NordVPN Review
Our cybersecurity experts got their hands on NordVPN to find out if it lives up to its reputation.
What We Like
- Minimal data logging: NordVPN only keeps track of the basics like email, payment information, and customer service interactions.
- Located in Panama: This means that NordVPN doesn’t answer to governments that require data collection and sharing. It allows NordVPN to uphold a “no-logs policy”.
- Bonus security features: NordVPN does its job as a VPN really well, but you can bundle extra benefits with it too, such as malware scanning for downloads and dark web monitoring for compromised online accounts.
What We Don't Like
- Customer service: It has a live chat and email support, but no phone support for technical problems that might require deeper troubleshooting.
- Torrenting: If you require a VPN for torrenting, not all NordVPN servers are going to work; only those that support P2P.
- Device limit: NordVPN has a 10-device limit, unlike other popular VPNs such as Surfshark and Private Internet Access that allow unlimited simultaneous connections.
Bottom Line
NordVPN’s Panama location, strict “no-logs” policy, and shared IP addresses makes it a great option for the privacy-concerned. It’s one of our top-pick VPNs because of its innovative features and strict adherence to security standards. That said, the overall service still has room for improvement.Our studies on the VPN industry have indicated that nearly one-third of Americans who use a VPN have chosen to go with NordVPN. That’s more than just about brand recognition. We regularly test VPN services and we continue to find that NordVPN is the best VPN in the market. Its innovative features, rapidly expanding fleet of servers in many different countries, and strict no-log policy make NordVPN the gold standard.
That being said, NordVPN does have a few drawbacks. Unlike some other VPNs, it places limits on the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected. Also, some of its servers don’t support torrenting. If those are concerns for you, you may want to consider a different VPN service. But before you completely jump ship, let’s go over our NordVPN review and see if it suits your privacy needs and budget.
Expert Advice: We gave NordVPN a near-perfect score of 9.7 out of 10, but what works for us might not work for you. We kept this review as objective as possible, and if it turns out that NordVPN isn’t the right choice for you, see how we compare VPNs to help you in your search.
NordVPN Quick Highlights
Encryption | 256-bit AES or ChaCha 20 |
---|---|
VPN protocol | OpenVPN or WireGuard (NordLynx) |
IP addresses | Dynamic (static IP addresses are optional) |
Servers | 6,800+ in 111 countries |
Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, and web browser extensions |
Overall Rating
- A two-year plan currently costs just $2.99 per month.
- Multi-hop feature routes connection through two VPN servers and two layers of encryption.
- Over 6,800 servers spread throughout 111 countries.
How Much Does NordVPN Cost?
There are no free rides with NordVPN. You’ll need to pay for a subscription. They have four plans that cater to different needs. You can pay for your NordVPN subscription on a monthly, annual, or biannual basis. Let’s break down each tier.
NordVPN Packages
As we mentioned, NordVPN has four plans – Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. The VPN service is identical no matter what plan you choose. Plus and Complete gives you access to some of Nord Security’s other services, such as its password manager and cloud storage. The Prime plan adds identity theft protection.
Basic | Plus | Complete | Prime | |
---|---|---|---|---|
NordVPN (Virtual Private Network) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NordPass (password manager) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NordLocker (encrypted cloud storage) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
NordProtect (identity theft protection) | No | No | No | Yes |
The More You Know: NordProtect, the identity protection service included in NordVPN Prime, offers identity monitoring, dark web monitoring, credit monitoring, cyber extortion protection (up to $100,000), identity theft insurance (up to $1 million), and identity restoration. Those features are on par with what our favorite identity theft protection services offer.
NordVPN Subscription Pricing
If you’re only looking for a VPN service, then you can go with the cheapest Basic plan because it functions the same as the most expensive Prime plan. However, you might also be interested in some other privacy and security features that Nord Security has to offer. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution, then it’s worth looking at the different pricing tiers so you can see what fits your budget.
NordVPN offers deals all the time. In fact, at the time of writing, it was running a sale that added free months to its one-year and two-year subscriptions. Take a look:
Subscription options | Standard | Plus | Complete | Prime |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 month | $12.99 | $13.99 | $14.99 | $17.99 |
1 year + 3 months FREE | $68.85 ($4.59 per month average) | $82.35 ($5.49 per month average) | $97.35 ($6.49 per month average) | $142.35 ($9.49 per month average) |
2 years + 3 months FREE | $96.93 ($3.59 per month average) | $121.23 ($4.49 per month average) | $148.23 ($5.49 per month average) | $229.23 ($8.49 per month average) |
Keeping in mind the free months, we recommend getting the two-year plan to enjoy the biggest discount. Those two-year prices are 74-percent less than the regular monthly prices. And we know that two years is a long time, but NordVPN is virtually risk-free because it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel your subscription for any reason within the first 30 days of it and get your money back.
