NordVPN Review 2021

NordVPN is rapidly risen in popularity over the years and has attracted lots of attention. In this updated NordVPN review for 2021, we set out to see if that attention is warranted.

As with all of our VPN reviews here on Restore Privacy, we really get into the details with test results and analysis. Here’s what we looked at for this NordVPN review:

• Numerous speed tests conducted with NordVPN servers around the world
• Leak tests conducted on the desktop applications (checking for IPv4, IPv6, and DNS leaks)
• Testing the kill switch and all features
• Streaming compatibility checks with Netflix and other services
• Testing the specialty servers, including the Double-VPN and P2P servers

With cyber attacks and corporate surveillance on the rise, a good VPN is a crucial tool for everyone going online. And with the massive growth in streaming content online, a VPN is your ticket to watching content from anywhere in the world. So let’s begin this NordVPN review by examining the basic findings.

Pros of NordVPN

1. Strong privacy and security features
2. Premium performance: fast speeds, great reliability, and instant connections
3. Secure apps with no leaks
4. Large and secure server network
5. Great customer support
6. Verified no logs VPN provider (audited)
7. NordVPN based in Panama (good privacy jurisdiction)
8. Extra security upgrades
9. Full WireGuard support with NordLynx
10. Works with Netflix and many other streaming services
11. Fully-featured mobile clients
12. Low prices and a good refund policy

Cons of NordVPN

1. Big discounts only available for longer subscriptions
2. No dedicated router app (but still works on routers)

Additional research findings

• Is NordVPN good for torrenting?
• Does NordVPN work in China?
• Can you get a Dedicated IP address with NordVPN?

So now let’s cut to the chase.

Pros of NordVPN

Here are the pros (advantages) of NordVPN.

1. Strong privacy and security features

NordVPN offers some solid features to enhance user privacy and security – above and beyond most other VPNs. Let’s take a look at NordVPN’s encryption and some of these enhanced features.

Strong encryption standards and VPN protocol selection

NordVPN’s OpenVPN clients use an AES-256-GCM cipher and HMAC SHA256 hash authentication. Additionally, NordVPN utilizes Perfect Forward Secrecy through a DHE-4096 key exchange. The AES-256-GCM cipher is also used to encrypt traffic with the IPSec/IKEv2 protocol.

In addition to OpenVPN and IPSec/IKEv2, NordVPN also supports the WireGuard VPN protocol directly in all VPN apps. NordVPN’s privacy-focused implementation of WireGuard is called NordLynx. You can easily switch between VPN protocols under Settings/Preferences.

NordLynx (WireGuard protocol) offers serious performance and security advantages, which we will see further below.

NordVPN CyberSec to block ads, trackers, and more

NordVPN CyberSec is a security feature that blocks trackers, ads, and malware domains. I found it to work well in testing, effectively blocking all advertising/tracking domains on different sites I visited.

CyberSec is activated directly from within the NordVPN client, as you can see below.

There are three distinct benefits of CyberSec for NordVPN users:

1. More privacy – In today’s world, ads are advanced tracking tools that record your online activities and match this up to your data profile. This is how ad networks come up with targeted advertising. Blocking ads via CyberSec is crucial for privacy reasons.
2. More security – The CyberSec feature is also critical for security. Online ads are usually fed in through third-party domains, which can be malicious (see malvertising). These malicious domains will use ads as an attack vector to infect your device – even if you don’t click them. CyberSec protects you against this by blocking domains based on a real-time threat list.
3. Faster page load speeds – Ads can eat up a lot of bandwidth and really slow down page load speeds, especially on mobile devices. Blocking ads can significantly improve performance, and help conserver your data plan.

NordVPN’s CyberSec feature is one of the best VPN ad blockers you will find. This feature is available on mobile and desktop devices.

Note: CyberSec uses real-time filter lists that are blocked via DNS requests. Therefore this feature is only active when connected to the VPN.

Double VPN (multi-hop)

NordVPN is one of a handful of VPN providers that offer multi-hop functionality – or in this case, double-VPN servers. With NordVPN’s double-VPN servers, your traffic is encrypted across two separate VPN servers before exiting onto the regular internet. This also offers some advantages.

• Double-VPN gives you an extra layer of encryption between your device and the regular internet.
• This could also protect you against a compromised data center. In a double-VPN setup, no single server can see both your IP address and sites you visit.
• Distributes trust across two different servers.

