NordVPN isn’t without its glitches, but let’s admit it: among the many dim shady creations in the VPN market, being “good” is a huge achievement. It is very hard to really build a reliable VPN, and NordVPN comes out tall in this race. Not quite a gold medalist, it is, however, a constant top-tier performer and champion in selected areas.
App annoyances include Corsican differences of nature-the UX tightrope walk along a distraction-laden way. Diving deeper, even FAQs cannot keep themselves: They occasionally contradict each other. Netflix mostly means the win; however, the Nigerian server threw up U.S. content, hinting at a locations leak.
On the bright side, there aren’t many places from which you cannot unblock Netflix with NordVPN, from a majority of locations anyway. The location leak issue became very evident from the fact that the Nigerian Server was spilling over U.S. content.
But that’s not all on the bright side. The fastest speeds and strongest leak protection are a mere tip of the iceberg here. The service sidelines virtual servers to put physical locations on the highest pedestal, thus instilling ultimate reliability. Want to unblock some content from abroad? Most servers are designed for a smooth unblocking. But that’s where it starts to get awesome-and the extras really make this thing shine: the one and only Meshnet; a malware blocker that does more than just blocking-it protects against viruses; and it boasts that next-level, quantum-resistant encryption, making your security foreverbound.
NordVPN
Fastest VPN
NordVPN
NordVPN is a fast service with a powerful content scanner and built-in file transfer features.
Pros
- Excellent download speeds
- Useful exclusive features
- Extensive server network
Cons
- Clunky interface choices
- Collects device info by default
$3 at NordVPN
Findings at a glance
Check out a summary of our NordVPN review in the table below.
| Category | Notes |
| Installation and UI | Connections happen quickly and features are easy to use on all platforms UI sometimes gets in the way; map screens can be clunky and apps come with unnecessary notifications Surprisingly, the best UI may be in the browser extension |
| Speed | Extremely fast download speeds with only a 6.4-percent average drop Good latencies on nearby servers, but farther ones have some lag Fast upload speeds, but losses spiked in a few locations |
| Security | Uses acceptable protocols with uncracked encryption NordWhisper obfuscated protocol recently implemented on Windows, Android and Linux No DNS, WebRTC or IPv6 leaks on five test servers |
| Pricing | Best plan is the 2-year Basic for $81.36, or $3.39 per month Basic gives you the complete VPN If you get a multi-year plan, be sure to manually renew in order to keep the promotional rates |
| Bundles | Plus tier adds advanced malware protection and NordPass password manager Complete plan adds NordLocker cloud storage Prime tier adds ID theft protection and insurance features |
| Privacy policy | NordVPN does not log user activity on the VPN, a policy backed up by several third-party audits However, it does log potentially identifiable device information unless you opt out in settings Some concerning liberties taken in the overall Nord policy, but no documented malfeasance |
| Virtual location change | Four out of five test servers unblocked Netflix three times running, including virtual India location Location in Nigeria got into Netflix, but didn’t change available titles |
| Server network | 153 server locations in 117 countries and territories Server network is about 40 percent virtual, including all locations in Africa |
| Features | Extra servers grant additional privacy (double VPN, Onion over VPN, obfuscation) or specific optimizations (P2P, dedicated IP) Meshnet directly connects two devices without a NordVPN server mediating Threat Protection blocks dangerous domains and the Pro upgrade has some antivirus capability Dark Web Monitor reports to you when any sensitive information has appeared on clandestine leak sites Presets let you activate several settings with one clickPost-quantum encryption is nice, but not necessary yet Kill switch is a useful safety feature on all appsSplit tunneling by app on Windows and Android, and by URL on browser extensions |
| Customer support | Written FAQs, live chat and email support Live chat connected to an expert human within a minute FAQs are poorly organized and contain some conflicts, but well-written on average |
| Background check | NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, while its parent company Nord Security is based in the Netherlands 2018 theft of public keys was a mistake, but NordVPN did almost everything right in response Claims of law enforcement collaboration are overblown NordVPN will comply with requests, but that doesn’t mean they’ll have information to provide |
Installing, configuring and using NordVPN
NordVPN: The fastest speeds with unparalleled control. The whole range of possibilities with a VPN waiting to be grasped right at the tips of your fingers. While other options like ExpressVPN and Proton restrict themselves to simplicity, NordVPN opens up a raging torrent of features on every major platform. Now the act of customization will finally take center stage in your life.
Windows
The Windows version of the app from NordVPN: a UI stuck in some sort of VPN limbo. It is in no way offensively bad-a first for the company-but reaching oh-so-excellent remains remote. Imagine this: you open it up, excitement building, and one suddenly enters a connection procedure that drags like digital molasses. Another matter? Connecting is a breeze. Disconnecting is this embarrassingly user-testing sort of game. And the map? It just hogs the space instead of putting the server list on show.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
It’s like going through a maze in the settings. Instead of a smooth experience, it’s back and forth. Open one tab, and the others disappear! To change something else, one has to return all the way to the main menu. Though, individually speaking, options appear simple at first, navigation just irritates by taking a giant step backward in how friendly it is for a user.
