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Is Nord Vpn Service Faster Than T Mobile

Our Verdict

NordVPN's NordLynx accelerated speeds, P2P optimized servers and Bitcoin support make for an appealing service. OpenVPN speeds aren't the all-time and information technology didn't unblock Netflix this fourth dimension, but overall, this is a quality VPN with plenty to offering all levels of user.

For

  • Privacy inspect of no logging claims
  • Unblocks Amazon Prime number Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus
  • Effective kill switch
  • Speedy live conversation support

Confronting

  • Bones browser extensions
  • Some client UI issues
  • Doesn't unblock U.s.a. Netflix
  • Above average renewal prices

TechRadar Verdict

NordVPN'due south NordLynx accelerated speeds, P2P optimized servers and Bitcoin back up make for an appealing service. OpenVPN speeds aren't the best and it didn't unblock Netflix this fourth dimension, but overall, this is a quality VPN with plenty to offer all levels of user.

Pros

  • +

    Privacy audit of no logging claims

  • +

    Unblocks Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus

  • +

    Effective impale switch

  • +

    Speedy live conversation support

Cons

  • -

    Basic browser extensions

  • -

    Some customer UI bug

  • -

    Doesn't unblock United states of america Netflix

  • -

    Above average renewal prices

And then you want to know everything about NordVPN, including how proficient – and fast – a VPN provider it is, every bit well equally all the latest news on the service? Well, you've come to the right place, because this commodity comprises of an all-encompassing review of NordVPN consummate with a total range of performance tests, combined with a roundup of news pertaining to the service, plus an extensive FAQ that addresses the nearly commonly asked questions about this VPN.

But kickoff, allow's kicking off with a quick TL:DR summary of the review for those who don't want the in-depth stuff, and only want to know whether NordVPN is worth buying, and how it compares to rival VPNs, in a nutshell.

NordVPN: 2-minute review

NordVPN's torrent back up is a definite strong point, and there'due south as much to like on the privacy front likewise, with enough of smart features to help keep you safe and anonymous online. Performance levels are good, and this is one of the faster VPNs we've ever reviewed, and for Netflix (or other streaming content) unblocking, it got united states of america into what we needed (although sometimes only via the VPN's browser extension).

NordVPN's mobile apps are ameliorate than you'll find with near VPN providers, its Windows client is mostly pretty good, and they're all quite convenient overall. Speaking of which, in that location are a lot of quality tutorials to help yous get gear up with the VPN, and great customer back up, which is all good for the less tech-savvy folks out in that location, should they run into problem somehow.

An expansive network of servers rounds all this off nicely, and NordVPN's commendable no-strings-attached thirty-mean solar day money-back guarantee is worth a mention. If you aren't happy, you can get your coin dorsum in the first calendar month with no hassles.

You can think of NordVPN as a loftier-quality jack-of-all-trades VPN. Information technology does everything to a expert standard, and while some rivals may offer improve functioning in specific departments, if you want everything doing well – and a consistent service above all – NordVPN won't steer you incorrect.

Corking to find out more about NordVPN? Then read on to learn every detail you could ever desire to know...

NordVPN: latest news and updates

Editor's notation:Since our latest full test and review of ExpressVPN in November 2021, the post-obit noteworthy updates have been made to the products:

- February 2022: NordVPN launched its new Threat Protection characteristic (currently only on MacOS), promising subscribers to shield them from malware, web trackers and intrusive ads.

Original review follows:

It hasn't been that long since we last looked at NordVPN, merely the visitor been busily improving the service in several cardinal ways.

NordVPN is upgrading its infrastructure from 1Gbps to 10Gbps servers, for example, improving speeds for everyone. Effectually 60% of servers have been upgraded so far.

The company is deploying colocated servers, too. Instead of renting servers from hosts and hoping they manage it properly, the new hardware is wholly owned and managed by the company. No-i else can even access it without NordVPN authorization.

The visitor has put itself through an application security audit past cybersecurity experts VerSprite. This uncovered some problems, simply none were disquisitional, and they're all now fixed.

Elsewhere, a new Mac M1 app allows users to run the app natively on M1-powered Macs. And in a more visible alter, you can now sign into all Nord products (NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker) via a unified Nord Account, with multi-factor authentication support.

NordVPN: our full NordVPN review

Panama-registered NordVPN is a hugely popular VPN provider with more than than fourteen 1000000 customers around the globe. The company sells itself on features, and there are plenty to explore.

How many servers does NordVPN take?

The NordVPN network has 5,400+ servers in 80+ locations across 59 countries.

What platforms does NordVPN have apps for?

You get Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux and Android TV apps, and NordVPN likewise offers tutorials to set up the service on many more device types.

How many devices tin you utilise with NordVPN?

NordVPN boasts support for vi simultaneous connections, meaning you can use upwardly to six devices; and that's probably enough for you to utilize all your devices at once.

  • Want to try NordVPN? Check out the website here

What features do you lot get with NordVPN?

