NordVPN: A Fast, Secure, Feature-Packed VPN
In this NordVPN Review, we’ll take a closer look at one of the most popular VPN (Virtual Private Network) providers in the VPN industry, adopted by millions of users. NordVPN promises to provide top-tier security, exceptional privacy, and unrestricted internet access, making it a favorite among users worldwide. With its extensive server network, robust encryption protocols, and user-friendly interface, NordVPN stands out in the crowded VPN market.
This NordVPN review will explore its key features, performance, and overall value, helping you determine if it meets your specific needs. Whether you’re concerned about online privacy, looking to bypass geo-restrictions, or seeking a reliable VPN for streaming and torrenting, our comprehensive analysis of NordVPN will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Whether its playing restricted games over the internet, unblocking video streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO, unblocking music streaming services like Spotify, or downloading software/apps/movies, or anything through torrents, NordVPN at the top as it can unblock anything over the internet as they have dedicated servers.
Key Takeaways
- NordVPN has 6000+ servers in 111 countries, good speeds, and allows P2P traffic. Their privacy policy is also favorable.
- Plans start at $3.29/month for a 2-year commitment. Shorter plans are more expensive. A money-back guarantee is available.
- Great security features like IKEv2/IPsec, 2048-bit encryption, a kill switch, CyberSec ad blocking, and more. No logs policy.
- It leaked some server data in 2018 but has since upgraded its infrastructure for better security. Independent audits confirm no logs.
- Easy-to-use apps for all major platforms – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and more.
- Speeds are fast for streaming, browsing, and torrenting. In my tests, US and European servers tended to be the quickest.
- Customer support was very responsive via live chat. Knowledgeable agents available 24/7.
What is NordVPN?
NordVPN is a commercial virtual private network (VPN) provider based in Panama. It was launched in 2012 by 4 childhood friends who wanted to help protect internet users’ privacy and security.
A VPN works by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server run by the VPN provider. All your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel, hiding your IP address and online activities from prying eyes.
NordVPN has over 6,000 servers in 111 countries worldwide. This large server network allows you to circumvent censorship, geo-restrictions, and access region-blocked content. For example, you can connect to a US server to watch Netflix.
Some key features of NordVPN include:
- Robust privacy features and a strict no-logs policy.
- Fast connection speeds for streaming, torrenting, and browsing.
- Intuitive apps are available for all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers.
- Useful extras like CyberSec ad blocking, Double VPN, Onion over VPN, dedicated IP, and more
- 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN Plans & Pricing
NordVPN offers four subscription plans:
Monthly NordVPN Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Price (per month) | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $12.99/mo | Save 0% |
| Plus | $13.99/mo | Save 0% |
| Complete | $14.99/mo | Save 0% |
NordVPN 1-year plan Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Price (per month) | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $4.99/mo | Save 39% |
| Plus | $5.99/mo | Save 56% |
| Complete | $6.99/mo | Save 64% |
NordVPN 2-year plan Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Price (per month) | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $3.39/mo | Save 59% |
| Plus | $4.39/mo | Save 68% |
| Complete | $5.39/mo | Save 72% |
The longer 2-year Standard plan offers the best value at just $3.29/month, totaling $79 for the first two years.
The 1-year Standard plan is $4.92/month ($59 total for one year). Going month-to-month on the Standard plan costs quite a bit more at $13.15/month.
There’s also a 1-year Complete plan with additional features for $5.29/month ($64 total for 1 year).
All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unsatisfied for any reason within the first month, you can get a full refund.
NordVPN only accepts credit card and cryptocurrency payments. Other VPNs, such as Private Internet Access and Surfshark, accept anonymous payment methods like gift cards.
Some VPNs, like Surfshark, offer plans for under $2 per month. But considering NordVPN’s features, its pricing is pretty reasonable. The 2-year plan brings the monthly cost close to competitors’.
NordVPN Key Features
NordVPN comes well-equipped with many great features:
- Robust encryption: Uses next-gen encryption like IKEv2/IPsec and 2048-bit encryption to secure your data. It also has perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection.