Mac
NordVPN for Mac: A quick setup, eccentric UI. Somewhat greedy for attention, the oversized world map takes up a good share of the screen, making more trouble than any use; the zooming is annoying, and selecting a server amounts to a pixel hunt. The sidebar server list is a far more practical travel companion.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Endless hunting through all the menus? No, thanks! This is a wonderful preferences panel. Every tab outright says what it’s for, and the main menu is always in spectacular view (Windows, note that!). And the gear icon? The playground for power users. Choose your VPN protocol, arm the kill switch, or set auto-connect on sketchy Wi-Fi: everything is covered under a single icon.
Android
NordVPN’s experience for mobile really runs parallel to the desktop one: powerful, sometimes imparting total bewilderment. And yet, the Android app boasts a thoroughly useful world map. Zoom in onto any part of the globe, locate countries, and pick and choose servers away! But remember, Key settings lurk within the Profile tab, and down below there is, tell-tale “security score,” prodding you to tweak settings and sometimes feeling more like a sales pitch than a helpful nudge.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Hunting for Android’s general settings? Head to your Profile tab in the bottom-right corner and prepare to scroll. With this description, the page is one big Grand Central station for most of everything. The only exception is Threat Protection, waltzing in there with its sovereign tab. Although it does make sense not to see the main app becoming a digital junk drawer, it somehow still feels like a scavenger hunt.
iOS
The iOS client has a kind of downgraded macOS client, and this creates a certain kind of blessing and curse for it. Most features are crammed into the Profile tab in the bottom-right corner as with the Android app. At least on the surface, the app felt sometimes more like wading through treacle for me. It’s just cluttered, with a lot more options that need to be there and distract away the VPN’s core purpose.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Account login in an app is never supposed to bounce one off to the web browser-inconvenient! A splendid ceremony ruined by a poor design, I say. Other than this, however, the actual VPN connections are lightning fast. So, if you are the kind of person who just sets it up and leaves, this little annoyance may never even register on your radar.
Browser extensions
The extensions of NordVPN for browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge might appear diminutive, but somehow, they do more. They are theonlytools to split internet traffic by URLs. MacOS and iOS users: these extensions arethe only gatewayfor split tunneling. Tiny they may be, but small they are not in terms of UI-friendliness, and they promise a remarkably strong and smooth VPN experience. But they are instant-on VPN shortcuts with pinpointed protection where you need it:
Sam Chapman for Engadget
NordVPN speed test
Imagine that your internet speed is a fresh mountain stream flowing down. Now, consider a VPN to be that detour; a necessary winding path to some secret secure oasis. There has to be some diversion by every VPN, and this ever so slightly slows down the flow. Our speed tests are designed to find the VPNs causing the least visible diversion. Download speed is the king of all aspects, being the engine of your entire online existence and dictates how swiftly a website comes into being and how smoothly Netflix flows. We are obsessed with finding those VPNs that keep your internet stream surging, not trickling.
Consider a few live interactions: crystal-clear video chats, adrenaline-pumping gaming, and captivating live streaming. Latency is the king here, but distance is its arch-nemesis, a force that stretches any amount of time data may take to make a trip. Our test is a digital round trip: packet send out to the remote server, returned back home. With above-the-speed-of-light limitations, your upload speed now throws in the weight-a key player in ensuring smooth two-way communication and blistering torrenting. So how does NordVPN fare best in this fast where speed and responsiveness are the components? Let’s dig into the numbers.
| Server location | Latency (ms) | Increase factor | Download speed (Mbps) | Percentage drop | Upload speed (Mbps) | Percentage drop |
| Unprotected (Portland, OR, USA) | 22 | — | 59.20 | — | 5.86 | — |
| Seattle, WA, USA (Fastest) | 44 | 2x | 57.21 | 3.4 | 5.62 | 4.1 |
| New York, NY, USA | 177 | 8x | 56.90 | 3.9 | 5.60 | 4.4 |
| Stockholm, Sweden | 371 | 16.9x | 55.94 | 5.5 | 5.63 | 3.9 |
| Istanbul, Turkey | 411 | 18.7x | 53.02 | 10.4 | 5.78 | 5.9 |
| Hong Kong | 350 | 15.9x | 56.18 | 5.1 | 5.72 | 2.4 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa | 602 | 27.4x | 53.26 | 10.0 | 5.67 | 3.3 |
| Average | 326 | 14.8x | 55.42 | 6.4 | 5.54 | 4.0 |
All in all, NordVPN does not only promise speed; it also provides it. Our global inquiry into speed revealed a mere 6.4% average drop in download speeds, the highest ever recorded. Upload speeds and latency? Tied for first place. Even challenging regions such as Turkey and South Africa failed to undermine its high levels of performance, which only experienced a 10% drop in speed. Particularly over the years, there has been an excellent consistency regarding speed across all servers, refuting the possibility that NordVPN’s performance was a one-off; it is the norm.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Think distance matters most for VPN latency, like shouting across a canyon. But the VPN services come in to play as well. On more-or-less similar locations, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN were neck and-neck, holding latency comfortable below 300ms. NordVPN lagged behind just a little at 326ms on average. Curiously, NordVPN stayed firmer than Proton on the near servers.