NordVPN offers all the technical features you lot'd look, including OpenVPN support, and NordVPN'southward WireGuard-based NordLynx for strong encryption and high performance, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection to go on your identity safe.

Not-so-common extras include double data encryption and Onion support for extra security, and ad, malware and phishing protection via NordVPN'due south CyberSec technology. P2P support is a major plus, and a clear no logging policy and NordVPN's Panama registration give above average reassurance that your internet activities won't be visible to anyone else.

An unusual Pause feature enables closing the VPN connection, then having the client automatically reconnect subsequently a specified number of minutes. If yous've ever manually disconnected from a VPN to perform some local task, then forgot to reconnect, you'll capeesh how useful that could exist.

If you're intimidated by this characteristic overload, or just run into some unexpected problems, NordVPN's 24/7 back up is on hand to point y'all in the right management, via email or alive chat.

NordVPN's prices are a lilliputian higher up boilerplate after a special deal in the first year, and if y'all're not quite convinced that this is the VPN for you, a 30-day money-back guarantee gives you a risk-gratuitous route to sampling the service for yourself.

Got whatsoever further questions about the basics of NordVPN? Then see our FAQ at the end of this article (jump straight downwards to it using the link in the bar in a higher place).

NordVPN on macOS

NordVPN now has a macOS app that runs natively on M1-powered Macs (Image credit: NordVPN)

NordVPN Payment Methods

NordVPN allows for payment by credit menu, PayPal, Bitcoin and more (Image credit: NordVPN)

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN has three main plans: monthly billed accounts are $11.95, and right at present almanac plans toll merely $four.92 a calendar month, while opting for the two-year plan cuts the price to $3.71. (The visitor has new offers all the time, but a more than in-depth and up to the infinitesimal caption tin be constitute at our dedicated NordVPN price and deals article.)

Beware the small print, though. The one and two-year deals include an introductory discount, and both renew every bit a standard annual plan, which sees a major cost hike to $8.25 a month. Check out these and the other renewal prices on the NordVPN site.

Adding NordVPN's NordPass countersign director and NordLocker encrypted storage could requite you better value. The VPN, password manager and storage has a standard toll of $thirteen.23 a month, for instance, on the regular annual programme (that's the long-term toll, with no built-in price increment on renewal).

Is NordVPN adept value for money?

On the confront of information technology, yeah, at least for the first term, but information technology's truthful that bargain hunters tin can notice better deals than NordVPN elsewhere. Private Internet Access' annual programme costs just $three.33 a calendar month, for case, and Ivacy'due south v-year programme costs only $1.33 a month (that's an upfront $80).

Still, it'southward far from the most expensive VPN around, and we remember NordVPN is fairly priced for what you get.

What methods can you use to pay for NordVPN?

There are plenty of payment options provided by NordVPN, with back up for cards, PayPal, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies (via CoinPayments), and assorted other systems (AmazonPay, UnionPay, SOFORT Banking and more).

Does NordVPN accept a gratuitous trial?

The company used to have a service-broad free trial, long ago, merely unfortunately it was dropped due to corruption.

New Android and iOS users go 7 days of app usage for free, though. And if yous sign upward, NordVPN's thirty-day money-dorsum guarantee gives you more plenty time to get a feel for how the service performs.

It'southward all very simple and straightforward, also, with no sneaky small print clauses which mean that the policy doesn't employ if you lot've logged on 'too many' times, or transferred 'also much' data. Just use the service as much equally you need to test information technology out, and if NordVPN doesn't work for you, abolish in the kickoff 30 days and you'll become a total refund.

NordVPN DNS

NordVPN does a lot to maintain your privacy online (Image credit: NordVPN)

Does NordVPN offering a good level of privacy?

The privacy value of all VPNs starts with the support for encryption technologies.  NordVPN scores well here for its potent AES-256-GCM encryption, and supports perfect forward secrecy to regularly modify keys (this time using 4096-flake Diffie-Hellman), ensuring that fifty-fifty if an attacker manages to penetrate one session, they'll be locked out of the next ane.

One time you're connected, NordVPN has other tricks it tin utilise to improve your privacy. These include Onion over VPN, which routes your traffic first through NordVPN'southward own network, and so directs it over the Onion network and on to its final destination.

This double layer of obfuscation slows the service downwardly a fiddling, merely also makes it extremely hard for anyone to trace an activity back to you. All-time of all, yous don't accept to know or sympathise annihilation at all about Onion to make this work. There's cypher to install or set upward, but use your customer to connect to ane of NordVPN's specialist Onion over VPN routers and the system volition handle everything automatically.

NordVPN likewise offers a Double VPN organization (on Windows, Mac and Android) where your traffic goes to 1 VPN server, and then is re-encrypted and sent to a second NordVPN server, before heading off to its destination. This isn't going to be necessary, or even useful for most people, only it'southward at that place if you can find a reason to employ it, and the technology doesn't slow you down as much equally you might expect. A quick check on ane organization showed download speeds of 70Mbps when not continued, 55Mbps when using the best Double VPN connection for the states (U.k. to French republic).

