Nordvpn Review 2025: Innovative Features, A Few Missteps

When we opportunity that NordVPN is simply a bully VPN that's not rather great, it's important to put that successful perspective. Building a bully VPN is hard, arsenic evidenced by each nan shovelware VPNs flooding nan market. NordVPN whitethorn not beryllium perfect, but it's easy top-five caliber and excels successful definite usage cases.

First, nan bad: NordVPN's apps could each guidelines to acquisition a small much value control, pinch elements distracting from different elements and inconsistent designs from level to platform. At slightest 1 of its FAQ pages straight contradicts itself. And while each nan server locations could unblock Netflix, nan 1 successful Nigeria still showed U.S. content, indicating that our existent location mightiness person leaked.

However, there's a batch of bully to equilibrium that out. Speeds are awesome and we saw nary different hint of immoderate benignant of leak. Its server web is expansive and not overly reliant connected virtual locations. The immense mostly of servers are perfect for unblocking overseas websites. The existent draw, though, is nan other features, including nan innovative and elastic Meshnet, positive a malware blocker that acts much for illustration a afloat antivirus and forward-looking quantum resistant encryption.

Editors' note: We're successful nan process of revamping our VPN sum to supply much in-depth, actionable accusation and buying guides. Our recommendations, and each nan info connected this page, are taxable to alteration arsenic nan update continues. To spot nan caller direction, cheque retired our revamped ExpressVPN review and Proton VPN review, aliases study much astir how we trial VPNs.

Table of contents

• Findings astatine a glance

• Installing, configuring and utilizing NordVPN

• NordVPN velocity test

• NordVPN information test

• How overmuch does NordVPN cost?

• NordVPN broadside apps and bundles

• Close-reading NordVPN's privateness policy

• Can NordVPN alteration your virtual location?

• Investigating NordVPN's server network

• Extra features of NordVPN

• NordVPN customer support options

• NordVPN inheritance check

• Final verdict

Findings astatine a glance

Check retired a summary of our NordVPN reappraisal successful nan array below.

Installing, configuring and utilizing NordVPN

NordVPN's biggest strengths are its speeds and nan scope of options it puts astatine your fingertips. User acquisition is important, but it's not rather arsenic front-and-center arsenic it is pinch ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. Here's really nan apps tally connected each nan awesome platforms.

Windows

The Windows app is nan first lawsuit of NordVPN's UI being not bad capable to kick about, but not bully capable to beryllium considered excellent. The first relationship process is simply a small slow, and it's acold easier to link than it is to disconnect (click nan powerfulness fastener while connected to unopen nan VPN off). The representation takes up abstraction that would person been amended allocated to nan server list.

The insignificant problems proceed successful nan settings list, which makes nan correction of not keeping each its tabs visible successful nan model — if you unfastened one, you person to click backmost to nan main paper to scope different page. The pages themselves are easy to use; it's conscionable a spot clunkier than it could person been.

Mac

Setup is swift and easy connected Mac, but nan afloat NordVPN interface is simply a small awkward. The immense mostly of nan main model is taken up by a ample map, which is mostly useless. There's nary measurement to zoom retired to spot nan full world, and you can't take betwixt servers successful each state unless you zoom measurement in. The server database connected nan left-hand broadside is almost ever much useful.

The preferences sheet is better. All nan tabs travel pinch clear explanations of their function, and are laid retired truthful nan paper is ever visible, dissimilar nan Windows app. The cogwheel icon astatine nan bottommost includes its ain group of tabs that encompass astir of nan communal functions, including changing your VPN protocol, activating nan termination move and mounting nan VPN to automatically link connected untrusted networks.

Android

NordVPN connected mobile tin beryllium described successful overmuch nan aforesaid measurement arsenic its desktop apps: mostly great, occasionally getting successful its ain way. On Android, nan representation surface is overmuch much helpful. It's expandable to nan full world and allows you to take betwixt servers wrong a country. On nan different hand, nan important settings are buried successful nan Profile tab, and nan app notifies you astir your "security score" to unit you into activating definite settings.

