How to use NordVPN – is NordVPN worth it 2020? You might have lot of questions about NordVPN. Panama-registered NordVPN is a hugely popular VPN provider with more than 12 million customers around the globe. The company sells itself on features, and there’s a lot to like. How many servers does NordVPN have? The NordVPN network has 5,441 servers in 80 locations across 59 countries. What platforms does NordVPN have apps for? You get Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux and Android TV apps, and NordVPN also offers tutorials to set up the service on many more devices. How many devices can you use with NordVPN? NordVPN boasts support for six simultaneous connections, meaning you can use up to six devices; and that’s probably enough for you to use all your devices at once. Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
NORDVPN PROS & CONS – Is NordVPN worth it 2020
PROS:
- Excellent security features
- Over 5,800 servers in 59 countries
- No logging policy
- Support Netflix streaming
- Supports torrenting and P2P sharing
- Protects up to 6 devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS:
- Expensive if billed monthly
- No phone support
- Some servers can be slow sometimes
Bottom line: Is NordVPN good? NordVPN is a reliable VPN for P2P sharing and streaming. It offers fast speeds, safe security, and a wide network of worldwide servers. This makes it one of the best VPN for the money.
Is using a VPN legal?
Using VPNs is perfectly legal in most countries including the US, Canada, and the UK. However, choosing to do illegal activities through a VPN is illegal.VPN’s are a lot like cars in this regard. Using a car is perfectly legal by and large. Using the car to help rob a bank is not.
WHAT IS A VPN AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE IT?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is basically an internet security service. It changes your online address and hides your location. A VPN also encrypts your data while you’re online.
Hackers and/or spies won’t know who or where you are. They won’t even know what you do online. A VPN provider keeps your online identity and activity private. Is NordVPN worth it 2020? If you want a good VPN with top-notch security, we recommend NordVPN (
) to that of ExpressVPN () for great speeds with a higher price.
There are other services like TunnelBear and OnionRouter, but for now, let’s take a peek at NordVPN.
HOW DOES NORDVPN WORK?
Here’s how VPN services work.
When you browse the web, all your internet traffic passes through your internet service provider (ISP). Basically, this means your ISP can see all your online activities. Even more scary, they can give that information to government agencies.
A VPN redirects your internet traffic through a remote VPN server. This hides your IP address so no one can see your location. It also encrypts all the data so no one can see what sites you’re visiting.
Connections to and from the servers are encrypted. This means the data is exchanged as a code. The information is only understood by your device and the VPN server. Anyone hacking your connection won’t be able to tell what you’re doing. Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
Why use a VPN:
- Keep your online activities private
- Keep things like your passwords, banking credentials, etc. from being hacked
- Securely browse when you’re using public wifi
- Bypass censorship when traveling in certain foreign countries
How to use NordVPN – Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
Compare NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
Here’s a breakdown of how NordVPN compares to two of the most popular services, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA). Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average speed * | 17.9 Mbps | 106 Mbps | 43 Mbps |
| Encryption Type | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 128-bit AES |
| Kill Switch | Yes, excluding Android | Yes, desktop only | Yes |
| Allows Torrenting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Records Identifying Logs | No | No | No |
| Unblocks Netflix US | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unblocks Amazon Prime | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unblocks Hulu | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unblocks BBC iPlayer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lowest monthly cost | $3.49 per month | $6.67 per month | $2.85 per month |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Overall Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
How much does NordVPN cost – Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
NordVPN has a clear and simple pricing structure with four straightforward plans – a more in-depth and up to the minute explanation. Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
You can opt to pay $11.95 a month with the monthly plan, falling to an effective $6.99 a month (a chunky 41% discount) if you pay for a year upfront.
NordVPN’s two-year plan is now $4.99, up from $3.99 the last time we reviewed the service, while the three-year plan has increased from $2.99 to $3.49.
Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
On the face of it, yes, but it’s true that bargain hunters can find significantly better deals than NordVPN elsewhere. Private Internet Access’ annual plan costs just $3.33 a month, for instance, while Surfshark’s two-year plan is an effective $1.99. Still, NordVPN is far from the most expensive VPN around, and we think it’s fairly priced for what you get.
What methods can you use to pay for NordVPN?
There are plenty of payment options provided by NordVPN, with support for cards, PayPal, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies (via CoinPayments), and assorted other systems (AmazonPay, UnionPay, SOFORT Banking and more).
Does NordVPN have a free trial?
