NordVPN Review – Scam or not?
NordVPN is based in Panama, which makes it a privileged option when it comes to privacy and anonymity. Due to the fact that it is not located in the United States of America (USA) or the European Union (EU), there is no restrictive legislation applied to the company.
With a plethora of impressive features and with efficient encryption provided, NordVPN is a reliable VPN solution thats also cheap in price. We are going this VPN provider to analyze below (and it is PCMag.com Editors’ Choice). So, feel free to go ahead with checking through our NordVPN review and you will learn more details about the plans offered from this Panamanian service provider. After that, the choice is yours as to whether or not you will give it a try or if you want to compare it to other providers like ExpressVPN.
Features of NordVPN
NordVPN has got a network of over 3500 worldwide server locations in 61 countries, which is more than enough. You can start using the VPN in a jiffy, making it a super-easy and one-click option for encryption. Now, there is double data encryption (as we are going to see below, at the respective section of our review). No logs are kept and Tor is supported, while there is the Kill Switch feature that helps you stay on track and avoid unwanted consequences of VPN failure.
Since at NordVPN they aim at providing an integrated solution for security, they also offer some free extras that add to the overall strength of your online protection system. For instance, you can benefit from Secret notes, Encrypted chat and Web proxy extensions.
Up to six simultaneous devices can be used with the same account, so you can use one subscription to secure the devices of your partner and kids, too. Learn more about cyber security regarding children on AlertDino.com.
P2P is accepted and there is full compatibility for you to get your hands on. Pretty awesome features, don’t you agree?
Online Security
As we have pointed out earlier, NordVPN is pretty serious with online security. Besides the use of military grade encryption (with SSL-based 2048-bit encryption), all the security protocols are supported. OpenVPN (which is the recommended), PPTP and L2TP / IPSec protocols are all offered. Apart from that, there is a great no logs policy that attracts the interest of VPN users and is guaranteed via the location of the company in Panama. What is more, Bitcoins are accepted as a payment method. Alongside all these online security options, you get from extensions like Secret notes, Encrypted chat and Web proxy for free.
On of their latest security upgrades is CyberSec: This technology protects against blocks ads, phishing, and malware websites!
NordVPN Compatibility
Nord VPN is supported on almost every single platform and a variety of protocols are available for every platform. Nord VPN offers PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN and IKEv2 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Mac OS X. Nord VPN offers PPTP and OpenVPN for Linux users while PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN and IKEv2 are available for iOS users (including iPhone & iPad).
Nord VPN provides OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP for Android users while Chrome OS users can benefit from Nord VPN’s PPTP protocol. Also, Nord VPN does provide support for routers, if the router supports VPN connections, or has custom firmware as dd-wrt or Tomato installed.
Pricing & Plans
There is a single plan for you to have your pick from in NordVPN. However, you can enjoy significant discounts for longer commitments. In specific, the monthly subscription costs $11.95 and this is not low. On the bright side, you can get a year for as low as $6.99 per month and the two or three years plan for $3.49/month each. So, you get it that you will need to commit for a substantial time period for saving money.
As for the free trial, it can be offered to you upon request for three days and the full money refund guarantee only lasts for the same period (three days, assuming that the service is not satisfactory to you).
Refund
NordVPN does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is also a three-day free trial offering a good opportunity to test the service before buying it. Users who pay with Bitcoin also get the advantage of a 30 days money back guarantee.
Support
NordVPN offers quite a few solutions in terms of support. First and foremost, you can get your question answered analytically at the FAQ section of their website. Proper software is available for every OS and device, facilitating the setup process for you. Then, there is a blog and strong presence on social media. Tutorials are also on offer and they can help you out learn more details about VPN. Apart from all these alternatives, you can also send them an email or submit a ticket. However, the best and most immediate solution for you would be the live chat and this is available 24/7 for your convenience.
Speed and Performance
When it comes to speed, there are substantial differences that we have encountered. Still, this is justified thanks to the different layers of encryption that we have used from time to time. As a whole, the speed has been decent and this is really good for P2P file sharing. Fortunately, the DNS speed was also good. We have encountered some minor glitches, but the general service has been satisfactory. The mobile apps offered by the VPN have been practical and pleasant to use. Since last time when we tested the service they’ve even improved their speeds significantly.
NordVPN Protocols & Encryption
Nord VPN offers three protocols, and all three come with high-level encryption:
- OpenVPN protocol comes with 2048 bit SSL encryption
- Nord VPN’s Double VPN is encrypted in double AES-256-CBC through multi-node farm.
- PPTP comes with MPPE-128 encryption
- L2TP/IPSec (IKEv1) protocol comes with AES-256 encryption
- IKEv2 comes with a number of improvements over IKEv1, and offers built-in NAT traversal, quicker tunnel convergence times and MOBIKE to name a few.
The software interface
NordVPN Review Conclusion
We have finished with our NordVPN review and we have managed to cover all the different aspects of the services provided. This company is located in Panama and this is a great advantage, when it comes to the lack of restrictive legislation applied. So, no logs are kept and this is the alpha and omega of using a VPN. Anonymity is also embraced, through the use of Bitcoins, military grade encryption and free extras, special features like the Kill Switch option and full compatibility with all the devices and OS.
Even though the monthly subscription is quite expensive, the longer commitments can be truly affordable and equally effective. The speed might vary according to the server used and the time you choose to use the VPN service. On the bright side, you can use up to six different devices at the same time with a single VPN account and this is certainly encouraging for large families or even small businesses.
There are multiple payment methods and superb support options for you to choose from for your utter convenience. As a whole, there are both advantages and disadvantages in using NordVPN. To be more particular:
Pros
- No logs are kept and anonymity is embraced
- P2P friendly VPN service
- Supports Bitcoin payments
- 30 days money back + 3 day free trial
- Money back guarantee includes BitCoin subscribers
- Automatic Kill Switch
- Up to six simultaneous devices in use
- Free extras enhancing your online protection
- Bitcoins accepted as payment method
- SmartPlay to bypass geo-restrictions
Cons
- Monthly subscription is not that affordable
- Speed can vary during peak hours
- There might be some glitches in performance
Go to nordvpn.com