title: "NordVPN Review 2025: Is It Still Worth It?" description: "We've used NordVPN daily for six months. Here's our brutally honest take on speed, privacy, features, and whether it's worth the price in 2025." date: "2025-01-10" category: "vpn" thumbnail: "/images/nordvpn-review.jpg" readTime: "8 min read" author: "Sarah Chen" featured: false
NordVPN is one of the most recognized names in the VPN industry — and for good reason. But with so many options available, does it still deserve that reputation in 2025? I've been using it as my primary VPN for six months. Here's what I found.
At a Glance
NordVPN
The most well-rounded VPN available — fast, private, and loaded with features.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fastest speeds of any VPN we've tested (NordLynx protocol)
- Passed all DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak tests
- Threat Protection blocks malware without active VPN
- 6,400+ servers in 111 countries
- Independently audited no-log policy (PwC)
- Meshnet feature for secure P2P networking
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Maximum 6 simultaneous devices (Surfshark offers unlimited)
- No split tunneling on iOS
- Occasional server congestion on popular US servers
- More expensive than budget alternatives
Speed & Performance
This is where NordVPN shines brightest. Using the NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard), it's the fastest VPN I've tested — by a significant margin.
Speed Test Results
All tests run from a 340 Mbps fiber connection in the US East.
| Server Location | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| US (same country) | 318 Mbps | 192 Mbps | 12ms |
| UK (London) | 307 Mbps | 178 Mbps | 88ms |
| Germany (Frankfurt) | 298 Mbps | 169 Mbps | 101ms |
| Japan (Tokyo) | 201 Mbps | 112 Mbps | 198ms |
| Australia (Sydney) | 178 Mbps | 98 Mbps | 241ms |
Speed reduction on nearby servers: less than 8%. That's remarkable.
Privacy & Security
NordVPN's privacy credentials are among the strongest in the industry:
- Jurisdiction: Panama (outside 5/9/14 Eyes alliances)
- No-logs policy: Independently audited by PwC — twice
- Encryption: AES-256-GCM for OpenVPN, ChaCha20 for WireGuard
- RAM-only servers: Launched in 2024 — nothing persists on reboot
- Kill switch: Tested and confirmed — drops connection instantly
I ran 50+ DNS leak tests across different servers using dnsleaktest.com and ipleak.net. Zero leaks found.
Streaming Performance
NordVPN unblocked every streaming service I tested without exception:
- ✅ Netflix US, UK, Japan libraries
- ✅ BBC iPlayer
- ✅ Disney+
- ✅ HBO Max
- ✅ Amazon Prime Video
- ✅ Hulu
Use the "SmartPlay" servers (marked with a 🎬 icon in the app) for the most reliable streaming experience.
Features Worth Highlighting
Threat Protection
This is genuinely one of NordVPN's best features. It blocks malware, trackers, and ads at the DNS level — and it works even when the VPN is disconnected. Think of it as a system-wide DNS filter. I noticed measurably faster page loads with it enabled.
Meshnet
Meshnet lets you create a private, encrypted network between your own devices — or share access with others. It's like your own private VPN. The use cases are niche (remote file access, LAN gaming), but it's a premium feature offered at no extra cost.
Double VPN
Routes your traffic through two servers for paranoia-level privacy. Speed drops significantly (~40%), but it's there if you need it.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $12.99 | $12.99/mo |
| 1 year | $4.99 | $59.88/yr |
| 2 years | $3.99 | $95.76 (+ 3 free months) |
Best value: The 2-year plan at $3.99/mo is what we recommend. NordVPN frequently runs promotions that push this even lower.
The Verdict
NordVPN is the best all-around VPN available in 2025. It wins on speed, offers genuine privacy protections backed by audits, unlocks every streaming service, and has added genuinely useful features (Threat Protection, Meshnet) that competitors haven't matched.
The 6-device limit is the only notable weakness compared to Surfshark's unlimited offering, but for most individuals and couples, that won't be an issue.
Bottom line: If you want the best VPN and don't mind paying a bit more than the cheapest options, NordVPN is the one to get.
NordVPN
Try NordVPN risk-free with their 30-day money-back guarantee.
