NordVPN Review in 2024: Fast, Secure, and Great Value?

Always Fresh Mycouponstock News And Promotions With Our Beautiful Blog

NordVPN Review

NordVPN Review in 2024: Fast, Secure, and Great Value?

NordVPN provides access to high-end security features, including a data breach monitoring tool and malware protection. In this Year NordVPN Provide A large number of servers (6,036 servers in 61 countries) and comes with really user-friendly apps for all major platforms.

The provider also has really good streaming support, as it works with popular services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. And, the VPN is also good for torrenting since it allows torrenting on 4,500 servers in 45+ countries. In addition, you get great gaming support, as the provider has Meshnet, which lets you host secure virtual LAN parties.

NordVPN offers, in addition to industry-standard VPN security features,
FeatureDescription
RAM-only serversWipes all data upon reboot, ensuring the VPN doesn’t store any information long-term.
Perfect forward secrecyChanges the encryption key for every VPN session, safeguarding past and future keys even if one is compromised.
Full leak protectionGuards against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks.
Split-tunnelingAllows you to choose which apps are routed through the VPN and which apps use your local network.
Threat ProtectionBlocks ads, trackers, malicious sites, and downloads. Scans for vulnerable apps on your Windows system.
MeshnetEnables you to create a private network and connect up to 60 devices to it.
Dark Web MonitoringScans the dark web and notifies you if credentials associated with your NordVPN account have been leaked.
Onion Over VPNPermits browsing the dark web using regular browsers like Chrome and Edge.

There are a lot of things I like about NordVPN, but it has some flaws. The VPN doesn’t work in restrictive countries like China and the UAE, it has servers in fewer countries than many of its competitors (Like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access and Surfshark VPN) and the macOS app is not very intuitive to set up.

But overall, NordVPN is one of my favorite VPNs in 2024. It has great security features, offers a cheap long-term plan, and it’s really easy to use on both desktop and mobile. NordVPN has monthly, 1-year, and 2-year subscription plans, which are all covered by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

🏅 Overall Rank#4 out of 104 VPNs
🌍 Number of Servers6,036
📱 Number of Devices6
💸 Starting PriceINR 290 / month
🎁 Free Plan
💰 Money-Back Guarantee30 days

I spent weeks testing and researching NordVPN to see how it compares to the top VPNs on the market, and I can safely say it’s one of the best options out there.

It has top-notch security features, and it’s also great for torrenting and gaming — it has a large P2P server network and supports SOCKS5 proxy connections for faster P2P speeds, and its Meshnet feature makes it simple to host secure virtual LAN games with your friends.

NordVPN is also pretty budget-friendly. It offers reasonably priced plans that start at just INR290 / month and backs all purchases with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • So, NordVPN uses super strong 256-bit AES encryption. Imagine it like an unbreakable code for your online stuff. Even big guys like government agencies and banks use it to keep things safe.
  • They promise not to keep track of what you do online. It’s like going on a secret mission, and they don’t keep a diary of your adventures.
  • There’s also a cool feature called a “kill switch.” If your secret connection to the internet gets interrupted, it’s like a superhero move that stops any leaks of your info to bad guys. So, your online secrets stay safe!

NordVPN has a cool feature called app-based kill switch. It’s like a guard for your apps. If the secret connection drops, this guard shuts down specific apps, like those P2P ones. In my tests, it worked perfectly—whenever I disconnected, those apps closed without a hitch.

The company also offers strong security features such as RAM-only servers and full forward secrecy. Using RAM-only servers assures that all data on a server is erased on each reset. Perfect forward secrecy also updates the encryption key for each VPN connection, increasing security.

The VPN offers complete security against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, which is another feature I appreciate. I tested for leakage on more than ten servers, and found none. Although some rivals (such as Surfshark) just offer DNS leak prevention, it’s fantastic to have full leak protection.

The VPN protocols listed below are also included with NordVPN:

NordVPN has a fast and secure way to connect called NordLynx. It’s like their default setting, and it’s super speedy and safe because it’s built around the WireGuard thing.

There’s OpenVPN, another safe choice but a bit slower. When I tried it, it made my internet about 40% slower. In comparison, NordLynx only slowed things down by 25%. So, it’s like picking between a super-fast bike and a sturdy but slower bike for your online journeys!

