Our Verdict
NordVPN is a company that provides customers with online security and privacy. The company offers its virtual private network (VPN) to individuals and businesses and comes with thousands of servers available internationally to allow for high-speed encrypted internet use.
If you’re currently looking for a VPN provider, the reliable and affordable long-term plans NordVPN offers make it a top choice. NordVPN is easy to set up, intuitive to use and specifically caters to businesses and teams.
NordVPN
No. Servers
5,500
No. Server Locations
59
Max No. of Devices
6
No. Servers
5,500
No. Server Locations
59
Max No. of Devices
6
With more servers than Express VPN, NordVPN comes out on top in terms of raw numbers, but a slightly lesser user experience than the winner, Nord VPN takes a narrow second place.
Details
NordVPN provides a good but not-quite-best user experience, and while we were able to connect quickly to most of the servers in its impressive library of 5,500, a few hiccups tainted an otherwise fantastic experience.
In test, we achieved fantastic download speeds via an Australian server, but found speeds were far slower using US servers. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to connect to a server in Mexico timed out. While we obviously couldn’t replicate speed tests with like-for-like network conditions, the failures to connect stood out.
With that said, we were able to access all the geo-restricted content we could think of once connected, with all video streaming in high definition without buffering. The user interface is simple to understand if not quite as visual as that of Express VPN’s.
Like Express VPN, Nord features DNS-leak detection and kill switches. Elsewhere, the VPN supports six simultaneous devices, and its split-tunnelling feature is very easy to use.
When signing up for 12 months, Nord VPN is cheaper than its rival at £45.48. Unless you pay per month, Express VPN only allows you to sign up for six months at £45.72 or 15 months at £76.23.
Price
£69.36 for 2 years, £41.40 for 1 year, £10.89/month
- Very good user experience
- Generally fast download speeds
- No-log policy
- Relatively low number of simultaneous connections
- Some connection issues in test
At a Glance
NordVPN is a competitive choice for a high-speed and reliable VPN. The service allows you to connect to up to six devices, and you can use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. NordVPN can also connect directly to your Wi-Fi router so that you can ensure all activity is secure.
NordVPN may be more expensive than other VPN options, but the company offers competitive pricing for multi-year plans. The monthly plan costs £8.44, but when you sign up for two years, you’ll be paying a total of £62.85 (or £2.62 per month). The company also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the product with no risk. You can also purchase the service with multiple payment options, including Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. NordVPN provides 24/7 support and is easy to reach should any issues come up.
As far as privacy is concerned, NordVPN has a no-log policy, which means the company doesn’t store any information about your online activity on its servers. Even if you’ve never used a VPN before, you’ll find it easy to install and intuitive to use. The app will automatically connect you to the best VPN server through its Quick Connect feature. NordVPN has 5,500 servers in 59 countries, including the UK, US, Canada and several countries throughout Europe. This helps ensure you’ll have a fast, stable internet connection wherever you are located while masking your IP address. The service also comes with a Kill Switch that will automatically block your device from accessing the internet, should the connection drop. This way, you don’t have to worry about a potential vulnerability if your Wi-Fi stops working.
NordVPN also offers access to a dedicated IP for an extra £4.12 per month (or £49.43 per year). This is an IP that only you can use and can provide a solution to accessing IP-restricted networks while still maintaining your anonymity.
Other Benefits
The company also offers NordVPN Teams a service that provides internet privacy for online businesses. NordVPN Teams makes it easy to manage and encrypt the accounts and activity of all the members on your team. The basic tier costs £4.94 per month per user.
Fine Print
It’s worth mentioning that in 2019, NordVPN announced that web browsing activity had been breached in one of the Finland servers in March 2018. That being said, this was an isolated incident and the company has since upgraded its security measures.
How NordVPN Stacks Up
There are plenty of VPN services out there, and it makes sense to research a few before committing to one. To help with your search, we’ve compared some of the key features of NordVPN with two competitors—ProtonVPN and CyberGhost.
NordVPN has the highest annual cost of the three companies. However, when you sign up for a two-year plan, the cost drops to £31.43 per year. A two-year plan for ProtonVPN totals £33.75 per year. CyberGhost still offers the most competitive pricing, at £29.58 per year for a two-year plan.
When it comes to the maximum number of devices you can use, NordVPN is on the lower end of the market with a limit of six devices. The company outshines the competition with the number of servers as well as operating countries (59). The company operates under the jurisdiction of Panama, where there are no laws that mandate data retention. Thus, it is able to maintain a strong commitment to privacy and a no-logs policy.