Upload speeds for NordVPN dipped ever so slightly, on average a percent or four. But a bunch of exceedingly high upload rates in Istanbul pretty much distorted the overall figures. If we keep off that single site, NordVPN would for sure be dominating the fastest upload rates sector.
NordVPN security test
Even the mightiest VPN may well crumble early under the unseen pressures. Dropping the superficial charm, cracks deep down beneath can be found. We are talking about outdated encryption protocols spilling off their secrets, IPv6 traffic riding away through the back door, and DNS requests boasting sensitive information outside the tunnel. Now let us gather our inquiries together first by seeking these usual suspects and then go a little deeper to check if the encryption into NordVPN is broken in the way so silent that all traces are wiped away.
VPN protocols
Consider VPN protocols to be secretive agents, with each one having its unique skill set, trying to whisk your data across the back alleys of the Internet. They ensure that this data safely reaches, and certainly swiftly, the destination- a secure VPN server, under the dark cloak of almost unbreakable encryption. The choice of an agent, or the protocol, decides not only the speed at which our digital courier reaches but also the security level and the success of the whole operation.
Is your VPN more like a fortress or a shaky tent? The first crack for VPN security, in most cases, would appear in protocols that are outdated or suspiciously homemade. Think PPTP-BEGGING to be hacked.
NordVPN was equipped with a small but mature arsenal: open-standard OpenVPN, fast IKEv2 (missing from Mac and iOS client), and state-of-the-art NordLynx and NordWhisper (Windows, Android, and Linux versions only) providing highest possible protection. Choose accordingly-your security depends on it.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
OpenVPN is sort of the David versus Goliath in the crown of online security, with IKEv2 being the other big boy. The differences in them are something like defense tactics with AES: OpenVpn has a default setting of AES-256, whereas IKEv2 sets AES-128 to be its quick choice. While speed and sturdiness are comparing factors, OpenVPN actually lets you make a choice: choose ridiculously fast UDP for the thrill-seekers, or choose rock-solid TPM for those that are a little bit more careful. Either way will have your data well secured.
NordLynx: A review could be deemed incomplete without mentioning WireGuard, but in the clientele’s mind, the shadow of secrecy looms upon WireGuard. NordVPN did not just accept WireGuard; actually, it went on to enhance it. WireGuard’s possible Achilles heel could be in the very static IP addresses set thatcould(theoretically) be used to trace back to you forever. NordLynx cleverly sidesteps using a double-NAT system, whereby your true IP is always kept hidden. NordVPN is so proud of this that it recommends the use of it universally. We absolutely agree with them-it eventually ended up powering every single test in this review.
The impossible perfect digital cloak, NordWhisper was born in the early years of 2025. When it seems that a firewall slams shut at your doorstep and the internet seems to cage you in, NordWhisper steps in to save you. This clever protocol hides your VPN traffic and allows it to pass as normal Internet traffic. It is like wearing a mask to sneak by the bouncer. Keep in mind that this process will slow down your traffic, so use it only when you really need to bypass very strong gates, not for casual surfing. Of course, even good disguises betray. Legged digital fortresses like the Great Firewall are evolving constantly, along with increasingly aggressive measures against any known VPN server-NordWhisper just cannot overcome all of those. So, use it whenever necessary; just don’t stash your savings with it.
Leak test
First thing on today’s agenda: the fissuring of NordVPN’s defenses. Well, we kind of brushed aside the speed-test servers and made these five chosen random test servers suffer, with ipleak.net as our guide. The verdict: the glory of a clean sweep-neither single real IP found in any of the three major categories of leak. The security held.
If you thought your VPN was a fortress, then a DNS leak could simply blow a window through it. It leaks your browsing activities – the websites you visit – even when you are supposed to be protected. NordVPN closes the door on DNS leaks by having it all mandated through its own secure private servers. Independent tests verify that, with NordVPN, your secrets truly stay secret.
WebRTC leaks: a silent threat exposing your true IP. Some VPNs out in the wild even leave you exposed. NordVPN, however, locks it all out, ensuring that nothing gets past a tightly-held encrypted tunnel. For greater assurance, you can further harden your browser to block WebRTC completely.