AndroidiOSWindowsmacOSLinuxApple TV
NordLynx
OpenVPN

NordVPN lets you use something called Tor (The Onion Router) on all its servers. It’s like adding an extra layer of security. So, you can make your connection safe with NordVPN and then use the Tor browser to go to the dark web if that’s your thing. Double protection!

NordVPN also offers a wide range of additional tools:
1. Split Tunneling
2. Threat Protection
3. Meshnet
4. Obfuscated Servers
5. Double VPN
6. Dark Web Monitoring
7. ID Theft Protection
8. Onion Over VPN

With the help of NordVPN’s split-tunneling feature, you can select which traffic goes over the network of your Internet service provider (ISP) and which traffic goes via the VPN server. For instance, I used the split-tunneling option of NordVPN to test it while downloading files. Everything operated as promised when I used NordVPN to redirect all of my torrent traffic and used my local server to surf the internet.

NordVPN has two cool features: split-tunneling and inverse split-tunneling. With split-tunneling, you pick which apps shouldn’t use the VPN. This works on Windows and Android. Inverse split-tunneling is for Windows and lets you choose which apps go through the VPN. Some other VPNs, like Surfshark, even let you choose specific websites to skip the VPN. It’s like deciding which online paths you want to keep private and which ones you don’t mind being seen.

Although ExpressVPN is one of the few VPN service providers with split-tunneling in its Mac software (enabled for macOS 10.15 and lower), I would also want to see NordVPN implement this capability. Still, compared to ExpressVPN, NordVPN’s split-tunneling option is far more user-friendly.

Overall NordVPN’s split-tunneling is like having a superpower for your online safety. It keeps some things secure while letting others be free. It’s really easy to use, but I wish they would let you choose certain websites to skip the safety part. Also, it would be awesome if it worked on Mac and iOS too.

NordVPN’s ad blocker, Threat Protection, prevents advertisements and trackers, protects you from harmful sites, keeps you secure from malware-infected files, and even analyzes your PC for security weaknesses. The capability is accessible on both Windows and macOS, however the app vulnerability feature is only available on Windows. Threat Protection Lite is also available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it solely prevents advertisements and harmful websites.

My favorite thing about Threat Protection is that it’s highly customizable. NordVPN breaks down Threat Protection into 3 parts: Web Protection, File Protection, and Vulnerability detection, and it gives you the option to pause Web and File Protection (either or both) for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 2 hours.

Under Web Protection, you can choose which cyber threats you want the VPN to exclude — in case you’re worried that the VPN might accidentally block a safe site you access often. Also, I especially like that the feature can remove tracking parameters from URLs to enhance your privacy, as not many VPN ad blockers do this.

When you download files, File Protection checks them for malware, eliminates any harmful files it finds, and notifies you. Additionally, cloud-based threat detection is included, which, when enabled, sends any suspicious files to the cloud to be checked for malware.

Vulnerability protection also automatically checks the apps on your Windows PC for any software vulnerabilities against an app database that contains information about known security flaws and their versions. If it detects a vulnerable app that a bad actor might exploit, it sends you an alert, so you can update it accordingly.

In my tests, Threat Protection performed pretty well, as it got rid of most ads on the sites I visited and it also stopped me from accessing shady websites. However, it wasn’t able to block as many ads as Private Internet Access’s ad blocker (PIA MACE) or ExpressVPN’s ad blocker.

Threat Protection’s anti-malware capabilities aren’t great, though. I tested it using a collection of malware-infected sites, and it failed to catch a good number of malware files. Its app vulnerability protection is decent it correctly flagged about 90% of the outdated apps I installed on my test device.

Overall, Threat Protection is a good ad blocker and anti-phishing tool, but it’s no replacement for a proper antivirus program like Norton or Bitdefender. It blocked most of the phishing sites I tried visiting, it was pretty effective at blocking ads, and it caught most of the outdated apps on my Windows PC.

Meshnet allows you to create a secure, private network for up to 60 devices anywhere in the world. This can be used to connect your own devices, or you can invite other trusted NordVPN users to your network. It’s available on all operating systems (Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux), and you can also use it for free without needing a NordVPN subscription.

This feature has a lot of possible applications. You can, for example, create a virtual Local Area Network (LAN) for gaming, remotely access files from linked devices, browse the internet using the IP address of another device, and more.

