Why I Still Recommend Nordvpn To Most People In 2025 - Especially With The Latest Update

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• I tested nan very celebrated NordVPN, and it checks each nan VPN boxes of reliability, performance, and features.
• The NordLynx protocol has accelerated and unafraid connections worldwide, and features for illustration specialty servers, an antivirus (offline malware scanner for PCs), and a Dark Web Monitor are welcome.
• There is nary divided tunneling characteristic connected iOS, and it doesn't person nan IKEv2/IPSec protocol connected astir (if not all) devices.

You will travel crossed NordVPN rather often erstwhile shopping astir for nan best VPN service. The VPN appears successful almost each proposal list, not by luck aliases chance, but because it's genuinely a apical contender, and ZDNET's prime for the champion VPN overall, arsenic good arsenic the champion VPN for streaming and the champion VPN for iPhones. That said, experiences will ever vary. Some users for illustration NordVPN's closest rival, ExpressVPN.

Also: The champion free VPNs of 2025: Secure, safe, and accelerated VPNs

This reappraisal is solely to put NordVPN successful nan spotlight. If you want a sneak peek earlier committing financially to nan service, we person each nan details. I'll screen nan acquisition connected NordVPN relationship speeds, server network, streaming/gaming/torrenting capabilities, protection and privacy, user-friendliness, and more. 

I'll besides reappraisal nan pricing and fto you successful connected which NordVPN woody scheme has nan champion worth proposal. (Read much astir how we trial and reappraisal VPNs here.)

Many server locations, but which 1 should you choose?

NordVPN has 6,400+ servers dispersed crossed 111 countries, somewhat much than ExpressVPN aliases Surfshark. A bully server distribution web intends easy entree to unafraid IP addresses for watching contented anyplace aliases uncovering adjacent servers pinch amended connections (the shorter nan region to nan server, nan faster nan speed). 

Should you get stuck connected which server to use, you tin pat nan Quick Connect fastener and nan app will automatically prime nan fastest and astir optimized server for your location.

The infrastructure besides includes further specialty servers, specified as;

• Double VPN: These are different from nan modular servers successful that they bounce postulation done aggregate servers for other privacy.
• P2P: These are optimized for unafraid and faster torrenting (you can't torrent pinch nan regular servers).
  
• Obfuscated servers: These are designed to camouflage your VPN usage, enabling you to bypass geo-restrictions pinch ease.
  
• Onion Over VPN: These servers not only way your postulation done nan VPN but besides via nan Tor Network, adding a furniture of privateness to your browsing.
  
• Dedicated IP: You tin acquisition a backstage IP address, opportunity to usage connected your website, if you don't want nan shared ones.
  

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

Speed and streaming performance: Is NordVPN fast?

VPNs will mostly slow down your connections, chiefly because of nan underlying unafraid information transportation processes, for illustration encryption. 

NordVPN isn't an objection to this rule. We saw an mean 15% dip successful download speeds from aggregate server locations. Still, NordVPN was nan fastest. It was marginally faster than ExpressVPN successful North America and Europe, but nan second did amended successful South America, Australia, and immoderate Asian Pacific locations. I utilized nan Ookla Speed Test instrumentality online to grounds speeds earlier and aft connecting to NordVPN.

Notably, utilizing a VPN affected some download and upload speeds. This wasn't overmuch of a interest since speeds were conscionable somewhat beneath nan baseline connections without a VPN. Servers adjacent my location didn't registry velocity losses beyond 7%. Thus, you shouldn't person problems utilizing NordVPN for high-bandwidth streaming aliases gaming connected immoderate accelerated connection.

Also: How proxy servers really work, and why they're truthful valuable

NordVPN's precocious speeds tin beryllium attributed to an in-house protocol called NordLynx, which is optimized to minimize velocity losses. It's built connected nan WireGuard protocol that galore VPN apps successful nan manufacture already use, owed to its accelerated speeds.

Streaming

NordVPN worked pinch astir platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix astir nan world. I didn't person immoderate of that "you look to beryllium utilizing a VPN aliases proxy" correction message. If you brushwood problems accessing geo-restricted sites, you tin move to nan OpenVPN protocol. It integrates an obfuscation tech that disguises VPN postulation to debar discovery by platforms that artifact VPNs.

While streaming pinch NordVPN, I could easy move to nan champion video streaming quality. It supports ultra-HD contented streaming without immoderate buffering. 

I didn't rather for illustration that streaming servers aren't intelligibly marked, for illustration they are successful CyberGhost. The differentiation saves you from  manually testing servers to find 1 that useful amended pinch streaming.

Gaming 

Gaming enthusiasts tin play smoothly pinch NordVPN. Its robust features, for illustration encryption, greatly thief to debar ISP throttling and DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, some of which tin origin crippled stuttering while playing online.

