NordVPN Review 2025: A secure and fast VPN to use

As digital tracking and data collection continue to grow, protecting your online privacy has never been more essential. A VPN offers a reliable way to keep your browsing habits secure, mask your IP address, and lets you access geo-blocked content around the world. With NordVPN, you don’t just get standard protection; you also gain access to unique features like Threat Protection Pro, which blocks ads and malware, along with a suite of advanced tools that unblock more streaming sites than most other VPNs.

In this NordVPN review, our team re-evaluated the VPN’s latest offerings and enhancements, like upgraded streaming capabilities and privacy protocols. You get an honest look at how NordVPN stacks up, with clear insights to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your online security needs. Let’s dive into what makes NordVPN a top choice in 2025.

NordVPN review – at a glance

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN provides flexible pricing plans designed to meet a variety of user needs, with significant discounts frequently available during seasonal events and for new customers. However, NordVPN generally offers huge discounts on long-term subscriptions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their plans:

Note: These prices apply to the US market and are subject to change based on seasonal offers, discounts, or existing subscription extensions.

NordVPN Basic plan

The Basic plan provides essential VPN features, including secure browsing, lightning-fast speeds, and access to NordVPN’s extensive global server network. This affordable VPN subscription is perfect for beginners or casual users who want reliable protection without any extras. Ideal for activities like streaming, online shopping, or safeguarding connections on public Wi-Fi, it ensures robust security tailored to everyday needs.

Compared to other entry-level VPN plans, NordVPN’s Basic subscription delivers exceptional value with unmatched performance and privacy. During sales, users can enjoy even greater savings, making it an excellent time to invest in online security.

NordVPN Plus plan

NordVPN Plus plan enhances the Basic plan by adding advanced security tools like Threat Protection Pro, which offers malware protection, ad blocking, and comprehensive browsing safeguarding. Perfect for users looking to secure more than just their browsing, it includes a password manager to protect sensitive login credentials and a Data Breach Scanner to monitor for potential online threats.

With these features, the Plus plan delivers robust, all-around digital protection, which makes it ideal for those who prioritize online safety across multiple aspects of their digital life.

NordVPN Complete plan

The Complete plan offers everything included in the Plus plan, along with 1TB of encrypted cloud storage through NordLocker. Designed for users who value both comprehensive online protection and secure file management, this plan provides top-tier VPN features alongside encrypted storage for sensitive documents and photos. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking an all-in-one subscription to safeguard their digital life and keep important files protected from cyberthreats.

NordVPN Prime plan

NordVPN’s Prime plan offers the most advanced level of protection by including all features from the Complete plan, along with identity protection tools. With Dark Web Monitoring and credit monitoring powered by NordProtect, this plan actively safeguards your personal information and financial health against online threats. Ideal for users seeking a premium all-in-one solution, it ensures full privacy coverage while proactively monitoring for identity theft and suspicious activity in real time.

Key considerations

• Introductory prices. Long-term subscriptions offer significant discounts initially, but prices increase upon renewal. For instance, the $3.39/month rate for the Basic plan is only valid for the first term.
• Better long-term value. The 2-year Plus plan stands out for its blend of features and affordability. It’s especially useful for those looking to secure their logins with a password manager and monitor potential data breaches.
• Money-back guarantee. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving users peace of mind to test the service risk-free. Android users also get a 7-day Free Trial.

Is NordVPN safe?

Yes, NordVPN is considered one of the safest VPNs on the market. It ensures user privacy through several measures. Here’s a quick rundown of the main NordVPN privacy features:

• NordVPN has an independently audited no-logs policy, and the provider is based in the privacy-oriented jurisdiction of Panama.
• Rigorous in-house tests have demonstrated that NordVPN is DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak proof, which is why it deserves the #1 place on our most secure VPNs list.
• NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro feature is capable of blocking between 70-100% of ads and malware, which makes it not only a great VPN but also a reliable ad and threat blocker.

The jurisdiction

NordVPN’s headquarters are in Panama, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction that’s outside the reach of the Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes intelligence alliances. This means that NordVPN isn’t legally required to log or share user data with any governments, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritize privacy.

For the everyday user, this might seem like a minor detail — after all, most people just want to unblock streaming services or browse securely. However, for those with heightened privacy concerns, like investigative journalists, activists, or anyone operating in sensitive industries, Panama’s jurisdiction adds an extra layer of assurance.