Meshet also lets you securely share files between the linked devices with just a few clicks — you can exchange files of any size and send as many as 1,000 files in a single session, which is really handy if you want to avoid paying for third-party file-sharing apps. What I really like about it is that you can automatically accept transfers for specific devices, so the files will download without you having to approve them. Plus, anything you send or receive via the Meshnet private network is protected by NordVPN’s encryption, so it’s very private and secure.

Overall, Meshnet is a very unique and useful addition to NordVPN, which opens up whole new ways of using the VPN. It’s also super easy to use.

NordVPN has these special servers that hide the fact you’re using a VPN. They make it seem like you’re just doing regular internet stuff. They have over 100 of these servers in 15+ countries. It’s great because it keeps everyone, even your internet company, clueless about your VPN use.

If you want to use NordVPN’s secret-sauce servers, you gotta go with the OpenVPN protocol. No big deal, as most VPNs use it for their secret moves. But here’s the downer—NordVPN’s secrecy trick doesn’t work in some strict countries. Bummer, right? Especially since that’s the main reason most folks want it. ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, on the other hand, do a better job in tough places like China and Iran with their secret sauce.

Double VPN servers route your traffic through 2 VPN servers (in 2 different countries) instead of 1 server. The servers add two layers of encryption to your data, which makes it impossible for anyone to intercept your traffic. NordVPN has double VPN servers in 5+ countries.

Double VPN means double protection, like having double locks, which is super secure but can make things a bit slower. I tried it with this provider, and it only made things 30% slower, not too bad. But here’s the deal: using double VPN is not for everyday internet stuff, just for extra privacy. It’s like a special tool for people who really need top-notch privacy, like journalists and activists.

I think Surfshark has a better double VPN feature — it supports double VPN connections in more countries and also lets you choose the entry and exit server’s location.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with NordVPN’s double VPN, though I wish the provider would provide double VPN servers in more countries.

Dark web monitoring is a good tool. It notifies you if any personally identifying information linked to your account’s email address has been compromised in a data breach. This is a pretty nice feature that further expands NordVPN’s ability to keep you safe online.

It gives advice on what to do if your private info gets out, like changing passwords and logging out everywhere. It also warns you right away if there’s a security problem that could expose your info.

NordVPN takes identity theft and cyber blackmail seriously. If you ever become a victim, they’ve got your back with up to $1,000,000 to help cover expenses. This could be for things like legal fees or getting new important documents. They’re like your online superhero, ready to save the day.

You also get your own detective for identity theft. They do most of the work to help you get your identity back, which is really useful. It’s like having a personal online superhero!

NordVPN also has your back if there’s a cyber attack, offering support when you need it. They provide up to $100,000 for professional help to fix things, like handling payments or dealing with threats. It’s like having a safety net for online troubles.

Unfortunately, this feature is currently only available to users in the US who purchase the Ultimate plan.

NordVPN’s Onion Over VPN servers send your traffic through Tor network (an independent network of servers designed to provide extra privacy) before it reaches the web.

This allows you to surf .onion sites directly in your browser — normally, you need to use the Tor browser to visit them. This is a great feature for people who use Tor often, like users who handle sensitive data on a regular basis.

The problem is that NordVPN only has Onion Over VPN servers in 2 countries (the Netherlands and Switzerland), so they’re often overcrowded. My colleague in the Netherlands tested it and said he could visit the easycoin. onion site in Opera, but it took over 15 seconds for it to load.

NordVPN has a transparent no-logs policy. It doesn’t monitor or store any of your online activity — the sites you visit or the files that you download. In NordVPN’s Privacy Policy, NordVPN states that it only stores your email address (for creating an account and communication purposes), payment information (for issuing refunds), the timestamps of your latest session (for ensuring you’re not using NordVPN on more than 6 devices at the same time – but this is deleted 15 minutes after you disconnect from NordVPN), and your interactions with NordVPN’s customer support.

NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been inspected and validated multiple times by independent parties. Price Water House Coopers (PWC) AG in Switzerland conducted audits in 2018 and 2020. PwC interviewed NordVPN workers, got full access to all of NordVPN’s servers, witnessed how NordVPN implemented server configurations, and examined log files and logging setups. Both audits confirmed that NordVPN’s no-logs policy is 100 percent accurate. In addition, it was audited by Deloitte in 2022, which found no privacy problems.

NordVPN has these special servers called colocated servers—they own and run them entirely. They send their own hardware to data centers for space and internet access, but only NordVPN folks can get in.