To find nan wide settings page connected Android, pat nan bottom-right Profile tab and scroll down. Except for Threat Protection, which has its ain tab connected nan main window, each characteristic is located here. It's astir apt basal to support nan main app from getting cluttered, but still mildly frustrating.

iOS

The NordVPN iOS app resembles a compressed type of nan macOS client, for amended aliases worse. As pinch Android, astir of its features are successful nan bottom-right Profile tab. It useful good astir of nan time, but often feels somewhat cumbersome. There's a spot excessively overmuch connected nan screen, and a spot excessively overmuch of nan worldly has thing to do pinch nan VPN's halfway function.

As an example, you can't log into your relationship wrong nan app — you person to load your Nord relationship page successful a web browser. Forced app switching is simply a creation prime that genuinely needs to die. That said, VPN connections hap quickly. If you thin to simply time off your VPN active, you astir apt won't announcement immoderate of this stuff.

Browser extensions

Most VPN browser extensions dwell of nan aforesaid features connected a smaller scale, and NordVPN's — connected Chrome, Firefox and Edge — are nary exception. They are important for 1 reason, though: they're nan only measurement to divided tunnels by URL and nan only divided tunneling astatine each connected macOS and iOS. Despite being much compact, they're besides easy to use, making for an fantabulous quick-start VPN solution.

NordVPN velocity test

All VPNs slow down your mean browsing speeds by adding other steps into nan relationship process. When we trial speed, we're looking for nan VPN to resistance arsenic small arsenic imaginable connected your unprotected speeds. Download velocity will beryllium nan astir important stat for astir users, since that determines really accelerated web pages load and really quickly videos tin buffer.

Latency is important for unrecorded connections for illustration video chats, games and unrecorded streaming. Latency increases pinch region — successful nan trial below, information packets were sent to nan distant server, past backmost to our location network. Upload speeds likewise power your unrecorded two-way communications and are besides captious for torrenting. Let's spot really NordVPN performs connected each 3 metrics.

To summarize: NordVPN's download speeds are nan fastest we've seen and its upload speeds and latency necktie pinch nan best. Downloads only dropped by an mean of 6.4 percent crossed nan globe and readings were mostly accordant — nan servers successful mobility performed overmuch nan aforesaid successful each test. We moreover threw successful Turkey and South Africa, 2 locations that commonly origin problems, but NordVPN still kept nan driblet to 10 percent.

Latency is much a merchandise of beingness region than VPN infrastructure, but you tin still spot differences betwixt services. When tested connected a akin scope of locations, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN some kept mean latencies nether 300 ms. NordVPN's mean came retired to 326 milliseconds, though we should statement that its latency accrued little than Proton's connected nan closest server.

Upload speeds declined an mean of 4 percent, but location were a fewer anomalously precocious readings successful Istanbul that skewed those numbers up. Without that location, NordVPN's upload rates would besides person been nan industry's existent best.

NordVPN information test

No matter really well-built a VPN looks from nan outside, location are respective ways its information tin fail. The astir communal problems are outdated protocols pinch anemic encryption, failing to artifact IPv6 postulation aliases inadvertent leaks from sending DNS requests extracurricular nan encrypted tunnel. We'll commencement by looking for those communal leak sources, past cheque whether NordVPN's encryption mightiness beryllium failing successful little traceable ways.

VPN protocols

A VPN protocol is simply a group of rules utilized to get information quickly and safely from your instrumentality to a VPN server and back, moreover while that information is encrypted. Different protocols are connected pinch different encryption algorithms and tin effect nan speed, information and stableness of your connection.

When testing VPN security, nan first measurement is to spot if it's utilizing immoderate protocols for illustration PPTP that are outdated and crackable, aliases homebrewed protocols pinch unclear security. NordVPN users person 4 options for protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2 (not disposable connected Mac aliases iOS), NordLynx and NordWhisper (available connected Windows, Android and Linux only).

OpenVPN and IKEv2 are some modular protocols you'll find connected astir VPN providers. Both usage various strengths of nan Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), pinch OpenVPN defaulting to AES-256 and IKEv2 to AES-128. OpenVPN tin beryllium group to UDP (faster but little stable) aliases TCP (more reliable but slower). So far, truthful secure.

NordLynx is unsocial to NordVPN, but it's not that acold disconnected nan beaten way — it's conscionable WireGuard pinch other security. WireGuard usually useful by redeeming a unchangeable IP reside for each connection, which raises nan very flimsy consequence of exposing a user. NordLynx adds a 2nd furniture of abstraction that intends those unchangeable addresses are ne'er revealed. Since NordVPN powerfully recommends it for astir situations, we utilized it for each our tests successful this review.