Even if you’re not in a high-risk category, knowing your VPN operates in a country with strong privacy protections ensures your data stays secure and out of reach of surveillance-heavy jurisdictions. It’s a reassuring feature for anyone serious about maintaining online anonymity.

​​Encryption

NordVPN employs market-leading encryption protocols, including AES-256 and xChaCha20, which are widely regarded as the gold standard in cybersecurity. These encryption methods are nearly impossible to break, ensuring that your online activity and data remain private and secure. Additionally, NordVPN uses Perfect Forward Secrecy, which generates a new encryption key for every session, adding an extra layer of protection.

For the user, this means that whether you’re streaming, shopping, or just browsing, your data is shielded from malicious hackers, ISPs, and any other third parties. Even on public Wi-Fi networks, which are notorious for security vulnerabilities, NordVPN’s encryption keeps your sensitive information – like passwords and financial details — safe.

This level of encryption also ensures peace of mind for professionals handling confidential data or users in regions with heavy censorship. In short, NordVPN’s strong encryption protocols guarantee that your online activities are private, secure, and protected from unauthorized access.

No-logs policy

NordVPN enforces a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited four times, most recently by Deloitte. These audits evaluated NordVPN’s no-logs claims, including its handling of P2P servers and overall data practices. Deloitte’s publicly available findings confirm that NordVPN does not store or track incoming or outgoing traffic data, validating its commitment to user privacy.

What does this mean for users? Even if law enforcement or governments were to request data, NordVPN would have nothing to hand over. The no-logs policy ensures that no past activity can be accessed, making it ideal for those who prioritize online anonymity.

I also reviewed NordVPN’s privacy policy to ensure consistency with these claims. The policy revealed no contradictions, though it’s worth noting that accounts are tied to an email address, which introduces a minimal chance of traceability. Still, NordVPN’s no-logs policy is a critical feature for users seeking true privacy, guaranteeing that their data stays private and secure.

Advanced security features

NordVPN provides a range of advanced features that significantly boost your online security and privacy. It combines excellent performance with advanced security features and great functionality:

Threat Protection test results

What you get out of Threat Protection depends on your subscription plan. For example, Threat Protection Pro is not available with the Basic plan. Instead, Basic subscribers get a stripped-down version of the feature. Still, I found that all of these features function reliably and offer something useful to the overall experience.

In my opinion, the most useful feature is Threat Protection Pro. It scans the files you download for malware, removes threats, and notifies you about weaknesses. Additionally, it blocks ads and trackers and your access to dangerous websites. Threat Protection Pro is an excellent tool for increasing device security in addition to the general safety that a VPN provides.

The Cybernews research team and I tested both Threat Protection versions to see if there’s a noticeable difference between their ad-blocking capabilities. We adhered to our standard ad-blocking testing methodology, where we use a combination of in-house methods and proprietary tools to measure the providers’ ad-blocking performance. For NordVPN Threat Protection tests, we used AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and D3ward test on Chrome and Firefox browsers.

Unsurprisingly, Threat Protection Pro performed better overall. You can review our findings in the table below.

Overall, Threat Protection Pro performed significantly better on AdBlock Tester, while the D3ward Test showed almost identical performance. Cover Your Tracks also shows that both Threat Protection versions grant strong protection against web tracking on any browser. Below is a screenshot showcasing how the Can You Block It website looks without Threat Protection Pro enabled.

And here’s a screenshot showing how the same site looks with Threat Protection Pro enabled.

Our second round of tests involved evaluating Threat Protection Pro’s malware protection capabilities, which we tested using our security software testing methods. In short, the research team enabled Threat Protection Pro and then visited a few malicious websites to see how the malicious URL-blocking feature would react. Then, they downloaded files laced with malware to see if the software would detect harmful downloads.

The tool performed reasonably well, but I wasn’t particularly impressed. It blocked 9 out of 10 malicious websites, meaning it’s great for protecting your online browsing. However, it detected only 4 out of 10 malicious files on the test device, meaning it’s less effective regarding actual malicious software.

Many of the best antivirus services we test perform much better during such tests, although you shouldn’t base your decision solely on our findings. For example, you should also consider the conclusions of independent antivirus test labs like AV-TEST, which thoroughly test and rank various antivirus services. You’ll notice that NordVPN isn’t even included in their evaluations, while Surfshark VPN is. That’s because Surfshark offers antivirus software in its subscription.