Although NordVPN claims to have a ‘risk-free VPN trial’, that’s not really true. You must hand over your cash to try out the service, just like everybody else; that ‘risk-free’ part just means that if you’re unhappy, you can get a refund under NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
This is at least a decent guarantee, though, with no sneaky small print clauses which mean that the policy doesn’t apply if you’ve logged on ‘too many’ times, or transferred ‘too much’ data. Just use the service as much as you need to test it out, and if NordVPN doesn’t work for you, cancel in the first 30 days and you’ll get a full refund. Is NordVPN worth it 2020?
How good is NordVPN for online gaming?
Is NordVPN worth it 2020 for gaming? A VPN isn’t really designed for gamers, mainly because the likelihood is that it’ll decrease performance, snaffling a little of your bandwidth – as we saw in our NordVPN performance tests – and potentially adding a bit of latency (although how much latency can vary widely, depending on where the VPN server and game server are respectively located).
If you’re serious about games, and particularly if you’re playing the likes of shooters where twitch reactions are required, the added latency will be a real sticking point. That said, for other games, and more casual players, if the proverbial internet winds are blowing in the right direction, and server locations are favorable, you may not notice much difference at all.
A VPN still won’t particularly help you when gaming, although it could potentially better protect you from the (admittedly fairly unlikely) prospect of being hit by DDoS attacks, and you might be able to access gaming content in regions that are otherwise unavailable to you.
NordVPN excelled once again. They had fast server connections, good stats and we had zero issues while gaming. Besides being awesome at gaming related stuff they are also our overall top-rated provider.
Haste Game Recap
While connected with their Quick Connect feature, NordVPN had a connection speed almost identical as without VPN. Ping was down only 5.1ms and a total Packet Loss was a mere 0.1%.
- Ping: 54.9ms (+5.1ms)
- Jitter: 1.3ms (+0ms)
- Packet Loss: 0.1% (+0.1%)
Speedtest.net
In our test, the ping climbed from 7ms without VPN to 22ms with VPN, which in all honestly was not even noticeable. Download speed loss was 1.31Mbps and Upload loss was 0.20Mbps.
- Ping: 22ms (+16ms)
- Download: 19.64Mbps (-1.45Mbps)
- Upload: 2.12Mbps (-0.67Mbps)
We also took a look at the Apex Legend’s own servers to guarantee that we are always connected to the best server available. The best ping happened to be their Amsterdam server, coming in with 58ms.
Playing on US Servers
Of course, when connecting so far away there is going to be a delay in your connection. Just based on the physical distance the data has to travel there is going to be a loss on connection time, nothing a VPN provider can do about that. But what they can do is minimalize extra time on their end, and NordVPN has done it very well. Here are some stats about our connection to the US server.
Haste Check
- Ping: 132.6ms (+82.8ms)
- Jitter: 3.3ms (+2.0ms)
- Packet Loss: 0.0%
Speedtest.net
- Ping: 128ms (+122ms)
- Download: 11.27Mbps (-9.82Mbps)
- Upload: 2.00Mbps (-0.79Mbps)
Gaming Session Recap
- Ping (EU to EU): 54.9ms (+5.1ms)
- Long Distance Connection PING (EU to US): 128ms (+122ms)
- Download: 19.64Mbps (-1.45Mbps)
- Upload: 2.12Mbps (-0.67Mbps)
How easy is it to set up NordVPN apps?
The 3-step process for signing up and installing NordVPN is extremely simple. First, head to NordVPN.com to choose your payment plan. You can choose between 1-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year plans. Once you select and create an account with your billing information, you’ll be directed to the setup process you see below.
Step 1:
Be sure you have at least 19 MB of free space on your local drive. Choose which drive you would like to install NordVPN.
Step 2:
Select where you would like to create shortcuts for NordVPN. The setup wizard gives you the option to select between the desktop and start menu/finder folder, or both.
Step 3:
And it’s as easy as that! NordVPN has been installed. From here, you can automatically launch and begin using your VPN for secure browsing, streaming, and torrenting.
Once installed, NordVPN will provide an automatic software update if available. You can either choose to do so then or remind you of the update at a later time.
What is good in NordVPN?
Feature: CyberSec
One feature of NordVPN is CyberSec, which you will be prompted to add after the completed install. This can further protect you against intrusive ads, malware, phishing attempts, and other threats.
While it is optional, there are three major benefits to enabling CyberSec:
- First, the main feature of CyberSec is integrated protection from phishing scams and major cyber threats. It immediately compares websites you’re browsing with known blacklists and will block your access if malware, spyware, or any malicious software is known.
- Second, CyberSec will protect from any DDoS attacks, even if malware has already begun to infect your device. CyberSec will immediately eliminate connection and communication between your device and the control server of the botnet.
- Third, CyberSec will hide any of those pesky pop-ups, autoplay ads with or without audio, and other distracting advertisements. This allows for faster load speed and an all-around better browsing experience.
