The NordVPN Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about NordVPN in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
NordVPN
The Insider’s Guide
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from NordVPN’s own pages.
Made by Nord Security · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from NordVPN’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on NordVPN’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 6 of the 16 other VPNs we grade
NordVPN is a subscription VPN from Nord Security with apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, plus proxy extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. One account covers up to 10 devices at a time. Higher tiers such as Complete bundle Nord's NordPass password manager and NordLocker file storage with the VPN.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about NordVPN, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for a big-name VPN for up to 10 devices
Its first-term price for new customers couldn't be read.
- 2
Paid plans start at $11.59 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year top-tier plans for new users in the US and 14 other countries
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Protocols
Choose between NordLynx (built on WireGuard), Nord's own NordWhisper, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec, with an automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection.
- 6
Real-time protection
Scans files for malware and blocks harmful websites; the App Store listing adds tracker and ad blocking, depending on device and plan.
- 7
Specialty servers
Double VPN sends traffic through two servers, Onion Over VPN adds the Tor network, and obfuscated servers make VPN traffic look like ordinary traffic.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 6 of 16
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace NordVPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
NordVPN at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year top-tier plans for new users in the US and 14 other countries
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Nord Security
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 709,340 ratings
The report card
Best for a big-name VPN for up to 10 devices
NordVPN is the all-rounder most people have heard of: apps for every computer and phone, 10 devices on one account, ad and malware blocking, and Meshnet to link your own devices. On what we could read, it's also the dearest VPN here, renewing at $139.08 a year for Basic. Its first-term price for new customers couldn't be read.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Only Nord's renewal prices could be read: Basic renews at $139.08 a year, so two years on record come to $278.16, about $11.59 a month, the dearest in this category. The first-term price for new customers wasn't readable, so a first purchase may cost less. |
| Free plan and trial | D | A 7-day free trial of the 1- and 2-year top-tier plans, but only for new customers in the US and 14 other countries, and it needs a card or PayPal. The 30-day money-back guarantee isn't a trial. |
| Features | B | NordLynx, NordWhisper, OpenVPN and IKEv2 with a kill switch, malware and ad blocking, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated servers, Meshnet, Dark Web Monitor and dedicated IPs. Nothing in the listing is missing from a VPN's job. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.7 from about 709,000 App Store ratings, the biggest crowd in this category. Install, sign in, tap connect. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, plus Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who NordVPN is for
- Great if your household has up to 10 devices to cover on one account
- Handy when you want ad and malware blocking built into the VPN
- A treat if you want your own laptop and home PC to reach each other privately with Meshnet
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you stay past the first term, as Basic renews at $139.08 a year
- Skip it if you want a trial without handing over a card or PayPal
- Not for you if you count on the money-back guarantee at renewal, as it covers the first purchase only
Good to know
Good for
- Households covering up to 10 devices on one account
- People who want ad and malware blocking in the VPN app
- Linking home devices to each other privately with Meshnet
Worth knowing
- Nord's pricing page turned away automated readers, so the first-term prices it advertises are missing here; only the US 1-year renewal prices could be read.
- Nord's renewal list also names an Ultimate 1-year tier at $256.68 for the US; plan names vary by country.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee covers the first purchase only; renewals are not refundable under it, and App Store purchases go through Apple.
- The free trial is limited to new customers in 15 countries and needs a credit card or PayPal.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$11.59
A month to start, paid by the year
NordVPN is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan).
The first-term price for new customers wasn't readable, so a first purchase may cost less.
Basic 1-year
$139.08
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
The VPN-only tier. Nord's first-term price for new customers could not be read, so only the renewal price is shown.
Standard 1-year
$149.88
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
Priced between Basic and Plus at renewal. Nord's first-term price for new customers could not be read.
Plus 1-year
$179.88
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
Priced between Standard and Complete at renewal. Nord's first-term price for new customers could not be read.
Complete 1-year
$219.48
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
Adds NordPass and NordLocker to the VPN. First-term price not readable; this is the 1-year renewal price.
Ultra 1-year
$269.88
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
One of the top tiers that the 7-day free trial covers. First-term price not readable; this is the renewal price.