Now, NordVPN is based in Panama, a place not involved in those 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances—they’re like secret intel-sharing clubs. Also, Panama doesn’t make NordVPN keep data by law, so they don’t have to log and share your info.

All in all, NordVPN is like an open book about what they do. No logs, in a privacy-friendly spot, and they even got checked out by security experts to prove it. They’re like the trustworthy friend of VPNs.

In my tests, NordVPN provided me with really good speeds. I had the fastest speeds when I was connected to a server in my country (Romania), but my internet speed was also very fast while I was connected to distant servers (in Ireland and Japan).

First, I ran a speed test without being connected to a VPN server to get a baseline for my speed:

I tried NordVPN’s Quick Connect—it picks the fastest server for you. The speed didn’t slow much. I watched HD videos and downloaded big files almost as fast as without a VPN.

Then, I connected to Ireland. Download speed dropped a bit, but my internet speed stayed good. I could still watch HD videos and play games fine. Only thing, websites took a tiny bit longer to load, like 1-2 seconds. All in all, pretty smooth.

Finally, I connected to a server in Japan. The speeds were much slower, but that should be expected since the distance between Japan and my location is 5,417 miles (8,719 kilometers). Websites and videos took 4-5 seconds to load.

I also checked which protocol offers the best speeds: NordLynx or OpenVPN. I connected to a server in Romania and a server in Ireland with both protocols. NordLynx was always faster, which is why I used it in all of my tests.

Romania has really fast speeds, so it’s not fair to compare my VPN speeds to what people from other countries might see. That’s why I asked my colleague from the US to run some speed tests.

Then, he used NordVPN’s Quick Connect option and was connected to a local server in New York. My colleague only saw a decrease in speed of about 9%, which didn’t affect his browsing or torrenting speed.

Then, my colleague connected to a server in France. His download speed was actually faster than his connection without a VPN — this is really impressive! He didn’t notice any delay in his web browsing, and he was able to watch videos in HD without any interruptions.

My friend tried connecting to a faraway server in New Zealand using NordVPN. His speed slowed down by 25%. Websites took about 4-5 seconds to load, and videos took a minute-and-a-half to start. But once they started, they played smoothly in HD without any problems.

In general, NordVPN is super fast—it’s great on nearby servers, and even on faraway ones, it’s still pretty good. So, if you love streaming, downloading, or anything that needs lots of data, NordVPN is a solid choice.

NordVPN has 6,036 servers in 61 countries. Some others, like CyberGhost VPN, have more servers, but I’m cool with NordVPN’s number. I like that you can choose the exact city for your server, not just the country. But, CyberGhost VPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access have servers in more countries, which can be handy for finding fast servers nearby.

In addition to obfuscated servers, Onion Over VPN servers, and double VPN servers, NordVPN also has:

  • P2P servers. Hundreds of dedicated P2P servers that let you download torrents.
  • Dedicated IP servers. They’re available to users who buy dedicated IPs (IP addresses assigned only to one account).

But one thing I really like is that NordVPN gives you the option to purchase a dedicated IP address for a small monthly fee. With a dedicated IP address, NordVPN assigns you an IP address that is only for your use — you’re the only account that uses that IP, so sites are less likely to blacklist the IP address (like bank sites). NordVPN provides dedicated IPs in 10+ countries, including the US, the UK, France, and the Netherlands. But it only allows you to connect up to 2 devices with a dedicated IP address.

Overall, NordVPN has many servers in most parts of the world. In addition to offering obfuscation servers, Onion Over VPN servers, and double VPN servers, NordVPN also has P2P servers as well as dedicated IP servers. NordVPN uses shared IP addresses on all of its servers, but you can also buy a dedicated IP address.

NordVPN is one of the top VPNs for streaming since it’s compatible with 10+ popular streaming platforms.

It’s also a really good Netflix VPN since it works with 10+ libraries, including Netflix US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan. I tested it with Netflix Romania and had no problems watching content in my local library, and my colleagues from the UK, US, Japan, and Taiwan tested it multiple times, and they could always watch their favorite shows in their locations.

NordVPN’s reps confirmed that it also works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and Amazon Prime. Plus, it’s compatible with less popular sites like Pluto TV, VRV, and Tubi TV. That said, I still think ExpressVPN is better as it works with 100+ streaming platforms.

And the VPN also allows you to watch content on devices that don’t support VPNs, including gaming consoles and certain smart TVs, thanks to its smart DNS feature. Plus, it has a dedicated app for Apple TV, so you don’t need to set up a router connection to use NordVPN on your Apple TV.

