Here’s our video review of NordVPN so you can easily see how it stacks up with some stiff competiton. Read on if you would like more information.
When it comes to choosing a VPN, the term “affordable” often raises concerns about sacrificing security and quality. NordVPN defies this stereotype by providing budget-friendly subscription plans that vastly outperform its price point as well as competing VPNs that cost more than three times more.
Unlike many other cheap VPN providers, NordVPN maintains high levels of security, robust privacy features, a solid no-logging policy, strong encryption, and a fully audited service that runs on diskless servers. NordVPN excels at data security.
Traditionally, budget-friendly VPNs have faced issues such as flaws and vulnerabilities leading to data leaks. In this review, we carefully investigated whether NordVPN can successfully deliver a combination of low-cost and high-quality VPN features. As part of our evaluation process, we measured its average download speed and tested it for various leaks.
Low-cost VPNs usually suffer from sluggish performance and incompatibility with popular streaming services like Netflix. NordVPN stands out as an exception to this rule. It can seamlessly access numerous popular international streaming services from abroad.
In my 2024 NordVPN review, I put the service through its paces on both desktop and mobile to find out:
- Can NordVPN securely access websites (Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC and others)?
- Is NordVPN fast enough to stream video?
- How good is NordVPN’s security and what data does it log on users?
- Does it allow torrenting on its network?
- How would NordVPN stand up to my barrage of tests?
- How does NordVPN compare with its more expensive rivals such as ExpressVPN?
And pretty much everything else you’d want to know. My time with NordVPN ranged from rigorous performance testing to day-to-day usage to find out how it stacks up against the crowded field of competitors.
I’ve summarized my thoughts on NordVPN but you’ll need to read the whole review to see the full extent of what I uncovered during the testing process.
Do I recommend NordVPN?
I recommend NordVPN to people who value both privacy and speed, need something inexpensive, and want something that can securely access websites and apps like Netflix. NordVPN works in China and it’s easy enough for beginners to the hang of after a few minutes of usage. NordVPN’s apps include a handful of specialty servers including some designed for browsing the dark net, P2P file-sharing, or getting a dedicated IP address.
NordVPN operates more than 5,000 servers in 83 countries, and that number will probably have gone up by the time you read this. NordVPN employs effectively-uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption and even offers its own protocol, NordLynx, which is based on WireGuard. protocol by default. Torrenting is allowed, and the service doesn’t store any identifying logs (barring mobile advertising IDs, which can be deleted).
NordVPN Key data
OVERALL RANK: #1 of 72 VPNs | |
---|---|
Speed | Score: 9.8 |
Average Speed*: | 300 Mbps |
Video Streaming Support: | 4K UHD |
Streaming | Score: 9.2 |
Netflix: | Yes |
Other Streaming Services: | Hulu, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Now, Disney+, Dazn, Crunchyroll, Sky Go, All 4, ITVX, ABC iView |
Security | Score: 9.5 |
Encryption Type: | 256-bit AES |
Kill Switch: | Yes |
Log Policy: | Limited logs |
Protocols: | NordLynx, IKEv2, OpenVPN |
Value for Money | Score: 9.5 |
Lowest Monthly Cost: | $2.99 |
Money Back Guarantee: | 30 days |
Website | https://www.nordvpn.com |
NordVPN Pros and Cons
I summarized what I liked and what I didn’t from my time reviewing NordVPN. I’ll go into detail on each of these points and more later in the review.
Pros:
- Strong security
- Works with sites like Netflix that cause problems for most VPNs
- Extremely fast
- Has had infrastructure and applications audited
- Up to ten simultaneous connections
- Huge global server network
Cons:
- Streaming servers aren’t labeled
- No kill switch on Android
- Tracks device-level identifiers (this does not include your IP address or logs of your activities or the servers yoo use)
Speed: Is NordVPN fast?
In 2020, NordVPN launched a proprietary VPN protocol called NordLynx that vastly improved its speeds. This secure protocol is an extension of Wireguard, which is newer and more efficient than older protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2. We saw NordVPN nearly double its speed compared to pre-Wireguard results.
As a result, NordVPN now ranks among the fastest VPNs, after CyberGhost, IPVanish, and ExpressVPN. It’s fast enough to stream video in 4K resolution, live stream HD video, and high-quality video conferencing without sacrificing security.
That said, its average speeds have declined recently — it still ranks among the fastest services we’ve tested, but this is worth mentioning anyway.
