NordVPN Review

NordVPN has grown to be the most well-known VPN provider since its 2012 inception. It is a very reputable VPN with over 14 million paying users globally and is based in Panama.
Nord Security, the business that runs NordVPN, also owns Atlas VPN and is in a holding company with Surfshark. All three of the VPN providers function independently despite this.
Recently, NordVPN has added more cybersecurity solutions to its repertoire, such as a safe password manager and a file encryption function. In this NordVPN review, as VPN specialists, we will solely pay attention to the features that come with the VPN subscription.

Who Is Eligible for NordVPN?

You wish to use streaming services that are geoblocked. HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, 12 Netflix libraries, and more are compatible with NordVPN.
You require more from your VPN than just basic features. Many other technical features are included with NordVPN, such as Onion over VPN, an ad and malware blocker, and the option to set up your own NordVPN server.
You desire quick internet connections. We saw fast download rates throughout NordVPN’s whole server network using its WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol, with just a 2% performance decrease while connecting to a nearby server.

Data Cap	Unlimited
Download Speed	95Mbps
Logging Policy	No Identifying Data
Data Leaks	No
Jurisdiction	Panama (Privacy Haven)
Servers	5,754
IP Addresses	5,754+
Countries with Servers	60
US Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Partially
Simultaneous Connections	6
Works In China	Unreliable
Support	24/7 Live Chat
Cheapest Price	$3.29/mo over 2 years
Free Trial	7 Days (No Payment Info Required)
Money-Back Guarantee	30-day Money-Back Guarantee
Official Website	NordVPN.com

Streaming Functions with US Rating for Netflix and Other Streaming Services

In our streaming testing, NordVPN excelled, unblocking HBO Max, Netflix, and all other well-known streaming services. You may use it on a variety of streaming devices thanks to its Fire TV Stick app and Smart DNS feature. It consistently streamed geo-blocked video content in HD to 4K quality.

Streaming Platform	Works with NordVPN
Amazon Prime Video	Yes
BBC iPlayer	Yes
Channel 4	Yes
Disney+	Yes
Hotstar India	No
Hulu	Yes
ITVX	Yes
Max	Yes
Netflix US	Yes
YouTube	Yes

The superior streaming performance of NordVPN is attributed by the company and other VPN review websites to its patented SmartPlay function, which changes DNS servers when you access geoblocked content.
This feature is not exclusive to NordVPN, though. Similar DNS-based techniques are used by all of the best VPNs for streaming, such as Windscribe and PrivateVPN, to gain access to streaming services. This method is frequently more successful across a wider range of content platforms.

Streams 12 Netflix Libraries Dependably

Right now, one of the greatest VPNs for Netflix is NordVPN. Over the last three months, NordVPN has consistently been able to access the US content catalog in all of the tests. Compared to our prior experience, when Netflix frequently blacklisted NordVPN’s IP addresses, this represents a major improvement.
Through our in-depth investigation, we discovered that NordVPN immediately connects you to a server that is compatible with US Netflix, in contrast to rivals like ExpressVPN and PrivateVPN. As a result, you won’t have to waste time looking for a functional server.
We also examined NordVPN’s ability to access well-known Netflix libraries by testing its servers across 60 nations.
In more than 80% of our tests, NordVPN unblocked practically all of the most widely used Netflix libraries.

Netflix Library	Unblocks Region	Reliability
Australia	Yes	91%
Brazil	Yes	91%
Canada	No	0%
France	Yes	91%
Germany	Yes	91%
Italy	Yes	82%
Japan	Yes	91%
Mexico	Yes	100%
Netherlands	Yes	91%
South Korea	Yes	91%
Switzerland	Yes	82%
UK	Yes	91%
US	Yes	100%

Nevertheless, Netflix Canada is not yet accessible with NordVPN. Considering that ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, and numerous other excellent VPNs can access it, we’d want to see this fixed in the future.

Utilizes American Streaming Services

When it comes to viewing US-based content from overseas, NordVPN is among the greatest VPNs for HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube TV, Peacock, and other websites.
Although the initial server we tested worked with every platform, NordVPN also offers a number of servers located in sixteen US cities that you may switch between in case you run into any problems.
Videos always loaded promptly in 1080p (Full HD) when connected from Europe to a US NordVPN server, and performance was on pace with our non-VPN home connection.