Overall, NordVPN is really good for streaming. It works with the most popular streaming sites and also has a smart DNS.

NordVPN is great for torrenting since it has 4,500+ P2P servers in 45+ countries. This is really convenient as it’s easy to find a nearby server to connect for the best possible speeds.

NordVPN works with all popular torrenting clients, including uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Deluge. In my tests, I was always able to access and download files with any torrent client without any issues.

qBittorrent
BitTorrent
uTorrent
Transmission
Deluge
Vuze

NordVPN has these things called SOCKS5 proxy servers. They switch your IP address without doing all the extra protection stuff, so your downloads can be way faster. When I tried them, my P2P speeds got about 35–40% faster. But here’s the thing, unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, NordVPN doesn’t have something called port forwarding. This helps you connect to more peers for even faster speeds while still keeping your P2P traffic safe and sound.

And the VPN provides very secure torrenting. Its Threat Protection feature keeps you safe from malicious P2P sites and malware-infected torrents — plus, it also gets rid of most ads on torrenting sites. What’s more, the VPN has full leak protection and an audited no-logs policy.

It’s also very convenient that you get an app-based kill switch, which shuts down selected apps if your VPN connection drops. I tested this kill switch with 5+ torrent clients and it always worked.

NordVPN is like a fortress—I never saw any leaks in my tests. I did over 10 checks on different P2P servers, and every time, there were zero leaks. Even when I used 2 P2P apps to check for torrent IP leaks, it always showed NordVPN’s IP addresses, not my real one.

So, NordVPN is awesome for torrenting. It’s got lots of P2P servers, supports SOCKS5 proxy, and makes sure your torrenting is super secure. It’s like having a bodyguard for your downloads!

NordVPN has great gaming support. I played World of Warcraft while connected to a local server and had a great ping (20 ms). I also connected to a remote server in Japan, which increased my ping to about 240 ms, but it didn’t really impact my gaming experience — the connection to the server remained stable, and I never experienced any lag. Plus, it only took me about 5 minutes to download a 2 GB update for Dota 2, which is pretty impressive.

My favorite gaming feature is Meshnet. It lets you create private and secure LAN parties for up to 60 devices to securely game together with all of your friends.

NordVPN also protects you against DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks as it regularly changes your IP address. However, I’m a little disappointed that it lacks anti-DDoS protection, like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access have. This means that an upset gamer could DDoS your VPN connection, and you’ll have to reconnect to a different server.

You can also set up NordVPN on your router and game on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps like Xbox or PlayStation consoles. NordVPN has step-by-step tutorials for all types of routers that it supports, so you won’t lose any time figuring out the details. It only took me about 14 minutes to set it up on my router. I then tested it with a couple of rounds of Call of Duty: Warzone on my PlayStation 4, and everything worked as expected. That said, if you want to mainly use a VPN on your router, I’d go with ExpressVPN since it has a dedicated router app that’s easier to install.

Overall, NordVPN is a strong contender for both casual and hardcore gamers. It promises low latency gaming on local and distant servers, comes with anti-DDoS protection, and has a unique Meshnet feature that’s great for gamers who want to host LAN parties.

Although NordVPN has obfuscated servers, it doesn’t work in restrictive countries. Its support reps confirmed that the VPN doesn’t work in places like China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

I recommend choosing another VPN to use in restrictive regions — ExpressVPN is the best VPN for this, and it also provides high-end security and privacy features.

NordVPN Plans & Pricing

NordVPN’s prices are pretty fair, starting at INR 290 per month. You can connect up to 6 devices, which is normal—though if you need more, Private Internet Access or Surfshark might be better since they allow unlimited connections.

They have 4 plans. The Standard one has all the basics, the Plus one adds a password manager (NordPass), and the Complete one adds NordLocker.

For folks in the US and UK, there’s an Ultimate plan with NordLocker and extra cybersecurity perks, like identity theft recovery or cyber insurance.

You can choose a 1-month, 1-year, or 2-year plan. They all have the same features, but the 2-year plan gives you the best monthly rate, and it’s cheaper than ExpressVPN.

You can pay with credit cards, Amazon Pay, Union Pay, ACH Transfer, Google Pay, or even cryptocurrencies. Plus, they have a 30-day money-back guarantee, just in case. It’s like a risk-free trial!