Pro Tip: Of those plans, the Plus plan is what we’d go with. On regular days, two years of NordPass costs $35. If you buy two years of NordVPN (Basic plan) and two years of NordPass separately, you’d pay about $132. The Plus plan, which bundles the two together, costs only $121 right now.
NordVPN’s Features
A NordVPN subscription won’t cost you much, especially if you sign up for a long-term plan. So even though it’s pricier than Surfshark (as low as $1.99/month) and Private Internet Access (as low as $1.98 per month), it made our list of the most affordable VPNs.
Another reason that we believe NordVPN offers good value is the features it offers. Remember, all VPNs perform the same basic function of changing your IP address and encrypting your traffic. However, modern VPNs can do more for your privacy and digital security. NordVPN in particular offers a ton of extra features. We saw how it blocks malicious downloads, we tested its multihop feature, and we even used its VPN over Tor feature to connect to the dark web more securely.
Let’s talk about what NordVPN offers next, but keep in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list of its features. We picked the most important ones to highlight because again, NordVPN offers a lot of functionalities.
FYI: Surfshark is another feature-rich VPN that we’ve tested. It doesn’t offer VPN over Tor like NordVPN does, but it has a much better multihop feature and it offers a full-fledged antivirus in the form of Surfshark One. Give our Surfshark antivirus review a read, and if you need malware protection in addition to a VPN, Surfshark might be the better option.
Servers Around the Globe
NordVPN has one of the largest selection of servers available. They don’t seem to be resting on their laurels either. At the start of 2024 they offered around 6,000 servers, and by the end of the year, it had increased to 6,800.
Aside from that, though, it has physical and virtual servers in 111 countries. That’s the most of any VPN we’ve tested, although it’s just narrowly more than ExpressVPN’s 105 countries. And take note that NordVPN’s servers are a combination of physical and virtual servers. Here’s a quick explainer:
- Physical server: A physical server provides users IP addresses from the same country that the server is in physically. For example, if you connect to a physical server in the U.S., you’ll get a U.S. IP address.
- Virtual server: A virtual server provides users IP addresses from a different country than where the server is physically. For example, a server in Singapore that provides India IP addresses.
Each of those two types of servers have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s good that NordVPN offers both. In most cases, you want to connect to a physical server.
Virtual servers let you access IP addresses in countries where setting up a physical server might be impossible or impractical. For example, India has a new law that requires server farms to store sensitive data, which goes against NordVPN’s privacy policy. By setting up a virtual server in Singapore that provides India IP addresses, NordVPN gets around that law. It’s also useful for countries that don’t have good internet infrastructure, as putting up physical servers in those countries might cause slow connections.
Physical servers, on the other hand, are often more reliable in the IP address changing capability. That’s because they are physically located in the country, so they don’t have to rely on network switches and relays. That’s also good for speed. You know where the server actually is with physical servers, so you can choose closest to you. And as we’ve learned about VPNs, the closer you are to a server, the faster your speed is going to be. A VPN with a network of physical servers as wide as NordVPN (more than 60 locations) is a good VPN for travel.
Pro Tip: Always use a VPN when traveling, especially if you need to connect to public hotspots in airports and hotel lobbies. Those are always risky since they are open to the public, so you don’t know if a hacker is already intercepting your traffic.
Now let’s see how NordVPN’s server network compares to other top options.
VPN | Number of servers |
---|---|
NordVPN | 6,800 |
Surfshark | 3,200 |
Private Internet Access | 35,00 |
ExpressVPN | 2,000 |
Proton VPN | 8,600 |
It’s not just a competition in numbers, though. What matters is that the VPN you choose has servers in the locations you’ll most likely use. So before buying, take advantage of VPN free trials to see the exact locations of servers.
Pro Tip: Not sure NordVPN is right for you? Give it a try risk-free by taking advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. In case it doesn’t work out for you, just cancel and request a refund within the first 30 days of your subscription. After that, check out our favorite NordVPN alternatives.
