NordVPN Quick detailsOur score: 4.7 stars out of 5.
|
NordVPN is among the extra in style, if not the most well-liked, VPNs as we speak — and for good motive. It brings a powerful server community, an intensive vary of security measures, and a elegant person expertise. That is on prime of offering each quick and dependable VPN speeds throughout its server places.
Whereas its pricing isn’t probably the most budget-friendly, NordVPN supplies an all-around bundle that makes it a compelling VPN for many on a regular basis customers.
Is NordVPN free?
No, NordVPN just isn’t free and doesn’t have a free model. In the event you’re particularly in search of a free VPN to make use of, I like to recommend attempting out Proton VPN or disguise.me VPN. They’re good choices, particularly since each have zero bandwidth or information limits.
SEE: NordVPN vs Proton VPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? (TechRepublic)
As a substitute of a free plan, NordVPN presents a seven-day free trial accessible for Android. Whereas I recognize Nord providing a free trial through Android, I hope it extends entry to iOS or iPhone customers sooner or later as properly.
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN divides its paid subscriptions into three tiers: Fundamental, Plus, and Full. Every tier has a month-to-month, a yearly, and a two-year contract choice.
As a facet notice, subscription names can range relying on the area per my analysis (NordVPN Full being synonymous with NordVPN Final or Extremely; NordVPN Fundamental being the identical as NordVPN Normal).
| Fundamental | Plus | Full | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month-to-month | $12.99 monthly | $13.99 monthly | $14.99 monthly |
| 1 yr | $4.99 monthly | $5.99 monthly | $6.99 monthly |
| 2 years | $3.09 monthly | $3.99 monthly | $4.99 monthly |
| Function variations | Principal VPN service, Risk Safety advert blocker | All Fundamental options plus tracker blocker, anti-malware and searching safety, password supervisor, and information breach scanner | All Plus options plus 1TB of encrypted cloud storage |
Of its plans, I like to recommend going for NordVPN Plus one-year subscription at $5.99 monthly. It provides you a wholesome set of NordVPN’s additional security measures at an affordable one-year contract size.
Compared to different VPNs, NordVPN falls within the higher vary by way of worth. For instance, Surfshark’s equal Surfshark One subscription is priced at $4.09 monthly, whereas Proton VPN’s Plus plan is at $5.99. In the event you’re on a tighter finances, these picks are in all probability a more sensible choice.
SEE: Non-public Web Entry vs NordVPN: Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)
Nevertheless, if in case you have the cash, I really feel NordVPN presents sufficient significant add-ons to make it well worth the spend. Specifically, the truth that you get entry to Nord Safety’s NordPass password supervisor with NordVPN Plus is a big value-add, particularly for those who’re additionally in search of a devoted password supervisor. You additionally get anti-malware and searching safety on prime of the primary VPN service.
One factor to notice: NordVPN’s one-year and two-year plans have totally different pricing upon renewal. Whereas it isn’t the one VPN supplier to do that, I do want it had constant pricing all all through. This is able to save customers the confusion of getting to recalculate pricing previous the preliminary contract.
All of NordVPN’s plans supply a 30-day money-back assure, permitting you to check out the service and refund it throughout the allotted interval.
Is NordVPN protected?
NordVPN is a protected and safe VPN to make use of in 2024. It makes use of AES 256 encryption, well known as one of the crucial safe encryption algorithms as we speak. That is evidenced by how U.S. authorities businesses and banking establishments additionally use AES encryption to guard person information.
For VPN protocols, it carries the OpenVPN protocol and its personal NordLynx protocol primarily based on the WireGuard communication protocol. I like how Nord provides its customers the pliability to decide on a VPN protocol with both quick efficiency through NordLynx or extra safety with OpenVPN.
SEE: The Prime 7 NordVPN Alternate options for 2024 (TechRepublic)
Most significantly, NordVPN has a no-logs coverage, which states that it doesn’t log any information about customers’ searching exercise or on-line visitors. Whereas any firm could make safety guarantees like this, I’m completely satisfied to report that NordVPN has undergone unbiased testing to verify this coverage.