Finally, there's NordWhisper, a caller protocol introduced successful early 2025 that disguises your VPN postulation arsenic normal web postulation to evade broad web blocks. It's apt to beryllium slower than nan different protocols, truthful don't usage it unless everything other has been blocked. We besides don't urge counting connected it excessively overmuch successful wide — large-scale censorship technology, for illustration nan Great Firewall of China, tends to trust connected blocklists of known VPN servers, whose personality NordWhisper can't disguise.

Leak test

Our first bid of business was to cheque 5 trial servers to spot if they leaked our existent IP reside — staying distant from nan ones successful nan velocity trial successful bid to get arsenic broad a image of NordVPN's information arsenic possible. With thief from ipleak.net, we recovered each 5 to beryllium free of nan 3 awesome types of leaks.

• DNS leaks hap erstwhile a VPN sends DNS requests (in short, really your browser knows which websites to show you) extracurricular its encrypted tunnel. By default, NordVPN uses its ain backstage DNS servers, which our tests showed to efficaciously forestall leaks.

• WebRTC leaks are caused by real-time connection protocols sending accusation extracurricular nan VPN, which whitethorn uncover your existent IP address. NordVPN is consistently successful astatine keeping WebRTC wrong nan tunnel, but you tin person your browser artifact it if you're still worried.

• IPv6 leaks hap erstwhile a VPN only blocks IPv4 postulation and lets v6 through. NordVPN automatically blocks IPv6 traffic while it's active, truthful an IPv6 leak is each but impossible.

Although that's each awesome news, it is still imaginable for leaks to hap without a clear explanation, truthful we ran 1 last trial connected NordVPN.

Encryption test

Wireshark is simply a programme that captures elaborate images of accusation sent complete a device's net connection. Even though our tests showed NordVPN to beryllium free of leaks, we wanted to inspect it astatine nan astir granular level. Using WireShark, we recorded nan postulation sent to an unencrypted HTTP site, earlier and aft connecting to each NordVPN trial server.

Every server showed nan aforesaid pattern: readable plaintext before, encrypted ciphertext after. If location is simply a information flaw remaining successful NordVPN, it's improbable to beryllium applicable to nan overwhelming mostly of users.

How overmuch does NordVPN cost?

NordVPN's pricing building looks convoluted astatine first, but it's overmuch simpler than it appears. A Basic subscription gets you afloat VPN functionality, and each nan different tiers conscionable adhd much features. If each you request is simply a VPN, you only request to interest yourself pinch nan near broadside of nan array below.

The champion woody for a Basic NordVPN subscription, which lets you link to NordVPN pinch up to 10 devices astatine once, costs $81.36 for 2 years erstwhile you salary upfront ($3.39 per month). One twelvemonth of nan aforesaid scheme costs $59.88 successful beforehand ($4.99 per month) aliases $12.99 for 1 period astatine a time. The array beneath shows nan complete cost; for much accusation connected plans supra Basic, spot "side apps and bundles" successful nan adjacent section.

The longer plans prevention money, but beryllium careful: if you fto them expire, you'll automatically renew astatine nan more costly one-year plan. Enough customers declare to person been auto-renewed astatine nan higher complaint that they've launched a class-action lawsuit against NordVPN, accusing nan institution of deceptive pricing practices and making renewals excessively difficult to cancel. A NordVPN PR rep said they could not remark connected ongoing ineligible action, "other than to authorities that we are and ever person been very clear astir nan recurring quality of our services." No tribunal day has been group truthful far.

That said, there's a reasonably straightforward workaround successful nan meantime: To forestall nan car renewal, log retired of your NordVPN account, past motion up for a discounted scheme again utilizing nan aforesaid email. As agelong arsenic you do this earlier your subscription expires, your caller relationship should nexus to your aged one, keeping you subscribed astatine nan introductory rate.

Free tests and refunds

Every NordVPN scheme comes pinch a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you cancel and petition a refund earlier 30 days are up, you'll get nan afloat costs back. The only measurement to effort it for free without paying is to get nan app connected Android, wherever there's a seven-day proceedings done nan Google Play Store.

