NordVPN Review: All Things To Know Before Signing Up
It’s hard to find a VPN with the quality, security, features, and speed that are promised by NordVPN. While the service is currently offered at a 75% discount rate, this is one of the most on-demand VPNs on the market today.
But what makes the service so special, and should you go in to buy the NordVPN for yourself? These are the questions we will be answering in this NordVPN review.
How to Use NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the simplest and most user-friendly VPNs on the market today. It’s very simple to install on whatever device you’re working with. Once the connection is made, NordVPN is safe, secure, and reliable.
One huge upside to the NordVPN service is that it can be used on almost all your devices and works with 9 different platforms. Whether you’re on a tablet, laptop, phone, desktop, or even connecting to a router, NordVPN is a safe and reliable option.
The first step to beginning your NordVPN journey is set up an account on the NordVPN website. Once you sign up for a subscription, you’ll need to download the NordVPN application that is formatted to your device’s system.
When opening the application, you’ll see a map with a list of servers to choose from all over the world. You can click on the dots that pop up next to a country or choose from a list of countries. NordVPN offers servers in 66 countries, so you have a ton of options to choose from.
When you click on a server, you’ll be able to see the server load which tells you how many people are currently using that server. The higher the percentage of the server load, the less reliable the connection will be, as it has a large number of people connected to it. Servers with small server loads mean few people are connected and promise a faster and more reliable connection.
NordVPN also offers a feature to connect to the server of your choice when you launch the application, so you don’t have to search for it every time you want to use your VPN.
The type of server you’ll want to connect to will largely depend on what you’re hoping to do. For people want ultimate secrecy in their browsing, peer-to-peer (P2P) servers may not be for you. These P2P networks allow you to exchange information and data with other people over the same server. If you hope to be connected completely on your own, you will need to look for specific servers which NordVPN’s customer service team can help you identify.
SmartPlay
NordVPN also offers a SmartPlay feature on their application. The point of this feature is to assess a specific kind of content and pair you with the server that will best fit that contents needs. For example, if you want to watch American Netflix while in a different country, you can find the server that will best allow you to do that.
The SmartPlay feature of NordVPN significantly decreases the amount of time you’ll have to be contacting customer support to find the best server for your needs. This is can be done simply as NordVPN offers 24/7 customer support to its users.
Installing NordVPN on a Router
If you’re looking to install a VPN on your router, NordVPN is a great choice. For installing NordVPN on a router, you have a couple of options.
The first option is to get a pre-configured router. These are more expensive than your typical router, but they will be ready to use NordVPN as soon as you take the router out of the box and put it into your home.
The second option is to get a router that enables VPNs. This is a router that doesn’t require flashing in order to install a VPN on the router and use it across your devices. Asus is a popular option for VPN-enabled routers. They offer a wide selection of OpenVPN files that can be used with any VPN provider in just a couple of minutes set-up time.
The last and most difficult option is to flash your existing router. This can be a bit tricky and dangerous. If you’re attempting to flash your own router, do so with the help of an expert and use caution when choosing this option. How difficult this task is will depend on the type of router you’re using.
Our Thoughts on NordVPN
After various tests, we’ve created an in-depth NordVPN review of how this service really works for users. We wanted to really know how much speed does NordVPN get. Is this server as secure as it promises, and do the security features actually work?
We’ve gone ahead and looked into all this and more in our NordVPN review.
Speed
NordVPN is known for its quick speed and the excellent ability to reestablish a connection after it has been lost. This will ensure its users aren’t constantly fighting the battle of disconnecting and reconnecting to the server.
It’s a known fact that using a VPN will have an effect on your connection speed, the question is only by how much. In a series of tests, NordVPN showed to have no effect on latency. This is probably because NordVPN offers so many servers to its members. However, download speed was reduced by 82.6%, and upload speeds were reduced by 77%.
Overall, these results are slightly above average for other VPNs. While NordVPN isn’t the fastest on the market, it is definitely improving over time with more servers becoming available. We liked that with NordVPN, it was extremely easy to find a server to deliver the fast speed we were looking for.
Level of Security
When you’re using a VPN, that VPN has the same ability to see your browsing data as your internet service provider does. If the VPN would like, it could analyze every bit of your browsing data and history that passes through its server. It can even send your information to other parties to use it for themselves (i.e. law enforcement or advertising companies). This is why it’s extremely important to know the VPN company before purchasing.
NordVPN does not store any customer connections, timestamps, bandwidth, traffic logs or even IP addresses. This is great for people concerned about privacy. NordVPN also doesn’t sell their customer’s data to get income from companies wanting to advertise with certain types of customers.
NordVPN goes the extra mile to make sure its audits are available to customers who want to see how serious the company is about user privacy and safety.
NordVPN also comes with several additional security features which will increase the user’s comfort level in the security of the VPN:
- Kill switch: If your NordVPN connection suddenly goes down, the software will close down programs connected to the internet, so your information isn’t leaked accidentally.
- DNS Leak Protection: If you’ve set up your VPN manually or have updated your Windows, you’re vulnerable to DNS leaks which can share your information with unwanted people. NordVPN will stop these leaks before they’re sent off.
- Onion Router: For those wanting to access TOR networks, NordVPN gives you the ability to first route your data through NordVPN’s server and then through the Onion Router.
- Double Data Protection: By turning on the double data protection feature, you will ensure your data passes through not just one, but two secure VPN servers before reaching the webpages you’d like to access. By utilizing this feature, your data is encrypted twice, making it nearly impossible to trace the information back to you. Be aware that if you do use this double protection feature, your data speeds will be slowed down significantly.