The VPN lacks an Android fake GPS capability, in contrast to Surfshark. We were unable to stream NBA League Pass or MLB.tv blackout games on our Android phone due to location checks.

Enables access to Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, and other UK streaming services

Our #1 VPN for BBC iPlayer is NordVPN. The VPN has routinely gotten over the platform’s geo-blocks over the course of years of testing. We connected from the US to a UK server using NordLynx, and we saw no buffering and full resolution video playback.

The VPN’s ability to stream BBC material across all of its UK servers was impressive. This is in contrast to other well-known VPNs, such as Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN, where we had to get in touch with customer service in order to locate a server that worked.
In addition, NordVPN was successful in unblocking ITVX, Channel 4 (from abroad), and any other streaming service that needs a UK IP address. Our speeds were even stable enough to watch live Premier League matches on Sky Go and Now without any problems.

Compatible with Kodi

NordVPN’s great streaming performance and private logging policies make it a superb option for disguising your Kodi activity from your ISP.

All well-known Kodi boxes are compatible with NordVPN thanks to its Fire TV and Android TV applications. We were able to access well-known geo-restricted Kodi add-ons, such as Adult Swim, using it on an Nvidia Shield without seeing any error warnings or finding any evidence of data leakage.

Fast Speeds No Matter Where the Server Is Located

On each NordVPN server we examined, we were able to record fast connection speeds using its NordLynx protocol. We measured an amazing average download speed of 95Mbps while connecting to a nearby server and as fast as 90Mbps for international connections on our 100Mbps baseline connection.

	No VPN (New York)	US (New York)	Canada (Toronto)	US (Los Angeles)	UK (London)	Germany (Berlin)	Brazil (São Paulo)	Japan (Tokyo)	South Africa (Johannesburg)	Australia (Sydney)
Download Speed	100Mbps	95Mbps	97Mbps	91Mbps	90Mbps	92Mbps	83Mbps	89Mbps	66Mbps	84Mbps
Upload Speed	100Mbps	94Mbps	76Mbps	14Mbps	12Mbps	12Mbps	31Mbps	7Mbps	25Mbps	5Mbps
Ping	1ms	8ms	14ms	74ms	74ms	98ms	119ms	144ms	404ms	201ms
Distance	0mi	5mi	300mi	2,500mi	3,500mi	4,000mi	4,800mi	6,700mi	8,000mi	9,900mi

As you can see, NordVPN consistently maintained extraordinarily fast speeds, significantly faster than what we usually observe from competing VPNs, even in remote areas like Australia.
Given that it has more servers than other VPNs, NordVPN is able to maintain its exceptional speed performance. Additionally, it automatically switches you to a less crowded server to avoid throttled performance and overloaded servers.

According to these findings, NordVPN is among the fastest VPNs available. It’s fast enough for torrent file downloads, general online browsing, and streaming media from foreign libraries.

Minimal Latency for Smooth Playing

A low ping rate is maintained throughout NordVPN’s server network. We measured a ping of only 8ms while connected to a nearby server, which makes it one of the best VPNs for gaming.
With it, we experienced no lag or performance problems when playing fast-paced games like CS:GO. Ping was significantly slower in Brazil when attempting to reach simpler gaming lobbies, as one could anticipate. Even yet, 119ms was still a low enough time for a seamless encounter.

Because NordVPN uses the NordLynx protocol, which is based on WireGuard, it has very low latency. By optimizing data transfer, WireGuard shortens the time it takes for packets to be sent between your device and the VPN server.

Value & Price Great Value for the Majority of Subscription Plans

In light of the high caliber of the product, NordVPN provides excellent value. With a two-year subscription priced at $3.29 per month, it is less than half as expensive as its primary competitor, ExpressVPN. However, as the cost rises significantly after the first payment month, we advise against using its yearly plan. In the future, we want to see its free trial made available on iOS and PC.