In late 2023, NordVPN’s no-logs claims had been verified by a third-party audit performed by Deloitte. That is NordVPN’s fourth safety audit confirming its no-logs coverage — displaying the corporate’s dedication to upholding person privateness and safety.
Whereas I undoubtedly commend NordVPN for having its service independently audited, I’ve a small nitpick. With its fourth no-logs audit, solely these with an energetic NordVPN subscription are in a position to entry the total report and outcomes.
Based on NordVPN, this “ensures the audit outcomes usually are not taken out of context or misunderstood.” Whereas I perceive the place NordVPN is coming from, I really feel that sharing the total report with the general public is a greater transfer by way of total transparency.
With that being mentioned, NordVPN is among the most safe VPN companies to make use of as we speak.
Key options of NordVPN
Meshnet encrypted file-sharing
Meshnet permits you to join a number of gadgets to an end-to-end encrypted digital community and serves as a technique to securely share vital information throughout gadgets. Particularly, you’ll be able to have 10 gadgets linked to the community and seamlessly switch, ship, or obtain information by way of Meshnet.
To its credit score, I used it to ship a couple of information from my Android telephone to my laptop computer and it labored fairly flawlessly. I envision this to be helpful for sharing delicate information, comparable to contracts or monetary data, to person gadgets.
Risk Safety Professional internet and file safety
One other standout is NordVPN’s Risk Safety Professional, which presents each internet and file safety. For the online facet of issues, it presents real-time safety and blocking in opposition to malware, trackers, and adverts.
In the meantime, file safety occurs within the background because it scans all downloaded objects, checks for malware, and instantly deletes malicious information which can be discovered.
Personally, I like how Risk Safety supplies an in-depth listing of blocked threats with every internet web page visited. This offers customers extra perception into which web sites may probably be bringing extra hurt than good whereas they browse on-line.
Darkish Net Monitor
Lastly, NordVPN contains a Darkish Net Monitor that robotically scans the darkish internet to see if any of your emails have been concerned in a breach or information leak. The instrument additionally acts as an alert, because it instantly informs the person as soon as a leak of delicate information is discovered.
Per my time with it, I recognize how the monitor means that you can add as many emails as you need within the listing of credentials monitored. I think about that is going to be handy for on-line companies with a number of electronic mail addresses or a small crew that desires to verify all their credentials aren’t a part of any darkish internet leak.
Efficiency and pace: How briskly is NordVPN?
NordVPN presents each quick VPN speeds and an total dependable connection. Throughout my testing, I linked to NordVPN servers and did my traditional work as a author. What this seems like is searching a number of webpages for analysis, attending on-line video conferences with a number of attendees, and dealing on Google Docs and Drive, amongst others.
SEE: How A lot Does a VPN Price? + Financial savings Ideas (TechRepublic)
Throughout all use instances, I had zero points with NordVPN’s speeds. It was quick and had minimal to negligible distinction in comparison with how my web service supplier often performs. I additionally noticed that switching servers and connecting to totally different VPN places was fast and snappy, with no drops in connection all all through.
When it comes to pace testing, NordVPN bought mixed-to-positive outcomes. It carried out extremely properly for obtain speeds, truly having a 0.78% enhance in comparison with my ISP. That is wonderful contemplating how drops in pace are anticipated with VPNs, because the person connection is routed to extra channels. However, add speeds had been much less spectacular, because it recorded a 44% lower in pace on the identical check. Whereas nonetheless good, it nonetheless isn’t on the 15-25% lower that I think about wonderful.
In case your workflow requires frequent importing of information, my testing confirmed NordVPN is probably not the best resolution for you. However for day-to-day use, I’m assured that NordVPN can present persistently quick speeds for many on a regular basis customers.
NordVPN servers and places
After we take a look at NordVPN’s server community, it continues to impress. Its server fleet has 6,350+ servers throughout 111 nations. That falls comfortably within the higher vary of VPN server networks. To check, Surfshark has 3,200 servers in 100 nations, whereas ExpressVPN has servers in 105 nations (with a reported 3,000 servers as properly, however these are estimated figures).
