NordVPN: what is it and how good is it? Thorough examination

NordVPN: what is it and how good is it? Thorough examination So, do you want to know everything about NordVPN, including how good and fast a VPN provider is, as well as the latest news about the service? Well, you've come to the right place, because this article includes an in-depth review of NordVPN with a full range of benchmarks, combined with a roundup of news about the service, as well as a comprehensive FAQ covering the most frequently asked questions. about this VPN. But first, let's start with a quick TL:DR rundown of the review for those who don't want in-depth information and just want to know if NordVPN is worth buying and how it stacks up against competing VPNs, in a nutshell.

NordVPN: 1 Minute Review

NordVPN's torrent support is a definite strong point, and there's a lot to love on the privacy front, with plenty of smart features to help keep you safe and anonymous online. Of course, you may recall that NordVPN's security reputation has been tarnished in the past by a hacking incident in 2018, but the company has learned many lessons and implemented a number of measures. And laudable audits as many other VPNs are going under. it must be considered). Performance levels are good, and it's one of the fastest VPNs we've reviewed, and for unblocking Netflix (or other streaming content), it gave us access to what we needed (though sometimes only via the browser extension of the VPN). NordVPN's mobile apps are better than you'll find on most VPN providers, and its Windows client is generally pretty good, although the latter has a few quirks, it's nothing major, and it's pretty good overall. Speaking of which, there are plenty of great tutorials to help you get started with VPN and excellent customer support, which is nice for the less tech-savvy, if they run into trouble in any way. Of other. A huge server network tops all this off perfectly, and NordVPN's no-obligation 30-day money-back guarantee is worth mentioning. If you are not satisfied, you can get your money back in the first month without any hassle. You can think of NordVPN as a high-quality VPN of all trades. It does everything to a good standard, and while some competitors may perform better in specific departments, if you want everything to run smoothly and more importantly, consistent service, NordVPN won't fool you. Want to learn more about NordVPN? Then read on for all the details you might want to know...

NordVPN: latest news and updates

We just updated our NordVPN review, but in the next few months before our next update, we'll keep you posted on the latest changes with the VPN provider on a monthly basis here.

NordVPN: Our Complete NordVPN Review

NordVPN, registered in Panama, is an extremely popular VPN provider with over 14 million customers worldwide. The company sells itself on features and there is a lot to explore. How many servers does NordVPN have? The NordVPN network has 5400+ servers in 80+ locations in 59 countries. What platforms does NordVPN offer apps for? You get TV apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Android, and NordVPN also offers tutorials for setting up the service on many other devices. How many devices can you use with NordVPN? NordVPN supports six simultaneous connections, which means you can use up to six devices; and that's probably enough for you to use all your devices at once. What features do you get with NordVPN? NordVPN offers all the technical features you'd expect, including OpenVPN and NordVPN's WireGuard-based NordLynx support for strong encryption and high performance, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection to keep your identity safe. Rare extras include double data encryption and Onion support for added security, as well as protection against advertising, malware, and phishing through NordVPN's CyberSec technology. P2P support is a big plus, and a clear no-logging policy and NordVPN's Panama registration provide the above-average guarantee that your internet activities won't be visible to anyone else. An unusual pause feature closes the VPN connection and then allows the client to automatically reconnect after a specified number of minutes. If you've ever manually disconnected from a VPN to perform a local task and then forgot to reconnect, you'll appreciate how useful it could be. If you're intimidated by this overload of features, or if you're just having unexpected problems, NordVPN's 24/7 support is available to point you in the right direction, via email or live chat. NordVPN's prices are a bit above average after a special offer in the first year, and if you're not entirely convinced this is the VPN for you, a 30-day money-back guarantee gives you a way risk free to try the VPN. service for you. Have more questions about the basics of NordVPN? Then check out our FAQ at the bottom of this article (jump directly to it using the link in the bar above).

NordVPN Client Map Zoom

NordVPN made a useful interface change when using the map to choose a server (Image credit: NordVPN)

What's new with NordVPN?