I ran speed tests at multiple times of the day on NordVPN servers in North America, Europe, and Asia. Across all times and locations tested, NordVPN averaged a download speed of 300 Mbps.
Here the results are broken down by region:
- North America: 354 Mbps
- Europe: 262 Mbps
- Asia: 283 Mbps
I had plenty of bandwidth for high-definition on-demand video streams and decent-quality live streams without buffering. I could play fast-paced online games like Brawlhalla and Rocket League by choosing a VPN server near myself or the game server.
It’s worth noting that I encountered the occasional slow server, or one that just wouldn’t connect. It seems like the NordVPN app isn’t that great at automatically selecting the best server, and I had better luck going into the server list and choosing one myself. Nord now also offers the option to select a specific city in countries where it operates servers in more than one location, such as the US and UK. Choosing a nearby server improves speeds overall.
Note that these tests can only serve as a general indication of the performance you might see and cannot be considered definitive. The inherent volatility of the internet adds a significant factor of randomness. Users with faster connections will likely see larger discrepancies in speed.
NordLynx is twice as fast as other protocols
NordLynx is the new default VPN protocol on NordVPN apps, though you can also choose from OpenVPN and IKEv2 (on iOS and MacOS devices). These are also good, secure options, but NordLynx offers almost double the speed, according to our tests.
NordLynx is an extension of Wireguard, a modern VPN protocol that claims to be more efficient, simpler, and easier to audit than rivals like IKEv2 and OpenVPN. Wireguard, however, assigns each user a static IP address, which requires storing user data on the VPN server.
Because NordVPN is serious about its zero logs policy, it created its own “double NAT” system to establish a secure VPN connection without storing identifiable user data on its servers. NordVPN dubbed the new and improved protocol “NordLynx”.
The company explains:
“The double NAT system creates two local network interfaces for each user. The first interface assigns the same local IP address to all users connected to a server. Once the secure VPN tunnel is established, the second network interface with a dynamic NAT system kicks in. Dynamic local IP addresses remain assigned only while the session is active and allow not to store any identifiable data on the server.”
Apps: What devices work with NordVPN?
NordVPN allows up to ten devices to connect simultaneously on one account, so it’s a great option if you want to share with family or a roommate. Apps are available for:
The desktop apps have had a fresh new redesign recently. The split map/list server selection is still there, but the interface is sleeker and there’s a Threat Protection tab that provides a few quick and easy ways to improve your digital security.
NordVPN also offers encrypted proxy extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers. Think of these as VPN-ish tools that only encrypt and reroute web traffic from your browser and not from your entire device.
NordVPN has spent time addressing previous complaints we had about cross-platform functionality. For instance, previously, split tunneling wasn’t available on desktop versions.
That’s now been fixed. And its latest Desktop apps also bring a few new features, like Meshnet and its Dark Web monitoring service.
Meshnet
Meshnet is a new service from NordVPN that allows you to route your traffic through another one of your devices. It’s similar to setting up your own VPN server at home and remotely connecting to that server, except everything here is done from inside NordVPN’s network, and the “server” is another device you own.
To use the service, you first need to link a device.
You can link up to 10 of your own devices and up to 50 external devices. External devices are devices that you give access to your mesh network (such as friends and family). The NordVPN app needs to be installed on all devices participating in the mesh network.
Once you’ve linked a device you own, NordVPN assigns it an IP address and hostname that other devices can use to connect.
To link an external device, you enter the device owner’s email address. NordVPN will send them an email inviting them to join NordVPN and set up their device to participate in your mesh network. When you use Meshnet, the allowed external devices will access the internet through the remote computer’s connection and will be able to reach any LAN devices the host computer has access to (as long as you provide those permissions). Connections to your mesh network are encrypted using WireGuard (NordLynx).
Meshnet is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Dark Web Monitor
NordVPN’s Dark Web monitoring service works pretty much as its marketing describes. Once activated, the service will continuously monitor the Dark Web for any breaches of your personal information. If any of your personal data is found to be compromised, you will be immediately notified and prompted to change your password(s).
Dark Web monitoring is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
NordVPN has clearly made efforts to get closer to feature parity across all of its apps. We were pleased to see that Android users could now take advantage of the multi-hop servers, since previously, these were the only subscribers that couldn’t.
