NordVPN Review 2024 – Tested & Compared

NordVPN Plus

The Plus plan expands on the features offered by the Standard plan and adds a data breach scanner and NordPass, one of the best password managers available today. The two features add an additional layer of protection for your online data.

NordVPN Ultimate

The Ultimate plan is NordVPN’s most comprehensive package. It adds features including NordLocker, identity theft protection, and data removal tools.

NordLocker lets you store up to 1TB of sensitive data in a zero-knowledge, private cloud. You can also use its next-gen encryption technology to encrypt and protect local and cloud files.

The identity theft recovery tools can help you if you fall victim to fraud. NordVPN will help you cover expenses related to undoing the damage caused by the attack up to $1m.

NordVPN Tunneling Protocols

NordVPN lets you choose between three different VPN protocols – OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx. You can switch between them at any time, depending on the level of security or speed you need.

Here’s a quick breakdown of their capabilities:

• OpenVPN – As the most stable VPN protocol, OpenVPN is ideal for everyday use and activities that don’t tolerate interruption, such as working online, live streaming, torrenting, and messaging.
• IKEv2/IPsec – Known for its stability and performance, this protocol is ideal for mobile users. It’s great for quickly establishing VPN connections, making it a logical choice for users on the move and connecting to unsafe public WiFi hotspots.
• NordLynx – NordLynx is NordVPN’s proprietary protocol based on the WireGuard protocol. WireGuard is known for its speed and versatility, and NordVPN provides additional security with its own proprietary protocol.

NordVPN clients use NordLynx by default on every popular platform, as it’s one of the industry’s fastest and most secure protocols. Its performance makes NordVPN one of the best gaming VPNs available.

RAM-Only Servers

NordVPN’s adoption of RAM-only servers has significant security benefits for users. These servers operate entirely on volatile memory, so no user data is retained. In addition, each server reboot wipes them clean of any residual information.

This means NordVPN can’t store or share your data even if it wants to, and it protects you and the provider from potential data breaches and unauthorized access.

Logging Policy

NordVPN is very serious when it comes to protecting its users’ data. The provider has a strict no-logs policy in place, and NordVPN has undergone multiple independent audits to test this, with Deloitte confirming that NordVPN adheres to its policies.

Simultaneous Connections

NordVPN lets you protect up to ten devices with a single subscription, allowing you to extend its security and privacy features across your devices.

It’s worth mentioning that you can bypass this limitation by using NordVPN router protection. The router uses only one of your six connection slots but protects any device that connects to the network – making it ideal for families and businesses.

Kill Switch

NordVPN offers a reliable kill switch feature that will automatically cut off your device’s internet access if your VPN connection drops, protecting you from DNS leaks. While most of its competitors offer this feature, I found NordVPN’s kill switch to be reliable and effective in providing DNS leak protection.

The provider offers system-level and application-specific kill switches. The system-level kill switch will block all online traffic if the VPN connection drops.

The application-specific kill switch prevents specific apps from sending data without interrupting your internet connection. That means you can specify which apps NordVPN should terminate if your VPN connection drops rather than cutting your device’s internet connection entirely.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling provides flexibility for NordVPN users looking to optimize their VPN traffic. This feature lets you choose what internet traffic goes through the VPN and what accesses the internet directly.

For example, you could encrypt your connection to a foreign streaming service while you use a banking app via a direct connection. Split tunneling is available for Windows, Android, and Android TV devices, and there are three ways to use it.

• Inverse Split – The safest form of split tunneling, which encrypts everything by default and lets you pick which apps can access the internet directly.
• App-Based Split – This method lets you select the apps that run on the VPN, leaving the rest of your internet traffic unprotected.
• URL-Based Split – Available via NordVPN’s browser extensions, this method lets you specify which URLs you want to exclude from the VPN connection.

Double VPN

This feature offers enhanced security and privacy by routing your internet traffic through two VPN servers instead of just one.

The first server encrypts your traffic just like a regular VPN connection. The second server adds an additional layer of encryption, making it nearly impossible for unauthorized parties to intercept or track your online activity.

Double VPN ensures private internet access by mixing your traffic with other traffic on two separate servers, so IP addresses are virtually untraceable. The double VPN feature is valuable for journalists, activists, and anyone seeking an extra degree of online security.

The feature is very easy to use, and all you need to do is tap “Double VPN” on the home screen and select one of the eligible servers. This feature will slow your connection down, though, so you won’t want it on all the time.