NordVPN Kill Switch

NordVPN really has two kill switches to go on your real IP subconscious should the VPN connexion drib (Prototype credit: NordVPN)

How secure is NordVPN?

Impressively secure. NordVPN has something in its armory to farther bolster your security, and that'southward a kill switch. A impale switch is in place to prevent any information leaks in case the VPN connection drops.

NordVPN stands out here for actually having two kill switches. A full general internet kill switch blocks all net admission when you lot're non connected to the VPN (this can hands be turned off if it's inconvenient), while an app kill switch closes your called applications if the connectedness goes down.

NordVPN says the service blocks DNS leaks, besides, and our checks with DNS Leak Test, IPLeak and other sites confirmed this. Our DNS address was always the same as our IP address, with no DNS, WebRTC or other leaks detected. So overall, security and privacy are tight. (For more details on services that deliver top-notch security, check out our roundup of the near secure VPN providers, where NordVPN ranks highly).

Has NordVPN ever had its own security breached?

The less positive news is that a NordVPN server was hacked back in 2018, and this, plus the company's lack of transparency over the event, have to be a concern. We see no evidence that there was whatsoever impact on client privacy, though, and NordVPN has taken plenty of post-hack steps to endeavour and restore confidence.

What did NordVPN do nigh the hack?

NordVPN updated its entire server network to run in RAM merely, without disks, ensuring that even if someone hacked a server in future, at that place would be no local files for them to inspect.

The visitor as well invited security research group VerSprite to inspect its apps, helping to identify and gear up security issues. And a bug compensation program was introduced, giving an incentive for anyone to uncover and report security bug with the service.

Recently NordVPN joined Private Internet Admission and ExpressVPN in having its Android app certified by the ioXt Brotherhood. The certification covers checks on cryptography, network security, software update procedures and more than, and NordVPN came out very well with maximum scores in every category.

Steps similar these can't entirely make up for NordVPN's poor response to the 2018 hack, but they're still hugely positive, and expose the company's services to a level of scrutiny rarely seen anywhere else.

  • Save a parcel with today'southward best NordVPN offers

NordVPN No Logs

NordVPN doesn't keep whatsoever logs on its users (Image credit: NordVPN)

What is NordVPN's logging policy?

NordVPN claims to have a strict 'no logs' policy. Most VPNs say much the same, but the visitor'due south privacy policy defines this more clearly than virtually, saying:

'Nord guarantees a strict no-logs policy for NordVPN Services, meaning that your internet activeness... is non monitored, recorded, logged, stored or passed to any third party. Nosotros do not shop connection time stamps, used bandwidth, traffic logs, IP addresses or browsing information.'

That covers not only general logging of your internet activities, but also session logging details such as recording your incoming IP address when y'all connect to the service, and the IP y'all're allocated. (When other VPNs say, 'no logging', they often carry out some form of session logging, so information technology's practiced to see NordVPN rule it out).

Tin NordVPN back up these claims?

A VPN can say anything on its own website, only different nigh of the VPN competition, you don't accept to accept NordVPN'due south claims on trust. In 2020 NordVPN hired Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) to run a second independent inspect on its infrastructure and services, and to verify that its logging policy description is authentic.

This was an in-depth projection, NordVPN explained: 'Information technology involved interviews with our employees, server configuration inspections, technical log inspections, and inspections of other servers in our infrastructure. PwC Switzerland's practitioners also verified that we were actually using the configurations that they had inspected.'

A July 2020 blog post reported PwC's conclusion that 'they saw no signs that we had in whatsoever way violated our no-logs promise.'

The report doesn't take much in the style of technical detail. There are lots of legal restrictions on the content, too, and for instance we can't even quote from it (sounds like an alibi, but information technology really isn't – ExpressVPN'due south no logging audit report is affected by a like condition). NordVPN customers and trial users can take a look, though, and we have to applaud the company for taking this step. It ways NordVPN has far more evidence to support its no logging claims than most other VPN providers.

nPerf performance benchmark

We used nPerf and other speed examination services to mensurate the functioning of NordVPN (Image credit: nPerf)

Operation testing: How fast is NordVPN?

While privacy features are usually the height priority for a VPN, performance is almost as of import. Uncrackable encryption isn't nearly as highly-seasoned if information technology reduces your cyberspace speeds to a crawl, which is why we put all VPNs we review through some intensive performance tests.

Our procedure involves connecting to our nearest server from UK and U.s. locations with 1Gbps connections, then running repeated checks using several benchmarking sites and tools (SpeedTest's website and command line app, Netflix'due south exam, nPerf, SpeedOf.me and more than). We run the tests using the all-time 2 protocols when possible, so repeat the full exam session in morning and evening sessions.

OpenVPN results were a adequately boilerplate 180-190Mbps in both the Great britain and United states. If you absolutely must use OpenVPN, maybe it's your just option to ready a router, then ExpressVPN, Hide.me, HideMyAss, ProtonVPN and a few others reached 300Mbps and more.