Using a multi-hop VPN is certainly not a bad idea. Surprisingly, performance with the double-VPN servers was excellent, with speeds ranging from 195 Mbps to 214 Mbps (screenshots posted further below).

NordVPN currently offers 31 double-hop VPN configurations. These can easily be selected from within the NordVPN client. For those wanting a higher level of privacy and security, the double-VPN servers are a great option to consider.

Onion-over-VPN servers

If you are looking for additional encryption and anonymity beyond a single-hop VPN server, another option is to use an Onion-over-VPN server. NordVPN currently offers two locations for this: Netherlands and Switzerland.

The Onion-over-VPN servers encrypt traffic with the Tor Network, in addition to the regular VPN server. However, because the Tor network is very slow, your speeds will slow to a crawl. I’d recommend the Double-VPN servers instead, which offer extra encryption with great performance. (See the other tradeoffs in our VPN vs Tor comparison.)

2. Premium performance: fast speeds, great reliability, and instant connections

For this NordVPN I ran dozens of speed tests using different VPN protocols and also various servers around the world. My baseline speed for testing was about 480 Mbps on a wired ethernet connection (no WiFi). Overall, the NordVPN speed test results were phenomenal.

To get the best performance, I selected the NordLynx protocol in the Settings, and then tested different server locations.

First, I tested a nearby NordVPN server in Seattle, which gave me 445 Mbps.

This is the fastest VPN speed test result we’ve gotten on Restore Privacy. It is much faster than OpenVPN, and is not far from my baseline speed.

Next I tested a NordVPN server in Los Angeles, which give me about 304 Mbps:

At over 300 Mbps, it is clear that NordVPN is in the “fastest VPNs” category. It even came out on top in the NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison.

Then I tested a NordVPN server in New York, and it was again very fast at 280 Mbps.

Next, I tested a NordVPN server in the United Kingdom. Here was the NordVPN UK server with speeds around 295 Mbps:

I’ve been running NordVPN speed tests for the past five years and these are the best speed test results I’ve ever gotten with NordVPN. It is clear that the WireGuard VPN protocol and the server network upgrades are really improving performance. We also used NordVPN for our WireGuard vs OpenVPN comparison, where we found WireGuard to be about 58% faster than OpenVPN.

Note: Not all WireGuard VPNs perform on this level. For example, you can see in the CyberGhost vs NordVPN report that NordVPN had a huge performance advantage, despite both VPNs using WireGuard.

NordVPN Double-VPN speeds

Lastly, I also ran a few tests with NordVPN’s double-VPN servers to check for speeds.

To access the Double-VPN servers, you’ll need to switch to the OpenVPN protocol.

First, I tested the double-VPN server configuration for USA > Canada and was able to get about 214 Mbps.

For a double-VPN connection, these speeds are excellent. Not only is traffic getting encrypted and routed over two servers, but this is also with the OpenVPN protocol, which is slower than WireGuard.

Next, I tested the double-VPN servers for Switzerland > Sweden and again got great speeds: 195 Mbps.

NordVPN significantly outperforms other VPNs that offer double-VPN configurations. You can see this in the NordVPN vs ProtonVPN article.

Reliability and connections

On the topic of performance, it’s also important to discuss reliability and connections:

• Reliability – I found NordVPN to be very reliable. The servers were consistently fast and I did not experience any dropped connections.
• Connections – When using the WireGuard VPN protocol, I found that NordVPN was extremely fast at establishing a connection — nearly instantly. While OpenVPN can take a few seconds (or longer), WireGuard offers near-instant connections. This makes switching VPN servers all the more quick and easy.

Conclusion on performance – With the latest round of speed tests for this review, I can conclude that NordVPN offers fast, consistent, and reliable speeds. This is the fastest I’ve seen NordVPN in all my years of testing it. It also consistently comes out on top in comparison with other VPNs, such as in the NordVPN vs IPVanish comparison.

3. Secure apps with no leaks

NordVPN also offers a nice lineup of secure apps (clients) for all major operating systems and devices:

• Windows
• Mac OS
• Linux
• Android and iOS (mobile)
• Android TV

Here were my main takeaways from testing and reviewing the NordVPN clients on Windows and Mac OS:

• Fully-featured – The NordVPN apps are loaded with features, to include specialty servers, leak protection, and startup/connection settings.
• Easy to use – Whether you are new with VPNs or a seasoned pro, you should find the NordVPN clients user-friendly and intuitive. Adjusting settings and selecting features is simple.
• Secure – Aside from the strong encryption we discussed above, NordVPN also secures data with a kill switch. This blocks traffic (or closes applications) if the VPN connection drops for any reason. We’ll examine this more below.