Dedicated IP Servers

Connecting to a regular NordVPN server masks your internet traffic by assigning an IP address to your connection, which you share with other users. This changes when you use a static IP address, which is unique and exclusive to you.

NordVPN offers static IP addresses as an add-on you can purchase. You can use them by connecting to NordVPN’s dedicated IP servers around the world. These IP addresses are less likely to appear on online service blacklists, and using a dedicated IP address means you won’t face as many interruptions and security checks.

Obfuscated Servers

Although a regular VPN server makes your browsing history inaccessible to your ISP, it doesn’t hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. While this doesn’t cause issues for most VPN users, some ISPs will throttle your bandwidth, and countries with heavy internet censorship may detect and block your connection.

Obfuscated servers alter your data packets and hide the fact that you’re using a VPN from your ISP so you can maintain unrestricted internet access. This feature is invaluable for the residents of countries like Russia, China, and Turkey – and it’s extremely easy to use with NordVPN.

Onion Over VPN Servers

NordVPN’s Onion Over VPN Servers allow you to access The Onion Router network without using the Tor browser.

Tor routes your connection through three random Tor servers before your traffic reaches its destination. NordVPN ensures your privacy remains intact by combining Tor’s security measures with its encryption algorithm before your traffic reaches the network.

This feature is invaluable for privacy-conscious users looking to access the deep web and .onion websites without security risks.

Threat Protection

Threat Protection is one of the best antivirus software tools for tackling malware, trackers, and intrusive ads, and it keeps you safe when downloading files and visiting potentially dangerous websites – and NordVPN bundles it with its subscriptions.

It will scan every URL you visit, blocking access to websites hosting malware and protecting you from phishing attacks. This makes it a valuable addition if you frequently shop online. Threat Protection also stops third-party trackers from collecting data on your preferences and following you around the web.

For further recommendations, see our guide to the best antiviruses with VPN functionality.

Dark Web Monitor

This data breach monitoring tool continuously scans the dark web for any of your information that has appeared in leaks. If your stolen credentials have been put up for sale, this feature can help you change your details and protect your accounts before they get hijacked.

Meshnet

This feature creates a private, encrypted tunnel to connect devices and enable secure file sharing between them without the risk of data breaches or external cyber threats.

I used Meshnet to read documents and browse files on remote devices and didn’t see any connection speed drops, impact on download speeds, or performance issues.

This feature can be invaluable for frequent travelers and hybrid workplaces, as it provides a remote access failsafe. In addition, its robust security measures allow you to share sensitive business and personal documents with anyone, knowing they’re protected from interception.

Meshnet is also useful for getting past the Netflix household rule, which limits accounts to a single household.

NordPass

NordPass, available with NordVPN’s Plus and Ultimate plans, is one of the best password managers around.

As well as providing a secure password vault, the feature helps you keep your accounts secure by automatically generating strong passwords you can use and checking your existing passwords for vulnerabilities.

You can access your passwords across browsers, apps, and online accounts. In addition, it has an excellent auto-fill feature that can help you save time by automatically filling out your usernames, passwords, billing information, and credit card information.

Incogni

NordVPN now offers Incogni’s personal data removal tools, which can save you hundreds of hours by automatically removing your data from the internet. With a few clicks, Incogni will contact over 180 data brokers around the world on your behalf and send them data removal requests.

These brokers handle data accumulated over years. Removing your records from their databases means your information will be removed from people search websites, shady business sites, and even credit card scamming databases.

Incogni will immediately show results, as you’ll stop receiving shady emails, texts, and robocalls. Incogni’s services are available for customers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Switzerland, and the European Union.

Is NordVPN Good For Torrenting?

Most of NordVPN’s massive server network consists of peer-to-peer (P2P) friendly servers optimized for torrenting. These servers can handle high-bandwidth activities and offer enhanced speeds and reliability – assisted by NordLynx’s fast connections and NordVPN’s robust security features, such as its kill switch. See our guide to the best VPNs for torrenting for further recommendations.

Is NordVPN Good For Gaming?

NordVPN is an excellent pick for console, PC, and mobile gamers. The provider can prevent ISP throttling and DDoS attacks, ensuring you have a lag-free experience on any platform.

Thanks to its strategically placed servers, you can connect to a location closer to game servers, resulting in a lower ping and ensuring a smooth online gaming experience. Alternatively, you can find less populated servers and easier matches.

You can also use NordVPN’s Meshnet feature for LAN gaming, setting up a private Meshnet network and inviting other NordVPN users to join. Alternatively, see our guide to the best VPNs for gambling.