result with 90 Mbps download speed, 90 Mbps upload speed, and 31 ms ping. That’s a 52% and 35% drop in speeds, respectively. NordVPN may not be the fastest VPN I’ve tested, but it’s certainly not the slowest. If you primarily use a VPN for security and privacy and don’t mind staying connected to your local servers, NordVPN is a great choice.
NordVPN performs decently with local servers, but how does it handle distances? First, I connected to the US NordVPN server via OpenVPN TCP protocol. The result was disappointing, with 13 Mbps download speed, 15 Mbps upload speed, and 306 ms ping.
NordLynx significantly improved the situation, giving me 184 Mbps download speed, 100 Mbps upload speed, and 200 ms ping. The high ping was expected because I was across the ocean from the server. The download speed, on the other hand, genuinely impressed me.
The Australian server with OpenVPN TCP protocol gave me a disastrous 5.1 Mbps download speed, 6 Mbps upload speed, and 666 ms ping. Gaming or streaming with these numbers is virtually impossible.
NordLynx once again saved the day, giving me 76 Mbps download speed, 72 Mbps upload speed, and 505 ms ping. That’s still a significant drop from the base result, but the speed is sufficient for comfortable internet browsing.
If you want to access Chinese streaming sites or social media, you need to connect via Hong Kong servers, so these were next in the queue for a speed test. Connected via OpenVPN TCP protocol, I got 2.1 Mbps download speed, 1.5 Mbps upload speed, and 939 ms ping. Not great at all.
I expected NordLynx to improve the results, but it didn’t. The ping was lower at 565 ms, but the download speed dropped to 1.2 Mbps. The upload speed increased to 28 Mbps.
Then, I tested several random distant servers with the NordLynx protocol because I already figured out it’s typically faster than OpenVPN. The Slovenian server gave me 343 Mbps download speed, 129 Mbps upload speed, and 88 ms ping—an excellent result.
The Portuguese server showed a 321 Mbps download speed, 99 Mbps upload speed, and 121 ms ping. Again, I was impressed. NordVPN’s download speed even exceeds my base download speed, which makes me think about changing my ISP.
Lastly, I checked a server in Turkey. Given the distance, the higher ping of 131 ms was expected, while the download speeds of 321 Mbps and upload speed of 50 Mbps were more than satisfactory.
NordVPN’s P2P servers are optimized for speed, so I was excited to test them. I connected with the Fastest Server feature via NordLynx protocol. The resulting download speed of 342 Mbps and upload speed of 229 Mbps are perfect for torrenting and streaming. I was also happy with the 45 ms ping.
Next, I connected to a P2P server in the United Kingdom and got 317 Mbps download speed, 56 Mbps upload speed, and 60 ms ping.
The last P2P server I tested was in Taiwan, which gave me 229 Mbps download speed, 26 Mbps upload speed, and 518 ms ping. The upload speed and ping aren’t great, but the download speed matters the most for torrenting.
Obfuscation might slow down your connection because of double encryption. I wanted to connect via NordLynx protocol, but the NordVPN app warned me it would use a different tunnel. I used the Fastest Server feature and was connected to a server in the Netherlands, which gave me 150 Mbps download speed, 137 Mbps upload speed, and 42 ms ping. That’s only a 25% and 2% drop from my base results.
The obfuscated server in the US gave me 113 Mbps download speed, 73 Mbps upload speed, and 169 ms ping.
The Swiss obfuscated server showed similar results, with 144 Mbps download speed, 78 upload speed, and 60 ms ping. Overall, I was satisfied with the speed—obfuscation didn’t have as drastic an impact on the performance as I expected.
The Double VPN connection inevitably slows down speeds due to more robust encryption. However, I connected via the NordLynx tunnel and had high expectations. The Fastest Server feature picked the United Kingdom server, which gave me 131 Mbps download speed, 75 Mbps upload speed, and 82 ms ping.
Then, I connected to a privacy-optimized server in Canada. It performed worse, with 96 Mbps download speed, 63 Mbps upload speed, and 224 ms ping. Still, given the extra encryption and distance to the server, that’s a decent result.
Finally, I tested an Onion Over VPN server. The Fastest Server feature connected me to the Netherlands. There’s no sense in accessing regular websites with Onion servers, so I checked how long The Hidden Wiki took to load—under five seconds. That’s an excellent result, but the most impressive part is that I didn’t have to use the Tor browser. NordVPN’s Onion servers let you access dark websites via your regular browser.
