NordVPN Review
Private and secure web browsing on any device. Double VPN and DNS leak protection. Reasonable and transparent pricing plans.
Overview
Started in 2012, NordVPN is a trusted source for secure web browsing, and now serves more than 8 million users of the Internet. Since then, they’ve worked hard to become a well-known provider of online privacy and security, and their service is used by large tech sites and IT professionals from around the world.
NordVPN gives you private and secure access to the Internet through military-grade AES-256 data encryption. With over 5, 200 VPN servers in 62 countries, you’ll be able to surf and shop anywhere you go without worrying about hackers stealing your personal info, even when you’re on a public wi-fi network.
NordVPN is available for use on Mac, PC, Linux, and Android and iOS mobile devices.
Key Features
NordVPN has some great features that ensure secure web browsing and protection from online spies. The following are some of our favorite features of the NordVPN service.
Double VPN: If you’re looking for an advanced level of online privacy and security, your best bet is to connect to the Internet using a chain of VPN servers. NordVPN gives you extra data encryption with their Double VPN feature, which redirects web traffic through two servers in separate locations. This means your IP address is changed, encrypted once through one VPN server, and then re-encrypted again for complete online privacy.
Automatic Kill Switch: Even the most reliable of VPN connections can be dropped every so often. NordVPN gives you the added security of being protected by their Kill Switch feature. If you lose your secure connection while browsing with NordVPN, your device will automatically be blocked from accessing the Internet from outside of the VPN tunnel, which means you don’t have to worry about your private online data being visible to scammers or hackers.
CyberSec Ad Blocker: NordVPN not only gives you a secure and private way to surf and shop online. They also allow you to block annoying pop-up ads and block suspicious websites with their CyberSec feature. You can take your online privacy to the next level by automatically blocking the latest malware and phishing threats from malicious websites. Plus, your web browsing experience won’t be interrupted by flashing and distracting advertisements.
DNS Leak Test: Every website you visit requires you to make contact with their DNS servers, which puts your private data at risk by exposing your browsing and download history. Using a secure VPN connection is a good first step to preventing this from happening, but NordVPN takes it one step further by implementing advanced DNS leak technology to keep your online activity private and secure from unencrypted queries.
Pricing Plans
NordVPN offers a variety of subscription options and comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee to help you decide if it’s the right secure surfing service for your needs.
1 Month: Cover up to 6 devices for $11.95 per month ($143.40 for 12 months).
1 Year: Cover up to 6 devices for $6.99 per month ($83.88 for 12 months).
2 Years: Cover up to 6 devices for $3.99 per month ($95.75 for 24 months).
3 Years: Cover up to 6 devices for $2.99 per month ($107.55 for 36 months).
The Good
As with all of our editor reviews, we put NordVPN through its paces, so you don’t have to waste your own time. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite NordVPN benefits…
Apps for Any Device
The problem with many free VPN services is their lack of compatibility with devices that are less common. With NordVPN, you don’t have to worry about not being able to browse securely on your favorite device type. They have applications for Windows, Apple, Linux, and Android devices, and you can secure up to 6 devices with a single account.
Secure VPN Servers
NordVPN is serious about online privacy and they choose to base their operations in Panama, which doesn’t require the logging of personal information while using the Internet. This means they pass that same secure web browsing on to you through their VPN servers, which gives you the benefits of operating in an independent country, without having to leave the comforts of home.
Works with Torrenting and Netflix
Unlike many VPN providers, NordVPN doesn’t believe in interfering with anything you do online, and they make it a point to give you the freedom to access Netflix from anywhere in the world, as well as providing you with hundreds of P2P servers for faster torrenting. You won’t have to worry about bandwidth throttling or Netflix IP blocking when you connect to the Internet with a NordVPN server.
Expert Customer Support
If you have a question or concern about secure browsing using NordVPN, you can speak with one of their virtual private network experts 24/7 via live chat or email. NordVPN also provides their users with an in-depth VPN knowledge base on their website, in case you want to take a more DIY approach to troubleshooting issues or getting answers to billing questions.
The Bad
While testing NordVPN, we noticed it wasn’t as fast to connect as other VPN services, but we were impressed by the added security of their included features like Double VPN and Automatic Kill Switch, not to mention the fact that they protect up to 6 devices for one low subscription.
We also found that some users have had a bit of trouble getting the offered 30-day refund in a timely manner. But with so few people we spoke with asking for a refund to begin with, thanks to being so satisfied with NordVPN, we found this issue wasn’t one that popped up very often.
The Bottom Line
Although NordVPN didn’t perform as well in speed tests as other VPN services did, we found their reasonable pricing and easy-to-use apps super-refreshing in the world of virtual private networks, where you typically encounter hidden price changes and overly complicated interfaces.
If you’re looking for low-cost and simple secure browsing, you should absolutely check out NordVPN. We recommend trying the service for a month, giving it a good test drive as you surf and shop online, and then going with the 3-year pricing plan for your best value.
Try NordVPN today and browse securely on any device risk-free for a full month!
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