NordVPN Review: Feature-rich, including Netflix unblocking

NordVPN is a very impressive service that has been around for years, perfecting its offering which is now used by over 12 million people around the world. The Panama-based VPN has a huge number of servers spread all over the world, offers many apps for various platforms, uses strong security layers, and most importantly, is really good at unblocking Netflix. It is also one of the few VPN providers on our best VPN list.

It is worth noting that a server breach occurred in 2018. Although the problem was a third party error that was fixed and apparently did not cause any data loss as NordVPN does not show session data in real time or user information. The company assures users that it is safer than ever as a result of this “test”.

NordVPN has since implemented diskless RAM servers, which means no data is stored locally. This takes privacy and security to the next level, and combined with a July no-log audit from PwC, this is a no-log service with excellent security.

If you need a VPN to unblock Netflix, to keep banking and emails safe when you are on open Wi-Fi, such as in hotels and bars, or if you just want to keep your browsing anonymous, you are there. quite right. Here’s everything you need to know about the NordVPN service so you can decide if it’s the best VPN for you.

Prices and plans

NordVPN has a selection of pricing plans, which should mean there’s a deal for everyone. As is often the case with VPNs, the longer you commit, the cheaper your overall charges will be.

If you choose the three-year plan, you realize savings that represent a whopping 70 percent. Although this deal is not always available.

A monthly plan will cost you $ 11.95 per month. A one-year plan costs $ 6.99 per month. This three-year option costs $ 3.49 per month, billed every three years. It’s similar to other options like ExpressVPN, but a little more expensive than others.

You can pay securely and anonymously using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies via CoinPayments. Or use Paypal, Amazon Pay, UnionPay, SOFORT Banking and many others.

You have a 30-day money back guarantee, so it’s easy to try the service and if, for whatever reason, you don’t like it, you can cancel and get your money back in full. Also, be sure to check out our roundup of the best VPN deals to make sure you always get the best price when committing to a new VPN.

Test and performance

NordVPN relies on security levels, which usually means you have to sacrifice speed. This isn’t a big deal here, albeit based on testing in real-world situations.

Connections, even to the most distant servers, work the first time, every time, and got us up and running in just four seconds and up to six seconds. Noteworthy.

In the US we used a 200 Mbps line. The best test was with no VPN connected, the second in a location in New York and the last was when it was connected to Germany. This makes it one of the fastest VPN services around, despite the added security layers.

For the UK we tested using a 75 Mbps line and managed to get an impressive 65-69 Mbps.

For international connections, much further away from our real-world location, we got decent speeds of 30-60 Mbps. Again it’s above average for VPN services.

As of October 2020 NordVPN has improved the speed of the service thanks to its NordLynx offering which now works everywhere. The result is a service that, as the company claims, “consistently surpasses other traditional protocols”. It beats everyone except Hotspot Shield in testing.

Features

One of NordVPN’s most notable features is its ability to unblock Netflix. This is ideal if you are out of the country and still want to access your shows, despite being geographically limited where you are. Many VPNs have problems with this as many streaming services actively block the use of the VPN. In Nord’s case, it was able to connect to Netflix the first time, and it worked fine with streaming at full quality.

NordVPN is also very useful when it comes to P2P or torrent content. This is not something the company actively advertises, as some people may be using it illegally. We don’t forgive this, but for legal use, where you might want a VPN to cover you in case you accidentally download something that’s copyrighted, Nord is ideal. While torrents aren’t supported on all servers, there are hundreds that do, which is far more than many of the competition’s offerings.

Nord is a great option if you want to use it on many devices, not only because it works on six gadgets at the same time, but also because of the wide range of clients available for each device. This means dedicated software for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and 20 other types on which Chrome OS, Raspberry Pi, routers, and more can be configured.

The apps, which include one for Linux, are far better than average with an impressive 8.8 score which places it above all but KeepSolid, TunnelBear and Private Internet Access.

The company’s NordLynx high-speed protocol is worth mentioning as it is based on Wire Guard technology and works to achieve maximum speeds wherever you connect.

Another unique and useful feature is automatic reconnection. This is great if you log out to do something locally, but forget to reconnect, which happens more often than you think. That way, even if you forget it, Nord will protect you again in no time.

P2P torrent support, Bitcoin functionality, and unlocking of Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and the like make it really cool, although we have found it has issues with some of these services when using the app. Obviously the Obfuscated Servers feature can be useful in these situations to get around the VPN blocking problems.

Privacy and security

NordVPN is chock full of useful security features. In fact, security is still one of its main features, despite all that 2018 mess of attacks. For example, you don’t get one but two ciphers along with Cipolla’s support. Nord also offers malware and phishing protection to keep you safe and anonymous. There’s also a double kill switch and OpenVPN support backed by DNS leak protection.

This is a truly impressive list of security features that add up to a single, very secure online experience. But this is also supported by a no logging policy which should help with your privacy. Since you can pay using Bitcoin or a number of other cryptocurrencies you should be able to remain totally anonymous. Since Nord claims that it does not store data on user information, that should also mean that you are protected even in the event of a loss or attack.

In addition to the diskless RAM system and PwC’s logless audit result, NordVPN has done more to strengthen security in 2020. Together with US cybersecurity consultants VerSprite, the company has set stricter security standards for the data centers it works with and to conduct audits that ensure compliance with these standards.

The company is so confident that it still offers services in Hong Kong, while many others have dropped out.

Should you sign up?

If you want a lot of security levels also supported by smart protocols to get you running very fast, this is a great VPN option for you. Prices are decent, with great deals for long-term commitments. The privacy is great, and the payment options are varied to suit most people.

It works on many devices and is backed by a great 24/7 customer support team which means you should always get what you want from this VPN no matter what you’re doing or where you are on the planet. Yes, this also includes Netflix unblocking and P2P torrenting.

NordVPN appears to be one of the best Android VPN options available right now, so give it a try for yourself.