Nonetheless, switching to NordVPN's custom NordLynx protocol saw downloads leap to 480-660Mbps in the United states, 760-880Mbps in the UK. That puts NordVPN upwards there with the fastest providers in recent testing, such as CyberGhost (760-770Mbps), IPVanish (750-900Mbps) and Mozilla/Mullvad (750-850Mbps).

  • Save yourself a packet with our sectional NordVPN offer

Netflix menu showing popular shows

NordVPN failed to unblock Netflix unfortunately, merely fared better elsewhere (Image credit: Netflix)

Tin can NordVPN unblock Netflix or other streaming sites?

The power to admission geoblocked websites is a fundamental advantage of any VPN service. NordVPN doesn't explicitly merits to unblock whatsoever particular website or service, just statements asserting that it allows y'all to "proceed access to your favorite websites and entertainment content, and forget about censorship" sound expert to us.

The only way to really notice out, then, is to exam NordVPN'due south skills in this capacity, and we started our evaluation of its powers in this respect by attempting to access BBC iPlayer content. In the by we've had issues unblocking the service with NordVPN, just non this time, and NordVPN got us in with all three of our test servers.

Amazon Prime Video has also been a challenge in previous reviews, merely it looks like NordVPN has moved forward once more now, and we managed to admission U.s.a.-only content from three U.s. servers.

Netflix has ramped upward its anti-VPN technology recently, and nosotros plant that NordVPN was unfortunately unable to access the US library. However, in our testing we endeavor to access a number of regional servers, and NordVPN was quite capable of unblocking the UK library. In whatsoever case, these things tin can modify in a thing of days, so regular Netflix-viewing service could resume at whatsoever time.

There was better news with Disney Plus, at to the lowest degree, with NordVPN getting u.s. access from its United states, UK and Australian servers.

That'southward a decent unblocking functioning overall, but there are fifty-fifty more capable providers around. CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Hibernate.me, Hola, Private Internet Access and Surfshark all unblocked every one of our test streaming platforms.

NordVPN P2P Servers

NordVPN advertises itself equally the 'Best VPN for P2P' (Prototype credit: NordVPN)

Does NordVPN support torrents?

The short answer is yeah, it does. However, NordVPN doesn't shout about its torrent support (that isn't uncommon with VPNs, though). While NordVPN claims to be the 'Best VPN for P2P', the front page of the website no longer mentions its P2P status at all.

Torrents aren't supported on all servers, but the visitor doesn't restrict you to a couple of options in Amsterdam, either. NordVPN provides hundreds of P2P-friendly servers in the Usa, UK, and many other locations effectually the earth. Wherever you are, there should be a suitable server nearby.

VPNs which only support P2P on some servers can exist inconvenient to use, peculiarly if you connect to a non-P2P server, launch your torrent customer and find it doesn't piece of work. NordVPN'south Windows app has a P2P server list, though, where yous can choose the land you need in the usual fashion, no hassles at all.

To verify NordVPN'southward P2P support, we connected to 3 countries and tried downloading torrents. In each example we connected and downloaded files as expected, with no performance or other problems.

Is in that location anything else that makes NordVPN a practiced selection for torrenting?

Along with its direct P2P support, NordVPN has a number of other features which could go far a smart choice for those using torrents. There'due south its strict no logging policy (verified by audit), multiple layers of DNS and traffic leak protection, payment via Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and privacy extras including Double VPN and Onion over VPN.

Are any rival VPNs better than NordVPN for torrents?

NordVPN clearly offers a strong all-round package in terms of torrents, only ExpressVPN is likewise worth considering for torrenting. The cadre features of both services are similar, and while ExpressVPN doesn't have quite equally many extras (no Double VPN, for instance), it supports P2P on all its servers and is arguably easier to utilize. So, you can make your selection based on which of those factors is more of import to you, and in that location'due south further info to hand in our roundup of the best VPNs for torrents.

  • Check out our exclusive NordVPN offer which gives big savings

NordVPN Windows Download

NordVPN has clients for Windows, every bit well equally Mac, Android, iOS and more (Epitome credit: NordVPN)

How piece of cake is it to set up upwardly NordVPN apps?

Sign up for a VPN and you'll doubtless want to install a customer and try it right away. At NordVPN, all you accept to practise is tap the VPN Apps link, and the website automatically offers y'all the app download link for the device yous're using, along with farther links for its other supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and Android Telly.

NordVPN's extensive array of fifty+ tutorials explains how to manually set up the service, and includes coverage of a further twenty platforms and device types (including Chromebooks via Chrome OS, Windows Telephone, Raspberry Pi, routers, NAS devices, more).

There's far more particular hither than you might look. NordVPN has multiple Windows tutorials, for instance, covering installing the regular client, OpenVPN, or transmission setup guidance for various protocol types on Windows XP, Windows 7, 8 and x.