Specialty Servers
NordVPN offers multiple types of specialty servers, allowing you to choose which best fits your needs:
- With dedicated servers, you can select an IP address that is unique to you and unable to be shared with any other NordVPN user, creating an even more secure browsing experience.
- Need extra security? NordVPN offers double encryption while sending your information through two secure VPN servers.
- Trying to load information abroad in a location with restricted internet access? With NordVPN, you can browse or stream using one of their obfuscated servers that gives you full access to the information you need right away.
- If you’re looking for even better security in protecting your data and behaviors online, NordVPN can be paired with The Onion Router, or Tor, that enables anonymous communication and protects from traffic analysis.
- Have no limit on peer-to-peer file sharing with NordVPN, with no bandwidth threshold or activity tracking.
NordVPN’s features create a secure online experience for you, whether it’s protecting you while on a public Wi-Fi network or giving you access to any content while traveling. While NordVPN’s setup and use are extremely simple, their 24/7 support is one of the strongest features that will help you along the way.
Military-Grade Encryption and Data Protection
NordVPN’s military-grade encryption protects your connection to the internet and ensures your privacy, but not just from hackers. Did you know that internet service providers often track your internet usage to sell that data to advertisers? As well, any of your internet usage and traffic can be summoned by the government for your activity logs. Any time you are connected to the web, these logs and activities are being tracked, unless you use a VPN. With this military-grade encryption, your data, IP address, and location are entirely private.
Many people think they may not have anything to hide, but so much of your data can be used against you without you knowing. Your medical history, banking information, work emails, etc. can all be at risk of being accessed when not using a VPN. NordVPN uses an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys, which is recommended by the NSA for securing any classified and top-secret information.
Nord VPN also uses two different VPN protocols. However, there is no need for you to determine which is best for you since NordVPN aims to make using their VPN easy. The IKEv2/IPsec protocol is default for iOS and macOS apps, while the OpenVPN is the default for Windows, macOS, and Android apps. This means that macOS users can choose between the two, but both are dependable and recommended by NordVPN.
Double VPN
One is good enough, but two is even better! With NordVPN, you have the option to enable Double VPN, which means as your traffic passes through the first remote VPN server to be encrypted, it passes through a second VPN server to be encrypted a second time before reaching your online destination securely. This allows for double encryption, increased security, and IP address privacy and protection.
While not everyone needs Double VPN, you have the option to protect your communications and information securely with this feature. NordVPN recommends disabling it for private everyday browsing, when you need high-speed internet, and for browsing the Tor network. Double VPN is included in the NordVPN subscription package (and can be enabled whenever you feel it is needed) in their Android, macOS (OpenVPN), and Windows apps.
No Logging Policy
Using a VPN keeps your online activity and logs completely private. With NordVPN’s no-log policy, they promise that no logs are kept of connections or usage, which means no connection timestamps, no IP addresses, and no traffic data. They go a step further to accept multiple cryptocurrencies for payment to ensure you leave no trace of who you are.
However, they do monitor some lesser important data, such as:
- Service performance data (for recommending most suitable servers)
- E-mail address
- Payment data (but you can also use bitcoins)
That’s the regular stuff that most (if not all) VPN providers are logging and it’s nothing you should be worried about. Especially when NordVPNs payment processor isn’t tied up with their main company. If you want to, you can read their logging policy.
Kill Switch
NordVPN ensures your greatest protection with their Kill Switch feature. This is an advanced security measure that immediately blocks your device from accessing the web if your connection to the VPN server is dropped. NordVPN will continue to keep you blocked until the VPN tunnel is restored or you manually disabled the Kill Switch.
Can you watch Netflix?
Streaming sites such as Netflix often block VPN servers, so users can’t access geo-restricted content. NordVPN is one of the few providers which can still connect to Netflix in the U.S. This means you can still access your home Netflix selections, even if you’re traveling abroad.
NordVPN also lets you connect to Netflix from servers in Canada, UK, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Australia.
We tested streaming Netflix from several countries and had no issues with access (though of course certain servers may be slower, especially if they’re further away).
You can also get access to Hulu and Amazon Prime Video on certain servers.
WORKS IN CHINA
China is notorious for their strict online regulations. Popular sites such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are all blocked.
Since a VPN allows you to connect to servers in different countries, it makes it look like you’re browsing from another country. This will allow you to bypass the great firewall of China and access restricted websites.
NordVPN is one of the few VPN providers that works in China. Often, even VPN services are blocked in China. To keep you connected, NordVPN has advanced obfuscated servers that serves as a “plan B” solution to bypass these heavy restrictions.
How secure is NordVPN?