Overall, threat protection is an excellent addition to NordVPN’s arsenal and offers great security benefits for casual daily browsing. However, I don’t think it’s a good alternative to full-fledged antivirus services like Norton 360 and TotalAV. So, consider getting something more powerful if you’re worried about malware.

NordVPN kill switch performance

In a theoretical scenario where your VPN experiences issues, like a connection drop, NordVPN has a kill switch function. It automatically cuts off your internet connection to prevent exposing your true IP until the connection is restored. This feature is automatic yet optional, but it’s handy to ensure complete safety and anonymity.

NordVPN is pretty exceptional in this regard because it offers two kill switches, while most VPNs only offer one. With NordVPN, you can enable an internet and an app kill switch for more safety. You can find the feature under the Settings menu, which is the cogwheel icon in the bottom-left corner of the app on Windows.

With the app kill switch, you can ensure that some applications, like web browsers or online video games, would immediately close if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This ensures those apps never see your real IP address if you don’t want to.

We tested both kill switch versions under various circumstances, and they were successful in all cases. With the internet kill switch, we tried simulating an app crash, internet problems, and a combination of both, and the kill switch worked great each time. Additionally, the app kill switch always successfully shut down our selected apps whenever the VPN connection crashed unexpectedly. You can expect similar results in various network circumstances, whether on Wi-Fi, broadband, or cellular.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling lets you route some of your traffic through a VPN. NordVPN uses this feature to access both home IP and server locations simultaneously. For example, when traveling, you can watch your home country’s TV series on Google Chrome and access local content on Microsoft Edge. You can also turn on split tunneling to exclude specific apps from VPN use. It’s handy when you want to have a VPN on but not have it affect your online gaming.

I tested NordVPN’s split tunneling a few times, and it worked as intended. In the screenshot above, I’m using the feature to route all my web traffic through the UK, except for Chrome, which has an American IP address using a VPN web extension, so you wouldn’t see my home IP address. My only issue with NordVPN’s split tunneling is that you can’t add IP addresses; you only need apps.

Onion over VPN

NordVPN has a feature called Onion Over VPN, also known as Tor Over VPN. It combines the security benefits of a VPN tunnel and the Tor network into one, making you more secure without needing to install the Tor Browser. The feature connects you to a NordVPN server before routing your connection through multiple Tor nodes. This gives you multiple security layers (hence, onion) and makes it completely impossible to track anything back to you.

Like Double VPN, this feature severely slows down your connection speed and is not suitable for regular daily activities. You can consider Onion Over VPN a more powerful version of Double VPN since your connection is routed through more than two points. As such, it has similar use cases for journalists, activists, and people who work with sensitive data. Another provider offering Tor over VPN servers is Proton VPN.

Simultaneous connections

NordVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections. Additionally, each user can buy a dedicated IP. This feature eliminates the ever-changing IP address depending on the server and assigns a single, stable IP address in a preferred location. NordVPN offers dedicated IPs in 25 locations across 18 countries. That’s more than Surfshark, which has 13 locations, PureVPN, which has 8, and CyberGhost has 7.

How fast is NordVPN?

Regular server updates and the absence of data or bandwidth caps drives NordVPN’s consistent performance. It guarantees fast and unrestricted speed. With the proprietary NordLynx protocol, NordVPN is able to deliver high-speed connection, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize both performance and security.

Overall, NordVPN is widely regarded as the fastest VPN on the market, offering blazing download and upload speeds that cater to seamless streaming, gaming, and browsing.

NordVPN’s speed is attributed to a number of factors, including:

• Regular server updates. NordVPN continuously optimizes its servers to handle users efficiently and maintain high speed.
• NordLynx protocol. NordVPN’s proprietary protocol is based on WireGuard and helps to keep things fast and secure.
• Global server network. NordVPN has over 7100 servers in 118 countries, so you can choose a desired server location.
• Avoiding bandwidth throttling. Connecting to a VPN server can help you avoid bandwidth throttling, which can improve your connection speed.

I tested NordVPN’s performance on Windows and macOS laptops connected via ethernet, evaluating it across various servers and use cases.

The table below highlights its performance across different server locations, showcasing its impressive speed consistency worldwide. Here’s a quick overview of NordVPN speed test results.