One NordVPN subscription allows you to connect up to ten devices simultaneously—enough for your laptop, phone, console, and TV. You’ll still have VPN connections left to share with the family. You can install NordVPN on unlimited devices but only use it on ten at a time. There’s no way to buy extra device slots.
NordVPN has dedicated apps for Windows (7+), macOS (Sierra 10.12+), Linux (aarch64, armv5, armv7, i386, x86-64), iOS (13.0+), and Android (6.0+). It also works on Meta Quest 2, Raspberry Pi, PlayStation, Xbox, Chromebook, Chromecast, Amazon Kindle, Nintendo Switch, and select routers. NordVPN states that most routers supporting OpenVPN connections will likely work with NordVPN. All devices connected to a VPN router count as one, so you can technically bypass the device limit by using multiple devices on your VPN-encrypted home Wi-Fi.
If your device does not have a dedicated NordVPN app, you can connect it to a VPN router or use apps for other platforms. For example, NordVPN for Linux works on Raspberry Pi, and NordVPN for Android works on Chromebook.
NordVPN extensions for Firefox, Edge, and Chrome only encrypt your browser traffic while exposing your real IP in other apps. Like the desktop client, browser extensions have a built-in ad and malware blocker. There are no extensions for Opera or Safari, but most other VPN providers don’t have them either.
NordVPN supports P2P file sharing and has torrenting-optimized servers for better speeds and privacy. Torrenting servers are in the US, the UK, Ukraine, Canada, Turkey, Albania, Argentina, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and select European countries. All P2P servers allow seeding. P2P activity is allowed on all NordVPN’s servers, but the dedicated servers perform better.
With over 6400 servers across 111 countries, NordVPN’s network isn’t the largest I’ve seen, but it’s sufficient. Servers are available on each continent, although locations in Africa are limited. There are no servers in Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, or neighboring countries. I assume internet connection speeds will be slower if you ever travel to that region and use a VPN because of the considerable distance to the servers. The good thing is that NordVPN has servers in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
NordVPN has 16 server locations in the US, three in Canada, two in South America, 39 in Europe, one in South Africa, five in Australia, one in New Zealand, two in Japan, seven in South Asia, and four in the Middle East. However, unlike some VPNs, you can’t see the location list for each country. Instead, NordVPN picks the fastest and least crowded server you select to save you time and ensure all users get the optimal experience.
Some NordVPN servers are optimized for Tor, bypassing geo-blocks, torrenting, or privacy. Dedicated servers are available only in select locations but are scattered globally, so you will unlikely experience speed issues.
In June 2022, NordVPN shut down all Indian servers due to India’s Computer Emergency Response Team laws. Some VPN providers set up virtual servers to bypass the regulations. But, according to a NordVPN representative, the company isn’t looking for a workaround because Indian data retention laws conflict with the provider’s privacy policy.
You will also find related answers on Reddit.
NordVPN offers a static IP address for an extra cost. These dedicated IP servers function as standard servers, but you are the only person with the assigned IP. When you connect to a different server, your IP will be replaced with that server’s address.
A dedicated IP address benefits those trying to bypass VPN blocklists or avoid CAPTCHA requests. Setting up a dedicated IP may take a few days, but unfortunately, the subscription is valid from the date of purchase.
Installing NordVPN is easy, even if you aren’t tech-savvy. Purchase a subscription from the official website, register an account, and follow the instructions from the email to download your NordVPN app.
Alternatively, you can download the compatible apps directly from the website. There’s no need to share your legal name, address, or phone number. Then, log in to your account, and you’re all set.
Installing the VPN on my Windows laptop only took a few minutes. I had to pick the file location and select whether I wanted to set up the password manager.
The process is even quicker for mobile devices because the installation only takes a minute. Depending on your OS, you can find NordVPN mobile apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
To install NordVPN on your smart streaming device, download it from the relevant app store.
Installing the VPN on a router is trickier because the instructions may vary depending on your router model. NordVPN has a dedicated router app for smartphones that allows you to manage your VPN connection remotely from your phone. You can share VPN protection with any device with internet connectivity via your router.
Unlike other providers, I didn’t experience any bugs or threat reports during installation. NordVPN also didn’t clash with my second VPN.
On the desktop client dashboard is a large world map with server locations. The map is functional—you can scale it, drag it, and connect to your preferred server by clicking on the country name. The map looks fantastic and even shows different trees depending on the climate zone (the trees have no functionality, but I appreciate the attention to detail). However, I would love the scaling to be a bit smoother.
