NordVPN Review: Is It Worth the Money?

If you're looking for the best VPN services, one of the most popular options is NordVPN. The virtual private network service claims to offer best-in-class encryption, faster speeds, and highly sought features for a range of affordable prices to meet any budget. But is NordVPN good enough to provide the security you're looking for?

On this page, we'll look at how NordVPN measures up in some of the most important categories—including availability, speeds, security—and tell you whether NordVPN is the best VPN service for you.

NordVPN Availability and Compatibility

With over 5,700 servers across the globe, NordVPN is a reliable choice among the top VPNs. An expansive server network is important because it contributes to both your VPN speeds as well as connection consistency. Fewer servers force users to compete for bandwidth. Similarly, having many servers in multiple locations allows you to find one in an optimal location for a faster connection—the farther away a server is, the slower your connection may be. NordVPN offers over 5,000 IP addresses across 59 countries, giving you the ability to easily switch locations at will. That said, a few other VPNs are even more robust—CyberGhost runs over 6,400 servers, and ExpressVPN has servers in over 90 countries.

NordVPN supports up to 6 simultaneous connections and is compatible with most popular devices and browsers, though a few other VPN providers offer more leeway in this category. For example, Norton Secure VPN supports up to 10 connections at once, and ExpressVPN can connect to game consoles in addition to standard browsers and smartphones. Still, NordVPN's infrastructure is plenty strong enough for most households.

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NordVPN Speeds

In speed tests using both broadband and fiber-optic internet connections, NordVPN performed extremely well. While some testers experienced marginal speed losses, others noticed that NordVPN's speeds were faster than their usual internet connection. This may be due in part to its QuickConnect feature, which automatically chooses the optimal server for your location to give you the best speed possible.

An important piece to remember, though: your VPN speed relies heavily on your home internet connection type and speeds. The faster your internet plan is to begin with, the faster your VPN connection will be.

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NordVPN: Security and Privacy

NordVPN encrypts your data using the military-grade AES-256 encryption standard (the same used by Canadian and U.S. intelligence agencies), as well as OpenVPN protocol, known for its top-tier security performance. The VPN provider also frequently switches encryption keys while in use, adding another layer of privacy. DNS and IP leak protection catch any security flaws in your browser or any other software you may be using. This combination of features results in an Alcatraz-like lockdown of your data.

NordVPN also includes a customizable "kill switch" feature. Should your virtual private network connection drop at any time, a kill switch mechanism will automatically block internet access until it restores a secure connection. What sets NordVPN's kill switch apart is the ability to choose which apps to shut down and which to leave running in the event of a network failure. This helps if you're working on something that isn't as critically sensitive—you'll still have access while your VPN is restored.

Additionally, NordVPN adheres to a strict "no-logs policy," meaning they don’t monitor and record your activity while you're using the service. The VPN provider also includes malware protection, but not anti-virus tools, which some other VPNs do (like Norton Secure VPN, for example). Lastly, NordVPN's HQ is located in Panama—outside the legal jurisdiction of many international government surveillance agencies. This means that the company is under no legal obligation to hand over any information records about its users—which, thanks to NordVPN's no-logs policy, doesn't exist anyway.

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NordVPN Features

NordVPN offers both Firefox and Chrome browser extensions, as well as mobile apps to protect your smartphones and tablets, and a router-specific app—and connecting your VPN directly through your router gives you unlimited device support, including those that are Wi-Fi only. You'll also get an ad blocker, which not all VPN providers offer. 

Aside from privacy, one of the biggest draws of using a VPN is its ability to get around geoblocks—especially for streaming content. NordVPN delivers here in spades—it can unblock location-based content from most of your favorite streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Plus NordVPN's video streaming capabilities are top-notch, performing at ultra-HD quality. Considering its solid speed performance, you can even use NordVPN for live gaming and video conferencing without any performance hiccups (likely a smart choice for the latter, considering recent security breaches with popular video conferencing apps).

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NordVPN Price

Pricing correct as of 12/01/2023

NordVPN offers three different VPN plan price tiers based on whether you want to pay monthly, annually, or for two years at once. Its monthly prices are on par with most other VPN providers, but its multi-year VPN plans skew on the expensive side—both CyberGhost and Surfshark offer cheaper 2- and 3-year plans. 

Still, NordVPN's prices aren't too shabby, considering the non-discounted monthly price is still probably less than your Starbucks budget, and paying ahead for two years nabs you a 66% discount. Plus, NordVPN is risk-free—while you don't get a free trial, you're still protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

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Verdict: Is NordVPN Worth It?

Who Is NordVPN Best For?

It's also an excellent option for users looking to watch regional or international streaming content, with its geo-unblocking capability on a variety of popular platforms that still maintains HD-quality video.

While affordable for many, it may not be best for those on the tightest of budgets, since other VPN providers have cheaper plans.

Internet Plans for VPNs

While privacy and security are top of mind, it may be the perfect time to reconsider your home internet plan. While many internet service providers (ISPs) offer standard security protocols, some go above and beyond with extra privacy tools, including parental controls to keep your kids safe while online. Plus, you want a plan fast enough so that, should your VPN's servers slow you down, you still have plenty of speed.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few of the top internet plans with speeds of at least 60Mbps.

Internet Plans

With at least 60 Mbps | Filters

#1	Diallog	Diallog Plus Cable 75/10 Mbps $25/mo Go	$25/mo	Go
#2	Cogeco	Cogeco UltraFibre 1Gig Unlimited Fibre 1000/1000 Mbps $54.99/mo Go	$54.99/mo	Go
#3	oxio	oxio 1000 Mbps Cable 1000/50 Mbps $85/mo Go	$85/mo	Go
#4	Distributel	Distributel Unlimited Fibre 500 Mbps Fibre 500/500 Mbps Deal: Limited Time Offer: FREE installation & activation when you join DistribuTel on a 1 year term $44.95/mo Go	$44.95/mo	Go
#5	Telus	Telus PureFibre Internet 250 Fibre 250/250 Mbps Contract (24 mths) $80/mo Go	$80/mo	Go

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View Full Results ~ Last Updated 2024-11-02

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