How Good is NordVPN in 2023? (An In-Depth Review)
Introduction
As our lives and sensitive information moves increasingly online, having robust privacy and security tools has become more important than ever before. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have emerged as an essential way for everyday internet users to protect their data and anonymity while browsing the web.
NordVPN stands out as one of the most well-known and widely-used VPN services on the market today. With over 14 million users globally, NordVPN is clearly appealing to a large segment of privacy-focused individuals.
But how good is NordVPN really? In this in-depth review for 2023, we’ll evaluate NordVPN across a number of key criteria to see if it lives up to the hype and is worth your hard-earned money:
- Security and privacy features
- Speed and server performance
- Streaming site access and capabilities
- Compatibility across devices/platforms
- Pricing and value proposition
- Downsides and user complaints
By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to determine if NordVPN is the right VPN solution for your needs and budget. Let’s get started!
NordVPN’s Security and Privacy
First and foremost, the effectiveness of a VPN comes down to its ability to actually protect your online privacy and provide bulletproof security for your internet traffic. This is arguably NordVPN’s biggest strength that has made it such a fan-favorite in the VPN market.
NordVPN operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning none of your online activity is monitored or stored by NordVPN servers. The company has been audited by independent security researchers to validate these privacy-friendly practices.
Additionally, because NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, they are not subject to intrusive data regulations from international surveillance partnerships like FiveEyes or Fourteen Eyes. This provides NordVPN much more leeway in guarantees they can make around user privacy.
NordVPN utilizes industry-leading encryption techniques to secure traffic between your devices and VPN servers, making it extremely unlikely your ISP or hackers can view your activity on public WiFi or other networks. Additional features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and onion routing provide additional layers of privacy.
Between the technical protections and jurisidictional advantages, experts widely consider NordVPN to offer air-tight security with essentially zero logging or tracking of meaningful user data and activity. For those prioritizing privacy, it doesn’t get much better than what NordVPN provides.
Speed and Server Network
In order to deliver a smooth, fast browsing experience, a VPN needs to have a geographically diverse network of servers for you to connect through. NordVPN excels here with over 5400 servers located in 60 different countries around the globe. This extensive server infrastructure ensures most users can connect to a nearby server capable of delivering great speeds.
Independent speed tests show NordVPN providing extremely fast and reliable connections that are on-par or better-than competing VPNs like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has also implemented specialized technologies like SmartPlay that dynamically route your traffic for optimal speeds, especially when streaming content.
Of course, exact speeds will vary based on the specific server you connect to, distance to that server, and overall internet capabilities. But in most scenarios, NordVPN has shown it can deliver very good speeds thanks to their massive and advanced server network. Speed should not be a concern for the vast majority of NordVPN users.
Streaming Site Access and Capabilities
One of the most popular uses of VPNs is to access geo-restricted content on major streaming platforms and sites. Due to licensing issues, platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and others have certain movies, shows, or events that are only available in certain countries.
The good news is that NordVPN excels when it comes to unblocking top streaming sites. They maintain specialty servers that are finely tuned to avoiding detection from Netflix’s VPN blocking efforts. Tests show NordVPN provides highly reliable access to Netflix, allowing you to view different country catalogs.
Similar success has been reported accessing other top streaming sites across the world. So whether you’re looking to binge watch your favorite shows abroad or catch live sports that aren’t broadcast locally, you can rely on NordVPN to get the job done.
NordVPN also allows peer-to-peer traffic and torrent transfers on certain servers. So it can effectively enable accessing torrent repositories and communities that may be geo-restricted as well. For the streaming power user, NordVPN checks all the boxes.
Apps, Compatibility and Ease of Use
For even the best VPN service to be useful, it needs to offer apps and software that make it easy to use across all of your devices you want privacy on. NordVPN has you covered here with native VPN clients for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android systems.
NordVPN also provides browser extensions for popular web browsers like Chrome and Firefox. And it maintains compatibility with Linux systems, routers, gaming consoles, streaming devices, and other gadgets through manual configuration tutorials.
From setup to ongoing use, NordVPN aims for an intuitive user experience even VPN beginners can handle. The apps and interfaces focus on simplicity without sacrificing control and customization for power users. Using and managing NordVPN quickly becomes second-nature for most people.
Pricing and Money-Back Guarantee
When it comes to pricing, NordVPN offers a range of subscription plans to accommodate different budgets and commitment levels:
- 1 month plan: $11.99 per month
- 1 year plan: $4.92 per month
- 2 year plan: $3.30 per month
- 3 year plan: $2.30 per month
As you can see, longer subscription commitments net you the biggest savings compared to month-to-month payments. However, NordVPN also backs every purchase with a 30 day money back guarantee. So you can request a hassle-free refund within the first month if you change your mind or don’t like the service.
Compared to other top VPNs, NordVPN falls somewhere in the middle in terms of affordability. It doesn’t quite match some cheaper VPN options, but frequently runs major discounts and promotions that make its privacy/security features more budget-friendly overall.
Downsides and User Complaints
No service is absolutely perfect though, so it’s important to understand where NordVPN falls a bit short for some users. One of the most common complaints around NordVPN is lack of phone customer service, with inquiries only handled via online chat and email tickets. This isn’t ideal for people who prefer phone assistance.
Additionally, while server speeds and reliability are generally very good, some users report occasional temporary drops in connectivity or speed degradation at peak times. However, this seems to occur much less frequently compared to a couple years ago thanks to network improvements.
Lastly, while NordVPN normally runs promotions and deals, their regular pricing is higher than some other VPNs that market more aggressively on price. So if getting the absolute lowest VPN cost is your top priority, other budget providers may beat out NordVPN.
Conclusion and Verdict
After conducting an in-depth evaluation across all the major factors that matter for VPN services, the verdict is clear – NordVPN stands out as an elite option and is very deserving of its status as one of the most popular choices on the market today.
NordVPN simply checks all the boxes when it comes privacy, security capabilities, speed, streaming site access, ease of use, and overall value. While minor issues like email-only support remain, the pros heavily outweigh the cons for most prospective users.
In closing, if you‘re looking for peace of mind that your online activities and sensitive information will remain protected and anonymous, NordVPN is a fantastic choice that delivers rock-solid security and excellent performance. It earns our strong recommendation for your VPN needs.