On the left is a server location list organized alphabetically. Most VPN apps let you see all server locations available in a country, but NordVPN picks the optimal server in a country for you. That’s handy to save time, but I would rather see each server load and exact location.
Only the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia offer major cities to pick from. To see the location list, hover over the country name and click on the three-dot icon on the left. That’s not particularly convenient, and I’m sure some NordVPN users will have trouble finding the location menu.
At the top of the list are buttons for Dedicated IP, Double VPN, Obfuscated, Onion, and P2P servers.
You can’t expand the menu to see which countries’ dedicated servers are located. Instead, hover your cursor over the line, click the three-dot icon on the right, and then expand the location list. Finding it took me some time, and I’m a tech-savvy user. I would call it a poor design decision.
The search bar is a time-saver if you already know which country you’re looking for. Above it are quick access buttons for Double VPN, P2P, obfuscation, and your recent servers. I found these buttons redundant because the Specialty Servers menu does the same thing.
The blue Quick Connect button picks the closest server to your location, which is handy if you’re more concerned about speed and privacy than unblocking geo-restricted content. Next to the button is the name of the server you’re currently connected to. You can see the server’s IP address by hovering your cursor above the country flag.
The left menu allows you to enable Threat Protection and Dark Web Monitoring. There are no complex configurations, only an on-off toggle.
The Meshnet feature lets you link remote devices to your network via an encrypted tunnel. This is handy for sharing files, accessing local web servers, or playing multiplayer games. Enabling it was super easy—click the Meshnet icon on the left sidebar, shift the toggle, and click “Turn On Meshnet.”
Devices sharing your NordVPN account are added automatically. To add another device, click “Link external device,” enter the user’s Nord account email address, and send an invite. Invites show up in a dedicated tab in the Meshnet menu. I didn’t need help on NordVPN’s website, and I suspect even beginners can figure out how to use the feature without any issues.
In the bottom-left corner are three buttons—Help, Security Score, and Settings. The Help button opens a contact form you can fill out and send directly from the app without opening your browser. Security Score is a set of settings to elevate your device protection, including auto-connect on the app’s launch, kill switch, Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitoring, and multi-factor authentication. You can see your current security score in the upper right corner. Initially, mine was 30%, but after I enabled the kill switch and auto-connect on launch, it jumped to 40%.
The settings are categorized into General, Connection, Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, Profile, and Discover. There’s a dedicated button for friend referrals, and each successful referral gives you one month of NordVPN for free. Overall, the NordVPN Settings menu is easy to navigate and has just the right customization options. If you have any issues with the app, you can run diagnostics and send a report to the NordVPN team from the General settings.
The app is available in English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, and Japanese. You can pick a light or dark app theme.
The mobile app interface is similar to the desktop client. On the top is a large functional map that scales much smoother than the one in the Windows app. Below is the auto-connect button. If you swipe the bottom part up, you’ll see the country list, Specialty Servers menu, search bar, and traffic routing settings.
Like the Windows app, the Android app shows you precise locations in select countries, including Australia, the US, and the UK so that you can connect to more specific locations. At the bottom of the screen are tabs for Meshnet configuration, notifications, and your profile. You can see your current and max streak, weekly VPN connection time, and subscription details in the latter. You can also contact support, refer a friend, set up two-factor authentication, or discover other Nord apps if you scroll down.
The Settings menu is accessible via the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Profile tab. Finding it took me some time because it isn’t available in other tabs.
One feature I loved in the mobile app was Tapjacking protection. It warns you if malicious websites or apps add a screen overlay to trick you into unintended actions. You can also pick your preferred app theme, either light or dark.
The iOS app looks and works the same but lacks split tunneling. Fortunately, like other NordVPN apps, it still offers multiple protocols, a kill switch, and a Dark Web Monitor.
The browser extension is available in English, German, and French. Unlike the desktop client and mobile app, the browser extension has no world map, only an auto-connect button and location list. Surprisingly, I only saw four locations—the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Then I realized you can click on the search bar at the bottom to get more server options. This may be confusing for some VPN users.
From the left sidebar, you can access settings and privacy controls. The settings are rather basic. You can enable auto-launch and disable the VPN for select websites. That’s all. The privacy settings also have only two options—you can manage WebRTC leak protection and Threat Protection.
At the bottom of the sidebar are notifications, general settings, and the Help button. The Help button gives you three options—fill out a contact form, open the live chat, or go to the Help Center on NordVPN’s website.
