NordVPN is one of the most popular Virtual Private Network (VPN) services on the market, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of features that cater to both beginner and advanced users, making it great for various needs.
We delved deep into its features, performance, and overall value to help you make an informed decision in 2024. The results? We believe NordVPN is worth buying in 2024 because of its reliable performance, user-friendly interface, fast and secure protocol NordLynx, and the advanced security features it provides.
In this NordVPN review, we are going to explain its features in detail and evaluate its performance across various criteria. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
NordVPN Review – Summary
In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary of our NordVPN review:
| NordVPN Specifications | |
|---|---|
|
Total number of servers |
6,341 in 111 countries |
|
Location |
Panama, a non-14 Eyes member |
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VPN protocols |
NordLynx, OpenVPN (UDP), and OpenVPN (TCP) |
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Encryption protocols |
AES, DES, and RSA |
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Security features |
Kill switch, dark web monitor, Meshnet, Threat Protection, and more |
|
Streaming capabilities |
Works with popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ |
|
Price |
Starting from $3.69 per month |
|
Website |
Features of NordVPN
NordVPN offers a robust set of features to keep your digital life secure and unrestricted. Here’s what makes this VPN a top choice for safeguarding your online activities:
- Threat Protection: NordVPN goes beyond basic VPN functionality by offering comprehensive threat protection features. Through advanced malware and phishing blocking, NordVPN helps safeguard your devices from malicious websites and cyber threats, giving you peace of mind while browsing the web.
- Meshnet: NordVPN’s Meshnet feature creates a decentralized network of interconnected devices, enhancing privacy and security by distributing traffic across multiple nodes. This innovative approach reduces the risk of centralized points of failure and increases resistance to censorship and surveillance.
- Dark Web Monitor: NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor keeps you informed about potential data breaches and leaks on the dark web. By scanning underground forums and marketplaces for mentions of your personal information, NordVPN helps you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals and protect your sensitive data from unauthorized access.
- Dedicated IPs: For users who require more control over their online identity, NordVPN offers dedicated IP addresses. With a dedicated IP, you can enjoy the benefits of a static IP address while still benefiting from NordVPN’s robust encryption and security features. This is particularly useful for businesses and individuals who require secure remote access to sensitive systems or services.
- Double VPN Servers: NordVPN’s Double VPN feature adds an extra layer of encryption by routing your internet traffic through two servers instead of one. This double encryption ensures even stronger security and privacy, making it nearly impossible for anyone to intercept or decipher your online activities.
- Onion Over VPN Servers: By combining the anonymity of the Tor network with the security of a VPN, NordVPN’s Onion Over VPN servers provide enhanced privacy and access to .onion websites. This feature routes your internet traffic through the Tor network before encrypting it with NordVPN’s servers, ensuring that your online activities remain completely anonymous and secure.
How Fast Is NordVPN?
NordVPN consistently ranks among the top performers in speed tests conducted by independent reviewers and users alike. With a vast network of servers strategically located around the globe, NordVPN offers fast and reliable connections, minimizing latency and ensuring smooth browsing, streaming, and downloading experiences.
According to tests conducted by AV-Test where the platform compared VPNs against unencrypted connections, NordVPN emerged as the clear winner in download and upload performance across three major world regions: the US west coast, the UK, and Japan.
Whether you’re accessing the internet from your home, office, or on the go, NordVPN’s network infrastructure is designed to deliver consistent performance across various devices and platforms. Users can expect minimal downtime and interruptions, even during peak usage hours.
NordVPN’s Fastest Protocol – NordLynx
NordVPN has multiple protocols, but NordLynx stands out as the fastest among them. It’s built on the WireGuard protocol, which is known for its simplicity, efficiency, and high-speed performance. WireGuard has gained popularity for its lightweight codebase and streamlined design, making it faster and more reliable than traditional VPN protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec.
Despite its focus on speed, NordLynx maintains robust security standards to protect user data and privacy. It uses the same AES-256 encryption as other NordVPN protocols, ensuring that all data transmitted through the VPN remains secure and confidential.
NordLynx is compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. It’s currently not available for routers and smart TVs.
Connection Reliability
During our testing of NordVPN, we found that connecting to a server was consistently smooth and hassle-free. We experienced no delays or connectivity issues, regardless of the server’s location.
User Experience
In our testing, NordVPN provided an excellent user experience with its intuitive apps and user-friendly interface. Connecting to servers was quick and straightforward, with one-click connect functionality available across all platforms. We appreciated the server preset feature, which helped us find the optimal server for our needs, whether it was streaming, torrenting, or general browsing.
You can get NordVPN for Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS.