Here are NordVPN’s different pricing plans:

1. Monthly $11.99/mo Billed $11.99 every month
2. 12 Month(s) $4.99/mo Billed $59.88 the first 12 months, $99.48 every year thereafter Save 39%
3. 2 Year(s) $3.29/mo Billed $78.96 the first 2 years, $99.48 every year thereafter Save 60%

Note: The “Standard” subscription plans offered by NordVPN, which include malware protection, VPN, and threat prevention, are the only ones we are examining. You’ll need to pay extra for a “Plus” or “Complete” membership in order to access other features, such as cloud storage.
Considering that you can use NordVPN on up to six devices simultaneously and have access to its numerous cutting-edge features, the two-year plan is a wonderful deal. The initial payment amount is $78.96, and it will go up to $99.48 after the first subscription period.
Nevertheless, the $55.98 one-year plan renews for $99.48, a significantly higher cost. This costs 66% more than Surfshark and is nearly identical to the closest competitor, ExpressVPN.

All things considered, NordVPN’s monthly and two-year subscriptions are still cost-effective. But, our top-ranked VPN, ExpressVPN, is what we advise using if you’re interested in a yearly membership.

Free Trial of NordVPN

Download the NordVPN app for Android and sign up for an annual subscription to receive a seven-day free trial. You can access the account on any of your other devices after registering.
On both iOS and Android, all of its primary rivals—ExpressVPN, PIA, and Surfshark—offer free trials. In a later version, we hope to see NordVPN follow suit.

The greatest NordVPN substitute if you’re looking for a totally free VPN service is Atlas VPN. Atlas VPN, which is owned by Nord Security, is among the greatest free VPNs for a variety of online activities. It has a 5GB monthly data cap but doesn’t require any payment information to utilize.

Options for Payment and Refund

The complete list of payment options that NordVPN takes is as follows: American Express, Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Bitcoin, Alipay, and Bank Wire / Direct Transfer.
PayPal is no longer accepted by NordVPN. However, depending on your geographical location, it might provide more payment options exclusive to your area.

Server Locations: 60 Countries’ IP Addresses Are Available

Despite having the fifth-largest server network in terms of total servers, NordVPN only offers IP addresses from 60 different nations. Although this is still a respectable number, it is 40% less than Surfshark and the lowest among our top 10 VPN providers.

Continent	Countries with Servers
Europe	37
Asia	12
South America	5
North America	3
Oceania	2
Africa	1

You can browse as though you’re in the most popular nations, such as the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, by using NordVPN. In addition, these sites provide city-level servers, enabling you to establish a connection with a particular city in the nation.
However, as the above table shows, users in South America and Africa have limited options. You won’t be able to obtain an IP address from many other well-known places, such as Russia or Egypt.
In comparison, Surfshark offers servers in 100 countries, ExpressVPN in 106 countries, and NordVPN in 60 countries.

Because it exclusively uses physically situated servers within the nation rather than virtual server locations, NordVPN has a very small number of server locations. IP addresses are therefore only accessible from nations in which NordVPN is able to establish physical infrastructure.
We’d prefer it if NordVPN offered a wider selection of nations via virtual server locations, even though this method has the small benefit of revealing the precise location of the server you’re connected to.

Simpleness of Use Enough of a Simple Interface for Most Users

The technical complexity and user-friendliness of NordVPN are well-balanced. Numerous other functions are included in its apps, and the learning curve isn’t too high. Its primary drawback is that most features are activated by unlabeled buttons, making it difficult to figure out how to utilize them. Additionally, there is inconsistent UI across devices, which could cause confusion while transferring between platforms.

Simply go to NordVPN’s website, select “Get NordVPN,” and register for an account to begin utilizing the service. After that, download the device’s compatible software.
After installation, NordVPN offers a mediocre onboarding process. When you initially launch the program, unlike the majority of other VPNs, you are not presented with an instruction guide on how to use its capabilities.
In December 2022, NordVPN updated all of its apps. But since fewer settings were concealed by buttons with unclear labels, we liked the previous interface better.
NordVPN offers a number of features in all of its apps to make using it more pleasant and easy. Below is a brief overview of them and how they affect the usability of the app:

