NordVPN Coupon Code | HONEST NordVPN REVIEW

NordVPN is conquering best VPN lists, and almost every NordVPN revies is filled with praise, but how much of that is just hype?

That’s what I want to find out with this review of NordVPN, so I’ll focus on pros and cons, and talk about things that people tend to leave out.

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⭐ Rating:	4.9★★★★★
🥇 Overall rank:	#1 out of #42
📖 No logs policy:	No logs
💵 Price:	From $3.09/month
🖥️ Servers:	6,300 + servers in 111 countries
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
🔥 Coupons:	NordVPN coupon 74% OFF

PRO – Strong privacy policy

The first thing I did was take a look at their privacy claims. Is NordVPN safe?

I found a strict no-logs policy, meaning they’re legally bound to not monitor, collect, or share user data. But the actual pro-point here is the fact that NordVPN heavily enforces this promise.

For one, they keep putting it through independent third-party audits, and it got confirmed four times already. Two, NordVPN uses RAM servers.

Once such a server is restarted, all data is completely wiped, so NordVPN simply doesn’t have the means to collect sensitive information.

Things we like	Things we don’t like
RAM-only server infrastructure	Linux client has no graphic interface
Fastest VPN on the market	No unlimited free plan
Meshnet feature for remote device access	Limited simultaneous connections
Independently audited security features
Unblocks geo-restricted streaming websites
Affordable price
30-day money-back guarantee

Other privacy & security measures

I could mention that NordVPN has a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, or that it applies the next-gen ChaCha20 encryption as soon as you connect one of the servers.

has a reliable kill switch for IP protection, but it’s something that most other premium providers have too, so kudos to NordVPN for a strong security backbone.

But what I’m really looking for in this NordVPN review, are things that stand out, both in good and bad ways.

PRO – easy to use

One such thing is the look of their app. To start things off, there’s a handy home dashboard where you can control the main features. The VPN server window is also very intuitively built.

I like using their interactive map to quickly find the server I need. Alternatively, there’s the Quick Connect button to find the fastest server near me.

There’s no need to overthink anything. The whole app is very user-friendly, and that’s something not many VPNs get right.

Platform	Experience
Windows	By far the best NordVPN experience
macOS	Two app versions with different features
Linux	Open source, no graphical app, works through terminal
Android	Solid and well-orhanized Android app
iOS	Good overall iOS experience
Browser	Good options for Firefox and Chrome
Router	Works on routers that support OpenVPN

Compatibility PROs & CONs

While I’m mostly focusing on the Windows app here, NordVPN can run on almost anything. There are solid apps for mobiles, pretty easy set up on smart TVs, browser extensions, and you can actively use the VPN on 10 devices at the same time.

Sure, providers like Surfshark offer unlimited connections, so in comparison, that could be a small con, but I don’t remember the last time I needed more than a few connections at once.

I also want to mention that NordVPN sets a great example when it comes to using it on macOS. Most providers keep their Mac apps as an afterthought, while NordVPN even has unique features on it, Presets.

These are a great way for quickly accessing streaming services. But a word of advice, there are two Mac VPN versions, one from the App Store, which lacks things like the full threat protection, and the official website version, which is what I recommend getting.

By the way, if you decide to try NordVPN, you’ll find the best and newest NordVPN deals through this QR code, or you can use the link in the description to access it.

This way, you can grab a discount anytime and not pay the full price. Of course, watch this NordVPN pros and cons article till the end first, because after this is my honest NordVPN review.

But now we need to talk about some cons, like the fact that NordVPN Linux app has no graphic interface. That isn’t a huge problem for hardcore Linux users, but come on, it’s always nice to have a proper-looking app.

Also, I found the router setup to be pretty difficult, and there are no features that could make using a VPN on your router a little easier, like being able to switch the server location without having to log in to your router settings every time.

That said, if you won’t touch the Linux app or your router, these cons won’t really affect you.

Windows

The most feature-full version of NordVPN is the Windows app. However, the setting up was slightly buggy. A sign-up button was unresponsive for some time. When I finally managed to install the app, I was instantly greeted with a message that there was a new version available. I’ve just downloaded it, right? Nevertheless, these aren’t some major issues, and the setup didn’t take too much of my time.