Also: Best recreation VPNs 2025: Expert-tested for streaming and bypassing state blocks

You should ever effort to link to server locations adjacent by for nan champion gaming experience. As noted successful my earlier velocity trial results, latency accrued importantly connected distant servers. Latency, aliases ping, refers to nan clip it takes a awesome to recreation betwixt your instrumentality and nan service, and past backmost again, and tin consequence successful lag during gaming if it's excessively precocious (above 150ms). 

If you're ever inviting friends complete to play games, you mightiness autumn successful emotion pinch NordVPN's Meshnet feature. It allows you to group up an encrypted section area web (LAN) for each your gaming devices and bask multiplayer games online without experiencing lag.

Online protection features: How unafraid is NordVPN?

NordVPN has plentifulness of information features. I'm impressed by nan developers' efforts, consistently adding blase protection features you won't find successful different VPNs. Here's what you tin expect.

Encryption and IP protection

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption – presently nan champion modular for information security. Encryption refers to nan process by which information transiting to and from your instrumentality is transformed into unreadable characters. This makes it difficult for net work providers (ISPs), Wi-Fi owners, aliases hackers to spot aliases way your online activities.

There are besides personality protection features, including a termination move that instantly cuts disconnected net entree if nan VPN relationship accidentally fails, preventing your IP reside from being exposed. 

Also: The champion VPN services for iPhone successful 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Plus, you tin way your postulation done its backstage domain sanction servers (DNS) alternatively of nan ones issued by your ISP. This acts arsenic leak protection, blocking 3rd parties from seeing your DNS requests and monitoring your activities. 

NordVPN passed each nan leak tests I performed connected it. My IP address, DNS, and WebRTC requests weren't exposed connected immoderate site. The VPN tin forestall leaks connected some IPv4 and IPv6 connections, while astir VPNs only connection IPv4 protection.

This year, nan institution launched NordWhisper, a caller protocol designed to let users to link to VPN servers from networks that typically limit accepted VPN postulation and person restrictive web policies. In a caller work update, NordVPN has revealed nan merchandise of a afloat graphical personification interface (GUI) for Linux.

Protocols

You tin take betwixt 2 protocols, NordLynx and OpenVPN. The supplier nary longer supports IKEv2/IPSec connected astir devices, including iOS and MacOS. IKEv2 useful good connected smartphone devices and was antecedently disposable to iPhone users.

I often urge NordLynx because of its accelerated speeds. OpenVPN is besides convenient and customizable, allowing you to take betwixt UDP (which is fast) and TCP (which is reliable for astir usage cases). 

Threat protection

NordVPN goes beyond securing your connections, offering precocious devices for blocking ads, malware, and hidden trackers utilized by third-party websites and apps to spy connected you. Threat Protection besides checks nan information of URLs and warns you from opening risky sites. The PC version, Threat Protection Pro, besides has antivirus capabilities, scanning immoderate downloaded files for trojans, spyware, and viruses.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

There are moreover much information features:

• Split tunneling: You tin easy take immoderate apps aliases websites to passageway to utilizing nan VPN, and exclude others.
• Dark Web Monitor: NordVPN perpetually checks if your delicate details, including emails and passwords, person been leaked connected risky sites. You tin past enactment swiftly earlier cybercriminals return afloat power of your compromised accounts.
  
• Meshnet: This characteristic allows you to create a virtual web (similar to a LAN network) and safely transportation files.
  

Privacy

NordVPN has stringent measures to protect your privacy. Its no-logs argumentation has been audited by independent parties for transparency (the astir caller audit was done by Deloitte successful 2024). Essentially, this intends nan VPN strictly adheres to a argumentation of not collecting aliases storing users' backstage data, including browser searches. Plus, each NordVPN servers are RAM-only, meaning they're wiped cleanable during regular server reboots.

Considering nan institution is headquartered successful Panama, it's overmuch much difficult for 3rd parties to entree your data. Business entities successful Panama aren't obligated to cod and shop their customers' information. Also, nan state doesn't beryllium to nan 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances, referring to countries that stock surveillance information and intelligence connected their citizens.

Also: The champion VPNs for businesses and teams of 2025: Expert tested

Still, you request to beryllium alert that NordVPN tin stock your accusation successful immoderate instances. I came crossed these quotes while going done its privacy policy;

"We stock your individual information pinch different Nord group companies to transportation retired our regular business operations and to alteration america to support and supply our Services to you. We whitethorn besides stock nan interaction accusation of Nord business customers (i.e., our customers which usage our products arsenic a instrumentality for their business) pinch Nord group companies for trading of their B2B products purposes (business users person a correct to entity to specified transportation astatine immoderate time)."

Also:

"We whitethorn disclose individual information to found aliases workout our ineligible authorities aliases take sides against immoderate ineligible claims aliases different complaints. We whitethorn besides stock specified accusation if we judge it is basal successful bid to investigate, prevent, aliases return action regarding forbidden activities, suspected fraud, and violations of our General Terms."

What I gathered from these clauses is that NordVPN isn't wholly tamper-proof, but this is simply a privateness limitation you'll statement successful immoderate VPNs arsenic well. Thankfully, providers for illustration Private Internet Access (PIA) person successful nan past stuck to their guns and bravely refused to comply pinch orders to stock a user's information. We've yet to spot NordVPN walk this test.