• Every time you connect to WiFi, auto-connect starts a VPN connection. You may take use of NordVPN’s advantages with this without even opening the app. This was helpful to us when we were only using the VPN to encrypt traffic—we weren’t able to access geo-blocked websites.
• You can take a 5-, 30-, or 60-minute break from NordVPN by pausing. We couldn’t discover any usage for this functionality. Rather than assigning a specific button on the app’s home screen, we would rather see it eliminated.
• Using Presets, you can design a unique shortcut to be added to the app’s home screen. You have the option of selecting a VPN protocol, a server location, and the website you want to open automatically. For example, when we connected to a Japan server to see Japanese Netflix, this saved us some time.
• You can select which apps to route both inside and outside of the VPN tunnel with Split Tunneling. This helps you avoid disconnecting from the VPN and maintain compatibility with programs that use your real IP address, such as those for smart home devices.

Below is a more thorough rundown of our experiences with NordVPN across various hardware and OS versions:

Computer & Tablet (Mac & Windows)

For Windows and Mac, NordVPN offers user-friendly applications. Despite the two versions’ comparable appearances, we choose the Mac version due to a small distinction.
The entire server list is always accessible in alphabetical order on macOS. Using the Windows software, you must scroll through a lengthy list that begins with specialized and Meshnet servers by clicking a drop-down icon. This is annoying when you switch servers a lot, which means NordVPN is significantly slower than ExpressVPN and its rivals.

The primary problem, which affects both desktop clients, is that the server map causes the minimum window size to be excessively large. This, in our experience, made it challenging to use NordVPN with other apps on our MacBook Pro or 13-inch Lenovo ThinkPad. If the window could be collapsed to a single column, a la Proton VPN, that would be ideal.
As previously said, we also find it annoying since a lot of the app’s features—such as server settings and Threat Protection—are concealed behind unattractive icons. To see what each one is for, you’ll need to hover over it.
On the plus side, NordVPN’s Windows client now has a dark option. Still, we wish the software would adjust to the system settings on its own. This isn’t available at all on Mac.

Smartphones and Android devices

The desktop applications of NordVPN are more complicated to use than the mobile apps. The app places a “Quick Connect” button in the center of the home screen to enable quick connections to the fastest server. On both iOS and Android, this layout is the same.
It’s much simpler to locate your desired IP address when you can simply scroll to view the entire list of countries, unlike with Windows. We also appreciate that, unlike ExpressVPN or PIA, you can access other server locations without having to tap.

You may navigate between the VPN, Meshnet, Statistics, and Profile by using the bottom tabs of the software. We would appreciate the option to personalize the tabs to fit individual preferences, as we have not found the statistics tool to be very helpful.
Sadly, setting up the kill switch on the NordVPN Android app is challenging. You must navigate to Settings > Wireless and networks > More > VPN > Always on VPN in order to activate it. If it could be turned on or off from the app’s settings, that would be ideal.

Linux

For Linux, NordVPN does not yet have a graphical user interface (GUI) application available. It’s challenging to use because it can only be operated via the Linux command line interface (CLI).

This is by no means optimal, and we anticipate much better from a service of NordVPN’s caliber and stature. Nevertheless, NordVPN is among the easiest to use Linux CLI VPNs available.
It offers you a clear explanation of the instructions you may use to control it, provides access to a number of additional capabilities, and even allows you to log in using a browser link instead of making you hunt around the Terminal for your account information.
We firmly believe that an appropriate Linux graphical user interface application that is comparable to those available for Windows and macOS must be released soon.

Android TV & Amazon Fire TV

Apps with extensive features and ease of use are available for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV from NordVPN. It won’t be immediately clear how to use it, though, because it looks different from its other programs.
In contrast to its other applications, the TV app from NordVPN lacks a map interface. Instead, choosing the server location will need you to scroll down a horizontal list, which took a lot of time while using the TV remote. If there was a way to search by the name of the country, that would be preferred.
Additionally, we think the “Disconnect” button ought to be bigger and more noticeable on the home screen. At the moment, in order to disconnect from the VPN server, you have to scroll all the way to the left instead of just choosing the location or a regular “Off” button.

