If you’ve been looking at VPNs, you’ve almost certainly seen NordVPN advertised everywhere. It sponsors half the YouTube channels on the internet. But is the product actually any good — or is it all marketing?
We tested it properly, including the speed, the privacy policy, and whether it actually does what it claims. Here’s the honest verdict.
What is a VPN and why would you want one?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through a server in another location, masking your real IP address and encrypting your connection. That has a few practical uses:
- Privacy from your ISP — your broadband provider can’t see what sites you visit
- Public Wi-Fi security — encrypts your traffic on coffee shop or airport networks
- Accessing geo-restricted content — watching streaming services from other countries
- Avoiding price discrimination — some sites charge different prices based on location
It’s not a magic privacy shield — it doesn’t make you anonymous, and a VPN provider can still log your traffic. That last point is important, and we’ll come back to it.
Speed tests
Speed is the thing most people notice immediately. A slow VPN is a frustrating VPN.
We tested NordVPN from a UK connection to servers in the US, Netherlands, and Germany:
- UK server: ~95% of base speed — barely noticeable
- US server: ~70% of base speed — fine for streaming, slight lag for gaming
- Netherlands: ~90% — very fast
Using NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol (based on WireGuard), the speeds are genuinely impressive. Older protocols like OpenVPN are slower, but NordLynx is the default now.
Privacy and logging
This is where it gets more nuanced. NordVPN has a no-logs policy that’s been independently audited by Deloitte. They claim to store no traffic data, no connection timestamps, and no IP addresses.
In 2018 a NordVPN server was compromised by an attacker. Nothing sensitive was exposed because the server had no logs — which actually validated their claims. That’s about as real a test of a no-logs policy as you can get.
They’re based in Panama, which has no mandatory data retention laws. That matters because a VPN based in the UK or US could be compelled to hand over logs.
What we liked
- Genuinely fast with NordLynx
- Large server network (6,000+ servers in 60 countries)
- Audited no-logs policy
- Works reliably with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
- Apps are easy to use — no technical knowledge needed
What could be better
- Priced higher than some competitors on monthly plans
- Customer support is chat-only (though it’s responsive)
- Some advanced features buried in settings
Verdict
NordVPN is one of the better VPNs on the market. It’s not the cheapest, but the speed, reliability, and independently verified privacy policy put it ahead of many budget alternatives. If you want a VPN you can set up and forget about, it’s a solid choice.
The best value is the 2-year plan, which brings the monthly cost down significantly.
Get NordVPN with up to 68% off on the 2-year plan, plus 3 extra months free.
Our rating: 4.5/5 — Recommended, especially on the long-term plan.