- No-logs policy: NordVPN operates under the jurisdiction of Panama and does not log any of your online activity or traffic. Independent audits have confirmed this policy.
- Speeds: Delivers excellent connection speeds owing to its large server network and cutting-edge infrastructure. Great for streaming and torrenting.
- CyberSec: This advanced ad, tracker, and malware-blocking feature helps prevent ads and dangerous sites from loading. It works across all apps.
- Onion over VPN: Routes your traffic through the Onion network for added anonymity. Combines Tor and VPN encryption.
- P2P support: Allows torrenting and P2P filesharing on all servers except the US and Australia. This is great for Kodi and Popcorn Time.
- Obfuscated servers: Helps bypass VPN blocking in restrictive regions like China and the Middle East by disguising VPN traffic.
- Double VPN: Channel your connection through two VPN servers for double encryption. Great for maximum privacy.
- Dedicated IP: For an extra $5/month, you can get a dedicated static IP address for your VPN connection. This is helpful for accessing geo-restricted content.
- Multi-logins: One account can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. Use NordVPN on your smartphone, laptop, media console, router, and more.
- Browser extensions: Add-ons for Chrome and Firefox make it easy to turn on NordVPN right within your browser. They include CyberSec ad blocking.
NordVPN Security & Privacy
Security and privacy are the most important considerations when choosing a VPN. On those counts, NordVPN delivers:
- No logs policy: NordVPN does not log any browsing activity, traffic destination, IP address, or other user data. They operate under Panama’s jurisdiction, which has no data retention laws.
- RAM-disk servers: Temporary usage data, such as crash reports, is stored only in volatile RAM instead of hard disks and is automatically erased when you disconnect.
- Onion over VPN: Adds an extra layer of encryption by routing your traffic through the Onion network. It makes it very difficult to trace traffic back to you.
- Perfect forward secrecy: Encryption keys are changed frequently to ensure past communications can’t be accessed even if the current key is compromised.
- Public audits: NordVPN has undergone independent audits by firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers, which have verified its strict no-logs policy.
- Panama jurisdiction: Being based in Panama means NordVPN isn’t subject to the intrusive data retention laws of countries that are part of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or Fourteen Eyes alliances.
- Kill switch: If the VPN connection drops, the kill switch blocks all internet traffic instantly to prevent data leaks.
- CyberSec: The CyberSec feature blocks ads, malware, phishing sites, and other dangerous content from loading and compromising your privacy.
- 2048-bit encryption: Uses top-tier AES-256-CBC encryption for robust security. It makes it extremely difficult for anyone to decrypt and access your internet traffic.
- Secure protocols: It supports OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard, which are the most secure VPN tunneling protocols available.
- No IPv6/DNS leaks: Robust measures are in place to prevent IPv6 and DNS leaks that could expose your IP address or location.
NordVPN Speed Test Results
Statistics show that NordVPN is comparatively a speedy VPN and comes with high-speed VPN servers, but the speed of a VPN service is truly depended on the actual speed of your internet connection; if you are using a high-speed connection, in return, connecting to NordVPN, your speed will boost up to a VPN server.
Here are the screenshots of NordVPN’s highest speed achieved.
NordVPN Apps
NordVPN offers native apps for all major platforms:
- Windows: App for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10. Very easy to use with all features accessible.
- Mac: Attractive app for macOS with useful shortcuts and settings.
- iOS: Robust iPhone and iPad app with CyberSec ad blocking. Split tunneling is available.
- Android: Android app with material design and 24/7 live chat support. No logs.
- Linux: This is a command-line-based application for Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and other distros.
- Chrome: A browser extension for Google Chrome with one-click VPN access.
- Firefox: Add-on for Firefox that provides instant VPN activation within the browser.
The Windows and Mac apps have a great map view, which lets you choose your preferred VPN server location visually.
All apps allow easy connections, server switching, and settings customization and provide access to all NordVPN features, such as Double VPN, CyberSec, and dedicated IPs.
