NordVPN Review

Introduction

 

NordVPN is a premium, feature-heavy VPN built for people who care about speed, options, and a polished interface. The apps look modern, the map-based UI is intuitive, and extra tools like Meshnet, Threat Protection, and specialty servers give you a lot more to play with than a basic VPN.

 

That said, the first impression isn’t perfect. Downloading and installing the Windows app wasn’t completely smooth, during testing it froze once and required a full system reboot to finish the installation. Once installed, it worked fine, but that’s not the experience you want right out of the gate.

The bigger question mark is privacy. NordVPN looks and feels premium, but some advanced features (especially Threat Protection) come with trade-offs that privacy-focused users should understand before turning everything on.

 

 

 

Rating Summary

We score NordVPN down mainly because of its data practices and how Threat Protection works, even though speed, features, and streaming performance are very strong.

 

Testing Methodology (Standardized for vpns.best)

  

Speed and Performance

(Sample Speed Results on a 500 Mbps Line)

 

NordVPN is generally fast, especially when using NordLynx, its WireGuard-based protocol. Streaming, browsing, and everyday use feel snappy on most nearby servers. However, performance can be a bit uneven—some servers are great, others feel sluggish enough that you might need to switch manually.

Sample results from a 500 Mbps baseline:

What this means in practice:

 

• Nearby NordLynx servers keep a large portion of your base speed, easily enough for 4K streaming, large downloads, and gaming.

• Long-distance servers lose more speed (as expected), but remain usable for streaming and regular browsing.

• Occasionally, a server will underperform and you’ll need to switch locations to get back to normal speeds.

Leaving the protocol set to Automatic will usually pick NordLynx, so most people can simply hit Quick Connect and not worry about the details.
 

 

Privacy and Security

NordVPN’s base privacy model is solid: it does not log what you browse or download, and it runs its own DNS on most servers so your lookups do not go through your ISP. Features like Double VPN and Onion over VPN add extra layers for people who want more than a standard single-hop connection.
 

Where things get more complicated is Threat Protection.

To block malware, trackers, and phishing attempts even when the VPN itself is turned off, Nord installs a local root certificate on your device. That allows it to inspect HTTPS traffic by effectively acting as an intermediary between your browser and the sites you visit. This is a form of “man-in-the-middle” behavior used for security scanning.

 

That has upsides and downsides:

• Upside: It can block more threats because it sees inside encrypted connections and can filter out dangerous content before your browser decrypts it.

• Downside: It breaks strict end-to-end encryption, adds a new trust layer (Nord’s inspection component), and increases the impact if something goes wrong or is compromised.

Whether this is acceptable depends on your risk tolerance:

• If you value maximum privacy, you may prefer to disable Threat Protection or use it only in limited situations, and avoid it for sensitive accounts (banking, work portals, client data).

• If you’re more concerned with blocking bad sites and malware and you trust Nord’s software, Threat Protection can be useful, as long as you understand what it’s doing.

If you use NordVPN as a traditional VPN (without Threat Protection’s HTTPS inspection), it remains a strong privacy choice. Just be aware that turning on every feature doesn’t always mean “more private”; sometimes it means “more scanning.”

 

Streaming and Torrenting

NordVPN does well with streaming. It can unblock major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+, even in stricter regions. It isn’t perfect—sometimes a server will be blocked and you’ll need to switch—but overall it’s reliable enough for people who regularly stream from multiple libraries.

For torrenting, NordVPN supports P2P and even provides specialized P2P servers. Combined with encryption and a kill switch, this makes it a good choice for large downloads, as long as you follow local laws and the policies of the services you use.
 

 

Apps and User Experience

 

The NordVPN apps are a highlight:
 

• A clean, modern map-based interface with server icons that are easy to spot.

• A large Quick Connect button and a clear list of locations for those who prefer text over maps.

• Clear access to specialty servers like P2P, Double VPN, Obfuscated, and Onion over VPN.

• Meshnet, which lets you link and access your devices securely over an encrypted private network.

The design is consistent across platforms, so once you learn it on one device, it feels familiar on others.