Prime 1-year
$296.28
per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan
The dearest US tier on Nord's renewal list, and one the free trial covers. First-term price not readable.
Trying it first
7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year top-tier plans for new users in the US and 14 other countries
Read from my.nordaccount.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
Student discount for ages 18 to 26
Nord's help center says students and apprentices aged 18 to 26 can get an additional discount. The size of the discount is not stated there.
Stated on support.nordvpn.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, ad and tracker blocking.
Nothing in the listing is missing from a VPN's job.
- Protocols
- Choose between NordLynx (built on WireGuard), Nord's own NordWhisper, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec, with an automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection.
- Real-time protection
- Scans files for malware and blocks harmful websites; the App Store listing adds tracker and ad blocking, depending on device and plan.
- Specialty servers
- Double VPN sends traffic through two servers, Onion Over VPN adds the Tor network, and obfuscated servers make VPN traffic look like ordinary traffic.
- Meshnet
- Links your own devices into a private network so they can reach each other without exposing your real IP address.
- Dark Web Monitor
- Watches for your email address and other personal details turning up in data leaks and alerts you when they do.
- Dedicated IP
- A fixed personal IP address, bought on its own or in a bundle, for services that only accept allow-listed addresses.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
NordVPN is made by Nord Security.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/16
Other VPNs it is graded above
NordVPN's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 15 of 16) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $11.59 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 15 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 17 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. NordVPN’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 16
- DFree plan and trialAbove 6 of 16
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16
- AEase of useAbove 15 of 16
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. NordVPN is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace NordVPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $139.08 a year.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. NordVPN’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
The 5 tools NordVPN is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Surfshark
Free trial · from $79/yr
- 2.4GPA
ExpressVPN
Free trial · from $99.95/yr
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. NordVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Private Internet Access
From $47.88/yr
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
CyberGhost
Free trial · from $56.94/yr
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is NordVPN free?
No, NordVPN is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year top-tier plans for new users in the US and 14 other countries.
How much does NordVPN cost?
NordVPN lists 6 plans. Basic 1-year: $139.08 per year, the US renewal price of a 1-year plan.
What platforms does NordVPN work on?
NordVPN is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does NordVPN offer any discounts?
NordVPN publicly lists the following: Student discount for ages 18 to 26.
How is NordVPN rated?
NordVPN's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 709,340 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Is NordVPN open source?
NordVPN is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does NordVPN have a student discount?
Student discount for ages 18 to 26. Nord's help center says students and apprentices aged 18 to 26 can get an additional discount.
Who makes NordVPN?
NordVPN is made by Nord Security.
What are the alternatives to NordVPN?
The closest alternatives to NordVPN in our directory are Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost.
How does NordVPN compare with other VPNs?
NordVPN's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 3.
Is NordVPN good value for money?
ToolGPA grades NordVPN D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $11.59 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 15 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of NordVPN?
To replace NordVPN you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from NordVPN’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Nord's own pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Nord's pricing page showed no prices to our reader when we checked it again that day. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Nord Security. Prices change, so check nordvpn.com before you buy.
- my.nordaccount.com/legal/pricing/
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19744251757841-How-to-check-the-plans-and-prices-of-NordVPN
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19477173269265-How-much-will-I-need-to-pay-upon-renewal
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19744837091217-Does-NordVPN-have-a-free-trial
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19476991311121-What-is-your-refund-policy
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19559429814545-What-features-does-NordVPN-have
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19476515228305-How-many-devices-can-I-use-with-NordVPN
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19476182512273-Does-NordVPN-charge-all-at-once
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/40147955261713-I-was-charged-the-wrong-amount
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19477702164369-How-to-get-NordVPN-cheaper
- support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/23191235440657-Dedicated-IP-Renewal-and-cancellation
- apps.apple.com/us/app/nordvpn-vpn-fast-secure/id905953485
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- NordVPN, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/nordvpn
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "NordVPN: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/nordvpn
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/nordvpn/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after NordVPN, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 17 VPNs we grade, compared
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- PrivadoVPN Insider's GuideVPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans2.8 GPA
- Proton VPN Insider's GuideOpen-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what NordVPN’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. NordVPN is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Nord Security. Prices and plans change: check nordvpn.com before you buy.