A new feature in the apps allows users to “pause” their VPN connection instead of switching it off entirely. When I un-pause, the VPN instantly reconnects. Switching off my VPN entirely would disable the auto-connect feature, which could leave me exposed, so the Pause feature lets me turn off the VPN without resetting the auto-connect.
Routers
NordVPN also supports a wide range of routers:
- ASUS WRT
- ASUS Merlin
- DD-WRT
- Gl.iNET
- Mikrotik
- NetDUMA
- OPNsense
- OpenWRT
- Padavan
- Sabai
- Tomato
- pfSense
- DrayTek
- EdgeRouter
- TP-Link
Setting up a VPN connection on your router allows you to bypass the limit of simultaneous connections set by the provider (ten, with NordVPN). It also enables you to connect to the VPN service without a dedicated app – just connecting to the router does the trick.
If you’d like more information on setting up a VPN connection on a router, check out our guide on VPN routers.
Does NordVPN work with Netflix & Kodi
Does NordVPN work with Netflix?
Yes, and better than most of its competitors.
NordVPN works with several streaming sites, including (but not limited to) more than 15 Netflix regions, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+, YouTube TV, Peacock, ABC iView, and Hulu.
NordVPN accomplishes this through its trademarked SmartPlay feature, which essentially activates a built-in Smart DNS service whenever you visit a supported streaming site. A quick test by us proves NordVPN works as promised with Netflix. We’ve rounded up here a list of other VPNs for Netflix which have worked in our testing and here are more details on NordVPN and Netflix.
Most VPNs prioritize the US library, but NordVPN actually works with plenty of others too. We were able to securely access Netflix Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, UK, and USA, among others. Interestingly, you can connect to pretty much any server to use Netflix from abroad; if that location’s library isn’t supported, you’ll just be redirected to the US version of the site.
Not all servers in a given country will work for streaming video. Unfortunately, NordVPN doesn’t show you which servers work with which service in the app. For some streaming services, I had to check NordVPN’s knowledge base on the web to find out which servers to use. Thankfully, this is just a small detour and I can favorite the servers that work so I can find them more quickly later.
NordVPN has been working with streaming services longer than most providers, which makes me optimistic that it will continue to do so.
The apps work with all of the Kodi add-ons we’ve tested. The Linux and Amazon Firestick NordVPN apps benefit Kodi users who stream on those devices.
Does NordVPN allow torrenting?
Yes, NordVPN allows torrenting.
NordVPN supports unlimited P2P filesharing over BitTorrent or any other protocol. Some servers are designated explicitly for torrenting, but it’s up to you whether you want to use them.
Kill switches are built into the Windows, macOS, and iOS apps (the setting is not manipulable in the iOS app – it is enabled by default). When enabled, the kill switch feature will cut off internet to your device to prevent leaks of unencrypted data onto your ISP’s network. This ensures that you can download or share torrents without exposing your file sharing activities to your ISP if the VPN connection drops out.
On desktop machines, you can specify which apps are protected by the kill switch and which are not. For example, you can protect your BitTorrent client from unexpected disconnections, but exclude your web browser. You’re also able to choose whether it simply protects against dropped connections, or whether it only allows access to the internet when the VPN is active.
NordVPN lacks a kill switch on its Android app as of time of writing, but it does explain how to replicate this feature using Android’s native security settings.
NordVPN does not support port forwarding. This is a feature that comes in handy when sharing torrents. It is particularly important if you need to regularly seed torrents to stay in good standing with your torrent community. Port forwarding allows other peers to establish a direct connection to your torrent app to download pieces without the VPN’s NAT firewall blocking them.
Whether you need port forwarding depends on your circumstances, such as which torrent client you use and whether you want to seed in addition to leaching. If you want a VPN that is compatible with port forwarding, follow the link to find out more.
Security and logging
Here are the encryption specs:
- 256-bit AES channel encryption
- SHA384 authentication
- 3072-bit DHE-RSA key exchange
- Perfect forward secrecy
If none of that means anything to you, don’t worry. NordVPN’s encryption meets industry standards and goes above and beyond the security needs of an average user.
NordVPN was previously advertised as a zero-logs service, but its privacy policy updates show it collects limited information about users.
The breakdown is as follows:
- Device identifiers. Perhaps the most concerning of NordVPN’s data collection practices, NordVPN can record your mobile device’s identifier for marketing or analytics purposes. These are set by your device’s operating system and can be reset from your device’s settings.
- Username and timestamp of the last session. This limits simultaneous connections and is deleted within 15 minutes after the session is terminated.