NordVPN has many subscription options. The least expensive is $3.39 monthly with a two-year plan. Monthly plans start at $11.99, comparable to top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.
Apart from the Basic plan, which offers base VPN features, malware protection, and an ad blocker, NordVPN offers the Plus and Ultimate plans, which include add-ons like a password manager, a data breach scanner, and cloud storage. I got the Ultimate plan to test out all the features.
The NordVPN website accepts credit cards, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, cryptocurrencies, and other major payment methods. You can buy NordVPN from the official website and select retail locations, including Target and Best Buy. However, the price might be higher if you buy via a retail outlet.
Note that all prices on NordVPN’s website exclude VAT, which is added at the checkout according to your country’s laws. I had to pay over 20% more than I expected. That’s not a huge nominal difference, given the initial subscription cost, but it’s something to remember. Other VPN services don’t add VAT at checkout, so NordVPN has a competitive disadvantage.
NordVPN has a 7-day free free trial on Android only.
If you subscribe, which lets you try it on all your devices, you’re backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. The guarantee is transparent and clear, letting you get a full refund with minimal trouble.
Keep in mind that refunds for NordVPN subscriptions purchased from an app store will need to be processed through that app store. Though this won’t apply to many users, you can only request two total refunds using the same email address.
I requested a refund to see how easy it was. I received a reply within a few hours. The support agent asked for my feedback and offered help resolving my issues with the app. When I asked to proceed with the refund, they issued it without further questions.
NordVPN has excellent online self-help resources, including an FAQ page and chatbot. The FAQs are short yet helpful, categorized by topic for easy navigation. The blog features cybersecurity history, news articles, company updates, and other relevant topics. The articles are well-written and informative, so I’ve spent some time reading through them to improve my cybersecurity knowledge.
NordVPN has an entire page dedicated to setting up tutorials for each device. The tutorials are detailed and include pictures for each step. But, frankly, I didn’t need them because the installation is easy as pie.
If you didn’t find the necessary information on the website, you can contact NordVPN customer support via live chat or email. To contact a customer support agent, write to the chatbot and ask to talk to an actual human. Then, you’ll be redirected to one with no further questions.
When I asked NordVPN’s customer service agent how to access NordLocker, I received a prompt and friendly reply. However, despite being included in the subscription, NordVPN support staff doesn’t help with questions related to other Nord products.
Then, I emailed customer support to ask how to downgrade my account. I got a helpful and polite reply within 1.5 hours—that’s very prompt compared to most providers. The customer support agent said the only way to downgrade my account was to refund my current plan and re-subscribe to my desired plan.
You can also find NordVPN’s affiliate program on the Support page and an email for business inquiries. You can request a custom plan to fit your organization’s needs.
NordLocker is a 1 TB encrypted cloud storage included only in NordVPN’s Ultimate plan. Alternatively, you can buy it from NordLocker’s website without a VPN. In that case, you can choose from 500 GB or 2 TB or pick a custom option. Secure storage is handy for business files or sensitive information.
Setting up NordLocker is straightforward. Register, log into your account, and create a master password. Then, save your recovery key, agree to the usage terms, and you’re all set. There is no need to download anything—the storage is available from your browser, though NordLocker also has a desktop client and Android app (iOS users aren’t so fortunate).
The app has more configuration options and a different interface than the website, but it does the same thing overall. I installed the desktop client in three clicks and under two minutes. The first time you launch the app, you will be offered a quick tour to get acquainted with the features.
Creating a locker and uploading files is equally easy, even if you’re a tech dummy. Files are synced across your devices connected to the locker. I installed the app on both my laptop and smartphone. Then, I uploaded files from my smartphone, readily available on my laptop, within a minute.
I like that you can set the app to lock after a specified period ranging from five minutes to an hour. You can also set up two-factor authentication and use biometrics to log in. NordLocker supports all major two-factor authentication apps, including Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Authy.
If you lose your 2FA device, you can use a backup code or an alternative 2FA method to log in to your locker. Additionally, you can restrict screen capture. It can only be enabled with the Master Password. Even if someone gets access to your account, they won’t be able to screenshot your files.
NordPass stores your passwords and credit card details and is included in the Plus and Ultimate NordVPN plans. The NordPass app is also available separately with individual or business subscriptions. A 30-day free trial is available for business users.
NordPass uses the XChaCha20 encryption cipher, equally secure as the popular AES-256. Additionally, NordPass uses multi-factor authentication to prove your identity.