NordVPN works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Apple TV, and Android TV. You can also download it onto your router, which will allow you to use NordVPN on gaming consoles.

Setting up NordVPN is very easy — it took me just 1-2 minutes to download and install the apps on all of my devices. The design is user-friendly, so you won’t feel overwhelmed (even if you’ve never used a VPN before). The setup process is more complicated on Linux and routers, but NordVPN has step-by-step tutorials that make everything simple — and you can contact the support representatives via live chat for any additional assistance.

  • Step 1: Sign up for NordVPN. I recommend picking the longest plan because it offers the best value.
  • Step 2: Download and install the VPN app. Follow the on-screen instructions — the whole setup shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes.
  • Step 3: Launch the VPN app. Find the server you want to connect to and click on it. You can now safely access the web.

NordVPN’s Android app is feature-rich and easy to use. I installed it on my Samsung Galaxy A51, and I was able to connect to a server with a simple tap on the screen.

The main screen displays the server network map and the Quick Connect option. Clicking on Quick Connect automatically connects you to the fastest server. To view the entire server menu, scroll down and you’ll see each location listed by alphabetical order. Above the locations, you’ll see 2 options: Search (use keywords to find a server) and Specialty servers (P2P, obfuscated, double VPN, dedicated IP, and Onion Over VPN).

The Android app also has a Settings cog icon that lets you pick which protocol to use, enable/disable the kill switch, and use split-tunneling. You can also turn on Threat Protection, but it won’t block ads on Android — though it will protect you from malicious sites.

NordVPN has 2 cool extra features for Android smartphones:

  1. Tapjacking: This feature alerts you if a malicious app adds a screen overlay. Basically, hackers can’t hijack your taps to steal your passwords or credit card details.
  2. Metered VPN connection: You have more control over how much data you use through the VPN (essential if you don’t have an unlimited data plan with your Android device).

The iOS app is almost the same as the Android app. To use the fastest server, just tap Quick Connect. Otherwise, you can manually connect to one of NordVPN’s many servers (including specialty servers).

Unlike on Android, Threat Protection blocks ads on the iOS app. However, the iOS app is missing the split-tunneling feature. There’s also no tapjacking protection, making the iOS app less secure than the Android app.

That said, the design of the iOS app is very intuitive — and even though the app is lacking a couple of the features included in the Android app, I still think the iOS app is excellent.

Like NordVPN’s Android and iOS apps, the Windows/Mac apps have Quick Connect. The app always connected me to a Romanian server in under 5 seconds. When I connected to servers in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan, it didn’t take more than 10 seconds.

You can manually select a server from the alphabetical list located on the left side of the screen. All servers give you the option of connecting to the fastest server or manually selecting the one you want to use.

Both desktop apps also come with a digital map you can use to connect to servers. On Windows, you can use country pins to pick servers. And, on macOS, you get location bubbles, which are really convenient since they also make it possible to connect to specific cities by using the digital map.

The Settings icon includes a few tabs. Here are the most important ones:

  • General. This is where you can choose app preferences like whether or not you want to receive connection notifications and launch options.
  • Connection. Pick which protocol you want to use and enable/disable auto-connect.
  • Kill switch. You can enable/disable the system and app-level kill switches.
  • Split-tunneling. Select which apps to route through your local network and which app traffic gets routed through NordVPN’s servers. Split-tunneling isn’t available on macOS.

It’s also important to keep in mind that NordVPN has 2 apps for Mac — one app uses OpenVPN and includes most of NordVPN’s features (except the NordLynx protocol), and the other app uses NordLynx (but it doesn’t have obfuscated servers, double VPN, CyberSec, or dedicated IPs). While the NordLynx version of the app may provide better speeds, I recommend getting the OpenVPN app because it’s more secure and has more security features.

Overall, NordVPN’s Windows and Mac apps are really good. They’re intuitive, easy to use, and packed with tons of features and settings.

NordVPN’s extensions are easy to use, secure, and convenient. The main dashboard has a very simple design — it lets you connect to the closest and faster server with a click, lists the last 6 servers you connected to, and makes it super easy to find everything you need in the extension, including the full list of servers and all settings and extra features.

You can also set the extensions to auto-connect you to a server when you launch the browser, and there’s also an option to exclude websites from the VPN tunnel. I also like that you can export and import split-tunneling settings, so you don’t have to create a list of excluded services on every browser you use separately.

