NordVPN Review

With so many VPN options out there, it can be difficult to pick which one. They all promise similar results, from safety to security when it comes to your streaming desires. But it is an oversaturated market? What name should you trust? NordVPN is one of the larger voices, often promoting themselves through podcasts and other platforms. It’s made them a recognizable name in the VPN industry. But are they as reliable as they claim?

NordVPN is owned by NordSec, a company interested in tech development. Originally founded in 2017, the company has become a reliable and significant presence in the market itself.

Signing up for NordVPN is fairly easy. The price range is spread out across the board. The price per month for a standard subscription is $13, but the price drops drastically if you opt for a 1-year, 2-year or even 3-year plan. A 2-year plan is the best option for most people and can be had for $2.99 per month, where a 1-year signup will run you $4.59 per month.

Getting a subscription will require your name, email, password, and your choice of payment method. NordVPN currently has options for just about any payment method, including credit card, Paypal, Alipay and even cryptocurrencies if desired – perfect for users who may want to take additional security measures to protect their financial information.

Nord also offers NordVPN Teams, a corporate option for larger teams and businesses. This option offers users a series of options for more than one user or customer. It comes in three levels: Lite ($8/user per month), Core ($11/user per month), Premium ($14/user per month), and Enterprise (from $7 per month and discounted based on your specific needs). Each one offers different options to consider in regard to account management, kill switches, 24/7 support, and other options.

NordVPN is compatible with an assortment of OSes, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. It also offers options for Firefox and Chrome browsers as a sort of add-on that might be useful if using a specific browser. There are also plenty of options for protecting other devices including Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, and more.

First off, NordVPN states upfront that they have a “no-log” policy. This means that they do not record any information about how or what websites and connections are available. NordVPN states explicitly that they will not store connection timestamps, session information, used bandwidth, traffic data, or IP addresses. This policy has also been confirmed and clarified by third-party auditors.

The service states that they rely on 256-bit AES encryption, which is considered professional-grade encryption and completely reliable. The protocols offered by Nord are only three in number, but include IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, and NordLynx, also known as Wireguard. So there are a plethora of options to encode and protect your data.

It isn’t obvious at first where the settings for controlling protocols are, however, If users click the settings button in the top right corner of the app, they will see a number of tabs. By selecting Auto-connect, they will see a tab listing “Choose a VPN protocol and server automatically,” which is automatically turned on upon installation. This will automatically code the VPN with OpenVPN (UDP).

The connection is fairly straightforward upon installation. Users will be prompted to select the interface they desire. Like most VPNs, they offer a list of servers available for users according to their needs. These include organizing it by country, by server “specialties” and by functionality. For example, if a user needs to double-up their VPN, Nord offers specific options by which to do so. It also has options for Dedicated IP, Onion Over VPN (Which layers the levels of connection between you and your server), and P2P (peer-to-peer) VPN connections as well. All of these offer a level of variety not typically seen in most VPN software.

If a user wants to connect to the fastest network, that is fairly easy in itself. Users are prompted to choose the quickest connection or to select a country. Each country has several servers, with each one visible and checkable through a drop-down panel. So if a user prefers a specific server from Albania, they can select it and check to see how much use it is receiving as of the moment you log in.

Keep in mind your results may vary depending on your exact location and streaming services.

At this time, NordVPN hosts nearly 6600 servers across 111 different countries, each one with multiple servers attached. This offers a variety of options, giving you plenty of choices for your specific VPN needs.

NordVPN’s extensive database of information and troubleshooting offers a multitude of answers for users to consider, including a rather detailed troubleshooting page and lots of guides. There is a live chat panel on the side, offering an assortment of options. While the chat starts as a chatbot, users can request a live person if they desire support.

In the market of VPNs, NordVPN holds up surprisingly well compared to most of its competition. Not only were the connections consistent and reliable, but it is a strong and reliable option with low price ranges for consumers. It definitely should be considered as a one of the best VPN options.