Or maybe y'all want to know how to set up NordVPN every bit a Socks 5 or browser proxy? No problem: there are tutorials covering Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, Deluge and more.

NordVPN Windows Client Map

A map of available servers helps yous choose a location to connect to (Image credit: NordVPN)

How expert is NordVPN'southward Windows client?

Installation is certainly a breeze, as we've already mentioned. NordVPN makes it quick and like shooting fish in a barrel to install the Windows app. We visited the download page, it detected our platform, displayed the Windows download link, and we grabbed and installed the software in under a minute.

The client opens by displaying its many server locations on a map. This works much similar any other dynamic map you've used – left click, hold and elevate to pan around, spin the mouse wheel to zoom, hover your mouse over a highlighted location to encounter a tooltip of its proper noun – and left clicking any location volition connect y'all to that server.

Map interfaces aren't always convenient to use, especially if you lot're looking to access a big number of countries and geography isn't your strong point (is that Republic of hungary, or Slovakia)? But, if yous prefer, move to the left-paw sidebar and y'all'll observe a more standard alphabetically sorted list of countries. At its most basic, you tin gyre to the state y'all need, click a button and connect to the best server at that place. Very piece of cake.

Tap a More button and NordVPN displays a list of servers within that country, organized by city where possible, or a unique server ID ('United states #3678'). Alternatively, enter part of the name of whatsoever city in the search box (typing 'Chi' is enough to go yous Chicago), and if NordVPN has servers in that location, you'll run across any matches.

NordVPN

You lot can cull servers for a particular chore from the Speciality list in the app (Image credit: NordVPN)

Separate Specialty lists enable choosing servers for a particular chore: P2P access, using Onion over VPN, the double encryption of Double VPN, or giving yous a defended IP. These work much the aforementioned equally the regular list, so for example y'all tin click P2P and allow the software to cull the fastest server for y'all, or scan the full listing and choose something manually.

The Favorites system has gone, replaced by an extended Recent listing of your 10 most recently chosen locations. That's probably going to be enough for about people, but we're struggling to run across why the app couldn't back up both a Favorites and Recent list.

In previous reviews we've commented on slow connection times from the Windows client, simply that's improved significantly. OpenVPN connect times are fair at 10-12 seconds, and NordLynx typically cuts this down to two-6 seconds.

The customer handles the residuum of the connection process very well, updating the interface to display its status and the electric current location, and using Windows desktop notifications to tell y'all when the VPN is turned on or off.

Switching servers is easy, too. If you're connected already, you don't accept to close that connection before you tin open some other. Just click whatsoever server and the client will automatically disconnect and reconnect to your selection.

Right click the NordVPN organization tray icon and y'all'll see a list of your recent connections, making it piece of cake to access them again. That's a real convenience which could mean you rarely demand to open the full app.

NordVPN pause

You can pause your VPN connection for a brusk period of time (Paradigm credit: NordVPN)

Tap the Disconnect push and you lot'll find options to pause your connection for v, 10 or xv minutes. If you demand to quickly use a website which doesn't work with the VPN, click 'Interruption', choose your preferred interval, and the customer and then disconnects. When yous're finished, striking 'Resume' restores the VPN, just if you forget, the customer reconnects automatically after your called period.

There'southward a modest usability badgerer here, equally disconnecting now takes two clicks (you lot must now click Disconnect, ignore the pause intervals and click Disconnect again). But otherwise, this is a welcome addition which should reduce the chance that you accidentally go out yourself unprotected for long periods of time.

NordVPN Settings

NordVPN has a number of useful settings (Epitome credit: NordVPN)

What settings does the NordVPN Windows app offering?

The Settings dialog has some unusual plus points. It doesn't just allow you lot to launch NordVPN on startup, for case. You tin can also accept the customer automatically connect whenever you lot admission an insecure wireless network, and it'due south possible to specify a particular country or region you'd like to use.

NordVPN'south kill switch (a organization to avoid data leaks if the VPN connection drops) also offers more control than most. An internet impale switch blocks all admission to the internet unless yous're continued to the VPN, while a divide app impale switch closes particular apps if the VPN drops (your torrent app, for instance).

We tried various ways of forcibly closing the VPN, but in all cases the customer correctly blocked our internet traffic and warned u.s. of the trouble. The only small omission is that the client doesn't have an 'auto-reconnect' option, leaving users to restore their connections manually.

NordVPN NordLynx protocol

The app supports NordVPN'due south fast NordLynx protocol (Image credit: NordVPN)

What protocols does the NordVPN Windows app back up?

Protocol support includes OpenVPN TCP and UDP, forth with NordVPN'due south own NordLynx. At that place's no IKEv2 support, but from our experience of NordLynx so far, you're unlikely to need information technology.

Skillful-level features include the option to fix your preferred DNS for VPN connections. Most users should probably leave this alone, but if you know what y'all're doing, switching DNS could ameliorate browsing functioning, help block access to malicious websites, or impart other benefits. Even amend, you lot can add multiple DNS servers and switch between them as and when required.