Pricing: Which is nan champion NordVPN woody for you?  

NordVPN offers gradual subscriptions from different plans, namely Complete, Plus (without unreality storage), and Basic (missing immoderate features for illustration ad/tracker/ malware protection). The cheapest (basic) scheme costs $3.59/month – amounting to $96.93 for nan full two-year (plus 3 months free) period. The adjacent astir affordable subscription, which I highly urge because it's packed pinch elite features, costs $4.49/month (coming to $121.23 for nan full two-year positive 3 months free period). Here is simply a database of nan disposable plans arsenic of nan clip of writing:

All NordVPN subscriptions travel pinch a 30-day money-back guarantee, including nan one-month plans. This allows you to effort nan work risk-free and inquire for a refund if you alteration your mind. The VPN doesn't person a free type aliases a trial. Android users, however, tin get a seven-day free proceedings if they download nan app from nan Google App Store. 

You tin simultaneously link up to 10 devices pinch a NordVPN subscription, and purchases tin beryllium made utilizing supported debit aliases in installments cards, Google Pay, PayPal, aliases cryptocurrencies.

Great personification experience, but immoderate things you whitethorn not like…

NordVPN apps are convenient moreover for little tech-savvy users. You tin easy download a autochthonal app for your instrumentality and link wrong minutes. The app has a representation interface wherever you tin simply pat a location and connect. As I noted successful my NordVPN and Proton VPN comparison, nan Linux app isn't arsenic straightforward since it's only controlled done nan bid statement interface (CLI).

NordVPN is compatible with:

• Mobile devices: Android, iOS, and iPadOS
• PCs: Windows, MacOS, Linux, ChromeOS
  
• Browsers: Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge 
  
• Smart TVs: Android TV and Apple TV
• Gaming consoles: PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
• Routers
• Media boxes: Fire TV Stick and Chromecast

I noticed immoderate issues pinch nan NordVPN app. Most notably, it likes imposing itself complete different applications. The VPN insists connected moving successful nan inheritance moreover aft you've disconnected it (you tin move this disconnected nether Settings > Connections). It tin besides interfere pinch nan functioning of immoderate apps aliases entree to websites, mistakenly identifying them arsenic a threat.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

ZDNET's buying advice

NordVPN has awesome work that's worthy your money. It's not 1 of nan cheapest VPNs, but nan singular database of precocious protection features is beyond astir VPNs. You tin recreation anyplace and still entree geo-blocked contented aliases integer services pinch ease, acknowledgment to nan expansive world server web and speedy connections.

The work isn't without its shortfalls. The institution has done distant pinch nan IKEv2/IPSec protocol, which was rather businesslike connected mobile devices. Also, nan app often asks to instal secondary add-on features, which tin beryllium annoying. The drawbacks are, however, easy overshadowed by nan app's seamless performance. 

What to do if NordVPN isn't connecting aliases working?

You tin effort immoderate things to troubleshoot NordVPN. If you can't unfastened nan app, log in, aliases link (or you support getting disconnected), location whitethorn beryllium respective causes, from server nonaccomplishment to app malfunction.

First, corroborate that your net is moving properly. Also, cheque if immoderate caller updates are disposable and instal them. For login challenges, guarantee you're utilizing nan correct credentials.

The rumor mightiness besides beryllium nan circumstantial server you're connecting to, truthful effort different servers and spot if that helps. Remove different VPNs moving connected your instrumentality since they could besides interfere pinch NordVPN. Check whether your antivirus aliases firewall (like Windows Defender) is blocking VPN connections. 

Restarting nan app aliases your instrumentality mightiness besides help, aliases you tin effort uninstalling and reinstalling nan app. If thing seems to work, scope retired to nan NordVPN support squad for assistance.

How tin I cancel my NordVPN subscription?

You tin cancel your NordVPN subscription connected nan company's website. Sign successful to your account, navigate to nan billing section, and tin cancel auto-renewal. This will not only terminate your subscription but besides extremity early recurring payments. You tin inquire for a refund if 30 days haven't lapsed since your acquisition by contacting nan support squad connected chat aliases email.

What are nan champion alternatives to NordVPN?

ExpressVPN is 1 of nan champion alternatives to NordVPN. It offers a proprietary protocol pinch accelerated connections (just for illustration NordLynx), useful pinch geo-restrictions, and has tons of information features, including a locator and malware blocker. Surfshark and Proton VPN are besides coagulated options, providing awesome features to unafraid your online activities.

Does NordVPN activity successful China?

No, NordVPN doesn't activity successful China. The institution has made this clear and galore group who person traveled to China person confirmed arsenic much. Most VPN services are either blocked aliases restricted by nan Great Firewall of China.

Latest updates

• July 29, 2025: After semipermanent testing, ZDNET awarded NordVPN pinch an Editors' Choice award. Information regarding nan latest NordWhisper characteristic was besides added successful nan privateness section.