Headquartered in Panama
Though NordVPN operates worldwide, its headquarters are in Panama. That’s a big plus for us because Panama falls outside of Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes jurisdiction.1
For all the VPN newbies out there, those are surveillance alliances among countries. Depending on a VPN company headquarters location, government entities could force a company to give up data it gathered about its customers. For instance, governments can ask VPN companies to provide IP address logs for use in criminal investigations. While we don’t condone cybercriminals, it’s a huge red flag in our book if the government can willy-nilly access user logs of VPNs. And that’s why we love NordVPN. It’s outside the jurisdictions of government bodies that can do that.
Panama is also a data privacy haven. While there is a data retention law in the country, which requires the storage of data for up to seven years, the law also necessitates companies to have secure means for storage and custody of stored data. Additionally, the owners of the stored data must be given the option to change or remove their data at any time.
Kill Switch
No VPN is perfect. Even the best VPNs can sometimes have spotty connections. Case in point: While watching Netflix with NordVPN, an error occurred out of nowhere. The root, as it turned out, was that NordVPN timed out unexpectedly, which would have revealed our real location to Netflix if we hadn’t had our kill switch turned on. We used a VPN to stream Netflix and get around its region-based content restrictions.
We were lucky that’s all we were doing. If, for example, we were using a VPN to torrent without a kill switch, our ISP would have caught on the moment our VPN connection dropped and we could have possibly gotten another piracy notice although we were downloading a non-copyrighted file.
Fortunately, even if something like that happened, NordVPN has a kill switch. The kill switch is a necessary feature for stealthy VPNs. Apps with a kill switch offer better protection because they are able to stop your device’s internet connection in case the VPN gets disconnected.
In the example above, rather than revealing our browsing activity, a dropped connection stopped all internet traffic. Nothing goes in, nothing goes out. There’s no better contingency measure than that.
Data Usage
If you’re worried that NordVPN might hold your internet browsing back, let us assure you based on our experience that it won’t. It has fast speeds and unlimited VPN data.
NordVPN lets you do what you normally do on the internet, but with more privacy. You can browse, download, and stream all you want. As a nice little side-effect, you can even change your Netflix region to access shows not available on Netflix U.S. by connecting to a server in a different country. We’ve tried that and it works.
Heads Up: Netflix and other streaming platforms are always trying to combat the use of VPNs to unblock geo-restrictions. If they detect that you’re using a VPN, they can block the VPN IP address you’re using. If that ever happens, simply disconnect and try a different server.
Minimal Logging
Using a VPN means entrusting your data to the VPN provider. The VPN encrypts your internet traffic to hide it from your ISP and others who might be trying to track your online activities, but at the same time, the VPN can decrypt the very data it encrypted. If they choose to, VPNs can easily log your online data and possibly profit from it.
That’s why we always check how much data a VPN logs, and when it comes to NordVPN, we were pleased with what we found. In fact, we deemed NordVPN as the best no-log VPN service out there. First and foremost, whatever you do while connected to the VPN is not recorded. NordVPN doesn’t know which websites you visited, what you’ve downloaded, and what you streamed. It also doesn’t know your original IP address.
However, NordVPN logged some data, but these types of data weren’t related to our online activities. For example, it logged contact and personal information necessary to maintain our accounts, such as email addresses. It also remembered our default payment information.
Pro Tip: You can keep NordVPN from remembering your payment information by paying with cryptocurrency instead of a credit card. Although, you’ll need to remember to renew your subscription before your subscription ends to avoid losing access.
As for the VPN usage itself, NordVPN logged things like timestamps of our last session, information we provided customer support whenever we contacted them, and some information about the NordVPN app we were using (version, device ID, etc.). We were fine with NordVPN collecting those types of data as they help improve the company’s VPN service and because the data can’t be tied back to us specifically. Data related to our session also gets deleted within 15 minutes of us ending our session.
Now, we couldn’t verify what they actually logged ourselves, but NordVPN is always transparent and willing to go through security audits and spot checks. Back in 2018, it was one of the first VPN companies to submit itself to a third-party audit, and since then, it has gone through numerous checks.
- It was audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Switzerland in 2018 and July 2022.
- It was audited by VerSprite in June 2021.2
- It started 2023 with a policy audit by Deloitte, which they repeated to end 2023. The latest audit report was released in January 2024.