A bonus 'Obfuscated Servers' feature claims that information technology may help you lot connect even in countries and locations which block VPNs. And in that location's also the pick to block ads and malicious websites via NordVPN's CyberSec, which is turned off by default.

Put it all together, and although NordVPN's Windows customer has some problems, it'south by and large well-presented, easy to use, and a comfortable place to view and control your VPN status. (Incidentally, you might too want to bank check out our pick of the best Windows x VPNs).

  • Benefit from an exclusive NordVPN offer with money off

NordVPN Android app

NordVPN'southward Android app is one of the most pop VPN apps on the Google Play Store (Prototype credit: NordVPN)

How good is NordVPN's Android app?

The NordVPN Android app is i of the most popular effectually, with more 10 million downloads, and an impressive 4.3 rating on Google Play.

Setup follows much the same route as any other service. Click Install, the app downloads, and you tin can launch it with a tap.

The app opens with the top part of the screen displaying your available locations on a world map, the lower part being reserved for a server list. You already know the basic operating principles here, as they're the same equally any other map you've ever used: pinch to zoom in on the expanse with the location you need, elevate to pan effectually, tap a location marker to connect to it. But it'due south just not very practical.

NordVPN app UI

The mobile app has a like interface to the desktop client (Image credit: NordVPN)

You might accept to zoom in a long way to see the expanse you lot need. Practice that on Europe, say, and you lot could be faced with twoscore location markers but no text captions, so if you desire to cull Macedonia, you lot'll need to know exactly where information technology is on the map.

And switching somewhere else in the world might require zooming out, panning effectually and zooming back in. While this isn't hard, yous're still spending more time navigating the app interface than is platonic.

Fortunately, and just like the Windows client, NordVPN's Android app also supports a conventional countries list. Swiping up gets you an alphabetical list of countries, and yous can curlicue down to the US (or anywhere else), tap it, and immediately become continued to the best server in that state.

If you need more control over your location choice, tapping a Menu button displays the full listing of locations in that land.

Yous tin expand locations to list all their individual servers, too, although as at that place's no server load or other data, this probably won't help you very much.

A capable Settings box starts with the selection to enable NordVPN's advert, phishing and malware-blocking CyberSec.

A smart auto-connect feature gives you all kinds of options. For example, you could set up the app to automatically connect on all Wi-Fi hotspots apart from your home and other trusted locations, ensuring you only plow on the VPN when you lot know you lot need it.

The app doesn't have its own kill switch, but simple instructions explain how y'all can set one up on your device (System Settings > NordVPN settings > Enable 'Always on VPN' and 'Block connections without VPN').

NordVPN NordLynx

The Android app gives you NordLynx protocol support, too (Prototype credit: NordVPN)

Recent additions include support for NordVPN'due south speedy NordLynx protocol (you tin still use OpenVPN TCP or UDP if you prefer).

The features keep coming with the ability to gear up a custom DNS server, split tunneling to disable the VPN for specific apps, and even tapjacking protection (you go an alarm if a malicious app overlays a window on your screen to trick you into performing an action).

There's fifty-fifty a bonus actress in Dark Spider web Monitoring, where NordVPN alerts you lot if your email address appears in an online information alienation.

The app isn't perfect, then, and we're not sure the map chemical element of the interface adds a lot. But otherwise, it's a likeable and feature-packed piece of software which effortlessly outperforms most of the competition.

NordVPN iOS App

NordVPN's iOS app shares the same pattern and layout as its Android counterpart (Image credit: NordVPN)

How adept is NordVPN's iOS app?

The NordVPN iOS app installed hands and with precisely zero surprises. Find information technology in the app store, install, open, log in and you lot're set to go.

The app initially presents you with the same slightly awkward map interface as the other clients, although the iOS developer has done a marginally meliorate job of implementing it. You can't zoom out equally far as the Android app allows, which means the individual location markers are never left overlapping and hiding each other. And when the map is displayed, the lower panel reduces to only enough infinite for a Quick Connect push, leaving the maximum screen existent-manor for map details. (There's all the same no portrait interface, though, which could make real difference.)

We still think a map isn't the all-time way to switch between locations, and if you agree, swiping up displays the regular country listing. Here you can connect to any land with a tap, or choose individual regions and servers if y'all prefer.

NordVPN iOS interface

This is the interface of NordVPN'south iOS app (Paradigm credit: NordVPN)

The app is far more than configurable than most of the iOS competition. Along with the impale switch and the malicious website blocking CyberSec, an car-connect feature can automatically connect to the VPN on untrusted networks, only on Wi-Fi, or keep the VPN active all the time.

If that's not quite convenient enough, y'all're able to add NordVPN connections to Siri from within the app. As NordVPN points out, connecting is then as like shooting fish in a barrel as 'asking Siri nicely.'

Elsewhere, a Reset VPN Profile feature could help you restore broken settings and get y'all continued over again.

