NordVPN

I’ve been using NordVPN on and off for almost four years now. Started with a 2-year plan back when I was fed up with my ISP throttling my connection every evening, and honestly, I never really looked back. I’ve tried probably a dozen other VPNs since then — some for testing, some because I saw a deal that looked too good to pass up — but I keep coming back to Nord. Here’s why.

First Impressions

The setup takes about two minutes. Download the app, log in, hit connect. That’s it. No messing around with protocols or configurations unless you want to. The interface is clean — just a world map with server locations and a big connect button. Works the same way on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, even my Fire TV Stick (though the Fire TV app is honestly the weakest of the bunch, more on that later).

One thing I noticed immediately compared to other VPNs: it actually connects fast. Some VPNs I’ve tested take 15-20 seconds to establish a connection. NordVPN usually connects in under 5 seconds to nearby servers. Distant ones can take a bit longer — connecting to Australia from North America took about 10-12 seconds in my testing — but that’s normal.

Speed — And I Actually Tested It

Look, every VPN review claims “blazing fast speeds” so let me just give you the numbers I got.

My base connection without VPN: roughly 500 Mbps down, 50 Mbps up.

With NordVPN connected to a nearby server using the NordLynx protocol: I was getting around 460-480 Mbps down. That’s barely a dip. On a server across the Atlantic, I still pulled about 350 Mbps. The only place I saw a real hit was upload speed — dropped to about 10-15 Mbps on some servers, which is a known weak spot.

For context, that’s fast enough to stream 4K on multiple devices simultaneously, game without noticeable lag, and download large files without wanting to throw your laptop out the window. For daily use, you genuinely forget the VPN is even on. That’s the best compliment I can give.

The NordLynx Protocol

This is what makes the speed possible. NordLynx is Nord’s custom protocol built on WireGuard — which is already fast and lightweight — but with an added layer of privacy protection. Most other VPNs either use standard WireGuard or fall back on OpenVPN, which is secure but noticeably slower.

You don’t need to understand the technical details. Just know that when NordLynx is selected (and it is by default), you’re getting the best combination of speed and security currently available in a consumer VPN. It also now supports post-quantum cryptography, which is the kind of future-proofing that shows Nord actually invests in staying ahead.

Streaming — The Reason Most People Buy a VPN

Let’s be real. Half the people reading this want a VPN to watch stuff that’s blocked in their country. So does it work?

Yes. Netflix US, Netflix UK, Netflix Japan — all worked fine in my tests. Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video — same thing. I didn’t hit a single geo-block that NordVPN couldn’t get around.

Now, I should mention: streaming services are constantly trying to block VPN connections, so specific servers that work today might not work next week. But in my experience, Nord is very good at keeping up. Whenever a server stopped working with Netflix, I’d switch to another one in the same country and it worked immediately. I’ve had VPNs where the entire country’s server list gets blocked and you’re stuck for days. Never had that with Nord.

Threat Protection — The Feature Nobody Talks About Enough

This is probably the most underrated part of NordVPN. Threat Protection works like a built-in ad blocker + malware scanner + tracker blocker, all rolled into one. And it works even when the VPN itself isn’t connected.

I didn’t expect much from it, honestly. Figured it was a marketing gimmick. But after leaving it on for a month, I checked the stats: it had blocked over 12,000 trackers, about 300 ads, and flagged 2 downloads as potentially malicious. That’s… actually impressive for something that comes free with a VPN subscription.

It’s not a replacement for a proper antivirus, but as an extra layer? Absolutely worth turning on.

Privacy — The Stuff That Actually Matters

NordVPN is based in Panama, which is important because Panama has no mandatory data retention laws. They’re not part of the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, or 14 Eyes surveillance alliances. In plain English: no government can legally force them to hand over your data.

Their no-logs policy has been audited independently — multiple times, by different firms. The most recent audit confirmed what they’ve been claiming: they really don’t store your browsing activity, connection timestamps, IP addresses, or any of that.

On top of that, all their servers are RAM-only now, which means everything gets wiped every time a server reboots. Even if someone physically seized a server (which actually happened once in 2018 at a third-party data center), there would be nothing useful on it.

Meshnet — Cool If You Need It

This is a newer feature that lets you link up to 60 devices into your own private encrypted network. Honestly, most regular users won’t need this. But if you work remotely and need to access your home computer from elsewhere, or if you want to set up a LAN gaming session with friends across the world, it’s genuinely useful.

I’ve used it a couple of times to access files on my home desktop while traveling. Worked without issues. It’s the kind of feature you don’t think about until you need it, and then you’re glad it’s there.

What I Don’t Like

I’m not going to sit here and pretend NordVPN is perfect because it’s not.

The renewal price is a slap. You sign up at $3.39/month on a 2-year plan, and then when it renews, it jumps to roughly $8.29/month. That’s more than double. Most VPNs do this, but it still stings every time. My advice: set a calendar reminder before renewal and either negotiate a deal through their support (sometimes they offer a discount to keep you) or just buy a new 2-year plan.

10-device limit. For most people this is fine. But if you have a big household with phones, tablets, laptops, a smart TV, a router — you can hit that limit faster than you’d think. Some competitors like Surfshark offer unlimited connections. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth knowing.

Upload speeds take a hit. I mentioned this earlier. Downloads are great, uploads not so much. If you’re uploading large video files or doing a lot of video calling, you might notice it on some servers.

The Fire TV app needs work. It’s functional but clunky compared to the desktop and mobile versions. Connection drops happen more frequently, and the interface feels like an afterthought. Nord’s other apps are polished — this one needs to catch up.

Some websites block you. This isn’t really NordVPN’s fault — it happens with every VPN — but some banking sites, government portals, and even a few online stores will flag your connection and either block you or throw CAPTCHA after CAPTCHA at you. Turning off the VPN for those specific sites is the easy fix, but it’s still annoying.

Pricing Breakdown

NordVPN has four tiers: Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. Here’s what matters:

• Basic ($3.39/mo on 2-year plan): Just the VPN. 10 devices. This is all most people need.
• Plus (~$4.39/mo): Adds Threat Protection Pro (the full version) and NordPass password manager.
• Complete (~$5.39/mo): Everything in Plus, plus 1TB encrypted cloud storage via NordLocker.
• Prime (~$6.99/mo): All of the above, plus identity theft protection.

Monthly plan starts at $12.99 — don’t do this. The yearly plan drops it significantly, and the 2-year plan is the best deal if you’re committed.

They accept credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and even crypto if you want extra anonymity.

30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. I’ve actually used it once (tested another VPN for a month, then came back). Got my refund within a week.

Who Is NordVPN For?

Basically everyone. That’s a cop-out answer but it’s true. Whether you’re a casual user who just wants to browse privately, someone who streams content from different countries, a remote worker who needs to protect company data on public WiFi, or someone living in a country with internet restrictions — NordVPN handles all of it well.

The only people I wouldn’t recommend it to: if you’re on a super tight budget (Surfshark is cheaper), or if you need unlimited simultaneous connections for a huge household (again, Surfshark). For everything else, NordVPN is the one I keep recommending to friends and family, and the one I keep using myself.

Bottom Line

NordVPN isn’t perfect, and I’m not going to pretend the renewal pricing doesn’t bother me. But when I look at the full package — the speeds, the security, the server network across 167+ countries, the streaming capability, the extras like Threat Protection and Meshnet — nothing else gives me this much confidence that my connection is both fast and private.

It’s been my daily driver for years, and unless something dramatically changes, it’s staying that way.