NordVPN desktop VPN apps

NordVPN offers great desktop VPN apps for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

The NordVPN Windows client utilizes the OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN protocols and offers all features. To connect to a server in the NordVPN Windows client, you can use the list on the left or click a location on the map. In the screenshot below, I’m testing the Windows VPN client with the Double VPN servers.

I found connection times to be very good, with NordVPN quickly connecting to servers (no long delays). If you use the NordLynx (WireGuard) protocol, you’ll enjoy near-instant connections. After lots of testing and comparison, we have rated NordVPN as one of the best VPNs for PC users.

NordVPN Mac OS client

For this NordVPN review, I also tested out the Mac OS client. The Mac OS client offers all of the same features and a built-in kill switch that automatically blocks traffic if the connection drops.

With the Mac OS client, you can select between the following VPN protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, and NordLynx (WireGuard). You can also check out our top-rated VPNs for Mac for additional options.

NordVPN kill switch

NordVPN is one of the few VPNs that offers two different kinds of kill switches. A kill switch is important because it blocks traffic if the VPN connection drops, which protects you from de-anonymization and your regular traffic being exposed.

In the screenshot below you can see the two different kill switches on the NordVPN Windows client:

• Internet Kill Switch – This will block all traffic if the VPN connection drops via the firewall (recommended).
• App Kill Switch – This will close applications if the VPN connection drops, but will not block traffic.

If you are concerned about IP address leaks, it would be best to use the “Internet Kill Switch” as this will block non-VPN traffic via the firewall. And if you are using the Internet kill switch, then you probably don’t need to use the App kill switch.

NordVPN leak test results: no leaks found

I ran the NordVPN Windows and Mac OS clients through some basic VPN tests and checks to identify any leaks or problems. Additionally, I also tested out NordVPN’s kill switch to see if it was effectively working in both clients.

With the NordVPN Windows client, I did not find any IP address leaks or DNS leaks. In the screenshot below, you can see:

• the IPv4 address matches up with the VPN client (no IPv4 leaks)
• IPv6 is effectively being blocked (no IPv6 leaks)
• No WebRTC leaks (but this is blocked in your browser)
• DNS requests are being handled by NordVPN’s server (no DNS leaks)

I also found the Internet Kill Switch and App Kill Switch to work well – no issues or problems to report.

Mac OS leak tests – I ran the Mac OS clients through the same tests as above with the Windows client. The results were the same in that I did not find any leaks or problems. Additionally, the Mac OS kill switches worked correctly without any issues.

Android leak tests – Heinrich tested out the NordVPN Android client when working on the VPN for Android roundup. He found it to perform very well without any leaks or issues. Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN also offer good Android clients.

4. NordVPN’s large and secure server network

NordVPN boasts a huge server network, which currently includes over 5,400 servers in 59 countries. With a large server network, it is easy for NordVPN to unblock websites and other digital content. It also makes finding a fast and reliable server close to your location easy. This helps to minimize latency (ping), which is important if you need the best VPN for gaming.

NordVPN has announced significant network upgrades to further improve performance and also security. We’ll cover these more below in the security upgrades section, but first touch on one exciting area…

Colocated servers being deployed now

Most VPNs rent servers from third parties. While this is standard practice, NordVPN has decided to raise the bar by deploying their own hardware (colocated servers). The first location to receive NordVPN colocated severs was Finland. The rest of the network upgrades should be complete later in 2021.

High-speed colocated servers will set NordVPN apart from most other VPN providers.

NordVPN obfuscated servers

We have already covered the Double-VPN and Onion-over-VPN servers above. In addition to these specialty servers, NordVPN also offers Obfuscated servers.

The Obfuscated servers are available directly in the VPN client when you are using the OpenVPN protocol. These servers hide (obfuscate) VPN traffic to appear as regular HTTPS traffic and are useful in the following situations:

• When you need to get around VPN blocks at work, school, or restricted networks.
• To evade state censorship efforts and VPN blocks in certain countries, such as in China, UAE, and others.

The selection of obfuscated servers make NordVPN a great option if you need a VPN for the UAE, China, or any other restricted country. Note that some VPN providers utilize obfuscation through VPN protocol changes rather than specific servers, as we described in the Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison.

Does NordVPN use virtual server locations?

In the past, we have investigated the issue of virtual server locations. This is when a VPN claims to have a server in one country, but it’s actually in a different location. While there are justifiable reasons for doing this in some cases, transparency is also important.