What I personally commend NordVPN for is its steady enchancment of its server suite. Once I first reviewed NordVPN in 2023, it had 5,800+ servers in 60+ nations. In 2024, the situation and nation depend have virtually doubled.
SEE: Why Your Enterprise Wants Cybersecurity Consciousness Coaching (TechRepublic Premium)
Whereas having a ton of servers might look engaging, the extra vital quantity right here is the variety of places. That is very true in case your main use for a VPN is to unblock geo-restricted content material. With extra VPN nations, you’ll have extra selection within the IP places you’ll be able to have. At an enormous 111 nations, I discover NordVPN’s server community to be a big characteristic for those who worth unblocking or video streaming.
On prime of its server suite, NordVPN comes with numerous specialised servers. You may have a double VPN server that routes your visitors to 2 places for an extra layer of safety; obfuscated servers that masks your VPN use, which will be helpful in non-VPN pleasant nations; and Onion over VPN servers for customers that want to entry the Onion community for extra nameless searching.
You additionally get the choice to avail of a devoted IP handle, providing you with your personal private IP handle for safer company distant entry and to keep away from CAPTCHAs, amongst different issues, Take notice, NordVPN’s devoted IP characteristic is a separate subscription and isn’t included in your most important NordVPN plan.
NordVPN app expertise
Once I first put in the NordVPN app, my main concern was how it could arrange all its included options. From the soar, it was clear that Nord packed a ton of performance in its service, particularly with the extra menus and dashboards it had alongside the primary VPN.
Happily, after exploring the app, I noticed how intuitive NordVPN has every thing arrange. It has a most important dwelling dashboard, which conveniently homes not solely your VPN connection standing but additionally fast widgets for Risk Safety Professional and file sharing.
On the left facet, you get separate tabs for the VPN servers, Risk Safety Professional, file transfers, Meshnet, and the Darkish Net Monitor. Every characteristic has its personal devoted dashboard, making the app really feel much less cluttered and extra organized.
I notably like how the VPN Servers dashboard has collapsible dropdown menus to make every thing really feel neat. Right here you’ll be able to entry server nations, Nord’s specialty servers, and up to date connections — all in a single pane. Even with its abundance of options, I give credit score to NordVPN for maintaining issues tidy and designating every characteristic with its personal part.
For design, NordVPN will get good marks from me as properly. It employs a modern-looking person interface that appears polished and properly thought out. Actually, it seems like software program launched in 2024 — which is strictly what we wish.
NordVPN customer support and help
When it comes to buyer help, NordVPN presents a wholesome vary of help choices. It has a information base on-line portal with tutorials, FAQs, and guides; electronic mail help; an AI chatbot; and 24/7 reside chat help.
Once I used NordVPN’s AI chatbot, I discovered it was in a position to reply simplest questions with relative ease. It was additionally fast and provided useful follow-up prompts to dive deeper into what you requested about.
When you have a extra particular query, you’ll be able to ask the Nord chatbot to attach you with a reside agent. From my expertise, I used to be linked to an agent shortly, at round beneath two minutes or so. I may say that, with the questions I requested, the Nord help agent offered pretty useful solutions.
As seen above, the agent was in a position to reply which NordVPN subscription included entry to NordPass. Word, nonetheless, that Extremely on this case is NordVPN Full or NordVPN Final. Per my analysis, NordVPN’s subscription names can range relying on the area or nation. Personally, I hope NordVPN chooses to make the naming extra constant throughout areas to keep away from confusion.
Happily, NordVPN’s reside chat help is accessible 24/7. This implies you gained’t have to fret about not having access to assist when a vital situation arises.
NordVPN execs
- Affords round 6,350+ servers in 111 nations.
- Risk safety in opposition to malware, adverts, and trackers.
- Meshnet encrypted file-sharing system.
- Independently audited no-logs coverage.
- Constructed-in darkish internet monitor.
- Persistently quick and steady VPN pace.
- Nicely-designed and intuitive VPN app.
NordVPN cons
- Priced comparatively excessive.
- Renewal pricing might be complicated.
- Newest audit outcomes not accessible to the general public.
Who’s NordVPN for?