The provider’s extensions are also really secure — you get Threat Protection Lite and protection against WebRTC leaks. Threat Protection Lite is a version of NordVPN Threat Protection feature that blocks ad and malicious websites. The tool works really well since it successfully detected all shady sites I tried to visit. That said, I think ExpressVPN’s browser extensions are more feature-rich.

I also like how you can access live chat support via the extensions — it’s more convenient than having to go to NordVPN’s site and look for the live chat feature just to ask a quick question.

Overall, NordVPN extensions are very good. They’re great for beginners, come with Threat Protection Lite, and even allow you to split-tunnel websites.

You can manually set up NordVPN on a router, provided it’s compatible with the service. And the provider works with popular router models and firmware. I’m happy to see this since some top competitors (like TunnelBear) don’t have router support.

NordVPN offers helpful step-by-step guides that make the setup hassle-free. And I really like that the guides come with screenshots, which is really convenient. Configuring it on your router is pretty straightforward from there — I was able to configure NordVPN on my router in around 14 minutes.

But I still prefer ExpressVPN as it has a dedicated router app that you only have to install on your router — the process is simpler and less technical.

Overall, NordVPN is a great option if you need a VPN on your router. It’s compatible with a lot of routers and offers detailed step-by-step guides on its website that are very helpful.

NordVPN has great apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. They’re all easy to use and have many excellent features, but the iOS and macOS apps are missing the split-tunneling feature. The Android app also has extra perks like tapjacking protection. Unfortunately, the Android app’s Threat Protection feature won’t block ads from appearing on the websites that you visit.

Overall, NordVPN’s apps are among the best on the market. They offer everything you need to protect your data, access geo-blocked content while you’re traveling abroad, and securely download torrents. And they’re suitable for both beginner and advanced users.

AndroidiOSWindowsmacOS (.pkg app)macOS (App Store app)Linux
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Kill Switch
App-based Kill Switch
Split-Tunneling
Threat Protection
Threat Protection Lite
Obfuscation
Dark Web Monitoring

NordVPN has extensive FAQs and troubleshooting guides, email support, and 24/7 live chat. It doesn’t offer phone support, but that’s not a problem because its live chat reps are very responsive and helpful.

The setup instructions and troubleshooting materials are highly informative and helpful. NordVPN has arranged its support articles into various categories like FAQs, general information, billing, and connectivity problems, making searching for the info you need really easy. Additionally, a search button is provided if you can’t immediately locate what you’re after.

When I tested NordVPN’s live chat feature, I was connected to a support rep in less than 30 seconds, and they were able to answer all of my questions. I was pleasantly surprised by the response times since I performed the test on a Sunday. Besides English, NordVPN offers live chat support in German and French. For other languages, it uses a translation tool that works pretty well.

I also sent NordVPN 2 emails — its customer service representatives responded with helpful information to my first email in under 5 hours, and I got a response to the second email the next day. I didn’t really like that it can take more than a day to get a reply, but it’s not surprising since email responses are usually slower.

Overall, NordVPN offers excellent support through an extensive FAQ library, live chat, and email. If you have an issue or question, I recommend using NordVPN’s live chat feature instead of email because you’ll get an answer to your question in just a couple of minutes from NordVPN’s live chat reps.

NordVPN is a top VPN, but it has specific areas to improve.

For starters, NordVPN can expand its server network to more countries. It currently has servers in 61 countries, which are evenly located all over the world — this way, virtually any user can find a local or nearby server. However, competitors like Private Internet Access and CyberGhost VPN have servers in 91 and 100 countries, respectively, so it’s much easier to connect to a closer server for faster speeds.

And despite offering obfuscation, which hides your VPN traffic, NordVPN doesn’t work in restrictive countries like China, Iran, and Russia. If you need a VPN to protect your traffic in any censorship-heavy places, I recommend ExpressVPN — its obfuscation works well in China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other countries that censor content and restrict VPN use.

Lastly, NordVPN can improve the macOS app experience. Users currently have to choose between 2 different apps: one app that includes most of its features but excludes the NordLynx protocol, and the other that includes the NordLynx protocol (which is faster than the rest of the protocols offered) but doesn’t come with perks like NordVPN’s Threat Protection. Although I appreciate having options, it’s much easier to have just 1 macOS app, like ExpressVPN, that includes most of the important features that NordVPN offers.