The new interface shows statistics as its home screen. This might be a personal thing, but I did like the map on the home screen in the previous version more.

Other than that, the app is easy to navigate and use. It is full of features that are organised nicely and are well explained. Not only do you get two types of split tunneling and two types of a kill switch (for specific apps and the entire internet access), but also invisibility on LAN, auto-connect, and pause features. So, it’s no surprise to see NordVPN topping our lists for the best VPN for Windows.

The only available tunneling protocols from the client are NordLynx, and OpenVPN (UDP/TCP). If you need IKEv2, you’ll have to use a manual setup. However, seeing the speeds, there’s hardly any point to bother.

You’re also getting a clickable map interface, which makes choosing the connection country easier. However, you can also use the country list in the sidebar. If you click the three dots that appear when you hover your mouse over a country, you can select a particular server or connect to the fastest one available. So, whichever method is more convenient to you, NordVPN has you covered.

macOS

NordVPN took a really strange approach on macOS, which seems to be mostly Apple’s fault. Since Apple is pretty meticulous when allowing updates for existing apps on their App store, the review process often takes longer.

So, in turn, NordVPN has two apps for macOS, which are quite different. One is available from the App Store. The other is downloadable from their official website. The latter is commonly known as the sideload version and usually has more recent updates, but it only has OpenVPN tunneling protocols. Also, macOS kill switch works only for specific apps – but doesn’t let you set it up, so that it stops the entire online connection once the VPN connection is interrupted. It also supports older versions of macOS.

Anyway, I found NordVPN’s macOS app to be one of the best VPN interfaces I’ve encountered. It’s neat and organized and still has plenty of features, which are all sorted nicely – no place for confusion.

Windows app’s settings are more extensive but what is offered on MacOS seemed more than enough for me.

The version from the app store supports OpenVPN and NordLynx tunneling protocols. Plus, the kill switch is enabled by default but you can disable it through the VPN’s Settings section. Yet, both versions support the most recent Presets feature.

NordVPN, rather than sticking to one option, introduces some confusion by introducing two Mac versions. However, in the long run, this approach does provide additional benefits for its users. Especially since Windows, sideload macOS, and App Store apps look and feel almost identical. All in all, NordVPN is definitely worth a place in our best VPN for Mac list.

Linux

NordVPN supports Linux, and from the official website, you can download Debian and RPM packages. That should cover Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, and several other distributions. There is also a community-made Arch Linux port with guides for manual connections and OpenVPN and IKEv2 connections. Overall, it’s an excellent VPN for Linux.

You won’t get a graphical application if you’re a Linux user. You’ll have to set up everything with a command line terminal. So, my Linux experience seemed lacking compared to what I had with Windows or macOS apps. At least a minimal graphical interface would be a welcome addition and would save you numerous trips to their website when you want to switch servers.

However, a real game-changer is the fact that NordVPN’s Linux app is open source. It means that you can fulfill your ideas on improving the app by individual coding. This is a truly respectful move from NordVPN’s side, as it reveals the level of reliability and transparency the company carries.

That aside, everything else works fine and even includes DNS leak protection. And even a default tunneling protocol is set to be NordLynx, so you don’t need to put extra effort into getting the best connection speeds.

On the downside, the app for me was a bit slow when responding to commands and I did have an instance when I logged in but the terminal claimed I still need to log in. However, these issues remain seriously rare and are always caught on time by the NordVPN developers’ team.

Android

For Android, NordVPN offers a simple and clean overall interface. A map/country list hybrid lets you select the server, while settings and notifications are accessible by clicking icons in the corner of the screen. Kill switch and Dark Web monitoring that checks whether your data has been leaked are both available.

NordVPN Android app features include split tunneling, a configurable kill switch, pausing, and auto-connect. As for tunneling protocols, Android users can get OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), and NordLynx. Double VPN on Android is available via OpenVPN and NordLynx as well.

The Android app has passed full ioXt certification. It shows their compliance with the highest security standards – no surprise NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Android.

Although the app is more feature-rich compared to iOS one, I found it somehow better organized and neat. It is easy to use and navigate, and the interface looks clean. I found the Settings tab could be in a more convenient place, but it’s still extensive and well-organised.

iOS

Visually, the iOS app for NordVPN looks very similar to the Android one. The map/country list hybrid is just about the same, so are the icons at the bottom of the screen. Kill switch and Dark Web monitoring features are also just about the same.

