NordVPN is one of the best VPN providers we have reviewed – advanced functionality, a high security and privacy standard combined with budget pricing earns it the badge of "Editor's choice". Their promise is bold - "The world's most advanced VPN". And they live up to this promise really well.

NordVPN offers an exceptional set of functions, the best security, a strict "no-logs" policy, nicely designed applications and an unbeatable level of performance. NordVPN has a unique feature called SmartPlay. It unblocks over 150 geo-restricted streaming services. You can access Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and other popular streaming services. One of the newest NordVPN features is WifiSec - NordVPN will automatically initiate a VPN connection whenever a Wi-Fi network is joined. It can be set up to auto-connect to NordVPN on both secured and unsecured Wi-Fi networks. This will help users feel more secure when connecting to unknown networks. It really is a no-brainer choice.

NordVPN general highlights

NordVPN provides not only the strongest tunneling protocols - OpenVPN, IKEv2, and NordLynx (WireGuard), but also a free SOCKS5 proxy for app-level protection. In comparison, some of the providers offer proxies only as paid add-on features. The Onion over VPN functionality is also included, combining the security of VPN with the Tor network, as is an auto kill switch and some other neat features. One of them is CyberSec, which blocks dangerous and malicious websites and lets users avoid annoying ads

As for privacy, NordVPN has a strong position against logging and cooperating with law enforcement agencies.

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Feature / Criteria	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
OpenVPN
PPTP
L2TP/IPSec
IKEv2
P2P allowed
Encryption (strongest)	aes-256	AES-256	AES-256
Internet activity logs
Connection logs
Killswitch

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NordVPN showed great performance in speed tests. Just 25% lost in speed, compared to 60-70% of most other providers. Awesome speed is one of the main arguments as to why we give this VPN provider our "Editor's choice" badge.

When searching for a VPN, speed is an extremely important factor. You want your streaming services to work well and without annoying buffering, and your browsing experience to be smooth. Moreover, it is known that in general, the internet speed drops when using a VPN, so it's important to try and find one that still offers good speed even when using the service. We check the speed when connecting from the US to the UK, as it's half across the globe. It is a big distance, so keep in mind that closer locations may provide better speed and latency.

The internet speed without a VPN shows your general Internet Service Provider download and upload speed. On the other hand, it is known that you lose speed when using a VPN service. So be sure to take into consideration if your speed drops too much.

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Feature / Criteria	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
Unlimited speed
Server switches	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Unlimited data
Speed consistency & reliability	4.9	4.9	4.7

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All major platforms are supported with custom-developed apps: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. And for the rest of the platforms, as it was mentioned already, detailed walkthroughs are prepared to help users. NordVPN also gets points for support for some exotic platforms like RaspberryPi.

Furthermore, NordVPN now offers encrypted proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers.

While most platforms only need a simple installation of the VPN software or app, some devices might need manual configuration, as there are only certain protocols and options available for a certain type of device.

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Feature / Criteria	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
Mac
Windows
Linux
iOS
Android
Blackberry	Manual configuration	Manual configuration
Windows phone	Manual configuration		Manual configuration

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NordVPN offers over 5500 servers in 59 countries - that is enough geographical coverage to fit all the needs of even the most advanced users. All the regions have decent coverage, including many regions not covered by other providers, such as Africa or Oceania.

Also, with the help of the Obfuscated Servers feature, NordVPN works in countries (China, the Middle East countries) where Internet access is restricted and strong censorship is in place.

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Feature / Criteria	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
Countries	59	65	94
Server locations	5560	3200	3000

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NordVPN's customer support has many options available, including the 24/7 live chat feature. We asked a few technical questions and received professional and quick responses during the live chat session.

The Tutorial section is conveniently divided by platform, so it is easier to find what you might need. Detailed walkthroughs are provided for those who want to use NordVPN applications. There is also an operating systems configuration available, so both novices and experts will find what they are looking for.

Eventually, you will run into a problem – a payment method not working, servers not connecting, pretty much anything can happen regardless of how good the service is. That's where support comes through - many different customer support options mean that there are multiple ways to contact customer service and get help from a professional.

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Feature / Criteria	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN
Live chat
Email
Knowledge base
FAQ
24/7 support

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NordVPN has three standard plans which differ in duration - the longer the commitment, the cheaper the monthly fee is. It’s $4.92 a month in case you get an annual NordVPN subscription – a great deal considering the security features, custom applications and advanced security protocols the service offers and supports. The price for one month is the highest - $11.95.

NordVPN offers a 2-year plan with a 68 discount, which is the best offer at only $3.71/month! All things considered, it’s a great bargain no matter which pricing plan you choose, especially knowing there's the 30-day money-back guarantee.

All major payment options are available, including Credit Cards, PayPal, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, ensuring that privacy can be assured even during payment. NordVPN also accepts AliPay, WebMoney and more.