Strong Encryption
The main point of using a VPN is to hide your online activities from the prying eyes of ISPs, government agencies, and hackers. To do that, VPNs like NordVPN encrypt all your online traffic to scramble the data and keep it private.
NordVPN uses the highest encryption standard available to VPNs today: 256-bit AES encryption. Just to show you how secure it is, 256-bit AES is otherwise known as “military-grade encryption” because it’s what the U.S. government uses to encrypt top-secret communications.
We also saw the same encryption standard when we reviewed Surfshark, another high-rated VPN, which means it’s what the leading VPNs use. Though we felt secure using both Surfshark and NordVPN, we did notice that SurfShark offered fewer servers than NordVPN, making connection times a bit slower depending on our location. Read our comparison of Surfshark and NordVPN if you wish to learn more.
In addition to 256-bit AES, NordVPN uses ChaCha20 to encrypt connections made through NordLynx, a proprietary VPN protocol (more on that below). ChaCha20 is widely regarded as a secure encryption standard that is lightweight and easy to use on mobile devices. It may not be as unbreakable as 256-bit AES, but it’s the optimized encryption standard for WireGuard, a VPN protocol on which NordLynx is built.
More VPN Reviews: We love NordVPN, but we have reviewed other strong VPN providers as well! Compare NordVPN to our other favorite providers by reading our Private Internet Access review, SurfShark review, and Hotspot Shield review.
Internet Protocols
In addition to strong encryption, NordVPN uses some of the best VPN protocols for speedy and secure delivery of online traffic. These protocols are OpenVPN and a proprietary protocol built on WireGuard.
OpenVPN has long been the gold-standard of VPN protocols. It’s fast and incredibly secure, as it seamlessly supports 256-bit AES encryption. It’s also versatile, allowing different kinds of data packets to pass through. It’s the VPN protocol we recommend to most desktop users.
Alternatively, users can opt to use WireGuard in the form of NordLynx. WireGuard is newer compared to OpenVPN, but it’s quickly gaining attention because of its speed. Unlike OpenVPN, WireGuard is great for mobile users because the protocol itself is lightweight, meaning, it won’t eat up much processing power and battery juice. Since Nord built NordLynx specifically for NordVPN, it offers better overall performance than OpenVPN for most use cases.
Aside from those protocols, NordVPN offers IKEv2/IPSec, an older and less secure protocol, but useful in niched applications, such as high-speed downloads or online gaming that requires stability.
Split Tunneling
By default, NordVPN encrypted all of our web traffic automatically and routed it through a secure VPN server. This is known as a full-tunnel mode. But did you know that NordVPN also offers split tunneling?
Split tunneling allows for some traffic to pass through the VPN tunnel and others to pass through normal, unencrypted networks. How exactly is that beneficial?
Picture this: You’re using a VPN to access Netflix U.K. on your commute to work. However, since you’re using full-tunnel mode, all your apps are connected to a U.K. server, even your weather app, and that means you’re seeing the weather in the U.K. and not in your local city. With split-tunneling, you can force your weather app to use the normal network so it fetches your city’s weather information.
Double VPN
NordVPN also employed a double VPN, meaning that our data went through multiple servers to gain multiple layers of encryption. This concept, known as VPN server chaining or multi-hop, enhanced our security so that absolutely no one knew what we were up to.
Even if, let’s say, a hacker managed to get through one layer of encryption, a second encryption layer would stand as extra protection. Most VPNs only use one server, so we felt good knowing that our data had twice the encryption protecting it before it reached its final destination.
FYI: Double VPN is an optional feature and is best used by those that require absolute privacy – think activists, whistleblowers, journalists working with confidential sources, etc. Because it employs double encryption and tunneling, Double VPN actually slows down the VPN speed. And besides, as discussed above, NordVPN’s normal encryption is more than enough to protect the privacy of your daily browsing.
Dedicated IP Address
While NordVPN uses shared dynamic IP addresses by default – meaning, multiple users can share the same IP address and address changes every time you connect – dedicated IP addresses are also available as add-ons at checkout. With a dedicated IP address, NordVPN will assign you a server IP address that only you can use.