- Whether you’ve used NordVPN in the last 30 days.
- In-app telemetry data about your use of the app’s features, notifications, etc. Users can opt out of this one, and I recommend you do so.
- Device info including model, operating system, and other non-identifying info
NordVPN has twice undergone a third-party audit of its logging policy, in which PWC Switzerland validated NordVPN’s logging claims. Further, it has had independent audits of its Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows apps, which isn’t something many other providers can say.
We’d prefer if NordVPN kept no user logs at all. Collecting device identifiers is particularly concerning as these can be tied to a specific user. Timestamps can be used to correlate activity with logs of other services to identify users. That being said, NordVPN does not log your browsing or other online activities, your IP address, the server IP address, or any other personally-identifying info while using the VPN.
As of 2021, NordVPN has completed a transition to RAM-only diskless servers. The VPN server application—and in fact the server’s entire operating system—exist only on temporary memory (RAM). That means no data is ever permanently stored on the server. So if a server is ever seized by authorities or compromised by hackers, there will be nothing on it. RAM-only servers is an emerging trend originally adopted by ExpressVPN, but it is picking up steam among a few top providers.
The apps don’t leak any DNS, WebRTC, or IP traffic while connected.
IP Test – Without VPN
IP Test – With VPN
DNS Test – Without VPN
DNS Test – With VPN
When it comes to dropped connections, which Nord has thankfully few of, NordVPN has my back. I can opt between an all-or-nothing kill switch that completely disconnects the internet if the VPN connection drops, or an app-specific kill switch that lets me choose which programs are protected.
NordVPN’s Threat Protection, formerly called CyberSec, is an in-app feature that blocks ads, malware, and phishing threats. It’s available on Windows and macOS.
Enabling Threat Protection Lite blocks ads and trackers, can prevent me from landing on a malicious website, and scans for malware. With it enabled, any time I download an executable file, that file is first uploaded to Nord’s cloud servers, where it’s scanned for malware before being downloaded to my device. You can alternatively toggle Threat Protection Lite, which has all the same features minus the malware scanning.
NordVPN recently added automatic wifi protection. With this enabled, the app automatically initiates a VPN connection whenever I connect to a new wifi network. I can set it to auto-connect to Nord on both secured and unsecured wifi networks. On mobile, I can choose whether auto-connect engages on a cellular connection, wifi, or both.
NordVPN is in the early stages of establishing colocated servers. Most VPNs simply rent out servers in data centers around the world. NordVPN says it is now in the process of setting up servers that are fully owned, maintained, and managed by NordVPN, although they still reside in data centers owned by third parties. This allows NordVPN to better control the configuration and security of individual servers, while the data center provides power, internet connectivity, and physical security. The transition to colocated servers started in Finland, and now, the company has almost 600 colocated servers in 19 separate locations. Eventually, NordVPN aims to expand this to its entire network.
If you want an additional layer of anonymity, you can opt to use one of NordVPN’s onion over VPN specialty servers. These servers will route your data through The Onion Network (Tor), allowing for anonymous browsing and access to dark web sites. This is similar to using the VPN with Tor Browser, except it covers all of your apps and services instead of just a web browser.
In 2019, NordVPN was the first VPN provider to launch a public bug bounty program on HackerOne. This program invites hackers to inspect NordVPN’s code and apps for security vulnerabilities in return for a cash reward.
Does NordVPN work in China?
Yes, though it has admitted it’s had some issues lately. This provider has a great track record of finding workarounds, though, and usually resolves any problems in a matter of days.
NordVPN announced in late June 2017 that it could unblock websites and content that are censored in China. Most users in mainland China should be able to simply connect to a server the normal way to bypass the Great Firewall.
If that fails, however, Nord instructs users to go into its app’s Settings menu, select Advanced Settings, and toggle on Obfuscated servers. Note that you’ll need to switch the protocol to OpenVPN TCP first. This makes encrypted internet traffic look unencrypted, which prevents China’s deep packet inspection system from identifying VPN connections. It might add a small amount of latency, but most users probably won’t notice a difference in speed overall.
The obfuscated servers feature is currently only available in the Windows, Android and MacOS versions of the app. Read more on using NordVPN in China here.
In 2019, NordVPN established an “emergency VPN” service that grants free NordVPN accounts to people under extreme web censorship and heavy internet restrictions.
Is NordVPN’s Customer Service Any Good?