NordVPN iOS settings

The iOS app is crammed with powerful settings (Image credit: NordVPN)

The Protocols menu gives you a wider choice than the Windows and Android apps, with options including NordVPN's WireGuard-based NordLynx, as well as OpenVPN UDP or TCP, and IKEv2.

NordVPN has finally delivered nighttime mode support, ensuring the app now fits in with the theme of your iDevice.

Equally with Android, the app has also gained support for Night Web Monitoring, where you'll get alerts if your credentials are exposed online.

Overall, NordVPN'due south iOS app is a meaning plus for the service. If you're tired of other VPNs, where iOS users get the absolute blank minimum of features and functionality, requite it a effort; you might be pleasantly surprised (also cheque out these other slap-up choices when it comes to the best iPhone VPNs).

  • Save a load of cash with our exclusive NordVPN offer

NordVPN extensions

NordVPN makes it piece of cake to connect correct from your favorite browser with its extensions (Paradigm credit: NordVPN)

Does NordVPN have browser extensions, and practice these work well?

NordVPN does have browser extensions, and if all you're looking to practise is protect your browser, these tin exist pretty useful.

While VPN clients are by and large easy to utilise anyway, getting yourself connected tin can withal take a little piece of work. If you demand to unblock a website on your Windows laptop, for case, you might have to discover and launch your app, locate and browse the countries list, click your preferred option, wait to encounter when you lot're continued, and finally switch dorsum to your browser.

NordVPN offers Chrome and Firefox proxy extensions which can simplify this procedure by allowing you to cull a VPN location, and then connect and disconnect directly from the browser window.

Installing the Chrome extension added a NordVPN icon to our address bar. Nosotros tapped this and logged in to the service when prompted.

The extension interface doesn't have the map you'll see in the software clients, but that'south no great loss. Instead, you lot're presented with a Quick Connect button which connects you to the fastest server, and a Search option which enables selecting a specific country but. (There's no ability to choose a server by city or region.)

A small Settings dialog allows you to cake WebRTC leaks in Chrome, reducing privacy risks, or enable the CyberSec advertisement, malware and phishing protection.

You're not going to be overwhelmed with the characteristic set, then, but the extension is quick and easy to use. You're able to connect in a couple of clicks, and because this is just a proxy, protecting browser traffic but, connection times are near instant.

Nosotros checked out NordVPN's Firefox addition, too. Sometimes VPN capabilities can vary between browser extensions, but not this time – NordVPN'southward Chrome and Firefox add-ons accept identical interfaces and functionality.

How do NordVPN'southward extensions compare to rivals?

Overall, this isn't as capable a setup equally you'll see with some of the contest. ExpressVPN'southward browser extensions control and work with the full ExpressVPN client, so once you enable them inside your browser, they protect your entire system. (ExpressVPN tops the rankings in our pick of the all-time browser extensions). The NordVPN extensions are simple proxies, and protect your browser lone.

Still, the proxy arroyo is perfect for simple website unblocking, connections are much faster, and using NordVPN within a browser could exist useful in a few situations (if some of your apps don't work with a VPN, for instance, or the VPN hampers your organisation functioning). There are bonus privacy tools, likewise, including WebRTC blocking (which might forbid some IP leaks) and ad and malware-blocking via CyberSec.

In short, we're happy that NordVPN offers browser extensions at all – nigh VPN providers don't – and overall, this is a plus point for the service.

NordVPN Support

NordVPN's knowledgebase has many helpful articles (Image credit: NordVPN)

What client back up can you expect from NordVPN?

NordVPN'due south first line of client support is its back up website. Articles are sorted into multiple categories, and a search box allows you lot to find content by keyword.

The site isn't organized quite also as nosotros'd like. Head off to ExpressVPN'southward back up site, for instance, and you lot're presented with the options 'Get instructions', 'Troubleshoot now' and 'Contact support'; very clear pointers on where you demand to get next. At NordVPN, you get the sections 'FAQ', 'General Info', 'Billing' and 'Connectivity', and information technology sometimes takes a little more than work to find the details you are after.

Once y'all become to the tutorials and guides, though, there's a lot to similar here, with plenty of detailed but easy-to-follow setup and troubleshooting communication.

NordVPN chatbot

NordVPN'due south chatbot is a sterling addition to the provider's help options (Image credit: NordVPN)

If you can't locate what yous need, an excellent chatbot offers instant and surprisingly intelligent aid. NordVPN has a web page where you can download individual OpenVPN configuration files, for instance, only not the full set. We typed 'where can I download all the ovpn files' into the chatbot, clicked a suggested 'OpenVPN configuration files' link, and the bot gave us a link to 'all zipped OVPN configuration files.' That's help as information technology should be.

If it turns out the bot can't help you, NordVPN likewise offers 24/7 live chat support with existent human beings, and in our feel this works very well. We posed a elementary question and received a friendly opening response from a support amanuensis inside a couple of minutes.

Email back up is bachelor, also. Replies accept a little longer – hours, rather than minutes, in our feel – but that's comparable with many other VPNs, and NordVPN responses were generally accurate and detailed enough to solve our problem.

