When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
In this NordVPN review, we’ll explore the VPN provider’s security and privacy tools that make it a go-to choice for millions of users around the world. We’ll cover its plans, pricing structure, server network, and performance.
Keep reading to find out how NordVPN performed in our tests and how it compares to its top competitors.
- Show Full Guide
What is NordVPN?
The VPN provider gives users with a wide range of options for VPN connections, with over 6,200 servers in 110 countries worldwide.
Based in Panama, a country that doesn’t have mandatory data retention laws, NordVPN is an ideal pick for privacy-conscious users. Besides its VPN features, NordVPN offers all-in-one protection and includes an antivirus tool, a password manager, and a data breach scanner.
How Much Does NordVPN Cost? NordVPN Plans & Pricing
Although NordVPN isn’t the most affordable VPN solution on the market, it’s cheaper than competitors like ExpressVPN and doesn’t skimp on features. It has three plans you can subscribe to for a month, a year, or two years. Here’s how NordVPN prices its plans and what you can expect from them:
| Plans | 2-Year Plan | 1-Year Plan | Monthly Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $3.09/month | $4.59/month | $12.99/month |
| Plus | $3.99/month | $5.49/month | $13.99/month |
| Ultimate | $5.99/month | $7.49/month | $15.99/month |
NordVPN Standard
Standard is NordVPN’s cheapest plan. It offers a solid set of features, including the VPN, malware protection, and a third-party tracker and ad blocker.
Subscribing to the Standard plan lets you use NordVPN on up to six devices and grants you access to all of its 6,200+ servers.
NordVPN Plus
The Plus plan expands on the features offered by the Standard plan and adds a data breach scanner and NordPass, one of the best password managers available today. The two features add an additional layer of protection for your online data.
NordVPN Ultimate
The Ultimate plan is NordVPN’s most comprehensive package. It adds features including NordLocker, identity theft protection, and data removal tools.
NordLocker lets you store up to 1TB of sensitive data in a zero-knowledge, private cloud. You can also use its next-gen encryption technology to encrypt and protect local and cloud files.
The identity theft recovery tools can help you if you fall victim to fraud. NordVPN will help you cover expenses related to undoing the damage caused by the attack up to $1m.
Unlike some of its competitors, NordVPN doesn’t offer a free trial. However, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee for its plans.
NordVPN Review – Is NordVPN Safe and Secure?
NordVPN enjoys a stellar reputation as one of the safest and most secure VPN services around. In this section of our NordVPN review, we’ll talk about the security measures it provides to keep you safe.
Encryption
The provider keeps your internet traffic encrypted and protected from hackers, ISPs, and government surveillance using AES-256, a robust 256-bit encryption protocol.
AES-256 has been adopted by government organizations and cybersecurity experts worldwide, and its encryption method is effectively unbeatable with current technology.
Any data you send while connected to NordVPN’s servers will be encrypted, including passwords, files, and messages, so the information will remain secure even if it were to be intercepted by a third party.
In addition, the NordLocker encrypted cloud storage solution allows you to keep your files safe and secure.
Tunneling Protocols
NordVPN lets you choose between three different VPN protocols – OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx. You can switch between them at any time, depending on the level of security or speed you need.
Here’s a quick breakdown of their capabilities:
- OpenVPN – As the most stable VPN protocol, OpenVPN is ideal for everyday use and activities that don’t tolerate interruption, such as working online, live streaming, torrenting, and messaging.
- IKEv2/IPsec – Known for its stability and performance, this protocol is ideal for mobile users. It’s great for quickly establishing VPN connections, making it a logical choice for users on the move and connecting to unsafe public WiFi hotspots.
- NordLynx – NordLynx is NordVPN’s proprietary protocol based on the WireGuard protocol. WireGuard is known for its speed and versatility, and NordVPN provides additional security with its own proprietary protocol.
NordVPN clients use NordLynx by default on every popular platform, as it’s one of the industry’s fastest and most secure protocols. Its performance makes NordVPN one of the best gaming VPNs available.
RAM-Only Servers
NordVPN’s adoption of RAM-only servers has significant security benefits for users. These servers operate entirely on volatile memory, so no user data is retained. In addition, each server reboot wipes them clean of any residual information.
This means NordVPN can’t store or share your data even if it wants to, and it protects you and the provider from potential data breaches and unauthorized access.