NordVPN offers both live chat and email support. It’s unclear what its live chat’s hours of operation are. When I attempted to get support through the live chat, I wasn’t able to get past NordVPN’s support bot – despite waiting for over an hour to be transferred.
I sent NordVPN an email instead and received a polite and knowledgeable answer within 9 hours. Anything under 24 hours is very good support in my book. But NordVPN should sort out its chatbot issues. Or make it clear on what schedule its agents are available for live chat support.
NordVPN’s website also includes a decent array of searchable help and tutorial articles in the support section, including which servers to use to unblock streaming sites. Both the website and app are ad-free, and I didn’t receive any unsolicited emails during the test period.
NordVPN video review
NordVPN background
NordVPN is incorporated in Panama, a country with no data retention laws located outside of the 14-Eyes intelligence sharing alliance’s jurisdiction. It has offices in Lithuania and Cyprus.
The company was founded in 2012 and has grown to more than 14 million users worldwide, according to NordVPN’s website.
From March 2018 to October 2019, NordVPN was the victim of a data breach due to an exposed private key stolen from a server in Finland. This allowed attackers to create their own NordVPN servers and trick users into connecting to them, which could have led to man-in-the-middle attacks. No user data was stored on the Finnish server from which the key was stolen, and no other NordVPN servers were affected.
In 2019, NordVPN became a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative, an industry group of top VPN providers that sets quality standards and educates the public about the security benefits of VPNs.
NordVPN Pricing
On a budget? No worries.
NordVPN is cheap, especially if you opt for one of the multi-year plans. And if you’re splitting the bill with a close friend or loved one, it’s basically pocket change. At the current price, it would be tough to find a better all-round VPN.
NordVPN offers three subscription tiers: Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. The screenshot below lists the differences between the three. The differences are the inclusion of NordVPN’s other security products, such as its password manager, data breach scanner, and encrypted file storage service.
NordVPN’s pricing structure is as follows:
Basic
- Monthly: $12.99
- Yearly: $68.85 – works out to $4.59/month + 3 months free
- Bi-yearly: $80.73 – works out to $2.99/month + 3 months free
Plus
- Monthly: $13.99
- Yearly: $82.35 – works out to $5.49/month + 3 months free
- Bi-yearly: $105.03 – works out to $3.89/month + 3 months free
Ultimate
- Monthly: $15.99
- Yearly: $112.35 – works out to $7.49/month + 3 months free
- Bi-yearly: $159.03 – works out to $5.89/month + 3 months free
All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service risk-free and cancel if you are not entirely happy.
See NordVPN prices in your local currency here.
NordVPN also has a custom offering for businesses that want to protect their entire workforce, called NordLayer (previously NordVPN Teams). With NordLayer, staff can connect to the company network remotely, and all of the connections are managed from a single dashboard. You can select one of the existing subscriptions or choose the custom solution, where NordLayer will create a package based on your business’s specific needs. You’ll have to contact sales to find out how much you’ll be paying.
Should I buy NordVPN?
Now that I’ve used NordVPN for a few weeks, would I recommend it to others?
You bet!
Despite its low price, NordVPN offers a quality service with a sterling reputation. I strongly recommend it if you want to unblock region-locked content from abroad, bypass censorship in countries like China, or just hide your torrenting activity from your ISP. The apps are easy to learn whether you’re new to VPNs or have been using them for years.
The desktop apps can be a bit sluggish and the Android app sorely needs a kill switch, but those are minor complaints on the whole. NordVPN keeps more logs than I would like, but none of them can directly identify a user.
NordVPN Coupons
Here’s the latest and only NordVPN coupon
NordVPN alternatives
NordVPN is great, but it has some strong contenders.
ExpressVPN is more expensive, but a truly premium experience comes with that extra cost. It’s about the same as NordVPN when it comes to unblocking streaming sites, speed, and security, but it offers better router support and includes a separate smart DNS proxy service to unblock streaming video on devices that don’t normally support VPNs. The apps also support split tunneling. Want to know more about how these two giants compare? Read our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison.
If you want a more budget-friendly alternative than Express, consider CyberGhost. It’s the fastest VPN I’ve tested and costs about the same as NordVPN, while offering competitive security. It doesn’t work well in China, though, and it doesn’t unblock quite as many streaming sites.
Here’s a breakdown of how NordVPN compares to two of the most popular services, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA).