NordVPN broadside apps and bundles

NordVPN is portion of a larger family of Nord Security products, which you tin prevention money connected if you request much than one. We won't reappraisal each of them here, but for reference, here's everything you'll get from nan higher subscription tiers.

• Basic: VPN connected 10 devices, specialty servers, DNS ad-blocking, Meshnet

• Plus: All Basic features, positive malware scanning, other scam blocking, locator blocking, NordPass password manager, information breach scanner

• Complete: All Plus features, on pinch 1TB of NordLocker encrypted unreality storage

• Prime: All Complete features, positive NordProtect features for illustration acheronian web monitoring, in installments monitoring, ID theft security and extortion insurance

Another tier called Ultra includes a subscription to Incogni, a information removal work tally by Nord's partner Surfshark. The Ultra bundle is only disposable successful definite countries, since NordVPN is still testing it; users extracurricular nan trial countries tin still adhd Incogni work astatine checkout. There besides utilized to beryllium a NordVPN family plan, but it seems to person been eliminated aft Nord expanded nan devices per subscription to 10.

You tin get a dedicated IP reside connected NordVPN to guarantee you person nan aforesaid IP each clip you connect. This lets you configure distant firewalls to fto you done while you're connected to nan VPN. A dedicated IP costs $8.99 per month, $70.68 for a twelvemonth ($5.89 per month) aliases $100.56 for 2 years ($4.19 per month).

The NordVPN pricing page lists entree to a Saily eSIM scheme arsenic a perk, though mysteriously, nary of nan existing plans look to see it yet. A batch of VPNs are expanding into nan eSIM space, truthful this whitethorn alteration soon.

Close-reading NordVPN's privateness policy

A VPN privateness argumentation isn't conscionable quiet words — it's a statement betwixt nan supplier and its users. If a work openly defied its ain policy, it could beryllium sued for mendacious advertising. VPNs thin to sneak loopholes into their privateness policies alternatively of flouting them outright; these loopholes tin shed ray connected really nan supplier really views your privacy.

We combed done NordVPN's privateness argumentation to spot whether it tries to return immoderate specified liberties. The argumentation has 2 parts: nan general Nord Security policy and an addendum circumstantial to NordVPN.

General Nord privateness policy

This argumentation applies to each Nord Security apps. It's intolerable to create an relationship without a valid email address, but you tin usage a abstracted email masking service to make that anonymous. The argumentation besides explicitly says that your email reside will beryllium added to a trading mailing list, though you tin opt out. Irritating, but not a privateness consequence successful itself.

We're much concerned astir nan later connection that it whitethorn process information without nan user's consent "under nan ineligible ground of our aliases 3rd parties' morganatic interest." This clause covers immoderate cases we'd work together are legitimate, specified arsenic identifying group who motorboat cyberattacks from NordVPN servers. But Nord besides considers it "legitimate interest" to process your individual information "to amended aliases support our services and supply caller products and features."

Reached for comment, a NordVPN typical said that utilizing individual information successful this measurement "generally involves aggregated, depersonalized aliases method information." That's somewhat reassuring, but nan "generally" leaves a spot excessively overmuch wiggle room. Ideally, we'd for illustration that individual information beryllium wholly successful nan "consent only" section.

The conception connected sharing your information pinch 3rd parties only lists "some of" nan work providers who whitethorn person your information. Among these are Google Analytics, which is known to store individual information connected U.S. servers — each of which are imaginable information risks successful nan age of DOGE. Other unnamed "third parties" are progressive successful targeting ads astatine users of Nord websites.

The NordVPN typical said that "since immoderate partners, specified arsenic costs processors, tin alteration by region aliases circumstantial work and whitethorn alteration complete clip depending connected our operational needs, we do not people a fixed list." They added that each 3rd parties are "contractually required to grip individual information successful accordance pinch applicable laws and manufacture standards."

We aren't utilizing this to condemn Nord; galore of these practices are reasonably modular successful nan VPN industry. But it's important to cognize astir each nan imaginable leakage points earlier trusting your deepest secrets to immoderate company.

NordVPN circumstantial policies

The NordVPN privateness argumentation doesn't adhd overmuch atop nan wide Nord notice. It does way convention activity connected to your username to make judge you're staying wrong nan 10-device limit, but it automatically deletes these logs 15 minutes aft you disconnect. The logs besides don't see your IP reside aliases nan addresses of VPN servers you used.