Logging Policy
NordVPN is very serious when it comes to protecting its users’ data. The provider has a strict no-logs policy in place, and NordVPN has undergone multiple independent audits to test this, with Deloitte confirming that NordVPN adheres to its policies.
NordVPN Features and VPN Services
NordVPN offers several features you won’t find with other providers and is one of the best value-for-money VPN providers in the industry. We found its interface easy to use, and NordVPN makes it simple to locate and use its features.
VPN Server Network
With over 6,200+ servers in 110+ countries worldwide, NordVPN provides you with nearby connection points no matter where you are. This makes it an excellent pick for travelers and anyone looking to bypass geo-restrictions to access foreign content. Generally speaking, there’s a NordVPN server wherever you need one.
NordVPN has servers in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It also has P2P-friendly servers on each of these continents, making it one of the best torrenting VPNs this year.
The only issue we noticed with its server network is that it offers no double VPN servers in Africa and the Middle East and no obfuscated servers in Africa or South America.
Simultaneous Connections
NordVPN lets you protect up to six devices with a single subscription, allowing you to extend its security and privacy features across your devices. Although this is below the industry standard of ten devices per subscription, it’s more than enough to keep one user safe.
It’s worth mentioning that you can bypass this limitation by using NordVPN router protection. The router uses only one of your six connection slots but protects any device that connects to the network – making it ideal for families and businesses.
Kill Switch
NordVPN offers a reliable kill switch feature that will automatically cut off your device’s internet access if your VPN connection drops, protecting you from DNS leaks. While most of its competitors offer this feature, we found NordVPN’s kill switch to be reliable and effective in providing DNS leak protection.
The provider offers system-level and application-specific kill switches. The system-level kill switch will block all online traffic if the VPN connection drops.
The application-specific kill switch prevents specific apps from sending data without interrupting your internet connection. That means you can specify which apps NordVPN should terminate if your VPN connection drops rather than cutting your device’s internet connection entirely.
Split Tunneling
Split tunneling provides flexibility for NordVPN users looking to optimize their VPN traffic. This feature lets you choose what internet traffic goes through the VPN and what accesses the internet directly.
For example, you could encrypt your connection to a foreign streaming service while you use a banking app via a direct connection. Split tunneling is available for Windows, Android, and Android TV devices, and there are three ways to use it.
- Inverse Split – The safest form of split tunneling, which encrypts everything by default and lets you pick which apps can access the internet directly.
- App-Based Split – This method lets you select the apps that run on the VPN, leaving the rest of your internet traffic unprotected.
- URL-Based Split – Available via NordVPN’s browser extensions, this method lets you specify which URLs you want to exclude from the VPN connection.
Double VPN
This feature offers enhanced security and privacy by routing your internet traffic through two VPN servers instead of just one.
The first server encrypts your traffic just like a regular VPN connection. The second server adds an additional layer of encryption, making it nearly impossible for unauthorized parties to intercept or track your online activity.
Double VPN significantly enhances your anonymity online by mixing your traffic with other traffic on two separate servers, so
IP addresses virtually untraceable. The double VPN feature is valuable for journalists, activists, and anyone seeking an extra degree of online security.
The feature is very easy to use, and all you need to do is tap “Double VPN” on the home screen and select one of the eligible servers. This feature will slow your connection down, though, so you won’t want it on all the time.
Dedicated IP Servers
Connecting to a regular NordVPN server masks your internet traffic by assigning an IP address to your connection, which you share with other users. This changes when you use a static IP address, which is unique and exclusive to you.
NordVPN offers static IP addresses as an add-on you can purchase. You can use them by connecting to NordVPN’s dedicated IP servers around the world. These IP addresses are less likely to appear on online service blacklists, and using a dedicated IP address means you won’t face as many interruptions and security checks.
Obfuscated Servers
Although a regular VPN server makes your browsing history inaccessible to your ISP, it doesn’t hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. While this doesn’t cause issues for most VPN users, some ISPs will throttle your bandwidth, and countries with heavy internet censorship may detect and block your connection.
Obfuscated servers alter your data packets and hide the fact that you’re using a VPN from your ISP so you can maintain unrestricted internet access. This feature is invaluable for the residents of countries like Russia, China, and Turkey – and it’s extremely easy to use with NordVPN.