The TV apps from NordVPN are still simpler to use than those from its rivals, even with these limitations. For example, the user interfaces of ExpressVPN and PrivateVPN are not optimized for larger screen sizes, which makes them more clunky and challenging to use.

Extensions for Browsers

The Chrome and Firefox browser extensions for NordVPN are simple to install and operate.
Unlike the standard desktop apps, which have a map interface, the NordVPN extensions let you to search for server locations easily. Compared to utilizing the Windows or Mac program, we discovered that this was a more efficient and user-friendly experience.

Because WebRTC leak protection and other crucial privacy-protecting features are activated by default, the extensions are designed to be user-friendly. The extension doesn’t require you to navigate complex settings or customization choices in order to use it immediately.

Policy on Privacy and Logging Doesn’t Record Any User Data

VPN service provider NordVPN is reliable. It doesn’t record any information that could identify you personally and is based in Panama, a nation lacking laws governing data retention. Its privacy policy has been audited, but no court case or law enforcement request has provided evidence of it.

Data Type	Logged by NordVPN
Account Information	Yes
Browsing Activity	No
Date of Last Connection	Yes
Device Information	No
DNS Queries	No
Individual Bandwidth Usage	No
Individual Connection Timestamps	No
ISP	No
Number of Simultaneous Connections	No
Originating IP Address	No
VPN Server IP	No
VPN Server Location	No

As you can see, NordVPN does keep some user data even though it bills itself as a “true no-logs VPN.” After a session finishes, the VPN keeps track of your login and the time of connection for 15 minutes.

Crucially, though, none of your online activity can be connected to you personally by any third party using this. Three audits of NordVPN’s privacy policy have been conducted, most recently in January 2023, to ensure that the company does not hold any personally identifying data.

In an ideal world, NordVPN would release transparency reports similar to those of Windscribe and Surfshark, enabling consumers to assess the efficacy of its privacy policy in the face of legal actions and requests from law authorities. Because of this, it’s unclear if its privacy policy has been put to the test in a more reliable setting than a third-party audit—for example, in a court action.
In reality, NordVPN has made it clear that it may begin tracking a user who is the subject of a criminal probe. However, you can be certain that no data has been logged as long as NordVPN’s warrant canary has not been activated.

Located in a Private Domain

With no ties to any global monitoring coalitions, Panama is a privacy-friendly territory where NordVPN has its headquarters. Because of Panama’s robust data privacy laws, NordVPN may keep as little customer data as possible without worrying about meddling from the government.
The business that created NordVPN, Cyberspace, is based in the Netherlands. A NordVPN spokesperson verified that this had no bearing on NordVPN’s jurisdiction in Panama after getting in touch with it. Panama’s regulations protecting privacy continue to be advantageous to NordVPN, which is still operating there.

A Privacy Concern with Dedicated IP Features

A dedicated IP function is offered by NordVPN for an extra $3.89 per month. However, because the dedicated IP address is directly linked to your NordVPN account, we have discovered that it has a significant privacy risk.
Therefore, NordVPN would be required to divulge all user information in the event that law enforcement suspected any illicit behavior linked to a dedicated IP address. Therefore, there are no privacy benefits to using a dedicated IP option over a standard ISP connection.

Other VPNs have tackled this problem by implementing a token-based approach, such as PIA and CyberGhost. Put simply, this stops the VPN provider from connecting the user’s account to the dedicated IP address.
We hope that NordVPN, which is known for being a privacy-focused VPN, will quickly address this problem now that we have made it aware of it. However, we highly advise against using its dedicated IP capability for the time being.

Excellent Technical Features to Enhance Privacy

Because of its many technological features, NordVPN is the best option for safeguarding online privacy. A brief synopsis of them and their performance in our tests is provided below:

• first-party DNS servers to shield data from your ISP and stop DNS leaks. We have tested for years, and during that time we have never seen any DNS leaks or unencrypted DNS traffic when utilizing NordVPN.
• Bitcoin-based anonymous payment mechanisms. We would want to see more options, such as Monero, and that the VPN does not require an email address in order to sign up, in order to further improve this.
• Diskless VPN servers make sure that no user data is kept on the server, which prevents information from being extracted by unwanted parties. We’d like to have a third party confirm that its servers don’t employ storage devices, much like ExpressVPN does.
• Ads cannot follow you across the internet thanks to the Threat Protection ad filter. With 60% less ads loading on our device than any other VPN ad blocker we tested, this is better than nearly all of the others.
• A kill switch that, in the event that your connection is lost, hides your true IP address from websites. We discovered that whether we changed the server location or abruptly terminated the connection, NordVPN’s kill switch did not reveal our login information.