To me, NordVPN sits on the prime of the VPN area with its sturdy stability of efficiency, helpful security measures, and polished person expertise.
NordVPN is finest for many customers and companies in search of an all-around VPN that may present quick VPN speeds, privateness and safety capabilities, and a big VPN server community.
It’s additionally a major selection for safety fanatics. From its Meshnet encrypted file-sharing characteristic to its specialised obfuscated and double VPN servers, it brings so much to the desk with regards to bolstering person safety.
I notably like how NordVPN doesn’t take as a right its costlier price ticket. Whereas it’s not probably the most inexpensive VPN, it will probably’t be denied that you simply get so much in a single subscription.
As well as, for those who go for a NordVPN Plus or Full plan, you get entry to Nord’s NordPass password supervisor — including one other safety instrument to your arsenal.
Alternate options to NordVPN
| CyberGhost VPN | Surfshark VPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score (out of 5 stars) | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Beginning worth | $6.99 monthly (6-month plan) | $3.69 monthly | $6.67 monthly |
| Server community | Servers in 100 nations, 126 places, 21 devoted IP places | 3,200+ servers in 100 nations | Servers throughout 105 nations |
| Standout options | Specialised servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting; 24-hour free trial for desktop with no fee data required | Surfshark Search ad-free search engine, inexpensive subscription plans, limitless simultaneous system connections | Quick and constant VPN speeds; intuitive and well-designed VPN app; 18 unbiased audits as of 2024 |
CyberGhost VPN
In the event you’re itching to strive a premium VPN without cost, I like to recommend CyberGhost VPN. Its 24-hour desktop free trial is among the most accessible out there, not requiring any fee data to entry. As well as, CyberGhost VPN is ideal for customers who particularly plan on utilizing a VPN to stream content material, play video games, or torrent information.
It’s because its desktop app neatly organizes its optimized servers into these classes, making it straightforward to entry the very best server to your particular wants.
If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full CyberGhost VPN assessment.
Surfshark VPN
For these on a finances, I counsel Surfshark VPN. Surfshark brings a ton of worth with its service, providing a 100-country server fleet and quick VPN speeds — at fairly inexpensive costs. It additionally consists of helpful security measures like its Surfshark Search performance, which supplies customers with a devoted search engine that robotically removes adverts or sponsored posts.
I notably like Surfshark for providing limitless system connections, letting customers join a number of gadgets with out an extra plan. This provides much more worth to its already cost-effective pricing.
If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full Surfshark VPN assessment.
ExpressVPN
If person expertise is your prime precedence, one in every of my favorites is ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN strikes a effective stability between providing a well-designed VPN app and an easy-to-use interface. Its refined person expertise is one in every of its spotlight options, making it an ideal selection for much less tech-savvy customers or learners.
On prime of that, ExpressVPN supplies speedy VPN speeds for each obtain and upload-heavy duties. It additionally boasts a powerful portfolio of third-party audits, now with 18 whole unbiased audits as of 2024.
If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full ExpressVPN assessment.
Evaluation methodology
My assessment of NordVPN concerned a complete evaluation of its options, value, and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with NordVPN by way of a one-year NordVPN Plus subscription.
To guage NordVPN, I scored it on every thing from its server community to pricing. Specifically, I took into consideration 5 most important pillars, every having corresponding weights:
- Pricing (20%).
- Core VPN options (30%).
- Ease of use (15%).
- Buyer help (30%).
- Knowledgeable evaluation (5%).
From this rubric, NordVPN obtained a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars. I additionally regarded into person suggestions and different respected critiques to spherical out my closing suggestions. There are additionally discussions on the TechRepublic discussion board about NordVPN. For instance, I requested customers their views on the finest VPNs for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
For pace and efficiency, I used Ookla’s public Speedtest to measure obtain and add speeds. I additionally ran NordVPN by way of DNSLeakTest a number of occasions to verify for any DNS leaks. Lastly, I took into consideration which forms of companies or particular person customers would finest profit from utilizing NordVPN.
To be taught extra about how we assessment VPNs, learn our full VPN Evaluation Methodology.