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NordVPN is one of the more powerful web security products on the market. From just $3.49 monthly, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can enjoy a safe and fast internet connection.
This cybersecurity platform even has more servers than most competitors. Our review will take you through the features that make Nord one of the best VPNs, including the server distribution, security features, pricing, and device compatibility. Keep reading as we conduct a balanced analysis based on actual tests and trials.
Is NordVPN good? The app comes with military-grade data encryption and offers lots of unique features, so it’s undoubtedly good. But how does it fare against competing brands? For a start, have a look at some of the basic features you can expect when you subscribe to Nord.
Simultaneous device connections | Up to 6 devices |
---|---|
Number of Servers | 5,800 |
Server locations | 60 |
Countries | $60.00 |
Ad-Blocker | Yes |
Free version | Yes |
Starting Price | $3.49 |
Pricing plans | 3 |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
A lot of happy customers have given shining NordVPN reviews. Which goes to show how well the app performs. Let’s now look at which countries the VPN covers, how fast the connection is, and how much it will cost you.
What makes NordVPN a market leader is its superfast servers spread out across the world. There are a total of 5,799, and the system can help you pick the most suitable connection based on your location. Or you can browse through specific cities in 60 countries around the globe.
With so many servers available, it becomes much easier for all types of users to find the perfect location. NordVPN is also notable for its specialty servers. You can select a Double VPN connection if you need an extra layer of protection. And there are also Obfuscated servers to help you unblock advanced geolocation technology.
Another way to experience secure web browsing is to use the Onion-over-VPN. Here your traffic is channelled through an Onion router. However, NordVPN has an extremely limited number of server locations in Africa, and connecting from locations like Japan limits the selection of supported functions.
Many NordVPN reviews suggest that this cybersecurity product has better speeds than most of its competitors. The slight latency you get is a worthy trade-off, as NordVPN provides heavy-duty encryption and uncensored browsing.
The highest upload speed on the network is around 6,700 Mbps, and you would typically get this while using the Nordlynx protocol. You would probably get an average 20% delay with most of the servers. Other specific locations will have more significant effects on your internet performance than others. The UK and US usually give you the fastest speeds.
The Double VPN and Obfuscated connection will also dip your download speed significantly if you connect to a location far from your physical location. Overall, NordVPN achieves above-average performance while hitting the bull’s eye on web security.
How good is NordVPN, and is the price justified? Although this service does not have the most affordable prices, it is a pretty handy tool that gives you a safe browsing environment. The highest monthly subscription, dubbed Complete, sets you back $14.99 monthly, with extras like a password manager, 1 TB of cloud storage, and a data breach scanner. The Plus plan costs $13.99 and takes away the cloud storage, while the $12.99 Standard plan takes away all the extras.
If you want to go for a cheaper, longer-term plan, the yearly plan costs $6.99, $5.99, and $4.99 for the Complete, Plus, and Standard plans, respectively. A 2-year plan is also available, costing $5.49, $4.49, and $3.49 for similar plans. While these plans are cheaper, you must pay for the entire plan duration upfront.
Our review team also learned that the NordVPN pricing could be customized to include extra features like Dedicated. As such, you’ll need to consider which services you really need before selecting a package. NordVPN offers a money-back guarantee within the first 30 days.
The VPN marketplace is overflowing with plenty of brands that offer various features. In addition to standard encryption tools, NordVPN takes it up a notch with specialized functions. For instance, the Dedicated IP option will assign a unique IP address that no other user can access. Also, third parties won’t be able to track your special IP address. This is the ideal tool if you are trying to view some geo-restricted content.
Most cybersecurity companies use popular VPN protocols such as Wireguard and IKEv2. NordVPN has its own protocol known as Nordlynx. This provides an exceptionally quick connection and still maintains a high level of security. One other outstanding feature worth mentioning in this NordVPN review is Meshnet. This function lets users create a secure network by connecting different devices in the same way as a LAN. Meshnet makes it much safer for you to share sensitive files, and play games with friends. Unlike Dedicated IP, this feature is free.
Even better, NordVPN offers extra features like a cross-platform password manager, ensuring that you’re better protected against social engineering. You can also upload up to 1 TB of sensitive data in highly-encrypted cloud storage.
Is NordVPN safe? Most user comments we’ve seen indicate that this is one of the most trusted software. In the following segment, we’ll discuss the different ways in which NordVPN makes your internet experience safe and anonymous.
With a kill switch, you can prevent websites and trackers from learning your real location. If, for any reason, your VPN connection drops, the system will automatically cut off your internet connection. Therefore, there is no chance that your physical location will be exposed. NordVPN gives you the option to turn on/off the kill switch so that you can better manage your security.
Staying anonymous will prevent hackers and trackers from your shores, but what about viruses? Previous sections of our NordVPN review mentioned a Malware Scanner. When turned on, this tool will keep your devices safe from virus-laden websites and apps. The scanner will check all for harmful files and then delete them before you start downloading to your computer or smartphone.
The Dark Web Monitor functions as a security alarm, alerting the user of a breach. If your credentials have somehow leaked onto the dark side of the world wide web, NordVPN gives you a full report and steps that you can take to deal with the threat. Once turned on, this function stays up 24/7 and will run in the background.
