NordVPN – A Leader in Online Privacy

NordVPN is a leading VPN service offering robust online privacy and security features. With over 5,500 global servers, it provides encrypted internet access, IP concealment, ad-blocking, and antivirus protection. NordVPN supports a wide range of devices and includes advanced tools like Double VPN and Dark Web Monitor. While the service is slightly pricier than some competitors, it is highly regarded for its speed, security protocols, and 24/7 customer support. Effectiveness can vary based on location and the device used.

Impressive Speeds Even with Encryption

NordVPN is highly regarded for its speed and performance, providing high-speed encrypted internet connections. Its effectiveness can vary based on factors like location and the server chosen. However, despite the encryption process that typically slows down VPNs, users generally report satisfactory speeds with NordVPN, making it a good choice for streaming, gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive activities.

Local Speed Test without NordVPN

• Download Speed: 100Mbps
• Upload Speed: 100Mbps

Local Speed Test with NordVPN

• Download Speed: 96Mbps
• Upload Speed: 94Mbps

The short-distance speed tests for NordVPN were excellent, with just a 4% drop in download speed and a 6% drop in speeds for upload.

Testing using servers distributed around the world produced some mixed results:

The above results show that for downloads, NordVPN is excellent. The largest drop was 16% (Australia), but the speed was still more than enough for any downloading activity. However, the upload speeds were consistently much slower. On the other hand, unless you wish to transfer a large amount of data, this should not be an issue.

Overall, if you are using NordVPN with the servers closest to you, you should be more than satisfied with the results. Importantly the ping speeds were also low for nearby servers. As such, it can be used for nearly any purpose, whether gaming, avoiding geo-restrictions, or simply protecting privacy.

Thousands of Servers across the World

NordVPN operates an impressive network of over 5,500 servers spread across 60 countries. It offers 8 servers in the Americas, 37 countries in Europe, 11 in Asia Pacific, and 4 in Africa and the Middle East. This extensive reach enhances the likelihood of good connectivity and allows users to access geo-restricted content from different regions. However, compared to some competitors, NordVPN offers slightly fewer servers. Notably, NordVPN’s ability to install the VPN on a router ensures that every device connected to your network benefits from the VPN’s server network.

An Excellent Choice for the Privacy Conscious

NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, a country known for strong privacy laws. It has a strict no-logs policy, meaning the provider does not store user activity data. Additionally, NordVPN utilizes AES-256 encryption, one of the strongest encryption methods available, to protect user data.

Features like Double VPN and Obfuscated Servers further enhance privacy by offering double encryption and concealing VPN use, respectively. It also offers a Dark Web Monitor to alert users if their information is exposed online. NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN providers and uses secure encryption and split tunneling features to ensure users’ safety. Moreover, it also hides the user’s IP address to ensure complete anonymity.

Advanced Security Protocols to Enhance Anonymity

NordVPN uses secure protocols such as NordLynx, a variant of WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN, which ensure a secure VPN connection and encrypted communication. While NordVPN does not directly provide multi-factor authentication, it recommends users to enable it on their accounts for additional security. The service also includes DNS leak protection, preventing DNS requests from being exposed outside the encrypted tunnel. Additionally, NordVPN has a Kill Switch feature, which blocks internet access if the VPN connection drops, thereby preventing accidental data leaks. It also features a Threat Protection function that prevents malware, web trackers, ads, and other common internet threats.

Easy to Use Apps on Multiple Devices

NordVPN offers a seamless user experience with its native app availability across various platforms and devices. With compatibility on desktops and laptops running Windows, macOS, and Linux, to smartphones and tablets with Android and iOS, NordVPN ensures that users can secure their data regardless of their device. It can be installed on certain routers to protect all devices connected to the router. It is also compatible with streaming devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles, including PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.

Each NordVPN account can cover up to six devices at one time, and if installed on a router, it can cover as many devices as needed in a household.

Excellent Value for Money

NordVPN offers a variety of pricing packages that vary depending on the size. Users can choose a monthly plan, yearly plan, or two-year plan. When choosing the VPN package of your preference, NordVPN offers Standard, Plus, and Complete packages. The Complete Package – costing $15.69 per month – offers 1 TB of cloud storage and next-generation file encryption to ensure users are given the very best of the best.

For new users, the first 30 days of NordVPN are free, with guaranteed money back for those that do not want to continue with their VPN subscription. The monthly cost for the Standard package is $12.99 unless you enroll in a two-year subscription, in which case, the monthly fee is $8.29, paid every two years, coming up to a total of $198.96.

No Live Chat but Fast Email Respons

NordVPN does not offer a live chat for its users. Instead, users can contact the support team via email or visit NordVPN’s Help Center, that includes a FAQs page and many more guides to help troubled users. The email address of the support team is support@nordvpn.com.