Onion Over VPN Servers
NordVPN’s Onion Over VPN Servers allow you to access The Onion Router network without using the Tor browser.
Tor routes your connection through three random Tor servers before your traffic reaches its destination. NordVPN ensures your privacy remains intact by combining Tor’s security measures with its encryption algorithm before your traffic reaches the network.
This feature is invaluable for privacy-conscious users looking to access the deep web and .onion websites without security risks.
Threat Protection
Threat Protection is one of the best antivirus software tools for tackling malware, trackers, and intrusive ads, and it keeps you safe when downloading files and visiting potentially dangerous websites – and NordVPN bundles it with its subscriptions.
It will scan every URL you visit, blocking access to websites hosting malware and protecting you from phishing attacks. This makes it a valuable addition if you frequently shop online. Threat Protection also stops third-party trackers from collecting data on your preferences and following you around the web.
Dark Web Monitor
This data breach monitoring tool continuously scans the dark web for any of your information that has appeared in leaks. If your stolen credentials have been put up for sale, this feature can help you change your details and protect your accounts before they get hijacked.
Meshnet
This feature creates a private, encrypted tunnel to connect devices and enable secure file sharing between them without the risk of data breaches or external cyber threats.
We used Meshnet to read documents and browse files on remote devices and didn’t see any connection speed drops or performance issues.
This feature can be invaluable for frequent travelers and hybrid workplaces, as it provides a remote access failsafe. In addition, its robust security measures allow you to share sensitive business and personal documents with anyone, knowing they’re protected from interception.
Meshnet is also useful for getting past the Netflix household rule, which limits accounts to a single household.
NordPass
NordPass, available with NordVPN’s Plus and Ultimate plans, is one of the best password managers around.
As well as providing a secure password vault, the feature helps you keep your accounts secure by automatically generating strong passwords you can use and checking your existing passwords for vulnerabilities.
You can access your passwords across browsers, apps, and online accounts. In addition, it has an excellent auto-fill feature that can help you save time by automatically filling out your usernames, passwords, billing information, and credit card information.
Incogni
NordVPN now offers Incogni’s personal data removal tools, which can save you hundreds of hours by automatically removing your data from the internet. With a few clicks, Incogni will contact over 180 data brokers around the world on your behalf and send them data removal requests.
These brokers handle data accumulated over years. Removing your records from their databases means your information will be removed from people search websites, shady business sites, and even credit card scamming databases.
Incogni will immediately show results, as you’ll stop receiving shady emails, texts, and robocalls. Incogni’s services are available for customers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Switzerland, and the European Union.
NordVPN Performance
As part of our NordVPN review, our team of researchers engaged in extensive performance testing, checking the service’s ability to retain high-speed connections.
For the testing, we initially tracked unencrypted connection speeds. Next, we used NordVPN to connect to servers around the world, tracking the average data transfer rate. We repeated this multiple times a day and conducted the tests over an extended period.
We found that NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs around, retaining between 70% and 75% of the unencrypted connection speed when downloading and uploading data. This is closely comparable to providers like Surfshark and faster than ExpressVPN – our Surfshark vs ExpressVPN comparison guide provides a complete breakdown of the two.
NordVPN Compatibility and Ease of Use
NordVPN’s services are compatible with every major operating system, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, as well as routers. In addition, it offers browser extensions for Chrome, Mozilla, and Edge.
During our testing, we downloaded the NordVPN apps on each operating system to test the responsiveness of the interface and the features each operating system supports.
NordVPN for Windows
NordVPN’s Windows client is feature-rich and easy to use and navigate. Launching its Windows app allows you to choose a server by navigating a world map with interactive buttons representing different countries.
On the left navigation of the NordVPN app, you can find a menu with quick-access buttons for features, including double VPN, obfuscated servers, Meshnet, and more.
You’ll also find a Quick Connect button that immediately connects you to a high-speed VPN server and a settings menu that lets you configure the kill switch, split tunneling, and other advanced features.
NordVPN for Mac
We found NordVPN’s Mac app to integrate well with the macOS ecosystem. It’s easy to navigate and offers more features than most competitors.
For example, although it’s tough to find a reliable kill switch for Mac, NordVPN has one, and it lets you select which apps you want to encrypt.