IPv6 leaks: the silent killer of privacy. Is your VPN guarding only the front door of IPv4, leaving the back door of IPv6 wide open? NordVPN shuts that door. Our built-in protection ensures that when it is active, no IPv6 traffic will leak out, so leaks are practically impossible. Rest assured.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Even with all the safeguards, unexplained leaks remain a possibility. That’s why we subjected NordVPN to one final, rigorous examination.
Encryption test
How deep were we? Well, deep enough to be in the realm of network packets. You’re talking Wireshark here: a tool that allows you to seeeverythingflowing through your internet connection. While NordVPN was clear with our standard leak tests, we wanted to be triple-sure about it. So, we opened Wireshark, tracked those digital breadcrumbs left behind when visiting an unencrypted website–prior to and after connecting to NordVPN servers. Think of it as a bit of digital forensics for your VPN.
Whispered into the servers was a tale of transformation: once open books of plaintext, now locked vaults of ciphertext. Well, if there is even the slightest crack in NordVPN’s armor, it is still irrelevant to a lot of people.
How much does NordVPN cost?
Think of trying to track NordVPN’s price structure as trying to interpret ancient runes. Well, maybe not. There is no real maze of options: Want robust VPN protection? The Basic plan is your ticket of choice. All else is just eye candy. So, therein lies your true focus. If online privacy is all you crave, then do keep your eyes on that Basic plan and enjoy your carefree browsing with it.
Say goodbye to buffering and say hello to putting an online security blanket over your shenanigans. At just $3.39/month, the Basic plan of NordVPN can protect ten devices at the same time, a thinly veiled $81.36 two-year upfront deal. Not ready for two years? One will set you back at $59.88 ($4.99/month), or maybe just a month at $12.99. For less, and way less, be assured that all security concerns have been taken care of. (Pricing details are seen just below while the upgraded plans with bundled perks follow thereafter.)
| Plan | 1-month cost | 1-year cost | 2-year cost |
| Basic | $12.99 | $59.88 ($4.99/month) | $81.36 ($3.39/month) |
| Plus | $13.99 | $71.88 ($5.99/month) | $105.36 ($4.39/month) |
| Complete | $14.99 | $83.88 ($6.99/month) | $129.36 ($5.39/month) |
| Prime | $17.99 | $107.88 ($8.99/month) | $177.36 ($7.39/month) |
A promise of huge long-term savings comes with a hidden risk: an automatic renewal intervention that charges much higher prices. Customers claim that they are tricked into one-year, very expensive plans by very obscure policies on renewal and cancellations. That has led to a class-action suit that accuses NordVPN of deceptive pricing. NordVPN refuses to comment, claiming ongoing legal action, yet to those who have fallen into the auto-renew trap, NordVPN’s claim of transparency is a crying lie. The battle lines have been drawn, although one cannot say when things will come to a head in court.
Beat the Auto-Renewal Blues: Keep Your NordVPN Discount
Fiery thoughts about price hikes due to an auto-renewal? Don’t panic! There is one trick that makes sure you keep the introductory rate. Just before the subscription ends, log out of your account. Now, your smart deal-maker side comes again! Sign back up with the same email. Your new cheaper-priced plan gets linked to your old account, and voilà! Back in action, browsing the internet securely. A secret agent move toward a cheap VPN!
Free trials and refunds
NordVPN offers a risk-free trial! This means you get a 30-day money-back guarantee cancel anytime within the first month and get the full refund. Want a free taste? Android users can grab a 7-day free trial right straight from the Google Play Store.
NordVPN side apps and bundles
NordVPN? That would only be the start of it all. Turn the vault of digital protection into something relevant with Nord Security’s complete arsenal at your disposal. Climb up the defense tiers, to reach the full set of tools, ensuring you are never compromised while surfing on the Net.
- Basic: VPN on 10 devices, specialty servers, DNS ad-blocking, Meshnet
- Plus: All Basic features, plus malware scanning, extra scam blocking, tracker blocking, NordPass password manager, data breach scanner
- Complete: All Plus features, along with 1TB of NordLocker encrypted cloud storage
- Prime: All Complete features, plus NordProtect features like dark web monitoring, credit monitoring, ID theft insurance and extortion insurance
A serious upgrade was given to the premium tiers of NordVPN. This meant that Incogni, the data-wiping wizard from Surfshark-the allied online privacy keeper of Nord-has now been packaged with the Ultra. Ultra is still being beta-tested in select regions, but worry not, Incogni can be purchased as an add-on by any and everyone. NordVPN family plan: gone. With lots of space to share: 10 devices per subscription.
Are you tired of VPN roulette? With NordVPN’s dedicated IP, there is no longer an issue with changing addresses. Secure a static IP just for you alone, enabling smooth secure access-a must when bypassing a wall. Starting from $4.19/month for a two-year plan, take control of your online connection. Get yours today!