Editor’s tip

Your VPN speed depends on several factors: the distance between you and the VPN server, the server’s current load, and the baseline speed of your internet connection. To enhance performance, connect to a nearby server or use NordVPN’s Quick Connect feature, which automatically selects the fastest server available.

As shown in the table above, NordVPN maintains minimal drops in both download and upload speeds when connected to local servers. For example, with a local server, the download speed is 475Mbps, and the upload speed is 436Mbps, close to the base speed of 500Mbps. This shows that NordVPN’s local servers are highly optimized for everyday activities like browsing, streaming, and gaming, offering a smooth and responsive experience.

Even on international servers, NordVPN performs great, with download speeds staying above 400Mbps on both US and UK servers. While upload speeds drop slightly with distance – 451Mbps on the US server and 473Mbps on the UK server – they still deliver excellent performance. Although ping times are higher on distant servers, they don’t significantly affect most online activities.

When it comes to speed retention, here’s how NordVPN performed compared to other popular VPNs:

	The US server	The UK server	Japan server	Canada server	Germany server	Australia server
NordVPN	83%	97%	94%	93%	95%	92%
Surfshark	81%	94%	93%	95%	94%	89%
ExpressVPN	82%	92%	89%	93%	90%	91%
IPVanish	78%	90%	92%	93%	93%	93%

Note: The table shows download speed retention compared to 500Mbps internet baseline speed.

NordVPN’s server network

My NordVPN review showed that it has 7100+ servers in 118 countries. While the VPN’s server network is not as expansive as, for example, Proton VPN’s (9900+ servers in 117 countries), it still has more servers than Surfshark and Norton VPN. In terms of server choices, there are a few things I particularly enjoy about NordVPN that other VPNs cannot offer:

• NordVPN has 5390 P2P-optimized servers, 1768 of which are located in the US. That’s more than any other competitor of a similar caliber can offer.
• NordVPN offers a variety of specialized servers: dedicated IP, Double VPN, obfuscated servers, Onion Over VPN, and P2P. Not all top VPN providers can offer such rich variety.
• NordVPN’s apps are very user-friendly and make choosing the preferred server quick and easy. An interactive map allows you to select servers according to your preferred country and city. You can also use a convenient menu to connect to specialized servers.

NordVPN’s interface and ease of use

NordVPN has apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux, as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Additionally, you can install NordVPN on Android TV, tvOS, Xbox, PlayStation, Firestick, Chromebook, and more. Here are the most important aspects regarding NordVPN compatibility:

DOWNLOAD NORDVPN FOR ANDROID 

DOWNLOAD NORDVPN FOR FIRESTICK

DOWNLOAD NORDVPN FOR LINUX

DOWNLOAD NORDVPN FOR MAC

DOWNLOAD NORDVPN FOR WINDOWS 

• NordVPN coverage of devices is very rich, and you can enjoy apps for macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS operating systems. Plus, the provider covers more devices than most competitors.
• NordVPN ensures each user gets the same set of key features, despite the device they are using – an uncommon perk that I haven’t seen many other VPNs provide.

NordVPN’s customer support

Efficient customer support is the backbone of any service. While NordVPN is intuitive, and you are unlikely to need help, it’s good to know that professional assistance is available 24/7. Here’s what I like about NordVPN’s support:

• NordVPN offers highly efficient 24/7 customer support. Once the live chat chatbot registers your issue, it takes less than a minute to connect to a live agent.
• NordVPN is highly active on social media and discussion forums. It makes it super easy to access support in emergency cases.

NordVPN offers multiple tools to seek assistance:

24/7 live chat:	✅ Yes
Email:	✅ Yes
Phone line:	❌ No
Guides or articles:	✅ Yes
FAQ:	✅ Yes

With email inquiries, you certainly talk to a real person. The 24/7 live chat support might initially have bots responding to you, but if they cannot assist, it connects you to a person. You can also access live chat through the help articles section if you cannot find the solution in the provided materials.

I also checked online forums like Reddit to see if people ran into any issues with NordVPN’s customer support. The general consensus is that it’s always possible to get help, but sometimes it might take longer.

For example, those who opt for email support rather than live chat usually wait longer. If you have any issues with customer support, I suggest writing a post on NordVPN’s subreddit. In the posts I checked, NordVPN representatives or experienced users respond with effective solutions.