Torrenting: A Secure Option for Downloading

On more than 85% of its 5,754 servers, NordVPN allows torrenting. On our 10MiB/s connection, it offers an amazing average download bitrate of 9.8MiB/s even without port forwarding. Despite the fact that 14 nations’ servers prohibit torrenting, this shouldn’t affect your experience.

Torrenting Attribute	Result
Average Download Bitrate	9.8MiB/s
No. of P2P Servers	4,771
Logging Policy	No Identifying Data
Kill Switch	Yes
Port Forwarding	No

All widely used torrent clients, such as uTorrent, qBittorrent, and Vuze, are compatible with NordVPN. Additionally, we confirmed that it functions with magnet links, which enables us to begin downloading the torrent file right away.
Your torrenting activity is hidden by NordVPN’s top-notch security features, which include the safe NordLynx protocol and a kill switch. Additionally, NordVPN has never sent DMCA requests to its subscribers due to its secret logging approach.
Regretfully, you are unable to torrent while using NordVPN’s servers located in 14 different countries, such as South Korea, Argentina, and Israel. But P2P traffic is automatically redirected by the VPN app via dedicated servers located in the Netherlands or Canada, with negligible impact on speed.
Just choose P2P from the top of the server list to establish a connection with one of these servers.

VPN Service	Download Bitrate	Time to Download 20GB Torrent File
No VPN	10MiB/s	32 minutes
NordVPN	9.8MiB/s	34 minutes
IPVanish	9.9MiB/s	32 minutes
PureVPN	8.1MiB/s	39 minutes
CyberGhost	3.9MiB/s	1 hour 21 minutes

As you can see, most rival services download files more slowly than NordVPN. However, we would want to see port forwarding added by NordVPN in order to enhance its performance even further. This sophisticated P2P technology, which comes with certain other VPNs like Proton VPN and PIA, usually increases the speed at which torrents download.

Technical and Security Elements Top-Notch Security Features

According to our testing, NordVPN is a very secure VPN service that offers more features than practically all of its competitors. WireGuard and ChaCha20 encryption are used to secure web traffic, and colocated diskless servers are used to stop illegal access to the network. Overall, you can rely on NordVPN to protect your online behavior from being watched by outside parties.

Employs open-source, safe tunneling protocols

Modern VPN protocols are used by NordVPN to shield your private information from prying eyes.
By default, all of NordVPN’s software makes use of NordLynx, which is just WireGuard with double NAT added. While this is identical to any other VPN that makes use of WireGuard, NordVPN has decided to name it in an effort to set itself apart.
Since WireGuard is a popular and open-source VPN protocol, we recommend it. Because ExpressVPN, NordVPN’s main rival, employs a unique protocol in place of WireGuard, its security protocols can be trusted less.

Third-Party Monitoring is Prevented via Secure Encryption

NordVPN uses reliable encryption algorithms to protect data. The VPN employs ChaCha20 to encrypt the traffic in the VPN tunnel and initiates the connection with a 2048-bit DH key.
We used Wireshark to examine the packets traveling through our network in order to confirm this functioned as promised. Because of NordVPN’s encryption, our internet traffic appeared as random text in the screenshot below, making it impossible for third parties to track our activities.

Robust Server Security Guards Against Illegal Access

With the exception of a small server vulnerability in 2018, NordVPN has stronger server security safeguards than nearly all other VPNs.
Over 10% of NordVPN’s servers are colocated, in contrast to the great majority of other VPNs that lease servers from outside data centers. Because NordVPN owns them and is the only entity with access to them, all vulnerabilities brought about by other providers are eliminated.
In the future, NordVPN has promised that all 5,754 of its servers will be colocated.
Furthermore, NordVPN exclusively employs diskless VPN servers. Since these servers don’t have any storage, it would be extremely difficult for a third party to retrieve any user data from them.

