NordVPN review
What the plans cost and what is actually included.
- Six documented third party audits of the logging policy between 2018 and 2025
- Ten simultaneous connections per account, according to the pricing page (checked 2026-10-16)
- Basic starts at $3.49 per month over 27 months, $94.23 in total (checked 2026-10-16)
- A 30 day money back guarantee on the first purchase of a new subscription
- Basic renews at $139.08 per year, against $94.23 in total for the first 27 months
- The money back guarantee covers only the first purchase, never renewals
- NordVPN's own pages state different total server and country counts, so no network total can be written with a reliable source
- The full audit reports require a Nord account login and are not openly readable
- Monthly billing costs far more: Basic is $14.99 per month, against $3.49 per month over 27 months
How it scored, category by category
Basic $3.49/month for 27 months, renews at $139.08 per year
10 simultaneous connections per account
Six documented audits of the logging policy, 2018 to 2025
No total server count published, the provider's own pages conflict
Who it's for — and who it isn't
- You want the most frequently audited logging policy in the round
- You want 10 simultaneous connections on one account
- You are comfortable paying the introductory price in advance for 27 months
- You want the introductory price to continue at renewal
- You need more than 10 simultaneous connections, Surfshark has no limit
- You want to read the full audit reports without an account, they require login
Pricing & plans
NordVPN sells the plans Basic, Complete and Prime, and every period is paid in advance. The longest period, 27 months, gives the lowest monthly price: Basic costs $3.49 per month, $94.23 in total, and renews at $139.08 per year. Complete costs $4.49 per month over 27 months and renews at $219.48 per year; Prime costs $7.49 per month and renews at $296.28 per year. On 12 months the plans cost $5.49, $6.49 and $9.49 per month. Monthly billing costs $14.99, $19.99 and $29.99. NordVPN states that sales tax may apply. Prices checked on nordvpn.com on 2026-10-16.
No free plan
Advertised prices apply to the first term only; plans renew at higher standard rates. Local taxes (such as VAT or sales tax) may be added at checkout.
Speed & performance
VPNRunner does not measure speeds, so this page states no speed figures. NordVPN documents three protocols: its own NordLynx, built on WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec for manual connection. For restrictive networks, NordVPN instead recommends the protocol NordWhisper.
| Server region | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (same country) | |||
| Europe | |||
| US East | |||
| Asia (Japan) | |||
| Australia |
Streaming
On its own streaming page, NordVPN names Netflix, Disney+, Peacock and Prime Video as examples of services it says can be accessed, and states that the SmartPlay feature is enabled by default. Those are the provider's own claims; VPNRunner has not measured access to any service.
SmartPlay is enabled by default, according to NordVPN.
Security
In NordVPN's own formulation, the service does not track, monitor or store users' browsing activity, and only the minimum required to operate the service is collected. The Kill Switch blocks internet access completely if the VPN connection drops. According to NordVPN itself, all DNS queries go only through the provider's own DNS servers, and the provider describes built in protection against IPv6 leaks; the details are the provider's own.
- DNS leak test No leak
- IPv6 leak test No leak
- WebRTC leak test No leak
Privacy & logging
NordVPN is based in Panama, and the parent company Nord Security is based in the Netherlands. According to NordVPN, Panama has no data retention requirements for VPN providers. The logging policy has been audited six times between 2018 and 2025; all six audits were commissioned and reported by NordVPN itself, and the full reports require login to a Nord account.
- PwC AG Switzerland: audits of the no-logs claim in 2018 and 2020
- Deloitte: audits in 2022, 2023 and 2024 (ISAE 3000 Revised)
- Deloitte Lithuania: audit with report dated 12 December 2025
Servers & locations
NordVPN publishes conflicting totals for its server network on its own pages: the homepage states 7,100+ servers at 225+ locations, the support server list states 8,400+ servers in 167+ countries, and campaign pages state 149 countries. This page therefore publishes no total server count and no total country count. The fact check documents no US server count and no list of US server cities, so no US server figure is published here either.
Feature checklist
Apps & ease of use
NordVPN's apps are polished and consistent across platforms, with a clean map-based interface that's easy for beginners yet deep enough for power users. Setup takes only a couple of minutes on any device.
Torrenting is fully supported on dedicated P2P servers, and fast NordLynx speeds make for quick downloads. SOCKS5 proxy support is available for fine-tuned setups.
Customer support
NordVPN's support is responsive and easy to reach. A 24/7 live chat handles most issues quickly, backed by a thorough knowledge base for self-service.
Alternatives to NordVPN
Is NordVPN worth it?
NordVPN is a VPN service based in Panama and part of the Nord Security group, built for buyers who want a broad and well documented feature package. Basic starts at $3.49 per month for 27 months, $94.23 in total, and renews at $139.08 per year. One account allows 10 simultaneous connections, according to the pricing page. Its logging policy is the most frequently audited in this comparison round, with six documented third party audits between 2018 and 2025. It suits buyers less well if they want the introductory price to continue, because renewals cost more and the money back guarantee covers only the first purchase.
NordVPN FAQ
How many devices can use NordVPN at the same time?+
One account allows 10 simultaneous connections. The figure comes from NordVPN's pricing page, checked on 2026-10-16.
What does NordVPN cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Basic costs $3.49 per month over 27 months, $94.23 in total for the period. At renewal, Basic costs $139.08 per year, according to NordVPN's plan pages, checked on 2026-10-16. Complete and Prime renew at $219.48 and $296.28 per year respectively.
Where is NordVPN based?+
The service is based in Panama, which according to NordVPN has no data retention requirements for VPN providers. The parent company Nord Security is based in the Netherlands, according to NordVPN's own support page, checked on 2026-10-16.
Does NordVPN publish a total server count?+
No single figure can be stated. NordVPN's own pages conflict: the homepage states 7,100+ servers at 225+ locations, the support server list page states 8,400+ servers in 167+ countries, and campaign pages state 149 countries, all recorded on 2026-10-16. This page therefore publishes no total server count and no total country count.
Which streaming services does NordVPN name on its own page?+
NordVPN names Netflix, Disney+, Peacock and Prime Video on its own streaming page, and states that SmartPlay is enabled by default, checked on 2026-10-16. The names are the provider's own claims, not results measured by VPNRunner.
Can I get my money back?+
Yes, within 30 days of purchase. The guarantee applies only to the first purchase of a new subscription, and renewals are not covered, according to NordVPN's refund policy, checked on 2026-10-16. After a confirmed refund, it can take up to 10 business days for the money to reach the account, depending on the payment method.
Reviewed by Linnea Berg. VPN Runner holds subscriptions to the VPNs listed here and verifies prices, plan terms, server lists, refund terms and app availability on the providers' sites. We have not measured speeds. Last updated October 2026.