To be brief, NordVPN has knocked it out of the park with security features. Even those most concerned with security won’t have to worry when using NordVPN’s server.
Dedicated IP Address
NordVPN gives you the option for a dedicated IP address for an additional cost. For $70, you can purchase an IP address throughout the United States, in Frankfurt, London, or Amsterdam. For $70, this IP address will last you one year.
The benefit of a dedicated IP address is simply to avoid the disadvantages of a shared IP address. The static IP address will make it appear as if you are always in the same location instead of bouncing around on IP addresses that are also being used by hundreds or thousands of other people.
Shared IP addresses are more likely to be flagged or blocked by certain websites. This can interfere with your ability to check your email, bank accounts, or other personal information. While this feature is at an additional cost, we found it worth it for those who want a heightened level of security from their VPN server.
Will NordVPN work with Netflix?
To the delight of NordVPN’s members, the server does not prevent users from watching Netflix as long as you are connected to a U.S.-based server. This is huge because Netflix blocks VPNs so intently, even the most expensive subscription VPNs have a hard time accessing the popular streaming network.
Users should keep in mind; this can change anytime Netflix decides to change its blocked settings. VPN services that worked in the past to stream U.S. Netflix can no longer be used. Also, note that viewing U.S. Netflix while outside of the U.S. is technically against the law according to Netflix’s terms and conditions. Stream at your own risk.
NordVPN also worked for streaming Hulu, HBO GO, Amazon Prime, and BBC. Overall, this is one of the best VPNs we tested for people looking to use streaming services, especially outside of the U.S.
Can NordVPN work in Countries with Internet Policies like China?
NordVPN is of the few VPNs that are reliable across China and the Middle East. This is because of the way NordVPN uses obfuscated servers to get around strict internet laws in countries with powerful web regimes.
It’s also beneficial to add that NordVPN offers a variety of servers in Hong Kong, Turkey, Vietnam, and Russia. For people browsing in these countries, it is possible to do so with some secrecy. While this will not go around any censorship established in those countries, you are still protected with an increased level of privacy.
How Many Devices Can I Connect?
NordVPN allows you to connect six devices at once. This is more than most VPN services who average around 4-5. There are some limitations on connecting multiple devices at the same time, so this service is not the best for small businesses or between multiple people.
Many services allow you to add more devices at an additional charge; however, with NordVPN, you are strictly capped at six.
Is this VPN good for Torrenting?
Because NordVPN doesn’t keep any logs, this makes it a great choice for torrenting. There are no limitations on torrenting or P2P downloading.
Torrenting on NordVPN is even more secure due to the kill switch feature. When torrenting with NordVPN, be sure to switch it on. This will make sure that even if the connection drops, you are still being taken care of. NordVPN can be set up with both UTorrent and BitTorrent.
How is NordVPN Customer Service?
Customer service at NordVPN is quick and responsive. Although the VPN service doesn’t have a live chat feature, there is still 24/7 customer support that allows customers to get help quickly.
Pricing and Free Trials
Like many other VPNs, NordVPN comes with multiple different subscription types at a few different price points. For a subscription, you’ll have access to all the advanced features NordVPN offers aside from the custom IP address, which comes at an additional cost.
If you’re just looking to test this VPN out for yourself, there’s a three-day free trial available on the NordVPN website. If the three-day trial isn’t enough for you to see if you really like the service, NordVPN also offers a thirty-day money back guarantee on its services. You can take advantage of the money back guarantee as long as you paid for the service outside of the Apple App Store.
Though it is nice that NordVPN offers a free trial when most VPN services do not, the free trial isn’t particularly spectacular. If you’re looking for a free VPN option, there are several services out there. ProtonVPN is a free VPN service that doesn’t limit the amount of data its members can use.
NordVPN is one of the best values out there for VPNs. With the current price drop, you can now secure a subscription for only $2.99 per month. This is included in the annual subscription, making the annual service only $36. This is way cheaper than competitors. There is also an option to purchase a 3-year plan for $107.
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Monthly subscription
$2.99/mo
12 month subscription
$36.00
36 month subscription
$107.00
In addition to paying with PayPal or credit cards, you can also sign up to pay with Bitcoin. If you sign up for the service with a burner email, using Bitcoin ensures that even NordVPN won’t have any of your data on file.
The average VPN costs consumers around $10 a month, meaning that this discount makes NordVPN’s services a steal. Without the discount, the VPN costs around $12 a month, which makes some users skeptical of purchasing it. Make sure to get it while you can to take advantage of the 75% off price.
Do We Recommend it?
In a wide test of many other VPNs available today, this NordVPN review we give 4.75 out of 5 stars. With nine platforms supported, exceptional security features, and over 4,000 servers to choose from, it’s no doubt why NordVPN is rated as one of the top VPNs available today. The service is constantly making improvements allowing faster speeds, more servers, and even a better price to its users as time goes on.
Most people would rather risk their own privacy than take the time to figure out a complex security feature. Thankfully, NordVPN is extremely simple to use, and anyone can do it. NordVPN exceeds expectations for all users, both those new to VPNs and those with more experience.
The only downside we found with this service is that there is no live customer support. This didn’t seem to be a big deal, however, because there is still 24/7 customer service that gets back to you quickly.
With all these factors combined, it’s no surprise that NordVPN is a top pick for users today. With a discount price of only $2.99 a month, NordVPN continues to rise above others in reliability, security, and value for your money.