In the case of NordVPN, we did not find any virtual server locations. Additionally, a NordVPN representative confirmed with me that no virtual locations are in use. In other words, NordVPN truly has servers in all of the advertised locations.

5. Great customer support

NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat support and the representatives are quite helpful.

Chat support is always available through the NordVPN website in the bottom-right corner. You don’t have to log in, simply click on the chat icon and you’ll be connected with a representative.

I tested out the NordVPN chat support a few different times for this review and it worked well without any issues.

In all my interactions with NordVPN support, it did not take long to connect with a representative (under a minute). The support staff was helpful in answering all my questions.

Support with some of the larger VPN providers can be hit or miss. This is especially the case because support is often outsourced to third parties. NordVPN handles all support in-house with trained technicians (no external third parties).

6. NordVPN no logs policy (audited twice)

Another important aspect in terms of privacy is NordVPN’s logging policy. NordVPN is one of the few VPN services that has had its no-logs claims audited and verified. First, in 2019, NordVPN underwent a full audit to examine all aspects of the service and verify the no-logs policy. The audit was performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG in Zurich, Switzerland.

To further verify privacy claims, NordVPN recently completed a second audit that was published in July 2020. For this second audit, NordVPN expanded the scope with full access to servers, employees, and VPN infrastructure. Here were the key findings:

• NordVPN was audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, a reputable auditing firm based in Zurich, Switzerland.
• The auditors had full access to examine all NordVPN servers, interview employees, observe operations, and inspect configurations, databases, and any other relevant areas deemed necessary.
• The audit officially verified NordVPN to be a “no-log service” that remains true to its privacy policies.
• NordVPN does not store connection logs, IP addresses, traffic logs, or any internet activity information.

Here is a further explanation of NordVPN’s logging policy from their privacy policy:

NordVPN strictly keeps no logs of your activity online. That means we do not track the time or duration of any online session, and neither do we keep logs of IP addresses or servers used, websites visited or files downloaded. In other words, none of your private and secure data is logged and gathered at any time. As a result, we are not able to provide any details about your behavior online, even if you request it yourself. NordVPN is based away from the EU and US jurisdiction and is not required to collect your personal data and information– it means nothing is recorded, monitored, stored, logged or passed to third parties.

Overall, NordVPN is a solid choice if you are looking for a no logs VPN provider that has been verified and proven to be true.

7. NordVPN based in Panama (a good privacy jurisdiction)

Another advantage of NordVPN is that it is based in Panama. Panama is not a member of any international surveillant alliances (see the Five Eyes) and it remains an excellent jurisdiction for privacy.

As NordVPN explains this issue further on its website:

We are based and operate under the jurisdiction of Panama. There is no mandatory data retention law in Panama so we do not need to store logs which is perfect for a VPN provider.

Being based in Panama is indeed a good jurisdiction that gives NordVPN advantages over other VPN providers, as I also explained in my NordVPN vs PIA comparison.

8. Extra security upgrades

NordVPN is currently investing significant resources to improve security and network infrastructure, going beyond what most other VPN services offer. Here’s an overview of NordVPN’s security upgrades:

1. Ongoing security audit

NordVPN is one of the few VPNs that has undergone a full third-party security audit. Here is an overview of the security audit, conducted by Versprite, and the results:

We invited VerSprite, a leading security research group specializing in software vulnerabilities, to search our apps inside and out with total access to ensure they found everything possible. After analyzing our infrastructure, their team simulated malicious attacks on the apps from every angle (a penetration test) while also identifying internal architecture that could make the apps vulnerable to those attacks. As soon as they found and documented a vulnerability, they reported it to us so our team could get to work. Every single potential vulnerability they found was meticulously eliminated and then tested again.

NordVPN is continuing to work with Versprite and their in-house team of penetration testers to ensure the highest security standards:

• Comprehensive penetration testing;
• Intrusion handling;
• Vendor risk assessment;
• Source code analysis.

The main audit (and findings) were completed in late 2019, but it is a continual process going forward.

2. Bug Bounty Program

NordVPN has officially launched a bug bounty program and it is now live. They will reward anyone who finds security vulnerabilities with NordVPN.

Our job is to anticipate and prevent bugs before they ever go live. If one does slip past us, the next best line of defense is a vigilant and engaged cybersec community prepared to help catch and fix it before it puts anyone at risk.