NordPass has a Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS app and is available as a browser extension. I tried the Windows client and Android app, and the installation only took a minute. The array of features is impressive—I expected simple password storage. Still, I also got a password generator, password security level checker, and a secure credit card auto-fill. Secure notes are a nice bonus. For instance, you can record your Wi-Fi password, credit card PIN, or crypto wallet access key.
You can manually add or import your passwords or credit card details from your browser or another password app, like LastPass, Dashlane, and Keeper. Like the NordLocker app, you can set up two-factor authentication and auto-lock for extra security.
You can automatically clear copied items from your clipboard after a specified period (15 seconds to 90 seconds). Screen capture is restricted by default, so I only got a black screen when I tried to screenshot the interface. However, you can enable screenshots from the settings using your Master Password.
Data Breach Scanner is included in the Plus and Complete subscription plans and can be accessed via the NordPass app. It scans leaked databases and compares them to data stored in your NordPass vault. If any of your passwords, payment details, or email addresses are leaked, you’ll know you need to change them. The feature helps you identify when and how the leak occurred and how to prevent it in the future. Fortunately, I did not find any breaches.
NordVPN’s popularity is well-deserved, not because of partnerships with top YouTubers like PewDiePie or persuasive website descriptions. It’s a trustworthy VPN service that genuinely values your privacy. The privacy policy is sound and independently audited, and the company operates under Panama’s jurisdiction, which isn’t associated with the 14 Eyes Alliance or similar intelligence-sharing agreements. Extra NordVPN services like NordPass and NordLocker included in the Complete package are handy add-ons for anyone concerned about data leaks.
I wholeheartedly recommend NordVPN to access geo-restricted platforms, stream video content, or torrent files. The NordLynx protocol excels speed-wise, and obfuscation works even in countries with strict censorship. One feature that stands out to me is dedicated Onion servers, which give access to the dark web without the Tor browser.
But despite all the pros, NordVPN isn’t the best VPN service for the price—that title belongs to ExpressVPN. For example, setting up NordVPN on a router is tricky, just like setting up the IKEv2 protocol. Plus, internet connection speeds while on OpenVPN may be inadequate in some locations. Even so, NordVPN is a fantastic VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no harm in trying it out.
What you get depends on the plan—Standard, Plus, or Complete. The Standard plan includes the VPN, malware protection, and an ad blocker. The Plus plan includes everything from the Standard plan, cross-platform password storage, and a data breach scanner. The Complete plan includes all of the above and 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. Note that yearly and two-year subscriptions are significantly cheaper.
NordVPN lies in the upper price range but is worth the money. It has advanced security features and a sound, independently audited privacy policy. Plus, it has impressive unblocking capabilities, although its server network can't compete with ExpressVPN or CyberGhost, which cost nearly the same.
I advise you to get NordVPN's Plus or Complete subscription because NordPass, Data Breach Scanner, and NordLocker are great add-ons for the price.
NordVPN is deservedly one of the leading VPNs on the market, yet there are better options for the price. ExpressVPN has a more extensive VPN server network, better speeds, and is more reliable in terms of unblocking geo-restricted content. However, ExpressVPN doesn't offer dedicated IP addresses and is slightly pricier. Ultimately, it depends on your needs, but ExpressVPN is the winner.
Yes, NordVPN will continue to be a trustworthy, secure, fast VPN in 2024. The VPN was even named one of TIME's best inventions of 2022. NordVPN didn't undergo significant changes in 2022 and is only improving its services. That said, certain minor updates may be a dealbreaker for some users. For example, in June 2022, NordVPN announced it was shutting down all VPN servers in India and won't offer virtual servers there.
Yes, NordVPN has dedicated P2P servers in select locations optimized for speed and privacy. Torrenting activity is allowed on the entire VPN server network, but the dedicated P2P servers are intentionally located in countries that don't prohibit torrenting. Whether you use standard or P2P servers, you must ensure compliance with local laws. You can find P2P servers in the Specialty Servers menu of the NordVPN app.
No, NordVPN isn't an antivirus, nor does it have a built-in antivirus. However, it has a similar feature called Threat Protection that scans websites and downloads for malware and blocks access to anything malicious. Additionally, the feature blocks ads and trackers. Threat Protection is included in all NordVPN subscription plans. You can turn off the feature anytime.
Yes, NordVPN offers dedicated static IP addresses for an extra cost. You can get one in the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, or Germany.
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