Numerous laws and legislations regarding Internet censorship as well as Internet freedom have led to a high demand of virtual private networks (VPNs). They are considered to be the best tools for online anonymity, privacy and safety. Moreover, a VPN is an excellent solution for hiding your IP address or accessing blocked and geographically restricted content. A VPN encrypts your traffic through a “tunnel” between users’ computers and host servers, giving the needed protection from all kinds of online threats.
NordVPN has many features and you can find a huge network of servers optimized for specific purposes, an automatic kill switch in case of connection interruptions, a double encryption option, a DNS leak resolver and more. Also, NordVPN has a strict no-log policy, the company is based in Panama, which has no mandatory data retention laws.
Highlight features:
- 3300+ servers in 59 countries (updated weekly)
- No data logging
- Up to 6 simultaneous connections
- Automatic kill switch
- Extremely secure encryption (OpenVPN, SSTP, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2/IPsec protocols)
- Compatible with most operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux
- Double data encryption for increased anonymity
- Onion over VPN servers
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 24/7 customer support
- Accepts major credit cards, PayPal, Paysera, Webmoney, and Bitcoin
- Dedicated IPs available on request
- Free security extras (encrypted chat, secret notes, and a selection of proxies)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- CyberSec feature that blocks suspicious websites, malware and ads
- With the help of obfuscated servers, Nord works in China as well as the Middle East
Installation & Interface
Once you choose the most suitable subscription plan and create an account, further setup is just a simple download-and-install process.
The NordVPN client for Windows is an elegant, lightweight application that lets you select servers by country or by connection type. After choosing a suitable server, you can simply tap on the connection button at the top to connect or click on a pin over the country you want to connect to. Overall, it’s a great client for new VPN users who want security and anonymity without complicated settings and configurations, as it’s nice design and user-interface make it easy to use
Servers & Locations
NordVPN has servers in 59 countries around the world. Some of these locations include the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Lithuania, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, Australia and many more.
Depending on your needs, you can choose ultrafast servers for streaming video content or using P2P networks, Double VPN or Onion-over-VPN connections for enhanced anonymity, Anti DDoS servers to avoid denial-of-service attacks, or just any regular server to hide your IP address, encrypt your communications, and prevent anyone from tracking your online activity.
Privacy & Security
NordVPN keeps neither usage nor session logs. For those who mostly care about security, NordVPN recommends OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec encryption protocols. OpenVPN is the default option in NordVPN’s Windows and Android apps, using the military-grade 2048-bit SSL encryption, while the even more secure IKEv2/IPsec is set as default for iOS and Mac OS apps. It uses 3072-bit encryption and the Perfect Forward Secrecy system, which generates a unique private encryption key for each session.
Windows users may find the SSTP protocol the most stable, while the PPTP and L2TP/IPSec protocols are older and far less secure, meaning that they should be used only when security is not the primary concern or when the newer protocols are not supported on older hardware.
The NordVPN service also prevents unencrypted queries from DNS servers with a special DNS leak resolver tool, which makes sure all queries are secure and protected.
Website & Support
NordVPN has a stylish and well laid out website, providing a wealth of information on product features, pricing plans, available servers, and customer support.
The company offers 24/7 live chat support, email support, and a ticket submission system.
The website also offers a number of free extra tools such as encrypted chat, web proxies, and even a special YouTube proxy, which allows watching all YouTube videos without any location-specific restrictions.
Pricing
A one-year subscription to NordVPN costs $69, which is merely $5.75 per month–one of the best deals on the market, considering the added security features and service usability. Monthly billing is more expensive and will cost you $11.95 per month, but there is also a great and popular option of a 2-year subscription for $79 ($3.29 per month).
What is more, NordVPN is having a special 3-year deal for only $99 ($2.75/month).
All plans provide unlimited bandwidth on up to six devices, including smartphones, tablets, and even routers. If you protect your home router, it covers all devices connected to it, freeing up the remaining five connections for other locations. All for as low as $5.75 per month.
App support
NordVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, iOS as well as Android. The company’s website provides a comprehensive set of download links and tutorials for all supported operating systems and devices. Nord also has great browser proxy extensions for Firefox and Chrome.
Verdict
NordVPN offers efficient, powerful and fast service. It is a great VPN service provider for beginners and offers enough solid features for the most security-conscious users. NordVPN is an excellent choice for secure, private and safe browsing or streaming.