NordVPN Dedicated IP | 2 years + 3 months free | 1 year + 3 months free | 1 month |
---|---|---|---|
Average cost per month | $3.69 | $4.69 | $8.99 |
Total cost at checkout | $99.63 | $70.35 | $8.99 |
There are several advantages to having a dedicated IP address, one of which is that you’re less likely to have to fill out CAPTCHAs. Websites can see when multiple users are connecting to them using the same IP address, and that’s a red flag to them. That’s why you may notice an increased occurrence of CAPTCHAs when using a VPN with shared IP addresses. With NordVPN’s dedicated IP addresses, no one else will be using the same IP address as you, so online services are less likely to flag down connection requests from you.
NordVPN has dedicated IP addresses in the United States, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Mexico, Czech Republic and Japan.
A Top Lifetime VPN: We rated NordVPN as the best lifetime VPN for long-term use.
Identity Protection
A lot of NordVPN’s features focus on privacy, and that’s because your online privacy matters in avoiding identity theft. So while identity protection isn’t included in all NordVPN plans – it’s exclusive to the Prime plan – we thought we’d give you an overview of what exactly it does.
- Dark web monitoring: Stolen identities often pop up on the dark web, making it a critical place to monitor in order to catch early signs of theft. Dark web monitoring monitors the personal information you give NordVPN to make sure it’s not being sold in underground marketplaces.
- Credit monitoring: Your credit account is another crucial thing to monitor, because that’s what most types of identity theft usually target. If anyone takes out a loan or opens a credit card account in your name, you’d be the first to know.
- Identity restoration and insurance: NordVPN won’t (or can’t) completely prevent identity theft, so if you do become a victim, these are the safety nets you can count on. The restoration service will help you get your identity back in order by doing the legwork of filing reports, contacting banks, and setting up legal actions. The insurance, on the other hand, will help cover up to $1 million of personal and legal costs, as well as stolen funds if any.
- Cyber extortion protection: Lastly, if someone were to extort you for many in exchange for stolen or locked out information of yours (e.g. using ransomware), NordVPN will cover up to $100,000.
Those features are pretty advanced for a VPN – and in fact, they’re not VPN features at all. We typically see them in identity theft protection services, which NordProtect is. However, bundling them with NordVPN makes sense. The VPN works to reduce your digital footprint and improve your privacy, while NordProtect works on actionable threats to your identity.
Extra Features
Aside from premium VPN features, NordVPN also gave us a couple of free features.
- Meshnet: Meshnet is a virtual LAN feature, allowing you to connect two or more devices as if they’re part of the same local area network, even if those two devices are on opposite sides of the world. Because the connection goes through NordVPN, you know that it’s secure. You can, for example, connect to a laptop at home from your mobile device, allowing your traffic to go through your local home network instead of a public Wi-Fi network.
- Threat Protection Pro: Threat Protection Pro is even better. It’s a tool almost like antivirus software, as it can block malicious sites, prevent phishing, block ads and trackers, and scan downloaded files for malware. Best of all, it’s free. All you have to do is download the NordVPN app for Windows and macOS (it doesn’t work on mobile yet.)
Those free extra features make NordVPN all the more worth the download, but of course, they’re not exclusively VPN features. So let’s go back to discussing the VPN. Next up: Speed!
Speed Tests
VPN almost always slows down speed, as the traffic has to be encrypted and go through a VPN server on top of a public network’s server. Of course, you’d want to choose a VPN that can offer faster speeds – that is, a VPN that doesn’t slow down your connection by a lot. We made sure to test NordVPN ourselves.
Before we talk about the results, know that there are lots of factors that determine speed, like your physical distance to the server, your device’s make and model, the app version you’re running, your device’s operating system, and even the number of people connected to the same server as you at the time. We can’t take all those factors out of play, so although we try our best to level the playing field, we recommend that you take our speed test results with a grain of salt.
Having said that, we believe that NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs around for two reasons: First was the results we got from our tests, showing that NordVPN barely affected our internet speed. The second reason was subjective, but we’ll say it anyway – NordVPN’s speed was reliable. We have tested a lot of VPNs, and sometimes, we’d get good average speed readings but don’t feel satisfied because the connection would randomly slow down while browsing. NordVPN gave us both good readings and a stable experience.
NordVPN Speed Test Results | Upload Speed | Download Speed | Latency |
---|---|---|---|
Speed before using NordVPN | 95 Mbps | 95 Mbps | 3 ms |
Avg. speed with NordVPN connected | 91 Mbps | 89 Mbps | 78 ms |
Difference | ~4% drop | ~6% drop | ~2,500% increase |
We tested NordVPN’s speed by first measuring our baseline internet speed or our internet speed while not connected to the VPN. After that, we connected it to a server in Australia, measured the internet speed 10 times, and then averaged the result. As you can see, both the upload and download speeds dropped by no more than 10-percent, which overall, is the third best result we’ve seen. Only PureVPN and IPVanish had better results.