It wasn't that long ago that we last reviewed NordVPN, but the company is actively improving its service. Presets are a new Mac feature that allows you to launch NordVPN with custom connection settings and your choice of app or website. You can optimize the VPN for downloads, browsing, or speed, for example by automatically opening a streaming site in your browser, perhaps by launching your favorite torrenting app. Forget all the usual hassles of launching the NordVPN app, setting it up, connecting, and then opening your browser – Preset does everything automatically for you. NordVPN's Dark Web Monitor is an additional feature that alerts you if your email address appears on the Dark Web, a sign that your credentials may have been exposed in a data breach. It only works on iOS and Android apps at the moment (don't ask us why), but hopefully it's coming to desktop soon. Elsewhere, a Windows usability tweak lets the map intelligently adjust your location markers to match your zoom level (say goodbye to the old group of overlapping pins). Android has an update feature that checks for a better server for you and reconnects if necessary. And multi-factor authentication protects your account by adding extra checks every time you log in to the website (not the apps, just the website). Not bad for a few months of work, especially since NordVPN had so many features before. We'll take a closer look at some of these later in the review.

NordVPN payment

NordVPN supports a wide variety of payment methods, including cryptocurrencies (Image credit: NordVPN)

NordVPN plans and pricing

NordVPN offers three main plans: Accounts billed monthly are $11.95, and yearly plans are just $4.92 per month for now, while choosing the two-year plan brings the price down to $3. (The company has new offers all the time, but you can find a more detailed and up-to-date explanation in our article dedicated to NordVPN prices and offers). However, be careful with the fine print. The one and two-year plans include an introductory discount and both renew like a standard annual plan, resulting in a significant price increase to €71 per month. Check out these and other renewal prices on the NordVPN site. Adding NordVPN's NordPass password manager and NordLocker encrypted storage might give you better value. The VPN, password manager and storage are standardly priced at €9,92 per month, for example, on the regular yearly plan (that's the long-term cost, with no built-in price increase on renewal). Is NordVPN good value for money? At first glance, yes, at least for the first quarter, but it's true that bargain hunters can find better deals than NordVPN elsewhere. Private Internet Access's annual plan is just €14.90 per month, for example, and Ivacy's five-year plan is just €3.33 per month (or €1.33 initially). Still, it's far from the most expensive VPN on the market, and we think NordVPN is reasonably priced for what you get. What methods can you use to pay for NordVPN? There are many payment options provided by NordVPN, with support for cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies (via CoinPayments), and various other systems (AmazonPay, UnionPay, SOFORT Banking, and more). Does NordVPN have a free trial? The company offered a free trial for the entire service a long time ago, but unfortunately it was abandoned due to abuse. However, new Android and iOS users have seven days to use the app for free. And if you sign up, NordVPN's 80-day money-back guarantee gives you more than enough time to get a feel for how well the service is performing. It's all very simple and straightforward, with no hidden fine print clauses, which means the policy doesn't apply if you've logged in "too much" or transferred "too much" data. Just use the service as much as you need to give it a try, and if NordVPN doesn't work for you, cancel within the first 30 days and you'll get a full refund.

Does NordVPN offer a good level of privacy?

The privacy value of all VPNs begins with support for encryption technologies. NordVPN scores well here for its strong AES-256-GCM encryption and supports perfect forward secrecy for regularly changing keys (using 4096-bit Diffie-Hellman this time), ensuring that even if an attacker manages to break into a session, it will cause you to be excluded from the next one. Once you're signed in, NordVPN has other tips you can use to improve your privacy. These include Onion over VPN, which first routes your traffic through NordVPN's own network, then routes it through the Onion network to its final destination. This double layer of obscuration does slow down the service a bit, but it also makes it extremely difficult for anyone to trace an action back to you. Best of all, you don't need to know or understand anything about Onion for this to work. There is nothing to install or configure, just use your client to connect to one of the NordVPN...