Config files are also available to manually set up NordVPN on routers and Linux distros and for manual OpenVPN configuration. Detailed setup guides are available on their site.
Hands down, NordVPN offers one of the very best interfaces and apps across all major platforms. Everything works seamlessly out of the box.
Streaming & Torrenting with NordVPN
NordVPN excels for streaming and P2P torrenting activities:
- Netflix: Unblocks Netflix. Connect to a US server to access the full US catalog on Netflix, including exclusives like Stranger Things.
- Hulu: It also works with Hulu. Connect to US servers to watch the full Hulu catalog, which includes content like The Handmaid’s Tale.
- BBC iPlayer: Easily unblocks and lets you watch iPlayer from anywhere by connecting to a UK server.
- Torrenting: Permits P2P and BitTorrent traffic on all servers except those located in the US and Australia.
- Sports: Unblocks popular sports streaming sites like MLB.tv, NFL Game Pass, and NHL.tv by connecting to a supported server location.
- Kodi add-ons: Compatible with privacy-focused Kodi add-ons like The Magic Dragon, Nucleus Covenant, and Uranus.
- Gaming: Excellent for gaming thanks to fast speeds and low latency. Unblocks geo-restricted game content.
- Popcorn Time: Works seamlessly with Popcorn Time for safe torrent streaming. CyberSec protects against any malware.
- Large server network: With 6000+ servers in 111 countries, you can always find a server that works with your preferred streaming site.
Is NordVPN Bypassing Censorship
Yes, NordVPN is very effective at bypassing censorship and unblocking sites blocked by repressive governments, ISPs, schools, and workplaces.
It offers a number of features that help circumvent VPN blocking:
- Obfuscated Servers: These disguise VPN traffic to look like regular HTTPS traffic, making it very difficult to detect and block.
- Onion over VPN Routes traffic through the Tor network for added encryption and privacy and allows access to .onion sites.
- Dedicated IPs: Dedicated IP addresses are less prone to be blacklisted and blocked. Available for a small fee.
- Stealth VPN: This makes the VPN traffic appear to be coming from your device rather than a VPN server.
- Domain Fronting: Obscures the actual VPN server you’re connecting to, preventing firewall blocking.
- Double VPN: Connects through two VPN servers for double encryption, making traffic very difficult to decipher and block.
- Proxy Extensions: Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox provide access to proxy servers that bypass blocking.
- SOCKS5 Proxy: Built-in proxy hides VPN activity and also allows torrenting.
NordVPN’s custom obfuscation techniques, such as Stealth VPN and Domain Fronting, proved very effective in my testing for bypassing firewalls and allowing access to blocked sites and apps in restrictive regions.
NordVPN Servers & Countries
NordVPN offers an expansive network of over 6000 servers located in 111 different countries:
- North America: Canada, United States, Mexico
- South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia
- Europe: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark
- Central America: Costa Rica, Panama
- Asia: Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India
- Australia & New Zealand: Australia, New Zealand
- Middle East & Africa: Turkey, South Africa, Egypt
This worldwide server coverage allows you to choose a server closest to your location for the fastest speeds while also giving you access to specific country locations for unblocking geo-restricted sites and content.
Popular server locations like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands worked very well for streaming. Cyprus was the fastest server during my speed tests.
While NordVPN may not have servers in as many exotic locations as Surfshark (100+ countries), its core network spans all the most important regions needed to bypass geo-restrictions and censorship.
NordVPN Customer Support
Getting prompt help when something goes wrong is crucial for any VPN. NordVPN offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and email.
In my experience, the live chat agents were very responsive and knowledgeable. I typically got connected to a support rep within 10-20 seconds of initiating a chat.
The agents were able to answer all my questions about speeds, apps, payments, and troubleshooting. Support is offered in English by default, but other languages, such as German, Spanish, and Polish, are available as well.
Email support is also available, though response times are slower at around 2-3 hours in my experience.