NordVPN use cases

NordVPN isn’t just for privacy and security. It also offers a great way to access geo-restricted content, such as streaming service libraries, study materials, or even better game servers. NordVPN’s anonymity also unlocks torrenting and visiting the dark web without most of the associated risks.

NordVPN for smooth bypassing of geo-blocking

NordVPN can unblock all major streaming services. I personally use it to access different Netflix locations. Here are the test results of the platforms that NordVPN can unblock compared to some of its competitors:

VPN provider	Streaming services
NordVPN	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV
Surfshark	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV
IPVanish	Netflix, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, doesn’t work with Amazon Prime Video and Hulu
Norton VPN	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, doesn’t work with Hulu
CyberGhost	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Youtube TV
ExpressVPN	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Youtube TV
Proton VPN	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Youtube TV

There may sometimes be issues with lagging or restricted access, but keeping NordVPN up to date or trying other servers helps to resolve this issue. Personally, when Netflix detects that I’m using a VPN and prevents access, it’s usually because I haven’t updated the VPN app.

Meanwhile, until recently, Norton VPN could not unblock Netflix at all, and even now, it only unblocks it after some effort. CyberGhost too, while it can unblock all streaming services, it did not impress with speed, as there was a slight lag when skipping episodes.

The internet speed remained very high during the test, dropping only slightly from the baseline of 500Mbps. I personally did not notice any lag, but I found complaints on Reddit about inconsistent access or significant speed drops, so that’s something to keep in mind.

NordVPN compared to other VPNs

Overall, my NordVPN review shows that it is a well-performing, reliable, and secure VPN. Even when compared to other popular VPN providers, it stands out. Since the Cybernews team tested 41 providers, it becomes very clear which categories which VPN excels at. Here is a quick summary of the most popular VPNs vs NordVPN:

VPN provider	Cybernews rating	Price	Average speed retention	Malware protection	Ad blocking	Server and location count	Streaming service unblocking	Customer support options
NordVPN	4.9★★★★★	From $3.39/month	93.6%	✅ Yes (Threat Protection)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	7100+ servers in 118 countries	Most	Multiple
Surfshark	4.7★★★★★	From $2.19/month	93.3%	✅ Yes (CleanWeb)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	3200+ servers in 100 countries	Most	Multiple
ExpressVPN	4.3★★★★☆	From $4.99/month	91%	✅ Yes (Threat Manager)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	Servers in 105 countries	Most	Multiple
IPVanish	4.5★★★★★	From $2.19/month	91.8%	✅ Yes (Threat Protection)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	2400+ servers in 100 countries	Some	Multiple
CyberGhost	4.2★★★★☆	From $2.03/month	91.2%	✅ Yes (Block Content)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	Servers in 100 countries	Most	Multiple

As this table indicates, NordVPN excels in speed. I also found that it is much more stable than other VPNs at unblocking streaming content, offering a wider variety of working servers. It’s not very expensive either, as ExpressVPN is much pricier. I also found NordVPN’s app interface to be one of the most user-friendly out of all tested VPNs.

NordVPN user reviews

It’s crucial to check user review sites to learn what most NordVPN customers actually think of this service. I gathered some data from the most popular mobile app stores and review sites to see if there are patterns regarding the feedback NordVPN gets. The table below shows the information we gathered on January 16th, 2025.

Website	Rating	Cybernews comment
Google Play Store	4.6/5 out of 993K reviews	The service has almost one million reviews here but the overall rating is still very good
Apple App Store	4.7/5 out of 8.3K reviews	NordVPN has the best average score here, although the review number is relatively small
TrustPilot	4.2/5 out of 37K reviews	It seems users are most critical of NordVPN here, but the rating is still above 4
Capterra	4.6/5 out of 1.3K reviews	This site has the lowest number of reviews but the rating is still very good

As you can imagine, it’s difficult to draw concrete conclusions from so much data. After all, everyone has different expectations and experiences with NordVPN. But I think it’s a great sign that all review sites we checked give NordVPN a very good (above 4 stars) rating. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone has a positive experience with NordVPN. Let’s look at some specific examples and start with a positive one.

Editor’s tip

Using NordVPN’s split tunneling feature is an easy way to unblock Netflix while keeping other apps running smoothly. By routing only my browser traffic through the VPN, I get secure, seamless streaming without affecting the performance of other apps. It’s a simple and effective solution for balancing security and speed.