3. RAM-disk servers

NordVPN has already delivered on their promise to convert all servers in their network to run in RAM-disk mode (without hard drives). Today, every server in the NordVPN network runs in volatile RAM memory without hard drives. This is a smart move that we’ve already seen with other VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN and also Perfect Privacy.

9. Full WireGuard support with NordLynx

Some people are looking to use the (relatively new) WireGuard VPN protocol. There are many reasons for this:

• WireGuard is the fastest VPN protocol available (much faster than OpenVPN)
• WireGuard will connect faster and offer better reliability, especially on mobile devices
• Updated encryption algorithms are used with WireGuard

NordVPN is one of only a few VPNs that offer full WireGuard support directly in the VPN apps.

As we’ve already covered above, WireGuard speeds with NordVPN are amazing. The upgraded security and encryption with WireGuard are additional benefits to consider.

In terms of privacy, NordVPN has gone to great lengths to ensure NordLynx ensures user privacy remains protected. To do this, they have implemented a “double NAT (Network Address Translation) system” with NordLynx. NordVPN explains the benefits as follows:

The double NAT system allows us to establish a secure VPN connection without storing any identifiable data on a server. Dynamic local IP addresses remain assigned only while the session is active. Meanwhile, user authentication is done with the help of a secure external database.

To use WireGuard with NordVPN right now, simply go into the settings and select NordLynx from the available VPN protocols.

10. Works with Netflix and many other streaming services

As is the case in all of my VPN reviews, I ran NordVPN through a number of tests to see how well it works with Netflix and streaming services.

I used NordVPN servers in the US to access my American Netflix account. Everything worked perfectly without any issues, as you can see here:

In the screenshot above, you can see the Netflix movie I was streaming with the connected NordVPN app in the background (right). NordVPN did well in all these tests. It unblocked Netflix without any issues and gave me fast speeds for HD streaming without interruption.

With NordVPN you can get full access to the following Netflix regions: US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Australia, India, and Italy. (Other regions may also work, but were not tested for this review.) With full regional support, NordVPN is definitely one of the best VPNs for Netflix.

Other streaming services – NordVPN works with other streaming services, such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, DAZN, and others. It is also a great VPN for Disney+, which offers lots of content in 10 different regional libraries. With the latest test results, NordVPN is one of only two other VPNs that work with BBC iPlayer (ExpressVPN is no longer working).

Note: If you have any trouble getting Netflix to work with NordVPN, simply ask support. The live chat representatives will tell you exactly what servers to use.

11. Fully-featured mobile clients for Android and iOS

Many VPNs skimp on their mobile VPN apps. That is not the case with NordVPN. The NordVPN clients for Android and iOS offer full support for the following features:

• OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols
• Specialty servers (Double-VPN, Onion-over-VPN, Obfuscated, and P2P servers)
• Built-in leak protection settings

Here is a look at the NordVPN Android client:

It took the top spot as the best VPN for Android, even beating out ExpressVPN.

Note: There have been many reports recently of dangerous free mobile apps that collect user data. Don’t be fooled by free VPN apps that collect your data for profit. Stick with a reputable paid VPN service like NordVPN.

12. Low prices and a good refund policy

NordVPN is one of the cheapest VPN services you will find that is still good quality.

At the time of this review, NordVPN is offering a discounted two-year subscription price. The savings here are indeed significant, dropping the price down to only $3.71 per month.

Below are the NordVPN subscription prices:

• $3.71/month for the 2-year plan
• $9.00/month for the 6-month plan
• $11.95/month for the 1-month plan

The longer plan at only $3.71 per month makes NordVPN the best cheap VPN that is under $4 per month.

You can pay with all major credit cards, Amazon Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, and even a variety of cryptocurrencies. One drawback, however, is that NordVPN is no longer supporting PayPal payments in the US.

If you are hesitant about the two or two-year subscription plans, NordVPN also offers shorter duration subscriptions, but they are more expensive. (I’m also maintaining a NordVPN coupon page to track the latest offers and deals.)

NordVPN refund policy (30 days)

NordVPN provides a 30 day money-back guarantee, which is quite generous for VPN standards. The refund policy does not include any hidden clauses or restrictions.

Cons of NordVPN

Now we’ll examine the cons of NordVPN.

1. Big discounts only available for longer plans

One gripe I have with NordVPN is that the discounted rates are only available with the two-year subscription. Two years is a long commitment to make for a VPN service. Although the 30 day refund window gives you plenty of time to test everything.