The Mac app supports Threat Protection and Meshnet, and you can set it up to automatically connect to a safe VPN server when you boot up your device. Like the Windows app, it has a Quick Connect button and an easy-to-navigate settings menu for all the extra features.
NordVPN for Linux
While NordVPN’s Linux client won’t be a problem for users familiar with terminal commands, beginners may find its lack of a graphical user interface challenging. Nevertheless, with sufficient technical experience, its command-line tool is fairly easy to use.
It lets you pick between servers and VPN protocols and turn Threat Protection, Meshnet, the kill switch, and other features on and off. Although installing a VPN on Linux devices isn’t necessarily easy, NordVPN offers detailed setup and use guides for each distro.
NordVPN App for Android
NordVPN offers one of the best VPN apps for Android devices, which is easy to use and full of features. One of our favorite items on the Android app is its Profile tab, which shows how secure your device is and allows you to set up auto-connect, dark web monitoring, and Threat Protection Lite.
Threat Protection Lite is the only real negative when comparing the Android app to its Windows counterpart.
Unlike Threat Protection, this version protects your Android device from malware only while connected to a VPN server. Other than that, we didn’t see any bugs or performance issues with the NordVPN app.
NordVPN App for iOS
NordVPN’s apps for iPhones and iPads have come a long way. NordVPN now provides an intuitive widget that lets you quickly connect to a server and lists your recent connections for your convenience.
The NordVPN app for iOS also comes with Threat Protection Lite, supports Meshnet, and has an effective kill switch. In addition, it’s compatible with Apple’s Siri, which allows you to set up shortcuts and use the VPN features hands-free.
NordVPN for Browser Extensions
NordVPN’s browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge are a lightweight, customizable, and quick way to secure your internet traffic.
However, unlike the mobile VPN apps, they can only protect your browser-based activities, meaning other programs, such as games or messaging apps, will use your real IP.
In testing, we found these extensions offered near-instantaneous connections to NordVPN’s servers and used far fewer resources than native clients. This makes them an excellent choice for users looking for a performance-friendly VPN solution.
NordVPN for Routers and More
NordVPN can also help you secure your routers, smart TVs, and consoles. Although the setup process differs for each brand, NordVPN has a detailed set of guides on its website to help you get started.
Although NordVPN supports various router models, you should check if yours is compatible before buying a subscription.
Extending NordVPN’s protection to consoles and smart TVs is often best achieved via routers or Windows computers – except for Android-based TVs, which have a native app available in the Play Store.
Is NordVPN Good For Streaming on Netflix and Other Streaming Services?
NordVPN always finds its place on our list of the best VPNs for Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and other streaming services due to its exceptional speeds and unlocking capabilities. We tested it using the NordLynx VPN protocol to unlock different Netflix libraries and had no issues accessing region-specific content.
Although many VPN providers struggle to access popular streaming platforms that block shared VPN IPs, NordVPN has an answer for this. SmartPlay can cloak your IP address and bypass DNS blocking, allowing you to remove virtually any geo-restriction.
You don’t even need to configure anything, as SmartPlay automatically activates whenever you connect to a VPN server.
Is NordVPN Good For Torrenting?
Most of NordVPN’s massive server network consists of peer-to-peer (P2P) friendly servers optimized for torrenting. These servers can handle high-bandwidth activities and offer enhanced speeds and reliability – assisted by NordLynx’s fast connections and NordVPN’s robust security features, such as its kill switch.
Is NordVPN Good For Gaming?
NordVPN is an excellent pick for console, PC, and mobile gamers. The provider can prevent ISP throttling and DDoS attacks, ensuring you have a lag-free experience on any platform.
Thanks to its strategically placed servers, you can connect to a location closer to game servers, resulting in a lower ping and ensuring a smooth gaming experience. Alternatively, you can find less populated servers and easier matches.
You can also use NordVPN’s Meshnet feature for LAN gaming, setting up a private Meshnet network and inviting other NordVPN users to join.
