How to Use NordVPN | NordVPN
Published by NordVPNWatch on YouTube
Updated Oct 5, 2026
VPN Services
NordVPN
Panama-based VPN with repeated no-logs audits and 10 devices per plan
From $5.49/mo
NordVPN at a glance
from our research
Panama-based consumer VPN for up to 10 devices, with security tools on Complete and insurance on Prime
No-logs claims reviewed by PwC in 2018 and 2020 and by Deloitte in 2022, 2023 and 2024
Yearly plans renew at a higher price after the introductory term, and the pricing page lists no free trial
Basic is $14.99 billed monthly, or $65.88 for one year upfront; its listed regular price is $139.08 a year
Overview
What is NordVPN?
NordVPN is a consumer VPN from Nord Security, a company founded in 2012. Nord says it operates out of Panama, which it describes as a country with no data retention laws that would apply to VPN providers.
In the app, one button connects you to a recommended server, or you can pick a country or a specific server on the map. Connections run over NordLynx, a protocol based on WireGuard, or OpenVPN, and a third protocol, NordWhisper, is offered for restrictive networks. Specialty servers handle Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated and P2P connections. A kill switch blocks internet access if the VPN connection drops, and the Windows, Android and Android TV apps support split tunneling. Nord lists thousands of servers across 225 locations.
Nord says its apps run on all major operating systems and devices, and it offers browser proxy extensions for shared devices. There are three plans, and each secures 10 devices at once. Basic is the VPN with scam and phishing protection and Dark Web Monitor. Complete adds an ad and tracker blocker, anti-malware and browsing protection, a cross-platform password manager, and protection for email, calls and messages, while Prime adds identity theft and cyber extortion insurance, 1-bureau credit monitoring and credit freeze assistance. Plans are sold month to month or on one- and two-year terms, which are billed upfront at an introductory price and renew yearly at a higher one. Payment methods include cryptocurrencies, and a 30-day money-back guarantee applies: you message support within 30 days of buying to get a full refund.
Our verdict on NordVPN
Updated Oct 5, 2026Pricing checked Oct 5, 2026
NordVPN suits buyers who want a VPN's no-logs claims checked by outside firms more than once, and who have 10 or fewer devices to cover. PwC AG Switzerland reviewed those claims in 2018 and 2020, and Deloitte did so in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Deloitte's 2024 report went past the standard servers to include Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated and P2P servers. The apps add NordLynx, a protocol based on WireGuard, plus NordWhisper for restrictive networks and a kill switch for dropped connections.
The weak points are commercial. Basic, the cheapest plan, doesn't include the ad and tracker blocker, so anyone who wants that, or the anti-malware and password manager, has to move up to Complete. The one- and two-year plans are sold at an introductory price and renew yearly at a higher one, which makes the first payment a poor guide to the second. There's no free plan, and the pricing page mentions no free trial, so trying NordVPN means paying and relying on the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Basic is the plan most buyers need. It costs $14.99 a month on monthly billing, or $65.88 for the first 12 months of the one-year plan, and the pricing page lists its regular yearly price as $139.08. Budget on that regular figure: it's more than twice the first-year price, though still less than twelve months of monthly billing. Complete costs $19.99 a month, or $77.88 for the first year against a regular $219.48, a big step up if you already have a password manager. Prime runs $29.99 a month, or $113.88 for the first year against a regular $296.28, and adds insurance against identity theft and cyber extortion, plus credit monitoring.
Choose NordVPN if repeated outside reviews of the no-logs claims weigh most in your decision and 10 devices are enough. If the bill after year one worries you more, Proton VPN's VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year for 10 devices and has a free plan to try first. For a household with more than 10 devices, look at Surfshark, which allows unlimited simultaneous connections on every plan but doesn't publish its renewal prices.
Written by Lokesh Kapoor
Pros & cons
NordVPN pros and cons
What it does well
- Deloitte's 2024 no-logs review covered Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated and P2P servers
- NordLynx is based on WireGuard, and NordWhisper is offered for restrictive networks
- Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee, claimed by messaging support
- Prime includes identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000 and 1-bureau credit monitoring
Where it falls short
- Basic's listed regular yearly price, $139.08, is more than twice its $65.88 introductory year
- The ad and tracker blocker and anti-malware start on Complete, not on Basic
- Every plan stops at 10 devices, where Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections
Editor's assessment from vendor documentation and published pricing
Pricing
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN's paid plans start at $5.49/month, above the $5 median across the 5 tools in our VPN Services ranking.
Basic
$5.49/mo
per month
or $14.99/mo billed monthly
- 10 devices secured at once
- Scam and phishing protection
- Dark Web Monitor
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Usage: 1-year price billed $65.88 upfront for the first 12 months; the page lists the regular yearly price as $139.08. The 2-year plan is billed $94.23 upfront for the first term. Month to month is billed every month. Sales tax may apply.
Complete
$6.49/mo
per month
or $19.99/mo billed monthly
- 10 devices secured at once
- Ad and tracker blocker
- Anti-malware and browsing protection
- Cross-platform password manager
- Email, call and message protection
Usage: 1-year price billed $77.88 upfront for the first 12 months; the page lists the regular yearly price as $219.48. The 2-year plan is billed $121.23 upfront for the first term. Month to month is billed every month. Sales tax may apply.