The only existent problem we recovered is that NordVPN apps cod accusation astir your activity connected nan app by default. This doesn't see accusation astir your browsing habits, but it does see unsocial traits that could conceivably beryllium utilized for "device fingerprinting" — successful which a 3rd statement tin deduce a user's personality done clues astir their device. You tin move this disconnected successful nan General settings.

A NordVPN spokesperson told america that nan information collected is "not personally identifiable," and that nan institution takes "deliberate steps to portion retired thing that could beryllium linked backmost to a circumstantial person." This presumably intends nan information is aggregated truthful it only shows wide trends, not immoderate 1 device's activity. That's a batch little risky, but we still urge switching nan mounting off.

Third-party privateness audits

NordVPN has passed 5 independent audits of its privateness argumentation truthful far, astir precocious from Deloitte successful precocious 2024. Annoyingly, you tin only publication nan full study by logging into a Nord account, but it astatine slightest doesn't person to beryllium a paid account.

The audit recovered that NordVPN was pursuing its ain no-logs policy. Specifically, nan Deloitte Lithuania investigators concluded that "the configuration of IT systems and guidance of nan supporting IT operations is decently prepared, successful each worldly respects successful accordance pinch nan NordVPN's explanation group retired successful nan Appendix I." (Appendix I of nan study is identical to NordVPN's privateness policy.)

Can NordVPN alteration your virtual location?

You'll beryllium astir willing successful this conception if you chiefly usage a VPN to alteration their location for streaming. To spot if NordVPN could unlock caller streaming libraries, we picked a caller batch of 5 trial servers, past logged onto Netflix. Since Netflix tries to artifact each VPN servers to forestall copyright issues, our first mobility was whether we'd get done astatine all.

Our 2nd question: would connecting to a NordVPN server really alteration what Netflix room we saw? It should, fixed that NordVPN seems leak-proof, but thoroughness demands we cheque anyway. Here's what we found.

Four retired of 5 locations worked perfectly. On a Canadian server, we were capable to watercourse Star Trek: The Next Generation, which near American Netflix years ago. The Argentine server gave america entree to thing called Pasion de Gavilanes, which we'd ne'er heard of but sounds great.

The only problem was Nigeria. We tested it respective times, connected to aggregate different Nigerian locations, but saw our American Netflix room each time. We past ran a leak trial connected Nigeria, which wasn't 1 of our information trial locations, and recovered it to beryllium moving normally. It's difficult to opportunity what happened, particularly since nan Nigeria server doesn't look to beryllium virtual, but we tin corroborate that it wasn't working.

Investigating NordVPN's server network

NordVPN has servers successful 153 cities successful 117 countries. Out of each full options, 62 are virtual locations (about 40 percent), wherever nan server is really located location else. This makes it imaginable to get servers into much places, but depending connected your existent location comparative to nan server, it whitethorn execute otherwise than you expect.

Virtual locations person allowed NordVPN's server web to turn rather extensive, pinch tons much locations successful South America, Africa and Asia than nan manufacture standard. Check retired nan distribution successful nan table.

The comparatively debased proportionality of virtual locations (nearly identical to that of ExpressVPN) is simply a bully sign, arsenic it intends NordVPN has been increasing its server web thoughtfully. Some VPNs — looking astatine you, HMA — inflate their server lists arsenic a trading constituent without earnestly considering what it takes to support specified a ample network. That thankfully doesn't look to beryllium nan lawsuit here.

Here's everything you get pinch a NordVPN app different than nan VPN itself. There's a batch going connected here, truthful we'll limit ourselves to a sketch of each feature.

Specialty servers

As soon arsenic you load NordVPN, you'll spot a database of typical servers adjacent nan apical of nan right-hand column. We'll spell complete each of them successful order.

• Dedicated IP: As discussed successful nan bundles section, a dedicated IP reside costs extra. With this, you'll ever link pinch nan aforesaid IP, which is backstage to you alone. It whitethorn beryllium worthy nan value if you find yourself getting asked for CAPTCHAs a batch much while connected to NordVPN — though for what it's worth, that didn't hap to us.

• Double VPN: This sends your relationship done a 2nd VPN server earlier it reaches your ISP. The 2nd server is your evident location. There are 10 endpoints to take from. As you mightiness imagine, your net will tally slower pinch 2 VPN servers successful nan mix, truthful only usage this if you earnestly request security.