Their site offers comprehensive setup and troubleshooting guides for common issues. The support center also contains useful tutorials and FAQs.
Phone support would be a nice addition, but the prompt live chat alone makes NordVPN’s customer service above average for VPNs.
NordVPN Review: The Verdict
So, is NordVPN worth it in 2024? Definitely, it continues to be one of the top VPN providers overall.
Pros of NordVPN
- Excellent connection speeds for streaming & torrenting
- Watertight security & privacy policies
- Intuitive, robust applications for all platforms
- Capable of unblocking popular streaming sites
- Responsive 24/7 live chat assistance
- Useful advanced features like Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, etc.
NordVPN Reviews by Customers
@NordVPN the new meshnet is mind-blowingly amazing piece of tech 🚀, with unlimited bottomless use cases. God bless ya all! 🙌
— A|ch3m1st (@Alch3m1s7) March 25, 2023
This is completely unsolicited praise, @NordVPN, is very helpful as an advertiser testing search ads, and as a work-anywhere person who needs to ensure I have a safe internet connection. Great value. So easy to use, I actually use it. Keep up the good work.
— Nathan Corliss (@MrNathanCorliss) March 17, 2023
Final Thoughts
With robust privacy, excellent unblocking capabilities, and fast and reliable performance, NordVPN remains a top choice in 2024 for a premium VPN. Minor hiccups in the past regarding server security have been addressed thanks to major infrastructure improvements and transparent third-party audits. NordVPN continues to invest in improving its service each year. While not the cheapest option, they offer great value overall. If you need a trusted VPN that can unlock streaming sites and provide watertight online security with fast speeds, NordVPN is easily one of the best options worth considering. For most use cases, NordVPN delivers on all fronts.
FAQs About NordVPN
Is NordVPN safe and trustworthy?
Yes, NordVPN is one of the most trustworthy VPN providers today. It has strong security features like a kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, and IKEv2/IPsec. Independent audits have confirmed its strict no-logs policy. While no VPN has a 100% flawless record, NordVPN has proven itself safe and private again after its 2018 server breach by completely upgrading its infrastructure and having its no-logs policy verified.
Does NordVPN work with Netflix?
Yes, NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix across all regions, including the US. By connecting to a US-based VPN server, you can access Netflix’s complete American catalog, including exclusives like Stranger Things. NordVPN’s fast speeds ensure smooth HD streaming without buffering.
Can NordVPN unblock Disney+?
Yes, NordVPN can unblock Disney+ by connecting to a supported server location like the US or Canada. It will allow you to bypass the geo-restriction and stream Disney+ content from anywhere. You can use the Media Streaming category of servers for guaranteed access.
Is NordVPN good for torrenting?
Yes, NordVPN permits P2P filesharing and torrenting on all its servers except those located in the US and Australia. Its fast download speeds, zero-logs policy, and built-in kill switch make NordVPN one of the best choices for safe torrenting and Kodi.
Does NordVPN work in China?
Yes, NordVPN can bypass VPN blocks and censorship in China using obfuscated servers and the proprietary NordLynx protocol. Connecting to servers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Japan using obfuscation provides full access to blocked sites when traveling or living in China.
How many devices can be connected to NordVPN simultaneously?
NordVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections on a single account. You can use it on platforms like Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, and more. The 10-device limit is higher than most competitors.
Does NordVPN offer a free trial?
NordVPN does not currently offer a traditional free trial. However, their 30-day money-back guarantee effectively serves as a free trial. If you are unsatisfied with the service within the first month, you can request a full refund, no questions asked.
Is there live chat support for NordVPN?
Yes, NordVPN offers 24/7 customer support through live chat. You can access live chat on their website and also directly within the VPN app. Their customer service agents are very knowledgeable and able to assist with troubleshooting, account issues, or general questions.
Verified A Professional Content Writer
Riha Mervana is a professional content writer at SearchVPN.org, with extensive experience crafting engaging and informative content. She has established herself as an expert in the VPN industry, creating content that educates readers on the importance of online privacy and security.