>> Compare: PureVPN vs. NordVPN
You should also take into account that we weren’t even using NordVPN’s fastest configuration at the time. We actually tested the speed of 12 VPNs, and to keep things fair, we connected them all via the OpenVPN protocol. NordVPN also offers NordLynx, which is an adaptation of WireGuard. Wireguard averages 59 percent faster than OpenVPN in download speed tests.4
» Learn more: About Our VPN Speed Tests
DNS Leak Tests
DNS stands for Domain Name System, which is like yellow pages to the worldwide web. It’s a directory that converts domain names to IP addresses and vice versa, so that when you type in a domain name (e.g. Google), your traffic knows to go to the right IP address. We put all the VPNs we review through a test to make sure that they are hiding our DNS when we connect to them. Fortunately, the company passed our evaluation, meaning that there were no DNS leaks when we connected to NordVPN.
WebRTC Leak Tests
We liked WebRTC because it allowed all the things we had going, like Netflix, video chats, and files we had to download, to use less bandwidth. However, WebRTC comes at a cost: the devices know each other’s private IP addresses, a big no-no for us. We conducted a WebRTC test to make sure that our IP addresses didn’t leak when we were using NordVPN. Luckily, NordVPN passed with flying colors on both Windows and Mac, showing different IP addresses than the real ones on our computers.
NordVPN Apps
When you’re buying a subscription, keep in mind that NordVPN has a device limit. Only ten devices can connect at a time, although you can set up the VPN app on multiple devices. Ten is more than enough for most users, but if you need to connect more, you can buy multiple subscriptions using different accounts. That’s probably not going to be practical, though, so check out Private Internet Access. Private Internet Access subscriptions offer unlimited simultaneous connections. Alternatively, you can set up NordVPN on a router to use it for all your devices while only counting as one device connected to NordVPN’s servers.
Back to NordVPN, the brand offers a VPN app for different systems. It has Windows, macOS, and Linux apps for desktops and laptops as well as Android and iOS apps for smartphones. Recently, they also released an Apple TV app following tvOS 17’s update allowing support for native VPN applications. NordVPN’s Apple TV app is available from the App Store, and it’s currently our top-rated VPN for Apple TV. Besides Apple TV, NordVPN has apps for Android TV and Fire TV.
Each app works a little differently. The desktop and smartphone apps provide the most functionality, such as split tunneling (except on macOS and iOS), multi-hop, and Threat Protection. On the other hand, the Apple TV app offers none of those extra features mentioned. It won’t even let you change your VPN protocol. The Apple TV app connects you to a VPN server and changes your IP location, but that’s it.
For this review, we tested NordVPN on Windows and macOS. If you’re buying a VPN for a specific device, make sure to test NordVPN within the first 30 days so you can use the money-back option in case it doesn’t pan out.
24/7 Customer Support
NordVPN offered several options for its customer service, like 24/7 live chat, email support, and an in-depth database of submitted user questions to leaf through. When we wanted to dig into the details on what data the VPN logged, for example, we navigated to NordVPN’s support page. While NordVPN doesn’t provide a phone number in case we wanted to talk to a human, we still had access to plenty of resources on NordVPN’s support page.
Pro Tip: To get to NordVPN’s live chat support, you need to first navigate to their Help Center. That’s on the Contact Us page that’s listed under Resources. Once on the Help Center page, you’ll notice a chatbox on the bottom right corner of the page.
Video Review
In our video review, we take you through what it’s really like using NordVPN. You’ll get a better sense of exactly how this service works to help choose a VPN for you. And we’ll take you along on our process of testing NordVPN for speed and leaks.
Find out how NordVPN compares to other VPNs
Wondering if NordVPN is right for you? We squared it up with the best systems available to help you make a smart decision.
Our NordVPN Research and Data
The following is the data and research conducted for this review by our industry-experts. Learn More.