• Obfuscated servers: These are only disposable connected OpenVPN. Obfuscation tin thief you get astir firewalls that activity retired and artifact VPN traffic. If you can't get online pinch NordVPN erstwhile you're connected a definite network, obfuscated servers mightiness work.

• Onion Over VPN: After encrypting your information arsenic normal, these servers nonstop it done respective nodes of nan Tor network, granting you nan full anonymity of bulb routing while keeping you safe from malicious relays. It's disposable successful 2 locations, Netherlands and Switzerland, and — for illustration double VPN — is champion utilized only erstwhile you request nan utmost privacy.

• P2P: NordVPN only allows torrenting connected its peer-to-peer servers, but fortunately, it's sewage P2P servers successful 114 countries — only 3 less than it has successful total. NordVPN keeps your download and upload speeds very accelerated connected average, truthful you shouldn't person problem torrenting from immoderate location.

Meshnet

Meshnet is NordVPN's astir unsocial and breathtaking characteristic by a agelong shot. By logging into nan aforesaid NordVPN relationship connected aggregate devices, you tin link those devices straight done a NordLynx passageway without needing a NordVPN server successful between.

Essentially, you're utilizing your ain devices arsenic VPN servers — evidently not awesome for privacy, but astonishing for accessing web services successful different countries. While 2 devices are connected, you tin transportation files betwixt them done nan NordLynx tunnel. You tin moreover induce friends and usage their devices.

Threat Protection

NordVPN has 2 levels of antivirus: Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro. The erstwhile is simply a elemental DNS select that stops your browsing from loading unsafe web pages while NordVPN is active. It's nan highest level disposable connected Android, iOS and Linux, aliases connected immoderate Basic subscription.

Threat Protection Pro, which Plus subscribers aliases higher tin group up connected Windows and Mac, tin activity moreover erstwhile you aren't connected to a NordVPN server. It acts much for illustration a standalone antivirus by scanning downloaded files for malware, and tin moreover artifact trackers. Basic Threat Protection (without Pro) tin artifact immoderate trackers by filtering retired domains known to usage them, but doesn't artifact nan trackers directly.

Dark Web Monitor

While active, Dark Web Monitor continually searches known information breach dump sites connected nan acheronian web and notifies you if it ever finds your relationship email address. If you get that notification, alteration immoderate passwords associated pinch nan address. With a Prime subscription, you tin besides person it hunt for your telephone number, societal information number aliases different financial information.

Presets

Presets fto you group up one-click VPN connections pinch a desired group of settings, a batch for illustration Proton VPN's Profiles. NordVPN comes pre-loaded pinch presets that optimize for "Downloads," "Speed" and "Browsing," which sounds to america for illustration nan aforesaid point 3 times.

More usefully, you tin create presets for peculiar countries, past adhd website shortcuts that will look erstwhile you've connected. You could, for example, group 1 that connects to a circumstantial location, past adhd a shortcut to a streaming tract disposable successful that location.

Post-Quantum encryption

Experts wide judge that quantum computers will yet make our existent encryption algorithms obsolete, but there's almost nary statement connected erstwhile that will really happen — isolated from that it hasn't happened yet. Knowing that, NordVPN's "post-quantum encryption" characteristic comes crossed arsenic a spot premature, but it's reassuring that personification is reasoning astir it.

Having said that, we don't urge utilizing post-quantum encryption yet. It useful by layering 1 of nan known quantum-proof encryption standards connected apical of a modular NordLynx session, which makes your VPN relationship slower and much erratic. Until we tin verify a existent quantum cyberattack, post-quantum encryption is simply a needless precaution.

Kill switch

A termination move cuts disconnected your net nan instant you suffer your relationship to a NordVPN server. This protects you successful lawsuit a server unexpectedly fails, and arsenic a broadside benefit, prevents you from connecting to immoderate clone VPN servers. You should support nan termination move connected astatine each times.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is disposable connected NordVPN's Windows and Android apps (and Android TV by extension), on pinch its browser extensions. On Windows and Android, it splits by app: you tin find which apps get online done nan VPN and which spell unprotected. The browser extensions fto you divided by URL, truthful nan VPN only protects definite sites.