Prime
$9.49/mo
per month
or $29.99/mo billed monthly
- Everything in Complete
- Identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000
- Cyber extortion insurance up to $100,000
- 1-bureau credit monitoring
- Credit freeze assistance
Usage: 1-year price billed $113.88 upfront for the first 12 months; the page lists the regular yearly price as $296.28. The 2-year plan is billed $202.23 upfront for the first term. Month to month is billed every month. Sales tax may apply. The insurance benefits are issued by HSB Specialty Insurance Company under a master policy.
Checked against Nord Security's pricing page on October 5, 2026 · see the full breakdown
Capabilities
NordVPN features
Checked against the same feature list as every other tool in its category.
Privacy & Trust
- Not included:Anonymous signup & paymentRegister without an email address and pay in cash or cryptocurrency.
- Included:Independently audited no-logsA third-party firm has verified and published that the no-logs claim holds.
- Included:Open-source appsClient source code is public and independently reviewable.
- Included:Privacy-friendly jurisdictionIncorporated outside major intelligence-sharing arrangements.
- Included:RAM-only serversServers run from memory, so a reboot wipes everything and nothing persists to disk.
Network & Speed
- Included:Dedicated IP optionA static IP address for services that block shared VPN addresses.Paid add-on at checkout
- Included:Large global server networkThousands of servers across many countries for choice and load spreading.
- Included:Reliable streaming accessConsistently works with major streaming services rather than intermittently.
- Included:WireGuard protocolModern protocol offering substantially better speed than legacy options.
Apps & Extras
- Included:Ad and tracker blockingBlocks ads, trackers and malicious domains at the DNS level.Complete plan and up
- Not included:Free tierA free plan that stays usable, rather than a limited trial.
- Included:Kill switchBlocks all traffic if the VPN connection drops, preventing exposure.
- Included:Split tunnellingRoute selected apps through the VPN and the rest directly.
- Not included:Unlimited simultaneous devicesOne subscription covers every device you own without a connection cap.
Ecosystem
NordVPN integrations
- Router firmware
- Browser extensions
- Meshnet
Videos
Watch NordVPN in action
Product walkthroughs from NordVPN's own YouTube channel.
How to set up the NordVPN app on Linux
Published by NordVPNWatch on YouTube
Alternatives
Top NordVPN alternatives
Tools that do the same job, from the same category.
Surfshark
Best for households that need one VPN plan to cover an unlimited number of devices
From $4.24/mo
Proton VPN
Best for privacy-minded users who want audited no-logs claims and a free plan to start on
Free plan
ExpressVPN
Best for households that want one VPN on phones, laptops, a router and a smart TV
From $6.24/mo
Fit check
Will NordVPN fit your team?
Support
- Email support
- Live chat
- Knowledge base
Training
- Documentation
- Video tutorials
Deployment
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
Typical users
- Freelancers
- Small businesses
- Mid-size companies
- Enterprises
FAQs
NordVPN FAQs
Written by our editorial team.
How much does NordVPN cost?
NordVPN Basic costs $14.99 a month on monthly billing, or $65.88 for the first 12 months of the one-year plan, and the pricing page lists its regular yearly price as $139.08. Complete is $19.99 a month, or $77.88 for the first year against a regular $219.48. Prime is $29.99 a month, or $113.88 for the first year against a regular $296.28. Sales tax may apply. See NordVPN pricing for the two-year plans.
Does NordVPN have a free trial?
NordVPN's pricing page doesn't offer a free trial, and there's no free plan: Basic, Complete and Prime are all paid. What Nord offers instead is a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you tell Nord within 30 days of buying, you get a full refund, and you ask for it by messaging support. You still pay upfront, so on a one-year plan the whole first-year price is charged before you can claim it back.
Does NordVPN keep logs?
NordVPN says it doesn't, and outside firms have reviewed that claim several times: PwC AG Switzerland in 2018 and 2020, and Deloitte in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The 2024 assurance report by Deloitte Audit Lithuania, under the ISAE 3000 (Revised) standard, covered standard VPN, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated and P2P servers. Nord operates out of Panama, which it describes as having no data retention laws that would apply to VPN providers.
How many devices can I use with NordVPN?
Up to 10 at once, on every plan. Basic, Complete and Prime each secure 10 devices simultaneously, so a higher tier adds security and identity tools rather than more device slots. Nord says its apps cover all major operating systems and devices, and it offers browser proxy extensions for shared devices. Surfshark, by contrast, allows unlimited simultaneous connections; see NordVPN vs Surfshark for how the two compare.
What's the difference between NordVPN Basic, Complete and Prime?
All three include the VPN and cover 10 devices; the tiers differ in the extras. Basic adds scam and phishing protection and Dark Web Monitor. Complete adds an ad and tracker blocker, anti-malware and browsing protection, a cross-platform password manager, and email, call and message protection. Prime includes everything in Complete plus identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000, cyber extortion insurance up to $100,000, 1-bureau credit monitoring and credit freeze assistance. HSB Specialty Insurance Company issues the insurance under a master policy.
Sources & methodology
Product details come from Nord Security's public website and documentation (Panama). Every plan and price was checked against the vendor's pricing page on October 5, 2026. We haven't tested this product hands-on; the verdict is a desk assessment. How we research and rank tools
- Founded 2012
- 8 languages supported
- nordsecurity.com
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