Privacy and Logging Policies
NordVPN’s commitment to user privacy is evident in its strict no-logs policy. During our review, we found that NordVPN does not track, collect, or store any user activity logs, ensuring that your online activities remain private and anonymous. This policy is reinforced by NordVPN’s adherence to a strict zero-logs policy, meaning that even connection timestamps, IP addresses, and browsing activities are not logged or monitored.
Operating from Panama, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the jurisdiction of major surveillance alliances, NordVPN benefits from robust data protection laws. Panama has no mandatory data retention laws because it’s not a member of the 14 Eyes alliance, allowing NordVPN to uphold its no-logs policy without legal obligations to retain user data.
What’s the 14 Eyes Alliance?
The “14 Eyes” refers to an international surveillance alliance composed of 14 countries that collaborate on intelligence sharing. Member countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several others.
When you’re picking a VPN, where it’s based is a big deal. That’s because the laws in that country affect how much the VPN can protect your privacy. If a VPN is based in one of the ’14 Eyes’ countries, like the US or UK, they might have to give your data to the government if asked. That’s not great for your privacy.
But if a VPN is based in a non-14 Eyes country, like Panama or Switzerland, they don’t have to play by those rules. NordVPN, for example, is based in Panama, so it doesn’t have to worry about sharing your data with other governments. That’s a big plus for your privacy.
NordVPN’s Fourth Audit
NordVPN recently underwent its fourth independent audit (by Deloitte Audit Lithuania), demonstrating its commitment to transparency and accountability. These audits provide users with confidence in the VPN’s commitment to protecting their privacy and ensure transparency regarding its operations.
You can view this report by logging into your NordVPN account and clicking on Reports.
Here are some of the things Deloitte Audit Lithuania did during NordVPN’s recent independent audit:
- Interviewed NordVPN’s employees.
- Inspected all of their server types (standard VPN servers, Double VPN servers, P2P servers, Obfuscated servers, and Onion Over VPN servers).
- Reviewed their privacy-related configuration settings and procedures.
Deloitte's Verdict
NordVPN’s Customer Service
NordVPN offers customer support through various channels, including live chat, email support, and lots of informational blogs. During our evaluation, we found NordVPN’s customer support team to be highly responsive and knowledgeable, providing timely assistance and helpful guidance to resolve any issues or queries. The live chat feature, in particular, offers immediate access to support agents, ensuring quick resolution of technical issues or account-related inquiries.
To get a refund, all you have to do is send them an email at [email protected] or use their live chat to connect with one of their customer support team members. You can cancel NordVPN subscription by logging into your account, going to Billing > Subscription, and then clicking on Cancel.
Pricing and Plans
NordVPN offers flexible subscription options with varying pricing tiers to suit different needs and budgets. You can get NordVPN’s cheapest package for $3.69 per month.
It offers an affordable yet comprehensive VPN solution if you’re on a budget. This package, available through NordVPN’s long-term subscription plans, lets you protect 10 devices simultaneously. Despite its low price point, you’ll still benefit from NordVPN’s extensive server network, advanced security features, and responsive customer support.
The best part is that it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can request a refund if you’re not satisfied with the service.
2-Year Plan + 3 Extra Months
Basic Plan-
High-speed VPN
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10 simultaneous connections
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Threat Protection
How Do I Set Up NordVPN?
Follow the steps below to set up NordVPN on your device:
- Download NordVPN from their official site.
- Launch the app after it’s been installed and find a server you want to connect to.
- To change the protocol, click on the gear icon and go to General > VPN Protocol and select the protocol of your choice.
- In the servers menu, scroll down to see the “Speciality Servers.” These include Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, and P2P servers.
- Click on any server to connect to it and browse the web anonymously.
Protect Your Online Data With NordVPN
As you can tell by now, NordVPN offers a comprehensive range of features, reliable customer support, and competitive pricing options. With its flexible subscription plans, including the affordable package priced at $3.69 per month, NordVPN ensures accessibility for people of all budgets without compromising on quality or security.
Independent audits have shown that NordVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy and adheres to high standards of security and privacy, providing users with confidence in the protection of their online activities and data. Plus, with their NordLynx protocol, known for its speed, you can surf the web smoothly and securely.
While testing NordVPN, we streamed TV shows on Netflix, downloaded torrents, and even played online games. Despite the bandwidth-heavy activities, we experienced no lag whatsoever. NordVPN’s robust servers ensured smooth and uninterrupted streaming, fast download speeds for torrents, and responsive gameplay without any noticeable delays.
If you want to protect your online traffic or watch Netflix from other countries, then we highly recommend NordVPN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, NordVPN can bypass geo-blocks and works with popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You can easily use it to access content from different regions.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription plans, allowing you to try the service risk-free. If you’re not satisfied, you can request a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
Yes, you can access blocked websites in your country by connecting to a VPN server in another region. For example, if you’re in the US, you can access Binance by connecting to a server in Argentina.