NordVPN vs. Top VPN Competitors
We consider NordVPN to be one of the best VPNs based on its performance, features, and usability. However, no VPN can suit everyone’s needs. The table below can help you compare the VPN service provider to its top competitors before you commit to a subscription.
| Top VPNs | Starting Price | Top 3 Features | Number of Connections | Servers | Split Tunneling? | Free Version? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $3.09/month | Incogni Privacy Tools, Obfuscated Servers, Threat Protection | 6 | 6,200+ in 110+ countries | ✅ | ❌ |
| Surfshark | $2.29/month | Private Search Engine, Antivirus, ID Breach Alerts | Unlimited | 3,200+ in 100+ countries | ✅ | 7-day trial for Android, iOS, Mac |
| ExpressVPN | $6.67/month | Lightway VPN Protocol, Private DNS, RAM-Only Servers | 8 | 3,000+ in 105+ countries | ✅ | ❌ |
| PIA (Private Internet Access) | $2.03/month | Private DNS, Torrenting Support, Open Source Apps | Unlimited | Unknown in 91+ countries | ✅ | 7-day trial for Android, iOS |
How to Use NordVPN – Quick Guide
Download the NordVPN Client
Head to the official NordVPN website and pick a plan that suits your needs and budget. During the checkout, you’ll create a NordVPN account, and you can select any add-ons you may need. Once that’s completed, download NordVPN’s Windows client from the website.
Log Into Your Account
Install the NordVPN client on your device and launch it. When you open the app, click “Log In,” which will take you to Nord Account, a unified Nord website that lets you log into its services, including the VPN. Enter your account credentials to log in.
Secure Your Internet Connection
Once you log in, you can browse the app to set up automatic connections, view the kill switch settings, or add multi-factor authentication for your account.
With everything set up, head to the app’s home screen and click “Quick Connect” to let NordVPN connect you to a VPN server – or find one by scrolling through the locations or navigating the map view. You’re now protected by one of the best VPN service providers around.
NordVPN Reviews and Customer Support
NordVPN has shown solid results in our testing, from its fast and consistent performance to the quality of its interface and advanced features. However, all that may mean little if you encounter a problem you can’t resolve.
That’s why we sought help from its customer support team, which allowed us to evaluate their responsiveness and the quality of their assistance. You can contact NordVPN’s customer support round-the-clock teams via live chat or email, though the service lacks phone support.
The service’s chatbot may be limited, but we found NordVPN’s customer support courteous and knowledgeable.
In addition, NordVPN has an excellent help center that can help you get to the bottom of most VPN-related issues. For example, if you want to cancel your recurring subscription, the help center will take you through the steps you need to complete on the Nord Account website.
Besides our experience with NordVPN, we were interested in what some of its long-term users had to say about the service. On Trustpilot, NordVPN’s rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, with more than 29,000 reviews, demonstrates very positive feedback.
With more than 74% of the reviews giving it the maximum score, reviews like the one above are common on Trustpilot. When users review NordVPN, they generally praise its privacy features and the effectiveness of the Threat Protection feature for blocking ads and third-party trackers
The NordVPN apps are also noted as being easy to use, and the NordVPN settings are simple to adjust.
In addition, NordVPN reviews on Trustpilot mention that the customer support staff will assist you with every aspect of NordVPN’s service, from trivial issues such as app setup to more complex processes like dedicated IPs and router protection. Almost every NordVPN review we saw leaned toward the positive.
How We Tested NordVPN
We took a multi-faceted approach to reviewing NordVPN, which allowed us to test every aspect of its service and determine whether it works as advertised. We looked at:
- Security – We started by stress-testing the NordVPN security features, such as its kill switch and split tunneling, which we found worked as intended. Its Threat Protection feature also passed all of our malware-blocking tests, and the password manager is a great addition.
- Speed – While testing its performance, NordVPN provided consistent speeds, which allowed us to play games, watch shows on foreign Netflix libraries, and download files without interruption over long use sessions.
- Customer Experience – Besides hands-on testing, the third-party reviews from NordVPN users found on Trustpilot provided valuable insights from long-term customers.
- Context – In addition, our previous experience with some of its top competitors, including ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and Surfshark, and insights into VPN statistics and trends allow us to draw meaningful comparisons between these products.
Our Other VPN Guides
NordVPN may stand out for its unique features and stellar performance, but that doesn’t mean other VPN providers don’t have lots to offer. Here’s a list of some of our VPN guides and VPN reviews to provide more information about its competition and the service that will best suit your needs.
- The Best VPN for Android
- The Best VPN for Torrenting
- The Best VPN for iPhones
- The Best VPN for Gambling
- The Best VPN for Linux
- The Best VPN for Chrome