Encryption
In Transit | Yes |
---|---|
At rest? | Yes |
All network communications and capabilities? | Yes |
Security Updates
Automatic, regular software/ firmware updates? | Yes |
---|---|
Product available to use during updates? | Yes |
Passwords
Mandatory password? | Yes |
---|---|
Two-Factor authentication? | Yes |
Multi-Factor authentication? | Yes |
Vulnerability Management
Point of contact for reporting vulnerabilities? | Hackerone |
---|---|
Bug bounty program? | Yes |
Privacy Policy
Link | https://my.nordaccount.com/legal/privacy-policy/nordvpn/ |
---|---|
Specific to device? | No |
Readable? | Yes |
What data they log | Statistical server load information, username and a timestamp of last session, connectivity information, application diagnostics, anonymized telemetry data, device information, payment data, country details, email address, email optimization data, IP address if you use the chat-bot, access logs, cookies |
What data they don’t log | Used bandwidth, traffic logs, IP addresses or browsing data |
Can you delete your data? | Yes, must contact support team |
Third-party sharing policies | Yes, for payment |
Surveillance
Log camera device/ app footage | n/a |
---|---|
Log microphone device/ app | n/a |
Location tracking device/ app | No |
Parental Controls
Are there parental controls? | No |
---|
Company History
Any security breaches/ surveillance issues in past? | Yes |
---|---|
Did they do anything to fix it? | Yes |
Additional Security Features
Anything like privacy shutters, privacy zones, etc.? | n/a |
---|
In Summary
Overall, we give NordVPN a 9.7 out of 10 rating based on the numerous factors we measured like features, reliability, performance, and cost-value correlation. It’s currently our highest-rated VPN.
Is NordVPN the only good option? No. Some other VPNs come close to NordVPN. For example, here’s our ranked listing of NordVPN competitors:
- Surfshark: 9.5/10 (2nd place)
- Private Internet Access: 9.4/10 (3rd place)
- UltraVPN: 9.2/10 (4th place)
However, if what you’re looking for is a versatile option with a global reach and first-class software, NordVPN definitely deserves to be one of your top considerations.
We loved that NordVPN’s headquarters is in Panama because that meant we didn’t have to stress about the possibility of the government seeing our data. We were also more than happy to see its set of features, which includes rare ones like DoubleVPN, Dedicated IP, and a proprietary VPN protocol in NordLynx. Lastly, NordVPN passed all of our speed and security tests with top marks, making us confident that it could protect our privacy while we used the internet however we pleased.
NordVPN FAQs
Since NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs, here are the most common questions we get about it.
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Is NordVPN a good VPN?
NordVPN is a good VPN. Its headquarters is in Panama, which isn’t part of any international surveillance alliances. It won’t track anything about the user’s web activity or IP addresses, encrypting both with AES-256.
NordVPN allows for Netflix and torrenting use, and it has fast speeds on our Mac computer. However, we saw a lot of lag with our Windows Acer Aspire, so NordVPN may be a better option for Mac users over PC users.
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Is NordVPN legal in Australia?
NordVPN is legal in Australia; Australia doesn’t ban the use of VPNs. However, torrenting copyrighted content is still illegal, even while using NordVPN. Australia’s Telecommunications Amendment Act, which regulates data retention, requires internet service providers to collect users’ metadata and store it for two years, so many Australians have turned to VPN usage to maintain their data privacy.
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Is NordVPN owned by China?
China does not own NordVPN. Rather, NordVPN has a parent company, Tefincom S.A., that is based in Panama. It also has offices in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
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Can ISPs and governments track you while you're using NordVPN?
ISPs and governments cannot track you while using NordVPN. As the company is in Panama, governments can never force NordVPN, legally, to hand over customer data. Plus, the company doesn’t log your real IP address or web activity. So while your internet service provider will be able to see the IP address that NordVPN gave you, thousands of NordVPN users share this address, making you anonymous online.
Business Leader. (2019). Five Eyes Alliance: Everything You Need To Know.
businessleader.co.uk/five-eyes-alliance-everything-you-need-to-know/73523/GlobeNewswire. (2021). NordVPN completes advanced application security audit.
globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/06/23/2251681/0/en/NordVPN-completes-advanced-application-security-audit.htmlWashington Post. (2015). Everything you need to know about encryption: Hint, you’re already using it.
washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/08/you-already-use-encryption-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-it/CSO Online. (2020). What is WireGuard? Secure, simple VPN now part of Linux.
csoonline.com/article/3434788/what-is-wireguard-secure-simple-vpn-still-in-development.html