NordVPN dangles a Saily eSIM carrot on its pricing page, but where’s the bite? Currently, no plan seems to unlock this potentially game-changing feature. Is NordVPN about to jump on the eSIM bandwagon like so many others? Stay tuned; this mobile perk may very well be just around the corner.
Close-reading NordVPN’s privacy policy
A privacy policy in terms of a VPN is more than merely metallic boilerplate: It is a promise. If not fulfilled, though, it risks a lawsuit for false advertisement. Most VPNs hardly ever outright break their promises; rather, they have a knack for finding loopholes-unsuspectedly bending the walls constructed by their own privacy policy-so reveal their true intentions with your data. Understanding these hidden clauses means understanding what a VPNactuallyguards.
Going through NordVPN’s privacy policy, we split it into layers: one concerning the more general Nord Security principles, and one that was VPN-specific. Did we shed any bad light upon it?
General Nord privacy policy
An email is required for using Nord Security apps. No email, no account. Want to stay ghost-like? Just throw in a masked email. Ay caramba: Marketing emails will be issued as you are subscribed to them by default. Opting out is quick and easy, thankfully. Annoying? Maybe. Privacy violation? Hardly.
The red flag? NordVPN is asserting the right to process your data even without your explicit consent, referring to “legitimate interest” of theirs or of some third party. A few justifiable cases are mentioned, e.g., hunting down cyberattackers who misuse their servers, but “legitimate interest” is worn very thin. Day-to-day business: improving services and releasing new features; NordVPN deems this as a reason to invade their clients’ privacy. So when does all this end?
The red flag? NordVPN claims the right to process your data even without your explicit consent, citing “legitimate interest” of theirs or a third party. They offer some justifiable reasons, such as hunting down cyberattackers who misuse their servers, but “legitimate interest” is very thin here. The day-to-day business of improving services and releasing new features: NordVPN considers that a reason for invading their clients’ privacy. So where does it end?
A sliver of comfort came with the response of NordVPN, saying the data usage “generally involves aggregated, depersonalized or technical information.” However, the word “generally” creates quite gaping holes in its promise for privacy. For real peace of mind, user data would at all times be subject to explicit consent.
Sharing data is like throwing digital confetti into the air-there is a catch, isn’t there? NordVPN accounts “some” third-party services getting a piece of your info pie. Another example of such a thing is Google Analytics, which sends personal information to servers in the US, practically begging for a DOGE-era security breach. Then again, there are unnamed “third parties” lurking around, itching to bombard you with targeted advertisements across Nord’s digital landscape. It almost makes one want to bubble-wrap their data!
It seems NordVPN refuses to disclose its payment partners. A representative described it as a fluid network, which varies from region to region and constantly evolves based on operational needs, so they do not provide a fixed list. However, they emphasize that all these unnamed partners are bound by contract to uphold your data privacy both legally and to the highest industry standards.
We are not here to give the whole public a bad name with Nord; let me be fair here and say that many VPN players work more or less by the same rules. However, before you let your digital soul pass to an acolyte in any company, you deserve at least a peek behind the curtain into where the cracks may be.
NordVPN specific policies
The Nord privacy shield is largely a mirror of the standard Nord framework, save for one major addition: session activity tracking. Think of it like a digital bouncer verifying that you abide by the 10-device limit. The one good thing about this tracking is that it is fleeting. After 15 minutes of disconnection, the data disappears. Moreover, your IP address and the VPN server addresses you have visited remain a mystery to this tracking.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
A little secret of the NordVPN programs: they actually track how you use the app. But hey, they aren’t looking up your cat videos. The data collected, which includes device “fingerprints,” are like crumbs of information that could hypothetically be assembled to identify an individual. The best part about it is, you have the choice. Go to General settings and toggle it off to restore your privacy.
NordVPN assures that any information collected is carefully purged of any personal identifiers, cutting all ties back to the concerned individuals. Think big brushstrokes rather than portraiture-detailing: broad aggregated trends rather than pinpointed activity. While having a negligible risk, it still remains a good idea to, out of caution, disable this setting.
Third-party privacy audits
The five independent audits, including one recently conducted late in 2024 by Deloitte, attest that the privacy fortress is impenetrable. The snag: full access to the audit report is only permissible with a Nord account. However, drawing a silver lining from it, one doesn’t have to pay to have that behind-the-curtain look.
NordVPN has always been forthright about having a genuine no-logs policy-a promise made to be kept. The position was supported by an independent audit from Deloitte Lithuania. The investigators concluded that NordVPN’s systems and operations were fully compliant with its published privacy policy. Consider it a clean bill of health, to show that NordVPN genuinely does what it says while guarding your data.
Can NordVPN change your virtual location?