No value | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access |
Website | NordVPN.com | ExpressVPN.com | PrivateInternetAccess.com | OpenVPN data encryption | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | Kill Switch | Desktop only | Allows Torrenting | Connection logs | Some aggregated data | Unblocks Netflix US | Unblocks Prime Video | Unblocks Hulu | Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Money back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | Overall rating | 9.7 | 9.3 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|
Best deal (per month) | $2.99 74% off 2 year plans + 3 EXTRA months | $4.99 SAVE: 61% + 4 months free on 2 year plans | $2.19 SAVE 82% on the 2 yr plan + 2 months free |
NordVPN testing methodology
Comparitech puts all VPNs through a series of extensive tests. Our VPN testing methodology includes:
- VPN speed tests
- Testing VPNs for leaks of any information
- Testing compatibility with popular streaming services
- Using virtual servers to test locations that block many VPNs, like China
- And much more. You can see our full VPN testing methodology here.
NordVPN FAQs
What does NordVPN's split tunneling feature do?
NordVPN’s split tunneling feature allows you to route specific apps through NordVPN’s secure connection. You can also set up split tunneling to only enable certain apps or websites to run on the VPN while others use your regular internet connection. This is especially useful if you want to access geo-restricted content or protect yourself from malicious activity on the web. In addition, with split tunneling, you can save bandwidth and reduce your data usage, as only certain apps will run through the VPN.
Does NordVPN offer a student discount?
If you’re a student, you can get an exclusive discount on annual subscriptions via MyUnidays. You can get NordVPN at a much lower price than the regular subscription and enjoy all the same security and privacy benefits as a regular user. All you have to do is verify your student status with MyUnidays, then sign up for NordVPN with a discounted rate!
Does NordVPN work on game consoles?
Yes, NordVPN works on most gaming consoles. So, for example, you can set up NordVPN on your Xbox Series X/S and PS5 to enjoy secure gaming with improved speeds and connection stability. It’ll also help you to play games in restricted countries for more extensive gaming sessions.
Does NordVPN provide dedicated IPs?
Yes. NordVPN is one of the few VPN providers that lets you rent a dedicated static IP that is reserved for your use only.
This kind of IP offers significant benefits for users who require a VPN to access online services that might become suspicious if they use regular shared VPN IPs that are allocated on the fly (meaning that even if you pick the same server location every time you could still be allocated a different IP address each session).
The benefit of a static IP is that you will always have the same IP address when you connect to the VPN. This allows you to access poker accounts (or any other sensitive account) that could potentially flag you for improper use (per the rules stated in the Terms of Service).
With NordVPN you can pick a dedicated static IP in 18 different countries. However, it is important to note that you have to pay extra for a dedicated IP, and it isn’t cheap. Each dedicated IP costs $4.19 per month (which is more than the cost of a standard NordVPN subscription).
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See all reviewsBUYER BEWARE! If you purchase NordVPN, it will throttle your interned speed/connectivity by 50%, like it did to mine. I pay $100/month to get speeds of nearly 600mbs. With NordVPN turned on, my speeds decrease to 250mbs.
Nord’s “customer support” is useless and unprofessional, and, after nearly 3 weeks of endless “try this, try that”, they were unable to resolve the issue and blamed it on everything under the sun except their product, when it is OBVIOUS that, since I have zero speed issues with Nord turned off, and ONLY experience the issues with Nord turned on, it is NordVPN that is causing the issue.
When I asked them for a refund of my one year subscription paid in advance and in good faith, they refused, and have now decided to ignore me.
So, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED. Their VPN will devastate your internet speeds, their “support” is ridiculous, they are in denial, and they will not refund your money, even if their product is a failure…
Years ago Nordvpn was cheap. Now the renewal cost is much higher. I feel the service is worth it. When there is a problem I can see that they are trying to fix it. Fixing something can take a lot of time since there are people constantly putting roadblocks in front of the VPN providers. When I needed VPN for Netflix when my local Netflix refused to carry the subtitles I never had a problem accessing the show I am paying Netflix to watch with subtitles if it was playing somewhere else so I can understand it.
Paid for 1 month to test service, used it once and forget for it. But today I saw a charge from my card for next month. I connect to customer service in 15 minutes, explain that it’s a missunderstanding and I don’t want to use service in future period. But no one including superviser doesn’t want to solve issue, refund payment and cancel the subscription from today. This is the most non-client oriented service I’ve ever met!