The downsides:
 

• The Windows installer freezing and forcing a reboot is not a great first impression, even if everything works fine afterward.

• There’s a “security score” notification/icon that doesn’t add much real value; it mostly nudges you to turn on more features rather than giving deep insight into your security posture.

Overall, though, NordVPN balances power and usability well. It’s simple enough for casual users but has plenty of features for advanced users to tweak.
 

 

Protocols and Connection Options

 

NordVPN lets you choose from several protocols:

• Auto – Automatically selects what should work best for your connection.

• NordLynx – Fast, modern, and ideal for most users (streaming, gaming, and general browsing).

• NordWhisper – Designed for restricted networks that try to block or throttle VPN traffic.

• OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) – The classic choice for compatibility and stability.

How to think about them:

• Use NordLynx for everyday use and top speeds.

• Switch to NordWhisper on networks that aggressively block VPNs.

• Use OpenVPN when you need maximum compatibility or for certain router setups.
   

 

Pricing and Plans

 

NordVPN’s pricing can be confusing if you only look at the big discount on the front page and ignore the renewal details.

 

Example of how it actually plays out:

• A 2-year plan might start at around $105.36 for 2 years (a bit over $4 per month).

• After that first term, it can renew at around $179.88 per year, which is roughly a 70% increase and more per year than you paid for your entire initial two-year period.

Key points:

• There is no full free trial for the 1-month plan. Instead, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee, which works but still requires you to pay first.

• NordVPN allows multiple simultaneous connections on one account (comfortable for a typical household, though not truly “unlimited”).

• Discounts and promotions can make the first term very attractive, but it’s important to check what the renewal price will be and decide if you’re comfortable with that jump.
  
   

Add-ons

 

NordVPN also offers:

• NordPass – Password manager

• NordLocker – Encrypted cloud backup

• Threat Protection – Enhanced threat blocking, including outside of the VPN tunnel

The ecosystem is cohesive and polished, but many people already use free or built-in alternatives (Bitwarden, browser password managers, Google Drive, iCloud, etc.), which can make these extras feel nice-to-have rather than essential.
 

 

Customer Support

 

NordVPN provides:

• 24/7 live chat

• Email support for more complex cases

• A large help center with setup guides, troubleshooting articles, and explanations of different features and protocols

Live chat is usually quick and friendly. Most common issues - installation problems, streaming access, or odd connection behavior—can be solved with a few steps from support or by following the guides.
 

 

Pros and Cons

 

Pros

• Fast performance with NordLynx, especially on nearby servers.

• Very good at unblocking major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

• Clean, modern UI with a clear map and server icons.

• Strong feature set: Meshnet, specialty servers (P2P, Double VPN, Onion over VPN, Obfuscated), and Threat Protection.

• Solid privacy foundation when used as a “classic” VPN without aggressive HTTPS inspection.

• Enough simultaneous connections to cover most households.

Cons

• Windows installation can be clunky (freezing and requiring a reboot in testing).

• Speeds can sometimes be inconsistent, requiring manual server changes.

• No true free trial on the monthly plan—only a pay-first money-back guarantee.

• Renewal prices can jump significantly compared to the first-term promotional rate.

• Threat Protection’s inspection model breaks strict end-to-end encryption and requires a high level of trust in Nord’s software.

• Some add-ons (NordPass, NordLocker) may feel redundant if you already use other tools.

 

Final Verdict

 

NordVPN is fast, polished, and loaded with features like Meshnet, specialty servers, and strong threat blocking, making it great for streaming, torrenting, and everyday use with very user-friendly apps. However, it’s not a simple “turn everything on and forget it” option if you care about privacy: Threat Protection uses a “man-in-the-middle” (MITM) approach that’s powerful for blocking threats but breaks end-to-end encryption and adds new security risks.

 

If you fully trust NordVPN’s software and want the extra protection, that’s fine—just understand the trade-offs and consider disabling it or excluding sensitive sites like banking and work apps.

 

Combined with some logged data and renewal price jumps, NordVPN lands at 5.5 overall: a strong choice if you prioritize speed, features, and streaming, but not the best fit if maximum privacy and minimal logging are non-negotiable.