Think of unlocking a secret vault filled with movies and shows. That’s what changing your Netflix region via a VPN feels like. But does it really work? We gave NordVPN a shot and sent it with five stealth servers to infiltrate Netflix’s leagues. Can it break down the streaming giant’s VPN-blockade and pry open a wide-gate of fresh content?
But the real test: Could NordVPN unlock a whole Netflix world beyond our borders? In theory, its solid secure tunneling should get us rerouted to new streaming horizons. But curiosity had to force us to check the proof. Did NordVPN really hold the key to worldwide entertainment? We went in to find out.
| Server location | Netflix unblocked? | Content changed? |
| Canada | Yes | Yes |
| Argentina | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
| India | Yes | Yes |
| Nigeria | Yes | No |
Four out of five virtual destinations, mission accomplished. We voyagered to Canada to beam up episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, a title lost to the US Netflix galaxy sometime ago. Then, setting a course for Argentina, we stumbled uponPasion de Gavilanes– a drama completely unknown to us, but whose very name promised some sort of adventure.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Nigeria. That was the glitch in the matrix. No matter how many times we tried, hopping through different Nigerian server locations, Netflix stubbornly served up the American menu. Perplexed, we put Nigeria through an unscheduled leak test, expecting to find something amiss. But the results? Clean. Normal. The server wasn’t virtual, yet it steadfastly refused to play by the rules. What happened in Nigeria remains a mystery, a head-scratching anomaly in our testing data. All we know for sure? It just wasn’t working as it should.
Investigating NordVPN’s server network
NordVPN is touted for a global network, with 117 countries and 153 cities. But here’s a twist: about 40% of the locations are virtual, meaning your connection can actually be routed from outside of the stated physical location. They call this their little workaround to increase reach; just remember that distance to therealserver location changes your connection speed. So you’re basically browsing from, say, Argentina, while the server is actually located in Amsterdam, with all the latency repercussions.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
NordVPN’s virtual server network stretches across the globe, offering a far more diverse range of locations in South America, Africa, and Asia than typical industry offerings. Have a look at the following table to learn more about how far we reach globally.
| Region | Countries and territories with servers | Total server locations | Total virtual server locations |
| North America | 15 | 36 | 12 |
| South America | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Europe | 48 | 57 | 11 |
| Africa | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Middle East | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| Asia | 24 | 26 | 18 |
| Oceania | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Total | 117 | 153 | 62 (40.5 percent) |
The virtual location count of NordVPN is a mirror image of ExpressVPN. Such matches speak of a deliberate expansion and not inflated marketing hype. Some VPNs like HMA possibly claim infinity for their servers without the infrastructure support. NordVPN rather prides itself on quality than quantity.
Extra features of NordVPN
NordVPN: Unleash the Power Beyond VPN.
More than just a VPN? Well, yes, it certainly is! NordVPN is the best of both worlds with all the extras you never knew you wanted. And now we are about to delve deep inside to give you a peek at what is at your command.
Specialty servers
When you enter the premises of NordVPN, there is a big wakeup call for the user, with the enticing list of specialty servers sitting pretty on the right. What follows is a guided tour along unlocking each of its secrets.
CAPTCHAs, those tests to prove that you are human, have, become extremely annoying if you encounter them too often while using NordVPN. A dedicated IP might be the solution. Unlike shared IPs, a dedicated IP is always yours, meaning you will always connect to the Internet via that particular address. While an additional cost applies (see our bundles section), it may be worth it if you are frequently interrupted by CAPTCHAs during your browsing. (Also to be noted that we did not experience the problem during our tests; however, your mileage may vary.)
Need FortressLevel Privacy? Enter Onion Over VPN.
Onion Over VPN gives you the extra layer of detail to help users understand it. The data wrapped inside layers of unbreakable encryption is submitted to the murky depths of the Tor network. Here anonymity is complete, as the traffic is bounced through relays so that there is absolutely no trace left. It is available in the Netherlands and Switzerland, acting like a cloak of invisibility. Use it in cases where your privacy cannot be compromised. You may think of it as a hypersecure version of the double VPN.
NordVPN tunnels torrenting traffic over specialised P2P servers in 114 countries-this is almost the entire network. In other words, superfast downloads and uploads have practically been guaranteed for you-whether you are here or there. No more torturously slow torrents: NordVPN gives you the bandwidth that you’ve been craving for.
Meshnet
Most servers are passed over by NordVPN’s Meshnet, which defies the entire server principle. Envision your private encrypted network- the gates linking directly to the specific nodes. So you logged into NordVPN from the laptop, phone, or even that Raspberry Pi of yours; presto! They get linked directly with NordLynx’s fast tunnels without going anywhere near intermediate servers. A Bit like your own Batcave for your data.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Puzzles are by far the easiest way to go. That’s why the gadget is your portal. Don’t pay for a VPN! Now, give your smartphone or laptop the capability of becoming a portal for accessing global content. Later, you know, privacy-wise, this is no Fort Knox, but it is gold when it comes to avoiding georestrictions. In addition, negotiate Ludicrous speed transfer of your files between devices over a NordLynx secure tunnel and even share the connection with a friend, turning his devices into access points as well.