We’ve been with them for some years now and all was well. Suddenly things went awry. We couldn’t log in. Only recently paid for 2 year service, all was fine for several weeks and then suddenly we are disconnected, we cannot even log in let alone connect. Even their login website won’t load for us. We tried everything to reconnect or log in. Nothing worked. Multiple devices have this problem. We tried support for help but no joy. We wanted refund but they said after 30 days they don’t refund. They take our money, give vpn for few weeks then disconnect! Feel disappointed and conned. I don’t recomment them, best to use another company. From what we experienced, they behaving dodgy!
I have been using NordVPN for just over a month. Up to now, BBCiPlayer and other UK based TV are available to play from my location.
In contrast, I was greatly disappointed with ExpressVPN. I had been a subscriber for over seven years but since August of this year BBCiPlayer was blocked and their technical team seemed unable to fix the issue. Therefore, I moved to NordVPN and have not been dissapointed so far.
Foxtel works OK on my laptop with Nord, but not on my Samsung S7edge running Android. Have tried many servers Nd protocols
After using NordVPN for a few years, I discovered recently that a newer version of the MacOS app attempts to connect to third party servers directly out of the app. They are mostly Google LLC servers as I could see.
First I was able to block it by using my firewall, but a newer version needs the connections in order to work.
The behavior was confirmed to me by email. They say that it is anonymous and has no “user identifiable data”. Hahaha…. I would certainly not trust such a statement.
So, they provide a tunnel but have their app connect to third party servers without telling you? At least their new “terms and conditions” imply this kind of behavior.
Could it be that their low price is offset by their revenues from Google?
I think one should stay away from a company with this kind of behavior.
I just finished a 3 year subscription with NordVPN and in general I was satisfied. I didn’t renew because the Smart TV app will not region unblock Netflix. NordVPN concedes this and has basically said they will not fix it. I would be worried about locking in for another 3 years in case they suddenly lose this support in their PC app and make a similar decision to not fix it.
I started by trying it out for a month and finally subscribed for 3 years.. privacy and data encryption is a basic need for me, as I work with sensitive information. I also love watching sky through my Uk sky account in Bali, using Uk servers… overall there are no issues with this service, you only have to choose the right server location to have the fastest speed.
I’ve been using them for a couple of months and I found out about them from this page. I was looking for a VPN that would work with NetflixUS and NordVPN was the first one to pop up. The application itself is good. It does not crash as some other VPNs do, it loads Netflix fairly quickly, the UI is pleasant and user-friendly. Pricing is my favorite thing, in this case, they are offering a substantial product, good price good quality. I would like that they start to offer customer support through calls, but that’s probably too much to ask.
I’ve been using them for almost a year now, and really surprised with this review as I’m getting only 20Mb/s drop on my 110Mb/s. As for everything about the product is really great, considering that they are one of most affordable in the industry. Yet the key selling point for me is the amount of working servers they have, almost every server works with netflix, which is the reason I’m using Nordvpn. The only concern is that they could add a few servers in China as there are a lot of TV shows that I wanna watch 😀
The following is a response from NordVPN support :
“Thank you for your letter.
Unfortunately, Netflix library of Japan region is not available using our service at the moment.
Because of that you are automatically getting the United States Library instead of Japan.
Let us know if there is anything else we can help you with.”
I have been using NordVPN for just over 18 months to stream and d/l videos from the UK with virtually no problems. On 100mbps fibre connection and can consistently achieve between 60 – 80mbps d/l speeds.
On the odd occasion I have had issues, the support has been good.
Also very nice to be able to use a VPN in my own country when at airports etc on open Wifi and want to do a financial transaction.
Great value for money.
For me personally, it’s a worthy provider that does not stand still. Got a month subscription, and now will continue with a three years deal. I use it because of security and anonymity and my daughter uses it to watch British Netflix. So, only good experience for our family.
I bought 3 years but after 1 year is unable to stream a tv Chanel on 360 p 6 server in CHILE GOOD FOR NOTHING customer service is all bad they blamed developers so the balance of my 3 years is good for nothing
Hi, I’ve been using their app for 7 months and it seems ok. It fully carries out its function just like any other VPN. The main advantage is the price, as it is not expensive, and anyone can afford it. And considering the value for money, they stand out a little bit.
It drops connections – alot – support line has standard steps that do not work in most situations. This is a major problem for them. They blame it on anti-virus and have suggested to not run anti-virus. They switch you to TCP/ip v 4 – for on of their fixes. This is a big issue for them – the product is sometimes unusable. If you sign and extended contract their money back is only good for 30 days – they keep the rest not matter what the problems are.