NordVPN customer support options

NordVPN's apps nexus straight to its online thief center. As always, we went successful pinch a circumstantial mobility successful mind: whether nan basal level of Threat Protection could artifact trackers, and if so, what kind. We recovered nan categories connected nan written support page difficult to parse, particularly nan troubleshooting conception — would nan mean personification admit nan quality betwixt "app issues," "connection issues" and "errors"?

We correctly guessed that our mobility would beryllium nether "Using NordVPN -> Features," but nan introductory article connected Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro was buried astatine nan bottommost of nan list. Unfortunately, that made things much confusing, arsenic this article says that Threat Protection (not Pro) some does and doesn't artifact trackers. In NordVPN's favor, however, utilizing nan hunt barroom brought america instantly backmost to that article without immoderate confusion.

The unrecorded support experience

Using NordVPN's unrecorded chat was a soft and reassuring experience. From nan clip we decided to inquire directly, it took america little than a infinitesimal to link pinch a existent person, who quickly cleared up nan disorder and promised to update nan confusing support page (we'll cheque backmost to spot if they really do).

One different action is an email support form, which tin beryllium recovered some connected nan website and successful nan thief sections of NordVPN apps. This is champion for analyzable problems that require screenshots to explain, and promises a consequence wrong 24 hours.

NordVPN inheritance check

NordVPN was founded successful 2012. Launching pinch its desktop apps, it moved to iOS and Android successful 2016, past added apps for browser extensions and smart TVs. Its developer, Nord Security, has nary genitor company, and its history is comparatively uncontroversial. We've documented 2 notable incidents below, positive much astir Nord Security's operations.

Headquarters and ownership

Nord Security was founded successful Lithuania, and maintains offices there. Although Nord Security is registered successful Amsterdam, NordVPN operates nether a abstracted licence successful Panama, which makes immoderate information requests taxable to Panama's courts.

Finland server breach

The first superior incident successful NordVPN's history began successful March 2018, erstwhile unidentified hackers managed to steal 3 backstage keys from 1 of Nord's information centers successful Finland. Researchers didn't announcement nan leak until October 2019, good aft nan stolen keys had expired, but NordVPN's encryption was still technically susceptible for respective months.

We opportunity "technically," because it was really only nan outer furniture of encryption — and moreover if they'd surgery done it all, nan hackers would only person seen browsing activity, not usernames, passwords aliases thing other sensitive. If anything, NordVPN's consequence really makes america spot it more. It ended its narration pinch nan contractor who ran nan Finnish information halfway and revamped its policies to destruct nan benignant of negligence that led to nan breach.

Arguably, its only existent correction was not instantly disclosing nan breach. NordVPN learned astir nan leak and started addressing it successful May 2018, but nan news didn't break until much than a twelvemonth later. That timing astir apt made it look much suspicious than immoderate existent mishandling did.

Law enforcement compliance

Another insignificant contention erupted successful 2022, erstwhile PCMag and different outlets reported that NordVPN had edited its website to opportunity that it would comply pinch information requests from rule enforcement. NordVPN responded pinch a caller post that said thing had changed: their argumentation was ever to comply pinch lawful requests, which — provided nan requests were lawfully submitted done a Panamanian tribunal — is virtually their only option.

We're inclined to agree. VPNs are ineligible companies. They wouldn't past agelong if they openly declared their intent to break nan law. The cardinal is that erstwhile rule enforcement comes calling, location shouldn't beryllium thing to show them, arsenic pinch the Turkish seizure of ExpressVPN. That's why verifiable no-logging policies are truthful important.

Final verdict

NordVPN is simply a awesome work connected its ain merits. It only suffers from having to beryllium compared pinch nan likes of ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. For example, its P2P servers are bully for torrenting, but not arsenic useful without Proton's larboard forwarding. It's fast, but velocity tests fluctuated conscionable a small much than Express.

NordVPN's other features are nan champion logic to prime it complete its rivals. With Meshnet, you tin theoretically group up a VPN relationship anyplace successful nan world, and nary different VPN has thing adjacent to Meshnet's record transportation powers. Threat Protection Pro is besides awesome if you tin get it, adding record scanning to bolster nan emblematic attack of conscionable blocking suspicious DNS addresses. Specialty servers information retired nan offering, pinch double VPN maintaining bully speeds pinch other information and Onion complete VPN being among nan safest ways to usage Tor.