Impressively secure. NordVPN has something in its armory to further bolster your security, and that’s a kill switch. A kill switch is in place to prevent any data leaks in case the VPN connection drops.
NordVPN stands out here for actually having two kill switches. A general internet kill switch blocks all net access when you’re not connected to the VPN (this can be easily turned off if it’s inconvenient), while an app kill switch kills your chosen applications if the connection goes down.
NordVPN says the service blocks DNS leaks, too, and our checks with DNS Leak Test, IPLeak and other sites confirmed this. Our DNS address was always the same as our IP address, with no DNS, WebRTC or other leaks detected. So overall, security and privacy are tight. (For more details on services that deliver top-notch security, check out our roundup of the most secure VPN providers, where NordVPN ranks highly).
How to use NordVPN router?
NordVPN is also a good VPN to use on a router. I’ve tested many different VPN providers on various routers and put together an in-depth VPN router setup guide that answers most questions.
If you are looking to use NordVPN on a router, you basically have three different options:
- Get a pre-configured router from an outlet such as Sabai Technology or FlashRouters. These will be somewhat expensive, but it will be ready to use with NordVPN right out of the box and pre-configured with the router firmware you need.
- Get a VPN-enabled router that can be used with a VPN without any flashing required. The best selection of VPN-enabled routers comes from Asus. Asus offers numerous routers that can be easily loaded with OpenVPN configuration files (from any VPN provider) and be working in just minutes.
- Flash your existing router. This can be tricky and somewhat risky (bricking your router), so you will want to proceed with caution if you go down this route. The degree of difficulty will depend on the router you are using.
Performance testing: How fast is NordVPN?
Is NordVPN worth it 2020? How fast is NordVPN? While privacy features are normally the top priority for a VPN, performance is almost as important. Uncrackable encryption isn’t nearly as appealing if it reduces your internet speeds to a crawl, which is why we put all our review VPNs through some intensive performance tests.
Our checks began in the UK by connecting to a sample set of 25 NordVPN servers spread around the world. In each case we were looking to confirm that the server was up and how long it took to connect, before running ping tests to check for latency issues, and using geolocation to confirm that the server was where NordVPN claimed it should be. None of these would give us specific information on download speeds, but they’re all important factors in the experience of using NordVPN.
We had absolutely no connection failures, and were able to connect to even the most distant servers first time on two consecutive runs (that’s a 100% success rate from 50 connection attempts).
OpenVPN connection times were good, too, at a typical 4-6 seconds. (Connection times were much longer when using the apps, unfortunately, but we’ll talk more about that later.)
The positive news continued elsewhere, with minimal latencies, and every server appearing to be in its advertised location.
Our speed testing began by using Ookla’s SpeedTest and TestMy.net to measure the performance of our nearest UK servers. The results were positive at an average 65-69Mbps on our test 75Mbps line, an acceptable 6-8% drop from our speed with the VPN turned off.
To check NordVPN’s maximum performance, we ran the same tests from a US location using a 600Mbps line. The results were variable at 125-300Mbps, but that’s better than many, and on balance, NordVPN seems speedy enough for most tasks.
We completed our performance tests by checking speeds from the UK to some of NordVPN’s more distant servers.
Performance was inevitably more inconsistent, but still very reasonable at 30-60Mbps. There are some exceptions, though. Indonesia was so slow that not only were we unable to run the SpeedTest benchmark, we couldn’t even properly load its website.
Still, while NordVPN isn’t the speediest provider we’ve ever seen – there’s a roundup of the fastest VPNs right here, if you’re interested – it’s better than most, and we got above-average speeds from the vast majority of its locations.
Is there any free alternative?
TunnelBear
If you’re looking for something free and temporary, choose TunnelBear. They offer users a free version of their service, which is limited to 500MB/month. That isn’t much for everyday use, but it’s great if you need VPN just while traveling.
TunnelBear is also a good choice for first-time VPN users. Their cute bear designs make things simple for first-time users. They also take the time to explain their terms and conditions simply.
The Onion Router (TOR)
TOR is a free software which you can use to browse the internet without revealing your identity. It encrypts your traffic and bounces it around. The process can be a bit complicated, but to put it simply, TOR uses other volunteer computers as “stops.” The traffic goes around each stop before getting to the destination site. That way, hackers won’t know who the original sender is.
However, it’s not foolproof. The encryption is only for traffic in between each “stop.” When it leaves a “stop” and exits out into the world wide web, it’s unencrypted. If you included personal information while browsing on TOR, it can still be traced back to you.
The good thing about TOR is that it’s free. If you’re a casual user and just want to protect your identity, then use TOR. But if you want the best security and privacy, use TOR together with a VPN provider.