Kill Switch Prevents Data Spills

During our tests, NordVPN was able to keep our IP address private when our connection faltered and when we moved between different servers.
Unusual for VPN kill switches, NordVPN offers both an internet kill switch and an app kill switch.
In the event that the VPN connection abruptly terminates, the internet kill switch prevents your device from connecting to the internet. You can only apply death switch protection to specific apps with the app kill switch, which is only compatible with Windows and macOS.
If you’re torrenting files, you should use the system-wide internet kill switch for additional security.

Double Encryption is Provided via Multi-Hop Servers

One of the rare VPNs with multi-hop capability is NordVPN. This encrypts your internet data twice and passes it through two different VPN servers, in contrast to a regular VPN connection.
By making it more difficult for an attacker to follow your activity and determine your true IP address, this enhances network security.
Our testing indicates that NordVPN offers the finest multi-hop functionality of any VPN. Unlike Proton VPN, it encrypts traffic twice rather than just passing it through a different location, and it works with WireGuard.
Locate the ‘Specialty servers’ option in the server list of the software and choose Double VPN to activate it.

On the other hand, we wish NordVPN had multi-hop servers in more places. They can currently only be found in nine countries, all of which are in Western Europe, Asia, or North America. Expanding this would benefit users in other areas in terms of performance.

Threat Protection Prevents Ads & Malicious Websites

One of the greatest malware and ad blockers we’ve ever used on a VPN is NordVPN’s Threat Protection tool. Our analysis indicates that 66% of analytic trackers and 60% of advertising were banned by Threat Protection.
Since dangerous ads might occasionally be used to infect your device with malware, an ad blocker enhances security. Threat Protection lowers the possibility that your device will be compromised by blocking the majority of adverts from loading.
Additionally, Threat Protection for Mac and Windows can check any file for malware before you download it. The functionality accurately identified all tested dangerous files as malware when used.

With Meshnet, You Can Obtain A Different IP Address for Free

One special feature of NordVPN is Meshnet. It may be downloaded for free and enables you to redirect internet traffic via a laptop or other conventional internet-connected device instead of a VPN server.
Meshnet is mostly marketed by NordVPN as a tool for LAN gaming and file sharing, yet those are two rather specialized uses. Alternatively, if you’d want a free home IP address, we suggest utilizing Meshnet.
You can obtain your usual ISP IP address by connecting to your home computer while you’re away. In this manner, your local streaming services are accessible to you from any location. We were able to access geo-blocked streaming services more frequently using Meshnet than with a regular VPN connection.

We’d Like to See These Technical Features

More advanced technological features are included in NordVPN than in nearly all other VPN services. However, we would want to see the VPN include the following capabilities in a later update:

• IPv6 addresses reduce the likelihood of IPv6 leaks more than simple IPv6 leak prevention because they route all traffic through the VPN tunnel, much like Atlas VPN does.
• GPS spoofing, which conceals both your IP address and GPS position, works similarly to Surfshark to make it harder for applications to locate you.
• Open-sourced programs that let users examine the VPN’s code, like to Proton VPN, to improve security and transparency.

All things considered, NordVPN is a feature-rich VPN that improves network security in practically every manner. We’re confident that NordVPN will add the aforementioned capabilities shortly because it has been steadily improving its offering throughout the years that we’ve tried it.

Getting Around Web Censorship Functions on Mac, iPhone, and Android in China

While its Mac, iOS, and Android apps continue to function, NordVPN’s Windows software is not available in China. We were able to send WhatsApp messages, view Instagram, and stream YouTube videos while in China thanks to NordVPN’s macOS connection.
We don’t rely on hearsay like other VPN review websites do; instead, we personally test VPNs in China.
Since March 2022, NordVPN’s Windows app has not functioned in China, despite the company’s announcement that its Windows app problems will be resolved “as soon as possible.” Nonetheless, we’ve always been able to get beyond the limitations imposed on our Mac, iOS, and Android devices throughout the nation.