The difference is in the details: for example, iOS has a Favorites tab just below Recent Connections. But it also doesn’t offer split tunneling and a configurable kill switch.

Where iOS really gets the upper edge, is the protocols. iOS users can choose from OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) and NordLynx protocols. Double VPN works on these protocols as well. Considering the restrictive nature of Apple’s policies, it is refreshing to see an iOS app that has so much going on. The developers clearly put thought into how to create value in NordVPN clients, even in cases when iOS policies work against them.

I found the iOS interface very smooth and easy to use and I did not encounter any setting up issues. Features are organized nicely and, even though meager compared to the Android version, still enough for a casual user. Overall, the NordVPN’s iOS app is very intuitive – definitely one of the best VPNs for iOS out there.

Browser extensions

The service also has Firefox and Chrome browser extensions for those who prefer a more lightweight solution. In other cases, it may be a workaround for those using older systems that don’t have their own apps. It’s much easier for users using macOS 9 or Windows XP to install a browser extension than to set up a manual connection. However, keep in mind that an extension only protects browser traffic.

You can block WebRTC, a protocol that uses JavaScript, which is vulnerable and prone to IP leaks. There’s Threat Protection Lite, and you can connect to all NordVPN servers to encrypt your browser connection and protect yourself more from phishing and malware.

The most recent feature is Bypass List, which allows you to exclude specific websites from the proxy connection, essentially functioning as split tunneling for websites. If you are using the Bypass List on Windows, you can have even better control of your traffic. If you’re on macOS, it provides a sort of workaround to compensate for the lack of split tunneling in the apps.

Overall, I found NordVPN’s browser extensions really easy to use and neatly organized. I do prefer to use a browser extension instead of a full app while streaming, as it gives a smoother streaming experience and less reconnections. However, the extensions are quite lightweight and do not offer many features, when compared to apps.

PRO – Threat Protection

What’s a bit more important is what you do with NordVPN, so let’s talk about features.

Hands down, my favorite one is the threat protection tool. It blocks intrusive ads and trackers, and stops me from opening potentially malicious sites.

But if you have it on Windows or macOS from the official website, it also doubles as a malware scanner.

Yes, it can catch and get rid of malicious files once you download them, and you don’t even need a VPN connection for it to work. Just keep the app open.

PRO – Additional features

Then there’s Meshnet, This one creates secure remote connections. Although I don’t need it every day, I’ve used it a few times
for remote land parties, and it worked like a charm.

Plus, it’s completely free. Whether you have the NordVPN subscription or not.

Then there’s the Dark Web Monitor feature, which keeps an eye out for data leaks related to my email account. Not to mention the variety of specialty servers you can find in the app.

From things like Onion Over VPN for maximum anonymity, to obfuscated servers, which mask the fact that you’re using a VPN, and help bypass network restrictions.

Dedicated IP CONs

Among these servers, you’ll also notice the dedicated IP option. While having this is an advantage, I’m not much of a fan
of how they handled it.

You see, this feature is only available if you purchase it additionally. If you already have a NordVPN account, the only way to add it is to create a separate account.

Testing NordVPN performance

Having said that, while using regular NordVPN servers, I got steadily high performance.

I run speed tests for every single VPN review, so I wasn’t really surprised when it proved to be the fastest VPN so far.

The connection was stable too. Sure, it’s not always perfect. I need to reconnect to a different server a few times, but that’s pretty rare and easily fixable.

Data period: 04.20 – 05.04

Evaluating connection speed is just one of the many parts of our VPN testing process. Typically, we conduct these tests with the Ookla speed test on a Windows 11 desktop computer. Our main goal is to test the provider’s performance with its fastest VPN tunneling protocol (NordLynx, in this case) across various worldwide locations.

Specifically, we evaluate multiple servers across America, the UK, Australia, France, Singapore, and a few other countries to check performance in different continents. Naturally, these tests are done multiple times weekly to ensure our readers get the most up-to-date information regarding VPN service speeds.