Threat Protection
With two layers of antivirus power, Nord’s Threat Protection services go to work and create shields around you: Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro. The first one acts like a digital bodyguard who blocks all external dangers. While you are surfing with NordVPN, it already smells a certain malice in a website and will block it from loading. In case you are on Android, iOS, Linux, or insist on using a Basic subscription, this is your best line of defense.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Threat Protection Pro of NordVPN for Plus subscribers and above on Windows and Mac is your always-on online watchdog. Whereas a SilverVPN Protection would be ineffective in the absence of a server connection, Threat Protection Pro maintains vigilance for you. Imagine an ever-active antivirus preventing the closing of dangerous malware in files you download. It goes far beyond mere virus detection: it tries to destroy trackers that follow you around the web. A simple form of Threat Protection will defend you by filtering known tracker domains, but Threat Protection Pro blocks those trackers directly for a more complete privacy experience.
Dark Web Monitor
Imagine a mute protector silently traversing all the darkest shadows of the internet on your behalf. Dark Web Monitor relentlessly combs through underground data dumps, informing you instantly if your email address has been compromised-hence, your own digital bat-signal. Act swiftly and lock up those accounts with newer passwords. Upgrade to Prime to extend the search to your phone number, SSN, and financial information. Don’t wait for anything to happen; let Dark Web Monitor serve as your first defense in the attack.
Presets
Hassling with VPN configurations? Presets of NordVPN are like a magic wand to conjure instant, needless-to-say optimal connections. You could consider their one-click configuration a superpower! They offer “Downloads,” “Speed,” and “Browsing” options, but we all wonder: Can anything really be fast for just these? Are these truly distinct choices, or just different flavors of the same super-fast experience?
Imagine while jet-setting from your couch. So, create country-specific presets that take you there with one click. Even better, attach website shortcuts to those presets so that connecting to a UK server will open BBC iPlayer immediately. It’s your very own passport to international content all set for your viewing pleasure.
Post-Quantum encryption
With all these hype-generating machine-conjuring attempts, those quantum mechanisms will be here soon enough to crack any of our current encryptions like a dropped egg. When is this cryptic apocalypse really going to come about? There is no telling-the only known answer: It has not yet happened. Therefore, NordVPN’s “post-quantum encryption” seems like making preparations for a hurricane in full sunny weather. Still, great to know that somebody’s actually working on an ark.
Quantum-proof encryption: is it really time to jump onto the bandwagon? Not so fast. While it is all about the fancy promise of protection from quantum cyberattacks, post-quantum encryption slapped on a NordLynx session is like lead added to your shoes. We have slower speeds and a bumpier ride. Until this quantum threat actually raises its ugly head, post-quantum encryption solutions would be overkill. Imagine preparing for a zombie apocalypse-that never-even comes-very intriguing but extremely foolish and inconvenient.
Kill switch
Imagine a digital safety net. That’s NordVPN’s kill switch. It’s like an instant internet bodyguard, rapidly shutting down unprotected browsing should your VPN connection go south. Think of it as an emergency failsafe triggered by a sudden server drop and a shield protecting you against bogus VPN servers. Set it and forget it!
Split tunneling
With NordVPN split tunneling, the power of choice is in your hands! Available on Windows, Android (including Android TV), and through browser extensions, it puts you in control. Select which apps get to be behind the safe fortress of VPN and which are free to go on Windows and Android. Want super focused security? The browser extensions can route traffic forspecificwebsites through the VPN, while leaving everything else as is. Your connection, your rules.
NordVPN customer support options
On one side, there stands NordVPN’s in-app help-that is technically a direct connection to online support-for life: a helpful lifeline or a tangled mess? We dove in, armed with this key question: does Threat Protection’s basic shield truly block trackers, and if it does, with what? Trying to figure out their support pages felt like being asked to read hieroglyphs. The troubleshooting section was particularly puzzling for us. Will your average users truly understand the nuanced differences between “app issues,” “connection issues,” and the dreaded “errors”? It’s a support system prompting us to ask: helpful hand or headache in disguise?
The Threat Protection offered by NordVPN is a treasure in itself-nothing more than a figurative treasure hunt with a slightly imperfect map. Naturally, one would assume the dossier on Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro to be under “Using NordVPN ->Features.” However, ironically, the article was buried toward the very bottom of the list, adding complexity. The article itself presented a minor conundrum: it said that Threat Protection blocked trackers and in the same breath said that it did not. The omnipresent search button came to our rescue and found the article immediately, thus alleviating our confusion.