  • Our exclusive NordVPN deal represents a hefty saving

NordVPN review: Final verdict

NordVPN is an appealing VPN provider with not bad performance, loads of features, and an excellent no logging audit. It'southward non the cheapest VPN effectually, and it missed out on unblocking Netflix this time. Just the company has added a bunch of welcome improvements and enhancements recently, and overall, it's a polished and professional person service which volition deliver good results for most users.

  • Also cheque out the best VPN services

NordVPN FAQ

Here are some answers to other questions you may accept nearly NordVPN, or indeed VPNs in full general.

What is a VPN and how does it work?

A VPN or Virtual Individual Network is a secure style to connect to the internet. A VPN gives you software that you can install on your devices, providing a 'tunnel' to send your data downwardly in encrypted form, therefore making that data traffic more secure, and giving you a higher level of privacy online. Encounter here for more details on how a VPN works – and recollect that it delivers more than than just security and anonymity, but tin can also let yous access geoblocked content via servers in different countries, and more than besides.

Can you try NordVPN for free?

Sort of – there's no gratis trial as such, as we mention in the review above, but in that location is a no-strings-attached money-back guarantee. If you sign up to a NordVPN subscription program, and don't like the service, you can cancel at whatsoever signal within the offset xxx-days and you'll go your money dorsum.

Can NordVPN be hacked?

Theoretically, any online service tin can be hacked – fifty-fifty a security-focused i like a VPN (given plenty persistence from the assaulter, resources, and the fact that potential vulnerabilities can seemingly bound from nowhere).

Of grade, NordVPN actually was hacked equally we mentioned in the review above, although the VPN has since shored up its defenses considerably as we also discussed.

How good is NordVPN for online gaming?

A VPN isn't actually designed for gamers, mainly because the likelihood is that information technology'll decrease functioning, snaffling a niggling of your bandwidth – as we saw in our NordVPN operation tests – and potentially adding a bit of latency (although how much latency can vary widely, depending on where the VPN server and game server are respectively located).

If y'all're serious about games, and particularly if you're playing the likes of shooters where twitch reactions are required, the added latency volition be a real sticking point. That said, for other games, and more coincidental players, if the proverbial net winds are blowing in the right direction, and server locations are favorable, y'all may not discover much difference at all.

A VPN still won't particularly aid you lot when gaming, although it could potentially better protect you from the (admittedly adequately unlikely) prospect of existence hit by DDoS attacks, and you lot might be able to admission gaming content in regions that are otherwise unavailable to you lot.

Does NordVPN slow downward your internet connection?

Using whatever VPN, including NordVPN, may slow down your internet connection a little, as at that place is inevitably some overhead to encrypting your data and sending it through a VPN tunnel. Sometimes, the difference is pretty negligible though. As we institute in our latest performance tests, NordVPN resulted in a drop of performance of between six-eight%, which is acceptable and effectually boilerplate for a VPN provider. The likelihood is you won't even notice this with well-nigh everyday tasks y'all're conveying out online.

Will NordVPN drain my laptop or phone battery?

NordVPN is an application which is being run by your hardware, and so past definition information technology volition employ some system resources, and in turn, those resources will have an bear on on the bombardment life of a portable device. While there have been some anecdotal reports in the past virtually NordVPN being a bit of a battery hog, those were from some time back, and it should be no more than intensive than any other VPN app.

Does NordVPN work in China?

NordVPN claims its service can indeed function in Cathay. You lot may simply be able to apply ane of the NordVPN apps to connect to any server when in Red china, or for potentially ameliorate results, use the business firm's Obfuscated Servers feature. For more details on that, check out this web log post (and you might want to accept a quick watch of the to a higher place video).

What is NordLocker?

It'south NordVPN's app which allows you to create a secure locker on your device to store sensitive files which are protected past encryption. This is sold separately to the VPN service, and yous might want to read our review of NordLocker.

What is NordPass?

Like NordLocker, this is another divide app, except every bit the name suggests, NordPass is a password manager (and online grade filler). Again, you tin can come across how good it is by perusing our NordPass review.

How does NordVPN itself work; can you provide further details?

We practise exactly that in our sneak peek inside a NordVPN server, which reveals in-depth info regarding security, logging, and much more.

If something goes wrong, how practice I contact NordVPN customer back up?

All you demand to practise is consult our full guide which covers all the dissimilar ways you tin get back up from NordVPN.

Does TechRadar take any help resources for NordVPN users?

We do indeed: we have guides for installing NordVPN on Windows, and for installing the Android app.

Mike began his career every bit a lead software programmer in the engineering science globe, where his creations were used by big-proper noun companies from Rolls Royce to British Nuclear Fuels and British Aerospace. He now covers VPNs, antivirus and all things security for TechRadar, although he even so has a secret love of quirky open up-source and freeware apps which find brand new ways to solve mutual problems.

Source: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nordvpn

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