NordVPN Review

Our Take: NordVPN helps users protect their data with 256-AES-GCM encryption, a kill switch that disables internet access any time the VPN disconnects from a server and a no-log policy that prevents employees from recording, storing, or logging any of the activities that occur on the NordVPN network. NordVPN is ideal for users who need excellent server coverage across a wide range of international destinations, as well as users who need a VPN service that works with multiple devices at the same time. Users who need VPN for torrenting, however, may want to try a different tool.

NordVPN offers several online security solutions for consumers and businesses, including VPN applications, servers, and password managers. The company is known for using the most up-to-date encryption methods and providing 24/7 customer support via its online chat tool. This guide provides an overview of NordVPN, including a list of key features, an overview of what customers have to say about the application and information on NordVPN pricing. It also contains important technical data, such as how many servers NordVPN has and how many devices it supports at any given time.

Pros and Cons of NordVPN

What We Like and What We Don’t Like
ProsCons
  • Works on up to six devices per account
  • Has more than 5,000 servers, resulting in fast speeds and a high level of reliability
  • Discounts are available to customers who pay for one year or more of service up front
  • Torrenting isn’t supported on all NordVPN servers
  • Some users report that the app is slow to connect to NordVPN servers
  • Speeds are extremely slow in countries with poor internet coverage

Key Features of NordVPN

We looked at the four most important features of a VPN, including security and privacy, server coverage, performance, and price. Below is a breakdown of the key features of NordVPN.

Security & Privacy

The main purpose of using a VPN is to protect your privacy and make your connection more secure. NordVPN helps users accomplish these objectives by using AES-256-GCM, an encryption method that preserves the integrity of online data while also keeping it secure. AES systems use a public key to encrypt data; when the information is transmitted over a network, only the machine with the correct private key can decrypt it. This is how NordVPN protects your privacy and ensures that unauthorized third parties are unable to access your data.

NordVPN also has a no-log policy, which means that all activities conducted via a NordVPN server are facilitated by technical processes, preventing human employees from accessing sensitive data. The no-log policy also ensures that NordVPN doesn’t monitor, log, store, record, or share any of the data transmitted with its servers. In 2018, NordVPN even hired an independent auditor to examine its systems and verify that the company doesn’t keep activity logs. With other VPN companies, it’s difficult to determine what data they record and store, if any, but NordVPN’s independent security audit showed that company representatives are telling the truth when they say NordVPN doesn’t keep track of user activity.

Server Coverage

A good VPN service should have a large network of servers in multiple countries. Excellent server coverage optimizes performance by preventing individual servers from getting overloaded with traffic, which speeds up data transfers and prevents frustrating connection delays. In this regard, NordVPN is one of the best VPN applications on the market due to its network of more than 5,100 servers in 59 countries.

Having servers located in many countries is important because some services restrict the availability of their content to certain regions. For example, travelers from Canada may be unable to watch videos from their favorite streaming services if they travel to the United States. One way to solve this problem is to use a VPN to connect to a Canadian server. This makes it possible to access location-restricted content. Because NordVPN has servers in dozens of countries, users have the freedom to travel extensively without having to deal with the frustration of being unable to access their favorite content.

Performance

NordVPN has several features designed to optimize performance and make using a VPN more convenient. For example, users can connect to NordVPN on up to six devices at a time, which makes the application ideal for individuals, families, roommates, and even small teams of business colleagues. NordVPN works well on desktop and mobile devices, making it easy to switch from one device to another without having to compromise your online security.

As an added bonus, NordVPN has no bandwidth or speed caps, making it possible to connect to a variety of websites without worrying about pages loading slowly. The fact that NordVPN has no bandwidth or speed limits makes it an especially good choice for users who enjoy streaming content from sites like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Prime Video. At high speeds, it’s possible to listen to audio or view video content without buffering and other streaming problems. NordVPN also has a kill switch to disable internet access if the VPN application suddenly disconnects from a server.

Price

NordVPN offers a monthly subscription plan that costs $11.95 per month. The company also offers discounted pricing to customers who agree to pay for a one-year, two-year, or three-year subscription instead of paying monthly. The one-year plan costs $83.88 per year, a savings of 41% off the regular price of the service. For a two-year subscription, users pay $119.76 every two years, a savings of 58% off the regular price. At a cost of $125.64 every three years, the three-year plan is the best deal, giving users the opportunity to save 70% off the regular price of NordVPN.

Although NordVPN offers discounted pricing to customers who pay for their service up front, all four plans offer the same features. The only difference, other than the price, is that the three-year plan is fully refundable for up to 30 days after purchase. One subscription works on up to six devices, giving users an opportunity to save money while protecting their personal information.

NordVPN Plans & Pricing
One month$11.95/month
One year$6.99/month (billed annually)
Two years$4.99/month (billed annually)
Three years$3.49/month (billed annually)

NordVPN Overview

NordVPN Overview
Free TrialNordVPN offers a free 30-day trial
Customer SupportThe company offers 24/7 support via its live chat tool
Platform/Browser CompatibilityNordVPN is compatible with the Chrome and Firefox browsers
Server Coverage5,100+ servers in 59 countries
Number of Devices6
No-Log PolicyYes
TorrentingTorrenting isn’t available on all NordVPN servers
Streaming ServicesNetflix, Hulu, The BBC, YouTube, Prime Video, Kodi, HBO, Disney+, Showtime, etc
Security EncryptionAES-256-GCM
Kill SwitchYes
WebsiteLearn more at NordVPN

What Customers Are Saying

Customers love that NordVPN offers a good combination of convenience and value. One reviewer raves, “NordVPN is, in my opinion, the best VPN software available. It is simple to use, effective, and has an incredible amount of VPN endpoints at their disposal and comes at a good value.” NordVPN also has a good reputation for its server performance and overall reliability, prompting one user to write, “The breadth of servers to choose from is another major draw.”