Along these same lines, the one-month deal is rather pricey at $11.95 per month. This is more than three times the monthly price of the two-year plan. But steep discounts for long subscriptions are becoming more common in the industry – so it’s not surprising.

2. No VPN router app (but still works on routers)

Some VPN services, such as ExpressVPN and VyprVPN, offer a dedicated router app for certain router models. This makes it easier to get a VPN up and running on your router.

Currently, NordVPN does not offer any VPN router app. Nonetheless, you can still use NordVPN with a router. Here are three ways to do that:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Tip: When using NordVPN on a router, connect to the nearest server with the lightest load.

Overall, not having a router app is not really a dealbreaker since there are still many ways to use NordVPN on a router. If you go with the Vilfo router, all NordVPN config files are built into the router by default. And as always, NordVPN support can help you get everything set up correctly.

Additional research findings

Here are the additional research findings for this NordVPN review, based on my own tests.

Is NordVPN good for torrenting? (Yes)

NordVPN is an excellent choice if you need a good VPN for torrenting. Here are three reasons why.

1. Fast and consistent speeds – This will be useful when torrenting large files.
2. Leak protection – The NordVPN apps come with built-in leak protection settings. This allows you to torrent for hours without worrying about your IP address being exposed.
3. Safe jurisdiction – NordVPN is based in Panama. Unlike the US and Europe, Panama does not have draconian copyright laws. NordVPN can simply ignore DMCA/copyright requests from other countries.

Additionally, NordVPN also has dedicated P2P servers. These servers are listed under the “Specialty servers” and are fast and ideal for torrenting. I tested out the NordVPN torrenting servers and everything worked well.

The NordVPN app will automatically connect to the fastest P2P server for a given country you select. Additionally, you can also manually connect to certain torrenting servers through the NordVPN app.

When torrenting with NordVPN, be sure to enable the kill switch to protect your IP address in case the connection drops. You can also find guides showing you how to setup NordVPN with uTorrent and BitTorrent clients on the NordVPN website.

Does NordVPN work in China? (Yes)

Many people are looking for the best VPN for China that will provide privacy and access to online content. In this case, NordVPN is a great choice. It offers built-in obfuscation features that will conceal VPN traffic and get around the Great Firewall of China.

To use NordVPN in China, simply connect to one of the Obfuscated servers in the VPN client. When you use one of these servers, the NordVPN client will automatically obfuscate your VPN traffic to make it appear as regular HTTPS encryption. This makes NordVPN a great choice for China or anywhere else that VPNs are blocked.

Can you get a dedicated IP address with NordVPN? (Yes)

Yes, NordVPN offers dedicated IP addresses which can be added to your VPN subscription.

NordVPN also gives you the option to get a dedicated IP address, which may be beneficial in some use cases. They offer dedicated IP addresses for the following locations:

• United States (Buffalo, Los Angeles, Dallas)
• Germany (Frankfurt)
• United Kingdom (London)
• Netherlands (Amsterdam)

The cost for a static IP address from NordVPN is $70 per year, regardless of the location you choose. NordVPN is probably the best VPN for a static IP. You can purchase a dedicated IP address by contacting NordVPN support to arrange the IP location you want.

NordVPN review conclusion

I’ve been testing NordVPN for about five years now, as both a personal user and also for VPN reviews. This NordVPN review is one of the best I’ve published, simply because of the good test results. With this level of performance, NordVPN is a premium VPN at a very reasonable price.

NordVPN has made major improvements over the past six months in many areas and continues to get better. Here’s what stands out to me with the latest review:

• Faster speeds and better reliability throughout the server network
• Improved application stability and features (CyberSec)
• Big security upgrades, to include an ongoing third-party audit and bug bounty program, rolling out self-owned servers, and converting the network to run only in RAM-disk mode
• Full support for the WireGuard protocol directly in the VPN apps
• More support for Netflix and other streaming services

While there are a few minor drawbacks, NordVPN is a solid choice and remains our top-recommended VPN based on these test results.

It’s great to see NordVPN continuing to improve and upgrade with the new servers and better features. And if you want to test-drive this VPN, give it a shot with the coupon below for the best savings.

Alternatives to NordVPN

Click the VPN name below to read our full review – or grab the discount for the best savings. Both of these VPNs have a 30 day money-back guarantee.

1. Surfshark review  [81% Off Coupon]
2. ExpressVPN review  [Coupon for 3 Months Free]

You can also check out our guide on the best VPNs for 2021 for other recommendations.

If you have used NordVPN, feel free to share your honest review (good or bad) below.