NordVPN provides access to very strong security featuressuch as an ad blocker that also protects you from malicious files as well as a data breach monitoring tool. It has a large server count (6,036 servers in 61 countries) and user-friendly apps for all major platforms.

You also get great streaming support since the VPN works with popular platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. The provider also has 4,500+ P2P servers in 45+ countries and Meshnet, which lets you host secure virtual LAN parties.

On top of essential VPN security features, NordVPN also has other extras — double VPN connections, obfuscation, Tor support, and split-tunneling.

NordVPN is really good, but it’s not perfect. It doesn’t work in restrictive countries, it has servers in fewer countries than most of its competitors, and its macOS app has 2 versions, which can create confusion when installing the app.

Despite these few downsides, NordVPN is one of my favorite VPNs in 2024 — it has a wide range of useful features, it’s very secure, and it provides blazing-fast speed. NordVPN is also pretty affordable, and all of its plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN is super safe. It uses this heavy-duty encryption called 256-bit AES, which is the same level used by armies and banks. And get this, it doesn’t keep any logs. The servers are like magic—they wipe everything clean every time NordVPN restarts them.

NordVPN is like a shield against leaks. It protects you from DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. It’s got this reliable kill switch that acts like a guard—when the VPN disconnects, it cuts off the internet to stop any leaks. And for an extra layer of protection, there are double VPN servers that double-encrypt your data by passing it through two VPN servers.

Oh, and it even has a cool blocker for ads, trackers, and malware. It’s like having a superhero team defending your online space!

Most users can just use its Quick Connect feature, which automatically connects you to the fastest server. But you can also manually choose a server. NordVPN groups servers by country and gives you the server load, which helps you find a server that’s not overcrowded to get faster speeds.

But NordVPN also has specialty servers that offer specialized features. Here are NordVPN’s specialty servers:

  • P2P. These servers allow you to download torrents.
  • Onion Over VPN. NordVPN servers that encrypt and send your traffic through the Tor network (you can also use Tor sites straight in your browser).
  • Double VPN. They send your connection through 2 VPN servers instead of 1.
  • Obfuscated. These servers hide your VPN traffic.
  • Dedicated IP. Use them to get a dedicated IP address (one that’s only used by you). Dedicated IPs help you visit sites that often block VPNs, such as your bank’s site. However, these servers cost extra.

No, NordVPN doesn’t have a free plan. However, it does have a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, which is more than enough time to test its service. And if you’re not happy with NordVPN, just ask for a refund through live chat and you’ll get your money back in 1-2 business days.

I recommend avoiding free VPNs. They’re usually slow, lack standard security features, and have bandwidth caps. Some also spam you with ads and expose you to malware. Overall, it’s better to pay for an excellent low-cost VPN like NordVPN.

Yes, NordVPN works with Netflix and is compatible with 10+ Netflix libraries. NordVPN also works with other streaming sites like Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.

It’s doubtful because all VPNs reduce connection speeds due to the encryption process and the distance data must travel to be routed through VPN servers.

NordVPN, a renowned VPN provider, offers fast speeds on both local and distant locations, reducing latency to a minimum. My colleagues and I did performance tests, and we found that almost all servers provided smooth browsing, streaming, and gaming experiences.

Meshnet with NordVPN, first, you gotta turn it on in the app. Go to the side menu, find Meshnet, and click or tap “Turn On.”

Once that’s done, you can add more devices to your network—up to 10 of your own or other people’s devices by inviting them. Then, you can use the internet through a connected desktop device and use its IP address instead of yours. It’s like borrowing a friend’s internet identity.

NordVPN lets you be the boss. You can decide which devices can share files with you, access your device, use your device to move data around, and use your local network while doing it. It’s like having a control panel for your digital buddies.

NordVPN has this thing called Threat Protection, like a superhero shield, but it’s only on Windows and macOS. It’s like an ad blocker on steroids—it stops ads, ad trackers, sketchy sites, and even protects you from downloading bad stuff. It also checks for security issues in your apps, but that’s only on Windows.

Here’s the cool part: Threat Protection keeps working even if you’re not connected to the VPN.

Now, there’s Threat Protection Lite, available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. It’s like a mini version of the superhero shield—it blocks ads and bad websites. But, it only works when you’re connected to a VPN server. It’s like having a sidekick that helps when the main hero is around.

NordVPN is not a good choice for countries like China and Iran, where the government severely restricts internet access and VPN use. Despite its obfuscation, it cannot access the internet in restricted countries.

Leave Comment