Compare NordVPN with CyberGhost
NordVPN
No. Servers
5,500
No. Server Locations
59
Max No. of Devices
6
No. Servers
5,500
No. Server Locations
59
Max No. of Devices
6
With more servers than Express VPN, NordVPN comes out on top in terms of raw numbers, but a slightly lesser user experience than the winner, Nord VPN takes a narrow second place.
Details
NordVPN provides a good but not-quite-best user experience, and while we were able to connect quickly to most of the servers in its impressive library of 5,500, a few hiccups tainted an otherwise fantastic experience.
In test, we achieved fantastic download speeds via an Australian server, but found speeds were far slower using US servers. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to connect to a server in Mexico timed out. While we obviously couldn’t replicate speed tests with like-for-like network conditions, the failures to connect stood out.
With that said, we were able to access all the geo-restricted content we could think of once connected, with all video streaming in high definition without buffering. The user interface is simple to understand if not quite as visual as that of Express VPN’s.
Like Express VPN, Nord features DNS-leak detection and kill switches. Elsewhere, the VPN supports six simultaneous devices, and its split-tunnelling feature is very easy to use.
When signing up for 12 months, Nord VPN is cheaper than its rival at £45.48. Unless you pay per month, Express VPN only allows you to sign up for six months at £45.72 or 15 months at £76.23.
Price
£69.36 for 2 years, £41.40 for 1 year, £10.89/month
- Very good user experience
- Generally fast download speeds
- No-log policy
- Relatively low number of simultaneous connections
- Some connection issues in test
CyberGhost
No. Servers
6,800+
No. Server Locations
89
Max No. of Devices
7
No. Servers
6,800+
No. Server Locations
89
Max No. of Devices
7
Cyberghost goes almost toe-to-toe with the like of Nord VPN and Express VPN, providing a range of features and some clever extras that add up to a great experience at a slightly lower cost.
Details
Cyberghost has more servers than the providers in the top two spots, and allows users to connect more devices simultaneously than both. On paper and in practice, it’s a real contender.
We were able to connect to all the servers we tested in around five seconds and recorded some impressive download speeds from servers in France and the US, if not from all we reviewed. All of that was made simple by Cyberghost’s accessible user interface.
The VPN sports some unique features that make the experience all the better. For example, there are one-click options to connect to the best servers for streaming, gaming and torrenting. It also has an in-built ad-blocker and options to either switch VPN protocols or have it set automatically. In terms of pricing, Cyberghost is similar to its rivals, if a little more competitive.
Cyberghost’s user interface is a lot more basic than the biggest names in the market. In fact, if you’re new to VPNs in general and you’ve been sold on the idea of accessing the libraries of foreign streaming services, you might feel thrown in the deep end when you boot up Cyberghost for the first time, since there’s little in the way of hand-holding, signposting or contextualisation for novices.
Price
£41.40 for 1 year, £69.36 for 2 years, £77.61 for 3 years, £10.89/month
- Clever features
- Generally fast download speeds
- No-log policy
- May be daunting for novices
- Not the cheapest option
Is NordVPN Right For You or Your Business?
If you’re looking to protect your personal online activity, NordVPN is a strong choice to consider. A VPN can provide online protection if you need to visit unsecure websites, you often use public Wi-Fi or you simply want to make sure your online data and browsing history are safe.
NordVPN Teams is a business-centric offering that makes it easy to encrypt all your team members’ accounts through one portal. You’ll be able to protect every device connected to your network. If privacy is key to your business and there are multiple people working at your company, NordVPN Teams provides a convenient solution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do VPNs work?
A VPN provides a user online privacy and security by masking your IP address and encrypting your internet activity. This is helpful for keeping your browsing data anonymous, and it also has applications for viewing country-restricted content regardless of your location.
What’s the best plan NordVPN offers?
The best plan you can get is the two-year plan, at £62.87. After that, you can purchase an annual subscription for £41.66 or a monthly subscription for £8.44.
How do I cancel my NordVPN subscription?
You can cancel your subscription at any time. You can do this through your online account under “billing.”
What are the disadvantages of using a VPN?
VPNs can slow down your internet access. You may also run into issues accessing certain sites with a VPN. At the same time, people use VPNs to access websites that are otherwise restricted.