Summary
NordVPNis the service that propelled VPNs to the mainstream, taking out ads across traditional media, YouTube, and TikTok. I tested NordVPN to see if there was more to it than a marketing spin and found some issues, especially regarding performance and pricing.
NordVPN
NordVPN is a well-known VPN option that is easy to use and compatible with a variety of devices.
Using the NordVPN Interface
NordVPN has clients for every operating system you’re able to imagine. Besides regular options likeWindowsandmacOSfor desktop and mobile systems likeAndroidandiPhone/iPad, it also features extensions for all major browsers and several smart TVs. There’s even a command-line interface forLinuxusers, though I’m not a fan as, even by CLI standards, it was a bit clunky. No wonder NordVPN didn’t make it into my selection of thebest Linux VPNs.
For this review, I mainly used NordVPN on a Windows machine, and I have to admit I felt a bit daunted when I first started it up. There is a lot going on in that first screen.
Besides switching your VPN on and off, you can also use the NordVPN client for a number of other functions, like monitoring the dark web for any mentions of your credentials, or even transferring files between linked computers. All of this is pretty cool, but I really just want to use a VPN and that’s it.
Thankfully, you’re able to do so by clicking on the VPN screen, where you get the classic NordVPN interface of a large, interactive map, with a list of server locations on the left.
I feel a little ambiguous about this approach. While on the one hand I dig the map and I realize it makes navigation quite easy, I dislike how it pushes the server list to the side. Personally, I much prefer the app-style interface of a service like ExpressVPN—read myExpressVPN reviewfor more on this.
That said, I appreciate that the search bar is right in front of you and you can quickly connect to the location you want. I also see the appeal for customers that want a more visual experience when using software, but without being overwhelmed like I was when I wrote up myProton VPN review.
NordVPN Pricing Issues
For this review, I’m going to skip the one-month plans as these provide awful value regardless of provider. If you do need a VPN for just one month, check out myMullvad reviewfor the only exception to this rule.
If all you want from NordVPN is the VPN, the Basic plan is for you. It’s $70 plus tax for one year, or $80 plus tax for two, and offers no frills whatsoever. At two years, it’s a decent deal, though I think going with PIA, which costs $70 for three years, is a much smarter way to spend your money—read myPrivate Internet Access reviewfor more on this provider.
The Plus plan adds a password manager and is $80 for one year and $105 for two years, plus tax. As you can read in myNordPass review, I’m not crazy about the password manager, so I’m not sure how great a deal this is. That said, if you do like NordPass, 10 bucks isn’t a lot for a password manager.
The Complete plan is $100 plus tax for one year or $130 plus for two years and adds 1TB ofcloud storageto the mix. That’s a very generous amount, but I doubt most people will actually need that much storage. You could probably get a better deal with some of thebest cloud storage providers.
Finally, we come to the Prime plan, which is $140 plus tax for one year and $210 plus tax for two years. This adds NordProtect to the mix, which is an ID theft protection service which offers ID monitoring services as well as insurance in case your identity gets stolen. This is only valid for U.S.-based customers.
As I’m not an expert in insurance, I can’t say if Nord’s service is any good. However, a quick glance at competing services gives me the impression that Nord is fairly cost-effective, assuming you make use of all their other services, as well.
Is NordVPN Worth It?
Even at the reduced rates for first-time signup, I find NordVPN to be a little pricey. Though it’s hard to compare bundles as every provider offers a slightly different package (something I discuss in myNordVPN vs Proton VPNarticle), I’m not quite convinced NordVPN offers the kind of value other services do.
Speed and Performance
I tested NordVPN to see how it would perform and the results were okay: NordVPN is by no means a powerhouse. Like I usually do, I first tested my unprotected speed from my home office in Prague, Czechia, and then connected to different locations around the globe. Check out my guide onhow to check your VPN’s speedon how I perform these tests.
Compared to middle-of-the-road services, these results are fine, NordVPN seems to lose about 20% to 30% of its speed usually, which is a decent result. I have to say that the ping was decent, so it may be a goodVPN for gaming.
That said, compared to the top performers, these results aren’t great. Services likeExpressVPN or Proton VPNlose a lot less speed than NordVPN does, even on faraway connections like to Japan. Though it’s by no means a turtle, NordVPN is also no hare.
Privacy and Security
When it comes to privacy and security, NordVPN ticks all the right boxes. For security, it relies on the relatively standard OpenVPN and WireGuardVPN protocols, though it defaults to its own proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is based on WireGuard. These should keep you safe in most cases as they have, at the time of writing, never been compromised.
When it comes to privacy, NordVPN sets outits policyin great detail. On the one hand, I like the detail. On the other, I always worry if something is hidden amongst all the legalese. In this case, everything seems fine, at least as far as browsing is concerned. However, your account information is shared with third-party vendors, which could be problematic for some—and a great case for finding a VPN that allowsanonymous signup.
In the end, though, the best way to figure out if a service is safe is to look at its history, and in the case of NordVPN, it’s all minor stuff. The last known issue of any consequence was back in 2018, and it didn’t really affect users, so as far as anybody can tell, you should be safe using NordVPN.
Should You Subscribe to NordVPN?
While I don’t thinkNordVPNis a bad VPN as such, I think you could do a lot better. While it doesn’t perform poorly, it doesn’t do as well as market leaders and I also feel the interface could be better. Couple this with its less-than-stellar pricing—I won’t even mention the renewal prices—and there are a lot of services that can do a lot more for a lot less. To get an idea of what else is out there, I suggest checking out my selection of thebest VPNs.