I’d like to thank Nord’s customer support as the nice girl that I’ve chatted with helped me from the total isolation in Shanghai. I could access Facebook, Google and other apps in no time.
Paul: I recently signed up for NordVPN but it is very frustrating to use with any Amazon service. Not with prime, Whole Foods app, amazon.com, nothing…
Some of the NordVPN servers are still using TLS 1.0 for OpenVPN. Nord told me that they are gradually upgrading them to the current TLS 1.2 and hope to complete this by the end of 2018.
Hi Paul, I used to torrent avidly without VPN before until i got caught here in Germany and the fines were nasty (daughter streaming some films inadvertently!). As such, I am paranoid now although I purchased in 2016 a 2 year subscription of NordVPN but have hardly used it due to my freaking out that these Germans will catch me.
My question is, I want to download from Pirate Bay or kick Ass some films and some pro version cracks of anti-virus (Avast) and the works if you know what I mean.
Is this tool really hidding my behind to these greedy folks? Will my ISP catch me if it is true what i read above in some comments that leaks take place?
Am I safe with this thing or shall I wait until it expires in 6 months and get the heck out here?
thank you.
Hi Paul,
My Mac works on a OS X 10.10.5. Do you know if NordVpn can be run on it? If not, what Vpn that does could you recommend? Thanks in advance,
Olivier
Hi Paul. I was wondering if you used NordVPN with AsusWRT Merlin firmware? I recently had IPVanish and was very disappointed with IP and DNS leaks. I configured my router the way their website instructed and it worked for a couple hours, then leaked. I found a couple more configurations on youtube to try and again it worked for a bit then leaked. I was using Chrome browser and installed the WEBRTC network limiter and that helped with IP leak but not DNS. I spent hours on configuring without success. ExpressVPN doesn’t have my router (Asus RT-AC86U) listed on their compatibility list so I am looking for the next best thing and came across NordVPN. Do you think I should try it? I appreciate any info you can give me.
Trevor
I really loved NORDVPN last baseball season as it worked with MLB.TV flawlessly. However, this season (at least 2 games in) it doesn’t matter which country/city I try to connect from I receive a blackout message. 🙁
Hope they fix this soon. Anyone else having the same problem?
Is nordvpn installed on Linux Mint XFCE using guidance or command line?
No we tested NordVPN in Sweden for NetFlix US yahoo worked 2,5 hours since then nothing but problems, extremely slow having a 100/100 connection this should not be a problem, we are imidiatly asking money back 99 US prepaid I think not.
Extremely disapointed back to UnoTelly scam.
If want watch Netflix dont use NordVPN you will become ectremely disapointed first it works a few hours and then BOOM busted.
You seem to test VPNs for different services (like video streaming), but you do no mention VoIP (Skype, Whatsup, Viber, etc).
It would be interesting to compare & recommend different VPNs for the specific use of VoIP in countries that attempt to block it (e.g. Arab Gulf countries)…
I would like to know whether it is really possible to hide my real iP location against snooping government or any skilled hackers using this vpn?
have extensively tested the multitude of vpn’s over 3 years, i have come across Nord VPN, which, although it looks rather odd, is actually rather satisfying.
it does what it says, and well!. i’ve checked doileak.com, torguard torrent checks, i’ve done the doileak torrent tests, and at least 5 others anonymous check websites…. all show that i am properly hidden.
i like this. a lot. and i will be using it…. oh, and speed is not an issue, its next to no drop.
I cannot recommend these guys.I signup today downloaded there installer and out of the box its not working on a brand new WIN10 machine. If you send them an email they will tell you that a support ticket has been opened – and man do I like to hear that. After hunting down one of the kits on the live chat I got really “great” help. first he pointed me to the installation instructions – well…it kind of insulting.Than he asked me to download a driver from some web site……I don’t think I should be asked to download a driver from somewhere install it using admin credential. Lets hope I will get my money back.
Interested in multiple connections at the same time – and down to ipvanish and NordIPN – concern is having two Amazon fire devices as well as PC’s and dont quite understand the limitations of either service for simultaneous connections – when my sons are here they want to do there thing as do I – will either of these work with all three of us on different devices? (xbox – fire tv – PC etc)
Worst customer service ever. Subscribed and cancelled the same day, 1 hour apart. We are now 10 days later, still no confirmation of cancellation and no refund. They say it might take ano