Typically, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will assign a Domain Name Server (DNS) to you. However, with NordVPN's private DNS, you get extra security since no third parties can track your online activities. This also allows you to hide your IP even deeper, and thus you can access more geo-blocked content.
NordVPN only offers split tunneling on Windows and Android. This feature allows users to turn off VPN for some apps or websites. You can then customize your security preferences and not have to turn your VPN on and off to use specific apps.
The NordVPN service has three subscription packages, 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year. However, you may try out the service for 30 days and then claim your money back if you are unsatisfied. The free NordVPN trial gives you access to all the features on the platform. The good news is that users can access the Meshnet function without a subscription.
Nord has created custom software to work on various platforms. However, functionality is limited on some of the apps. Let’s find out more about the various options available to users.
You can download the NordVPN Android app for free from the Google Play Store. However, this version does not come with an ad blocker. So, to get around this, users should download the APK file, which they can easily install onto their smartphone. Here, you will have full access to all the essential services such as split tunneling, malware scanner, and ad blocker.
Is NordVPN good for desktop browsing? Nord VPN supports most Windows PCs, offering a full spectrum of features and add-ons. You will be able to set up the app and start enjoying the safest browsing environment. Users can also connect up to 6 devices with unlimited data. This is by far the most functional VPN platform, as it also includes a Private DNS option. And with Meshnet, you can easily connect your PC to your mobile devices and safely access sensitive files.
There are millions of iPhone and iPad users out there. However, our NordVPN test revealed that a few things are missing from this platform. You may be able to use plenty of features on your iPhone, but split tunnelling is not available. The iOS VPN will allow you to connect your mobile device to your Mac or Apple SmartTV, and the VPN also supports Siri shortcuts.
As for Mac users, NordVPN offers most of the security functions, including 256-bit AES encryption, custom DNS, dedicated IP, and more. The latest version of the Mac OS app supports Mac 10.15 Catalina or higher. However, just like the iOS app, this version does not have split tunneling. This shouldn’t be a deal breaker, though, since NordVPN still allows you to connect multiple devices with just a single account. You can also use Nordlynx with this app to get the fastest internet connection.
We already mentioned that the application lets you connect up to 6 devices. However, if you need more gadgets, simply install the VPN on your router. For this NordVPN review, we successfully used the VPN on TP-Link, OPNsense, and EdgeRouter.
At first glance, the NordVPN website looks a bit complicated. The drop-down menu helps users get around quickly, and from here, you can find the list of features, different subscription packages, and the help page. The landing page has a substantial amount of information about the VPN service. There are also some NordVPN reviews from customers to give you an idea of what you can expect after downloading one of the apps.
The best thing about NordVPN is that it is very easy to create an account and download the apps. If you are just a regular internet user, you will find that the website has tons of instruction articles as well as videos to help you install and understand the purpose of each advanced feature. Customer support is available around the clock, but there’s a chatbot instead of a real representative. Still, email responses are pretty quick.
We understand how badly many people need to keep up with streaming services like Netflix without bandwidth throttling. A VPN product may not be worth your hard-earned cash if you can’t get some action here. Therefore, NordVPN facilitates your viewing with its high-speed connection protocols.
Also, you can connect to BitTorrent or uTorrent for more content. Setting up these downloads with NordVPN will be a bit complicated, but it’s great that there are step-by-step instructions. The most important thing is that even with all that data and fast, interrupted downloading, NordVPN will still keep you safe.
When it comes to accessing content in restricted countries, this VPN app has lots of powerful features that will help you override geo-blocked websites and services. But clients may ask this very important question—is NordVPN legal? The answer is yes, but we must caution you that the cybersecurity provider does not support clients who use a bypass to get copyrighted content.
The Private DNS feature will prevent governments, your Internet Service Providers, and other organizations from learning your IP. A Dedicated IP also allows you to access censored websites from various locations worldwide.
To wrap up this NordVPN review, we’ll repeat that the cybersecurity product offers the fastest encrypted internet access. While there are plenty of cheaper options, this is the best VPN on the market in terms of value for money.
NordVPN also has a set of unique features to make users even safer. Dedicated IP and MeshNet are some of the best functions that help create a superior network where browsers do not have to worry about cyber-attacks. You can sign up quickly and download a NordVPN app for your PC or smartphone.
NordVPN has a total of 5,800 servers in at least 60 countries. In some of the locations, you will be able to connect to a specific city. NordVPN also has lots of specialty servers that are suitable for various functions, such as P2P functionality. Read more of our NordVPN reviews to see the list of server locations.
NordVPN is one of the top web security options, although it does not offer the lowest prices. The VPN comes with a lot of high-tech data encryption technology and unique features that allow users to link up multiple devices safely and surf the web without being detected by ad trackers. To find out specific tools available on NordVPN, check out our guides.
Is NordVPN good for both PCs and smartphones? The NordVPN software is designed to work on numerous platforms but sometimes with limited capabilities. You may also need to pay extra in the subscription plan to access some specific features. Our reviews have full sections detailing operating systems supported by NordVPN.