The live support experience
NordVPN’s live chat support: a lifesaver! Please forgo stopping fast at endless FAQs because within seconds a flesh-and-blood human came to dispel our confusions like some sort of virtual wizard. They also promised to work on a weird support page. We’re watching, NordVPN. Consider this a friendly challenge.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
A knotty problem with a VPN? NordVPN’s e-mail support form is just the thing, made available on the website and embedded within the help sections of the apps. Perfect for those “a picture’s worth a thousand words” shaggy-dog problems screenshots are welcome! Within 24 hours, expect a comprehensive reply to your support case.
NordVPN background check
Founded in 2012, NordVPN initially secured desktops before strategically expanding into new territories, allowing iOS and Android users onto the safe network somewhere in the middle of 2016, with extensions for browsers and applications for smart TVs coming afterwards and further strengthening the interlaced fabric of platforms. NordVPN came into existence under Nord Security, an entity functioning independently of a mother corporation, thus providing it a fairly clean record. Mostly uneventful, there have been two incidents worth noticing and an extensive exploration into the very innards of Nord Security itself.
Headquarters and ownership
Nord Security is billed as a company born in Lithuania with a global presence. While NordVPN is established officially in Amsterdam, it actually beats to its own rhythm, keeping operations and user privacy intact under Panama jurisdiction. This thus positions any data request well and truly at the doorstep of Panamanian courts, a country proud and resolute in protecting data privacy.
Finland server breach
By March 2018, a digital shadow loomed over NordVPN. Hackers managed to penetrate a Finnish data center, stealing three private keys, as they are called. The breach went unnoticed until October 2019. However, the stolen keys had allegedly expired, meaning that NordVPN’s scarily encrypted fortress had been at peril for months, the alarm ringing only after the danger ceasing. This marked the beginning of the first major crisis of NordVPN.
“Hacker-wise” one may just say it that was just a dent, if barely, on the surface of NordVPN’s fortress. The breach was placed at some shallow outer level of encryption, and the exposed data was limited to mere browsing activity. No passwords, no usernames, no juicy secrets spilled. Ironically, the incident puts quite a positive light on NordVPN: They didn’t just cover it up. Instead, they severed ties with the negligent contractor and undertook a full production overhaul of their policies, thus sealing the door on such happened-out-of-a-probability-factor occasions. Think of it as upgrading the security system after a near miss.
The real wrongdoing was delaying disclosure. NordVPN promptly fixed it in May 2018; however, the public remained in the dark for more than a year. That silent period was probably the loudest drumroll of distrust more than any another technical failing.
Law enforcement compliance
The year 2022 witnessed a ripple of apprehension as PCMag and others noticed something on NordVPN’s website: the language seemed to indicate compliance with law enforcement data requests. Panic buttons? Not so fast. NordVPN fired back in a blog post clarifying that there had not been any shift actually: always to comply withlawfulrequests, emphasizing the legal tightrope they walk. If authorities manage to provide their evidentiary “hoops” to the satisfaction of a Panamanian court, NordVPN, like any legitimate concern, really does not have a choice. The real story is not a sudden change in policy but the never-ending dance between promises of privacy and the harsh realities of law.
Absolutely. VPNs are legal. How could they survive if they advertised the actually breaking of the law? Magic number two is to vanish into thin air when law enforcement wants to take a look-see at things-especially like what happened to ExpressVPN’s servers in Turkey. For that reason, a concrete,provableno-logs policy should not just be a selling point-it should be the whole damn point!
Final verdict
It is evident that there was competition, but if one would really wish to crown a winner, then perhaps Proton would ascend the throne. Loads of P2P servers are available for all your torrenting needs, yet the lack of port forwarding means missed opportunities to enrich the torrenting experience. Test results portrayed excellent speed, with the occasional dips here and there rarely letting it stand neck and neck with the steady pace of ExpressVPN. It is a strong VPN, no doubt, but its rivals certainly overshadow it.
Just forget “VPN protection.” NordVPN is a stronghold, and its bonus features are the turrets that stand tall and the drawbridge that puts it miles ahead of the competition.
Webnet? Like a digital wormhole. Connect to any device, anywhere, and anytime with security. Instant file transfers, unlike any other cloud services that could be so slow. Not even another VPN can match this kind of control.
Threat Protection Pro is, after all, more than just a block for dodgy web sites; it’s a digital bodyguard. File download? Threat Protection Pro scans for malware until it can infect your system; thus, it constitutes another layer of security.
Needeven more? Specialty servers await you at NordVPN. Double VPN has your connection double-encrypted yet maintains impressive speeds for maximum security; with Onion over VPN, one enjoys the most private path into the Tor network. NordVPN is much bigger than a mere VPN: It’s your whole digital security package.
Thanks for reading NordVPN review 2025: Innovative features a few missteps