Because you can’t use the standard app in China, setting up NordVPN on Mac and iOS is difficult. Instead, installing a root certificate is a manual step in the VPN setup process.
Each time the server you’re using stops operating, you’ll have to contact NordVPN’s customer service to receive new server credentials. It frequently takes more than fifteen minutes to complete this process, which included entering the updated credentials each time you connect.
Although we’re happy that NordVPN is still compatible with these devices, the user interface isn’t the best. You can use its standard programs to connect from China with alternative VPNs.

VPN Service	China Uptime (12 Months)	Compatible with Every Device
NordVPN	5%	No
PIA	77%	Yes
Windscribe	85%	Yes

As you can see, if you frequently connect from China, there are many better solutions available than NordVPN. You’ll be able to access prohibited websites and apps more frequently and on a larger variety of devices with a different VPN.

Apps for All Known Devices & Platforms with Compatibility for Devices and OS

For laptop, mobile, and Fire TV, NordVPN offers apps. By installing it on a router, users may extend its compatibility to Roku and Chromecast, as well as utilize it on devices that do not support VPNs, such as Smart TVs, through the usage of its Smart DNS feature. Six devices can be used simultaneously with NordVPN, which is a little more than typical.

Applications

For the following operating systems and gadgets, NordVPN provides specialized applications: Linux, Router, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, ChromeOS.

Video game consoles and streaming gadgets

Using its Smart DNS feature, NordVPN can be used on the PS5, as well as the following devices: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Nintendo, PlayStation, Roku, and Nintendo.

Extensions for Browsers

For the following web browsers: Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Chrome, NordVPN offers extensions.

Six Concurrent Linkages

You can use NordVPN simultaneously on up to six devices. This is still less than rivals like Surfshark that provide limitless device connections, but it is slightly better than the industry standard of five.
Installing a VPN on your home router will allow you to get around the limit on simultaneous connections and safeguard every device in your home.

Customer Service Beneficial Live chat support available around-the-clock

With a variety of support channels, such as email, self-help manuals, live chat available around-the-clock, automated chatbots, and live chat rooms, NordVPN provides excellent customer care. Additionally, we discovered that NordVPN’s customer service representatives are better informed than those from other VPN providers, and contacting them doesn’t require a working email address.

Customer Support	Available in NordVPN
24/7 Email Support	Yes
24/7 Live Chat Support	Yes
Chatbot	Yes
Email Support via Online Form	No
Online Resources	Yes
Tutorial Videos	No

Rather than contacting NordVPN directly, you can use its excellent self-help facilities for the majority of concerns. More than 90% of the problems we ran across with the VPN could be fixed with just its video tutorials and FAQs.
The “NordVPN chatbot” will initially greet you if you require additional assistance.
Generally speaking, we think chatbots like Garry from Windscribe are pointless and ineffective. Nonetheless, NordVPN’s automated assistant is quite intelligent and helpful in answering queries.
Compared to VPNs that just rely on human help, the chatbot is far more efficient because it answers instantaneously. In comparison, we got responses from NordVPN in an average of 38 seconds, while ExpressVPN took 126 seconds and Private Internet Access took 297 seconds.

When we did need help from a human, we discovered that NordVPN’s support staff was better informed than other VPN support personnel. Every agent demonstrated speedy technical problem solving, such as figuring out why our IP address wasn’t the same as the chosen nation.

The Bottom Line

NordVPN offers more than enough functionality at a low price, making it an excellent option for a large number of consumers.
This all-around VPN offers top-notch security with ChaCha20, quick connection speeds with NordLynx, and the ability to unblock popular streaming websites with SmartPlay.
Because of its many complicated technological features, it’s best suited for users with more experience. Using Meshnet, you may create your own network of encrypted tunnels, use Double VPN to route traffic through two encrypted servers, and use Threat Protection to protect yourself from viruses.

It does, however, come with several drawbacks that can make other VPNs a better option for you. Its apps are more complicated to use than those of its rivals, and because of its server network, you are unable to use it to obtain an IP address from many popular destinations.
Based on our testing technique, NordVPN is the second-best VPN overall, thus we heartily recommend it. However, if you don’t think it’s the greatest option for you, the top substitutes are listed in the area below.