As expected, NordVPN performs extremely well when connecting to servers near us, while distant locations, such as Singapore, yield greater speed loss. Luckily, the reduction isn’t significant.

CON – CAPTCHAs

The only thing I could point out as a con here, is how many capture requests I get, but that’s a universal VPN experience since there’s usually a ton of traffic coming to websites from one VPN assigned IP.

The only way to get rid of this problem, is to get your own dedicated IP address. But as I mentioned, it’s pricey.

PRO – increased server pool

Another thing I got to point out is the server pool. Half a year ago, I would have pointed it out as a con.

A few months back, NordVPN only covered around 60 countries, and plenty of providers had much bigger country coverage.

However, they suddenly decided to vastly expand their server network, and now there are over 6300+ servers in more than 111 countries.

Is NordVPN good for streaming?

As a result, this has pushed NordVPN to become one of the best VPN for streaming options, alongside providers like ExpressVPN and Surfshark.

Sure, I use NordVPN for streaming even before, and it was able to open all the main libraries.

But the sudden increase in their server locations opens up the doors to much more content, and since NordVPN has more servers in total than most other VPNs do, it means you’re far less likely to connect to a blocked server.

That still happens to me from time to time, but as soon as I clean my cookies and cache, and reconnect to another server, it runs smoothly once again.

Here’s a quick summary of my experience unblocking streaming services with NordVPN:

Platform	Does it work?
Netflix	✅ Yes
Amazon Prime Video	✅ Yes
Hulu	✅ Yes
HBO Max	✅ Yes
Disney+	✅ Yes
BBC iPlayer	✅ Yes
YouTube TV	✅ Yes

My NordVPN torrenting experience

What about torrenting? In this case, I can see both pros and some cons.

On one hand, NordVPN has P2P optimized specialty servers in great speeds. But keep in mind that torrenting isn’t available in all countries.

There’s also a free SOCKS5 proxy, that could get you even faster torrenting speeds, but it’s much less safe than a VPN connection.

These are very small cons, and I still use NordVPN the most when I torrent, so overall, it’s worth a try.

NordVPN pricing and plans

Now, in terms of pricing, I’d say it’s market average, but since NordVPN packs a punch with features and functionalities, I’d have to give them a solid pro-point here, especially because they are much pricier, yet less capable VPN is out there.

Plus, the cheapest plan covers all VPN essentials. As I’ve said before, you can grab a NordVPN coupon code through the link in the description.

There’s also a free trial on Android, but keep in mind that it requires credit card details, and the price is generally higher, if you get the NordVPN subscription through the NordVPN app itself.

That’s why I’d recommend going for the discount right away, and then using the 30-day money-back guarantee, if anything. This way, you’ll have time to fully try it out.

The only con here is that the cancelation is only available through customer service, but it’s a pretty quick process nonetheless.

	Ultimate	Plus	Basic
Monthly cost	$15.99/month	$13.99/month	$12.99/month
Annual cost	$7.49/month	$5.49/month	$4.59/month
Two-year cost	$5.99/month	$3.99/month	$3.09/month
VPN with 10 simultaneous connections	✅Yes	✅Yes	✅Yes
Malware protection	✅Yes	✅Yes	❌No
Tracker and ad blocker	✅Yes	✅Yes	❌No
NordPass password manager	✅Yes	✅Yes	❌No
Data breach scanner	✅Yes	✅Yes	❌No
NordLocker (1 TB of encrypted cloud storage)	✅Yes	❌No	❌No
Identity theft recovery benefit (US only)	✅Yes, $1M in coverage	❌No	❌No
Cyber extortion protection (US only)	✅Yes, $100K in coverage	❌No	❌No

VPN price comparison with competitors

FINAL VERDICT – all PROs and CONs summarized

Let’s count all the good and bad things. I can give NordVPN solid points for water-tight privacy, ease of use, and a truly impressive collection of useful features while remaining affordable.

My main complaints are the difficult router setup, and expensive dedicated IP add-on, but I can give major pro points for performance.

It’s still the fastest VPN around, fit for streaming and torrenting, with only a couple of minor cons in this area.

After my NordVPN honest review, yes, I do see the hype, and I suspect I’m going to keep using it for a long time, because so far, I can’t find a VPN that would match NordVPN’s versatility.